Before the next winter season arrives in Wisconsin, particularly in Madison, Milwaukee, and other cities, it's important to first know what to expect from the weather. Secondly, you need to know what to expect from your commercial snow removal services company.
At Earth Development, Inc., our snow removal experts always recommend that business owners in Wisconsin have a good grasp of the winter forecast and what to expect from the weather to keep site conditions safe and functional. We also recommend ensuring you understand the full scope of the snow removal company you choose to serve your commercial property.
Whether you’re in logistics, run a hospital or medical facility, or you manage a retail outlet, these are important things to know before the winter weather arrives.
Why Are Professional Snow Removal Services So Important?
Using a professional snow plow service for snow removal services ensures your parking lot, entryways, and sidewalks are clear and safe to use. Residential and commercial snow plowing can save you significant time and effort in the big picture. Snow removal experts will arrive at your property before, during, and after adverse winter weather events and your employees can focus on doing their jobs and keeping your business running properly. Our team has outlined only some of the benefits of using a professional snow removal service for your business.
Forget About Lawsuits
Did you know that as a property owner, you’re legally required to keep your grounds safe and accessible at all times? Whether there’s one inch or one foot of snow on the ground, it can pose a danger to those on your property.
In the case that a customer or employee becomes injured on your property due to lingering snow and ice, it could result in a hefty personal injury lawsuit that could wipe out your business altogether.
Hiring a professional snow removal company can take this stress off your plate and allow you to focus on other areas of your business.
Save Resources for More Important Things
Regardless of the type of business you run, having a foot of snow blanketed over your parking lot or front entryway can be a hassle for your customers and employees. You may find that employees are calling out of their shift more frequently, or the volume of customers has plummeted due to dangerous conditions.
Ensure your business continues operating at full functionality with proactive commercial snow and ice management rather than relying on DIY snow removal.
Always Stay Open for Customers
One of the biggest misconceptions as a business owner in the Midwest is the idea that you’ll be able to handle all snow removal on your own. In reality, the area gets so much snowfall annually that it can be difficult to keep up with removal through tactics such as snow plowing or ice management.
If you aren’t proactive in snow and ice removal, you might need to temporarily close your business’ doors or amend your hours to keep up with the continuous snow. Hiring a professional team with the tools and workforce equipped to handle all amounts of snow can help you avoid this stress.
This will keep your business operating throughout the peak of winter and means that you'll always be available when your customers need you the most.
Key Elements of Professional Snow Removal
Snow removal services are invaluable when the winter comes – helping keep your employees and customers safe, and ensuring the local community has full access you're your business.
Let's take a look at the services you should expect from a reliable snow removal service.
#1. Snow Plowing
The first job is sidewalk management and road snow plowing. These services keep your outdoor surfaces clear of snow by removing build-up that may occur overnight or during the day.
Unplowed roads and parking lots present a risk of cars sliding and hitting one another and may cause injuries to pedestrians. With the right snow plow, however, a snow removal professional can make light work of the snow on the ground and can provide snow hauling services and lay salt or sand to provide additional grip.
#2. Snow Removal or Snow Hauling
A commercial snow plow service should also offer snow removal or snow hauling services. This is the second step in clearing snow from your property, removing the snow piles that are created when plowing snow.
If there's nowhere on your property to safely store a snow pile, or if there's simply too much snow, a snow removal company will be able to haul and remove that snow away from your property entirely. This is a great way to avoid the build-up of ice that forms from the meltwater that snow piles often produce.
#3. Emergency Snow Removal
While regular snow removal is important and typically helps you stay on top of snow build-up on your property, winters in the Midwest are unpredictable and you never know when you might need an emergency snow shoveling service.
A good contractor will always monitor the weather and knows when to take pre-emptive action, and when to arrive at your property to clear a sudden build-up of snow.
Emergencies can happen at any time of day, and sudden winter storms can significantly harm your business in terms of foot traffic or accidents if your property is not quickly cleared by a snow shoveling service.
#4. Snow & Ice Management
Snow and ice management is just as important as snow removal. In fact, they might be even more important.
This process involves using de-icing solutions, ranging from various liquid de-icers to traditional salt, which lowers the freezing point of water and prevents snow and ice build-up on your outdoor surfaces.
You absolutely can use too much deicer. Whether you’re applying it yourself or our Earth Development team is treating your property, it’s always important to remember that too much deicer can cause a slushy, goopy mess. It’s always best to treat surfaces before the ice forms instead of splashing large quantities of deicer on existing snow and ice.
Don't stress, our team will never do that. We know how to safely deice a surface even after heavy snowfall and if you haven’t taken preventative measures.
#5. Parking Lots Snow Removal
Parking lot snow removal is particularly important as it dictates how many people can enter your store or access your services. However, it also indicates your level of commitment to the local community. Your business will be more memorable if you truly take the time to keep customers safe.
Any good contractor will be able to handle your entire parking lot, whether it's large or small, and ensure that snow piles are left in perfectly safe places or the snow is removed entirely to prevent accidents.
Parking lot snow removal can be a big task, and a good snowplow company will have the tools required to do the job well.
#6. Roads Snow Removal
We can't forget the roads. If you run a business somewhere like Madison or Kenosha, you'll know how bad the roads can get. And if the roads around your property need private snow plowing services and snow blowing, you'll need to know that your team is fully equipped. Road maintenance is key to any business staying open, and you can't tackle it alone.
#7. Sidewalks & Entryways Snow Removal
Not only does clearing your sidewalks and entryways help you avoid slips and falls, but it also improves the customer experience and shows that you're committed to providing a quality service or product and a safe environment for the people who frequent your store.
Any snow removal and ice management company you employ to handle your winter snow and ice management needs should provide thorough sidewalk snow removal services using snow blowers. It's important for your customers but it's also important for your company. Removing snow on site can help maintain a good reputation and prevent liability issues. In addition, the Americans with Disability Act requires that your entryways be accessible at all times.
How to Choose Snow Removal Service for Your Business
Choosing the right snow removal company is crucial for businesses in snow-prone regions. Using the following factors to determine which snow removal company can best assist you and your business.
1. Mind the Commercial Property Type
As a starting point, evaluate the needs of your commercial property. Do you have a multi-unit residential property or a singular business that requires snow removal? The size of your property will dictate the volume of snow removal necessary.
Examples of commercial property types include:
Snow Removal for Offices
When selecting a snow and ice removal company for an office building, look for experienced professionals with commercial-grade equipment to handle large paved areas to remove snow. Ensure they offer 24/7 service, rapid response times, and environmentally safe ice-melting products for worker safety and uninterrupted business operations.
Snow Removal for Retail Shops
Retail stores need reliable snow removal providers who can clear parking lots, sidewalks, and access areas quickly to maintain safe access for customers. Look for companies with sufficient staff and equipment to provide prompt snow-clearing services during store operating hours throughout the winter.
Snow Removal for Multi-Family Properties
When selecting a snow removal service for an apartment complex or condo building, seek companies experienced in working efficiently across large properties with many roadways, parking spots, and walkways. Ensure they can provide rapid response and continuous snow clearing for safe tenant accessibility.
Snow Removal for Hotels & Hospitality Businesses
Hotels and hospitality venues should choose snow removal companies with commercial-grade equipment like snow blowers and plows to rapidly clear driveways, parking lots, and walkways. Prompt snow clearing keeps guest access safe and maintains a tidy, welcoming appearance during winter months.
2. Consider the Size of the Property to Protect it from Snow and Ice
The bigger your property is, the more proactive you should be in getting the snow and ice removed from your property. Small properties don’t require the same number of commercial snow removal employees that larger corporations do.
Keep in mind that the size of your property will impact the price of the project. This is always a price worth paying for your peace of mind and to keep your employees and customers safe.
3. Check Required Inventory
Commercial snow removal companies should also book jobs based on the inventory of their equipment. Beyond shovels and regular snow plows, we utilize commercial snow plows for larger properties. This allows us to effectively and safely remove large amounts of snow in a small amount of time.
4. Consider the Number of High-Priority Areas
While it’s important to keep your entire property free from snow and ice, some areas are a higher priority than others. Before deciding on what snow removal company to assist your business, make sure there is a clear understanding of what areas should be worked on first. Some cities have removal requirements such as roofs, outdoor stairways, etc.
Typically, we work on front entryways, sidewalks, and parking areas first, as these are integral to the functionality of your business. Once finished, we'll work on other areas that don’t receive as much foot traffic.
5. Choose the Right Contract Type
Do you need one-off services or a dedicated team committed to your snow removal needs? Be mindful that different companies have different types of contracts, and choose the option that's best for your business.
Make Earth Development Your First Choice for Snow Removal This Winter
Businesses across the Midwest need to know what a snow removal and ice management company can handle – and at Earth Development, we provide snow removal services including all of the above to businesses across a wide range of industries and of all sizes. From snow plowing to snow and ice management, we can handle it all. Winter storms and heavy snow are no match for our team!
For commercial snow and ice management from a snow removal contractor you can count on, and a local team of professionals ready whenever you need them, get a quote today!
