Why Professional Snow Removal Services Are Essential for Your Business
When the snow starts falling, it's not just homeowners who need to break out the shovels—businesses also face serious challenges. For commercial property owners and managers, winter weather poses a significant threat to safety, accessibility, and even profitability. That’s why professional snow removal services are more than just a convenience—they’re a necessity.
The impact of winter weather extends to the physical infrastructure of a commercial property as well. Accumulated snow and ice can damage sidewalks, parking lots, and building foundations over time. The freeze-thaw cycle exacerbates these issues, leading to cracks, potholes, and costly repairs. Proactive snow removal helps mitigate these risks and protects a business's valuable assets.
That’s why professional snow removal services, like those offered by Creation Landscaping & Lawn Care, are far more than just a convenience—they’re a fundamental necessity for any business operating in a region prone to winter weather. We understand the critical importance of maintaining a safe, open, and accessible environment, regardless of the conditions.
Remember: it’s never too early in the year to be thinking about this issue! Finding a snow removal service takes time; the most reputable services get booked up quickly, so you should plan ahead over the summer. We’ve written this blog to help you make the critical decisions necessary to hire a snow removal service.
Let’s get plowing!
Safety First! Preventing Slips, Falls, and Accidents
Snow and ice create hazardous conditions that can lead to serious accidents on your property. For businesses, this risk is amplified by the number of people coming and going throughout the day. Customers, employees, and delivery drivers are all at risk if walkways, parking lots, and entryways aren’t properly cleared.
In Pennsylvania, slips and falls on ice are a significant cause of injuries, with over 20% of falls on snow and ice resulting in strains, sprains, fractures, or dislocations.
Professional snow removal services focus on timely and thorough snow and ice removal to minimize the risk of slips and falls, not only protecting the people visiting your property but also your reputation. A safe property reflects a business that cares about its people, employees, and customers alike.
Maintaining Accessibility for Customers, Employees, and Deliveries
Accessibility isn’t just about complying with ADA standards—it’s also about maintaining normal business operations. If your parking lot isn’t plowed or your sidewalks are icy, customers may be unable or unwilling to visit your location. Employees may struggle to arrive on time, and deliveries could be delayed or canceled.
For hourly employees, having ice and snow cleared off the premises is crucial, as employers are typically not required to pay them for hours not worked due to closures or weather-related absences. Unplowed and icy conditions affect not only employee morale and safety but also profitability, business reputation, and customer satisfaction.
When you work with a professional snow removal company, you ensure that access points remain clear, allowing your business to run smoothly. Timely plowing and de-icing help prevent disruptions to your operations and make it easy for people to come and go.
Avoiding Costly Liability Issues
Untreated snow and ice can expose your business to significant liability. If someone gets injured on your property due to negligence in snow or ice removal, you could face legal action and steep financial consequences.
Personal injury attorneys recommend that commercial property owners conduct regular and thorough inspections to identify and rectify hazardous conditions. This is because commercial property owners have more responsibilities than private property owners, as they directly benefit from activities that occur on their property.
Having a professional snow removal company on your side helps mitigate that risk. Not only do these companies have the equipment and training to do the job right, but they are required to document their services, providing proof that your property was maintained responsibly and on schedule. This documentation can be critical in defending against liability claims.
Professional Equipment and Expertise Make a Difference
Not all snow removal is created equal. Your maintenance staff might be able to handle a slight dusting with a shovel or snowblower, but what happens when a significant storm hits overnight?
Professional snow removal companies invest in high-powered equipment designed specifically for clearing large commercial properties. From plow trucks to salt spreaders, a snow removal fleet is expected to be equipped to handle whatever winter brings. Even more importantly, we have the expertise to assess conditions, prioritize areas based on safety and use, and execute a strategic snow management plan.
The Value of a Snow Removal Plan
One of the most important things a business can do is prepare for winter weather before it arrives. That means having a commercial snow removal plan in place early in the season.
Planning also allows the service to assess your property in advance. By identifying key access points, high-traffic areas, and any unique challenges to be aware of, they’ll be ready when winter weather strikes.
When you contract with a professional snow removal company, you should expect priority service during storms. Once the snow starts falling, you ought to be confident that you are already on their schedule. It isn’t a basic expectation, but a non-negotiable. As the property owner, your focus should be on managing your property, rather than being distracted by spending precious time clearing snow.
Custom Service for Your Property’s Unique Needs
No two properties are the same, so a competent snow removal service should offer customized snow removal services to fit a property’s layout and traffic patterns.
Whether you operate a retail store, a medical clinic, a warehouse, or an office park, we assess your space and design a snow removal strategy tailored to your needs. That includes:
- Priority access for entrances and ADA-compliant ramps. Snow removal is considered priority work. In addition to entrances and accessibility ramps, all routes of access to entrances, as well as pavements and sidewalks, are also prioritized.
- Strategic salting to prevent ice buildup in high-risk zones. Strategies such as applying liquid brine before storms can significantly reduce the amount and need for granular salt after the snow is cleared, resulting in lower costs, less waste, and less damage to pavement, concrete, roads, vehicles, and the environment.
- Scheduled plowing based on your business hours. A snow removal company’s reputation largely depends on its reliability and ability to fulfil its contractual obligations. In addition to plowing properties on time, some companies even maintain emergency contact numbers during the winter, with live personnel available to respond to calls 24/7.
A Snow Plan Beyond Winter
The thing about snow management is you’ll always have a reminder of your battle against Old Man Winter, even long after spring has returned. That’s because the excess road salt will wind up in your landscaping, damaging grass and plants.
The good news is that some snow removal services double as landscaping companies during the warmer months. While it may sound like a conspiracy, it’s actually in their interest not to oversalt and kill your plants. Other than the fact that it’s plain dishonest, oversalting means they’ve wasted a lot of money on precious salt, which they’ll have to spend time and effort fixing the damage during landscaping season.
Having the same company handle your landscaping and snow removal is good business—you’ll likely get a price break from having both services, you’ll build a relationship with this company, they’ll know your expectations, and the company gets to know your property more intimately, leading to better service year-round.
Interestingly, while most snow removal companies only offer limited landscaping services in the summer, such as lawn mowing and tree trimming, professional landscapers often transition into snow removal during the winter months. It makes sense—they get to supplement their income while working on property they’re already very familiar with.
So, if you’re looking for quality snow removal, find out if they’re primarily professional landscapers, such as your friendly landscaping pros at Creation Landscaping!
Conclusion
Winter weather can be unpredictable, but your business operations don’t have to be. By choosing professional snow removal services, you invest in the safety, accessibility, and success of your business.
At Creation Landscaping, we’re here to help you take on winter with confidence. Contact us today to learn more about our commercial snow removal plans and get prepared before the first flake falls.
With a professional company like Creation Landscaping, you get priority service during storms. Instead of scrambling to find help after the snow starts falling, you'll already be on our schedule. We monitor forecasts, prepare the equipment, and keep you informed to ensure you know what to expect.
Every property is different, and cookie-cutter solutions rarely deliver the results your business needs. At Creation Landscaping, we’ll tailor our snow removal services to fit your property’s layout and traffic patterns. You won’t need to wake up early to check the forecast or coordinate emergency plowing. You won’t have to rely on untrained staff or last-minute service calls. We’ll take care of the snow so that you can take care of business.
Contact us today and let it snow—we’ll take care of the rest!