Six Questions for Every Snow Removal Company
Write down each answer. It makes the quotes much easier to compare later.
The Scope
Get a list of every area they will clear and salt: lots, drive lanes, walks, entrances, ramps, loading docks and fire routes.
The Trigger
Ask how much snow it takes before they come out, and what they do about freezing rain with no snow to plow.
Equipment and Backup
Find out which machines and how many shovellers they will bring. Ask what happens if a plow breaks down mid-storm.
Insurance
Ask for proof of liability insurance and WSIB coverage. Get the amount, not just a yes.
Records
They should log every visit with the time and the work done. You may need that log if someone falls.
A Site Walk
A good company comes out before the season to see the lot, the curbs, the drains and where the piles can go.
Response Times and Storm Plans
Ask how the company decides when to send a crew. Some go out at a set depth of snow, others watch the forecast and salt before the storm.
Then ask what happens during a long storm. How often do they come back? Which areas do they clear first? Entrances, fire routes and accessible parking spots should come before the far corners of the lot.
Find out who you call at 5 a.m. if the lot is still white, and how fast that person answers.
Compare Contract Terms and Pricing
Commercial snow removal is usually sold as a seasonal contract, per visit or by the size of each snowfall. A seasonal price is easy to budget. Per-visit pricing can cost less in a mild winter and much more in a snowy one.
Compare the contracts line by line, not just the totals. Check salting, hauling and the trigger depth, since a low price may leave one of them out. Our guide to seasonal snow removal contracts covers the terms in more detail.
Warning Signs When You Hire
Be careful with a company that quotes without seeing the site. The same goes for one with no proof of insurance or no answer about records.
Vague answers about salting and snow piles are a warning too. So is a contract that does not list the areas to be cleared.
Commercial Snow Removal With Outwash
Our snow removal is only for commercial properties in Toronto, such as retail plazas, office buildings and industrial complexes. We plow and clear parking lots, sidewalks and entryways, and use salt and sand against ice. Where space is short, we haul the snow off-site.
Before the season, we inspect the site and mark hazards such as curbs and speed bumps. Our standard trigger is 2.5 cm, and we can set a different depth for your property. Every visit is logged with the time.
Our crews are trained, uniformed, in-house staff. Outwash carries $5 million in liability insurance and WSIB coverage. See our page on commercial snow removal in Toronto.
Commercial Snow Removal Questions
Can’t find your question below? Call us at 1-647-224-2064.
How do I choose a commercial snow removal company?
Ask each one the same questions about scope, trigger depth, salting, storm plans, insurance and records. Then compare the answers line by line, and walk the site with them before you sign.
Do you only clear commercial properties?
Yes. We do snow removal for businesses only: retail plazas, office buildings, industrial complexes and other commercial sites in Toronto.
When do your crews start clearing?
Once the snow reaches the trigger depth. Ours is 2.5 cm, and you can ask for a higher or lower depth.
Who does the work?
Our own crews of trained, uniformed, in-house staff. They are covered by WSIB and by our $5 million liability insurance.
Related Services
See what else we do for commercial properties through the year.
Planning the budget? Read how much snow removal costs.
Send Us a Message. We’d Love to Help.
Tell us about your property and we’ll send you a free quote. Prefer to talk? Call us at 1-647-224-2064.
Toronto, Ontario M5C 1C4