Snow Accumulation - a Certainty in the Snow Belt!
Every winter, a large portion of the US is inundated with large accumulations of snow and ice. Snow removal is necessary to keep residences and businesses alike accessible to travel and commerce.
Significant annual snowfall is prevalent in the snow belt; from the Pacific Northwest, across the Rocky Mountains, the Upper Midwest, to the Great Lakes and New England. Regular snow and ice removal is a winter ritual undertaken by homeowners, business owners, and local government. With snow removal equipment ranging from a snow shovel to a pickup snow plow; to enormous snow-eating bulldozers outfitted with auger-type snow blowers able to munch through 15-foot drifts in mountain passes.
Gearing up for the Season
The first snow fall of the year brings about activities to prepare for the upcoming blizzard season; getting machinery tuned up and ready to roll at a moment's notice. Homeowners or business owners wishing to equip themselves for battling a surprise snow storm can outfit a snow plow mount on an old pickup truck at a fairly reasonable cost; snow plow prices for this type retrofit are around $1200 to $1500.
A snow removal tractor - an old farm tractor outfitted with a snow blade - can be just as affordable and will get the job done quickly and efficiently.
Commercial Snow Removal; a Big Business
On the commercial side, snow removal is also referred to as “snow and ice management.†It is a huge multi-billion dollar industry with its own professional trade association.
The Snow and Ice Management Association (SIMA) is described as a “nonprofit trade organization ensuring professionalism and safer communities by helping those who manage snow and ice master essential skills and practices.†They accomplish this through continuing education, certification, and a high level of standards and ethics demanding that business activities be carried out with maximum integrity, skill, safety, and fairness.
Whether a large corporate industry or a moderately sized local company, when a snow storm hits it is crucial to keep businesses accessible and safe, with quick and thorough snow removal efforts. It is for that reason most large businesses use a large professional snow removal contractor rather than a “neighborhood good old boy†with his pickup truck snowplow.
Snow removal cost can vary greatly, from one geographical area to the next. Since most large commercial snow removal service contractors offer a lump sum seasonal rate for large businesses, actual cost will depend on what the average snowfall is for that locality. Provision is usually factored into the cover cost for extra or unexpected large snow fall.
Another way a snow removal company might calculate the price of snow removal is by the “push.†The amount could be several hundred to several thousand dollars for a one-time snow removal event; depending on size and scope of job. The final way snow removal cost might be calculated is by the hour. Cost of $50 to well over $100 per hour is typical for a single piece of large equipment.
In localities with extreme snow fall where several feet of snow can quickly pile up, another area of concern besides snow plowing is snow burden on roof structures. Several feet of snow can overload and collapse a roof; removal of the snow must be done to avoid such disasters.
Removing snow from a roof poses different safety hazards than standard snow removal. Roofs are icy and slick; pitched roofs make the task even more difficult to undertake safely. Many roofing contractors offer roof snow removal services. Prudent homeowners will enlist their services rather than risk serious injury by attempting roof snow removal themselves.
Homeowners and Small Business Owners; Coping With the Task
Homeowners and small business owners can avoid the strenuous task of having to get up at 5 AM to shovel snow out of the driveway - just to get to work. In addition to the snow removal truck option mentioned earlier, homeowners wishing to avoid the high cost of commercial snow removal services have other equipment choices that are more affordable.
Just about every hardware store in the snow belt showcases a selection of gasoline powered snow blowers and lawn tractor snow plow equipment each fall. Expect to pay $150 to $600 for small-size electric snow blowers; $800 to $1500 for mid-size to larger gasoline powered auger snow blowers.
Garden tractors can vary vastly in price; from just over $1000 to $5000, depending on size and number of attachments included.
Some outdoor enthusiasts fabricate a homemade snow plow utilizing an ATV 4-wheeler outfitted with a snow plow blade. Snow plow prices are very affordable with snow plow blade kits for ATV use, starting at $150 to about $300.
Locate a Snow Removal Professional
Homeowners wishing to avoid the hassle of snow removal altogether can locate a Denver snow removal or Colorado Springs snow removal contractor at TrustedPros.com; where finding reliable local contractors is a snap.
Homeowners sign up without any cost or obligation whatsoever. They can post their Cincinnati snow removal or Maryland snow removal project online where it is immediately visible to local contractors 24/7. Local contractor members also receive instant e-mail notification of new project listings, and provide competitive bids in days - even hours after project posting.
Homeowners can view detailed contractor information 24/7. Including company profile, references, licensing/insurance/certification credentials, customer feedback and comments, and photos of recently completed projects. And then make an informed hiring decision, or hire no one at all. Remember, there is no obligation.
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