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Snow clearance in Ann Arbor

Snow removal firms and roofers.

16 pros in Ann Arbor

Snow clearance in Ann Arbor comes with a clock attached. If you own or occupy a residential property, the city requires you to clear the adjacent sidewalks, concrete bus stop walks and crosswalk ramps within 24 hours after each snow accumulation greater than 1 inch ends, and to treat ice within 18 hours of it forming. Street plowing is a separate matter: the city aims to treat or plow all streets within 24 hours of an average 4-inch storm, but in significant events plowing every residential neighbourhood can take several days. That gap is why many people look for help with driveways and walks. When you hire, ask whether the crew will reach your sidewalk and ramps inside the 24-hour window, and whether ice treatment within 18 hours is part of the job. Ask who handles roof snow and how they work around gutters and power lines. After the ice storm that hit in and around Ann Arbor, it is also worth asking how a crew will respond when ice and damage slow everything down. Get the scope and response times in writing.

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What to know in Ann Arbor

  • In a severe ice storm, DTE said Washtenaw County saw ice up to three-quarters of an inch, with the largest accumulation in and around Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor's fire department reported major damage to the city's electrical infrastructure and one of its highest call-for-service shifts in its history.

    WWJ Newsradio 950 (Audacy) (source, opens in a new tab)

Before you hire

  1. Put it in a written contract: the work, price, deposit, start and finish dates, warranty, permits and clean-up. Paying cash to skip it leaves you no recourse.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  2. Ask about liability insurance and workers’ compensation cover before anyone works on your roof or property.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  3. Get written quotes from at least three contractors for the same work, and check references from recent clients.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

Questions about hiring in Ann Arbor

How soon do I have to clear the sidewalk in Ann Arbor?

Residential owners or occupants must clear adjacent sidewalks, concrete bus stop walks and crosswalk ramps within 24 hours after the end of each snow accumulation greater than 1 inch. Ice must be treated within 18 hours of forming. If you hire someone, make sure their schedule meets those deadlines. City of Ann Arbor (source, opens in a new tab)

Will the city plow my street before a contractor can reach my driveway?

The city's goal is to treat or plow all streets within 24 hours of an average 4-inch storm. In significant events, residential neighbourhoods can take several days. Ask any driveway plow service how they handle the pile left at the end of your driveway and when they will come back. City of Ann Arbor (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a snow clearance quote or contract include?

Ask for the areas covered (driveway, walks, ramps, roof), the snowfall depth that triggers a visit, expected response times, how ice is treated, and how repeat visits are billed. Ask about insurance for damage to property. Get all of this in writing before the first storm.

How do I compare quotes from different snow removal services?

Compare like with like: the same areas, the same trigger depth, and the same response times. Ask whether ice treatment and roof snow removal are included or extra, and whether the service is per visit or seasonal. A lower quote may cover less work than a higher one.

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