Planning for snow clearing. Shall it be contractor or snow blower?

[GTA refugee]

I am planning for snow clearing this winter. I understand that some of the snow clearing contractors are pretty steamed from last winter. Some of them charged $200 for the winter and had to spend that much getting to and cleaning the driveways. Some of the contractors want to put into their agreements that if the snow fall reaches a certain maximum, they will add an additional charge for every 5 inches. or every snow fall. If anyone called for snow clearing contractors prices, please tell me what the price is and the conditions that are offered this year.
If I go the snow blower route, I have seen some pretty good deals on snow blowers. I saw at Maxi of all places, a 8 hp snow blower with remote chute that can be controlled from a lever for $849.

 

[master_bates]

Snow blower

Bought mine in august

 

[100XTC]

Good Luck With An 8hp Blower.todats 8 Hp Are Not As Strong As A 5 Hp From About 15 Years Ago.if The Snow Is Dry A 8 Hp Will Do The Job But Not For Heavy Wet Snow It Takes At Least 12 Hp.when The Snow Banks Are As High As Last Year You Will Never Get It On Top Of The Snow Banks With An 8hp.

 

[voyageur11]

Who will fix your snow blower if it broke Maxi?

 

[master_bates]

The manufacturer ^

 

[100XTC]

Theres a good chance the mfg is in japan they will not do any service.Even if it is made in canada say toronto you would have to pay the transport back & forth. If the mfg does any service witch most don't do.

 

[metoo4]

GTA, 10HP for a snow blower is the minimum around here. Anything lower you'll have to push and shove it around to do the job... Been there, did that... It's not worth it in aggravation, frustration and with all possible problems an overstressed blower might have. Nothing worst that blowing an engine when at -30 and 90% of the driveway left to do... As I said, been there, did that... Look at about $1200 for something of quality. I'm told Ariens are among the best. http://www.ariens.com/products_snow/s_deluxe_group.aspx

As far as a contractor or a blower, well, it depends:
1- How much time can you afford for snow removal?
2- Are you in good physical shape?
3- Contractors have other customers, how early and fast do you need to get out?
4- Lots of snow mean lots of space needed to put it. Last year, some contractors with 4X4 and blade ended-up piling the snow from driveways in the streets. This is illegal in most cities and caused the owners of the driveways who's snow ended-up in the street to get nice fines of a few hunderd $... Some streets were so narrow because of this, emergency vehicules didn't fit anymore! So you have to ensure your contractor have access to some kind of backoe or truck-fixed snow thrower. That ensure the snow will be left on your lot or carried to a dump site. Of course, this usually demand a premium over a simple 4X4 with blade. This is a problem you'll likely not face with your own snow blower since you can plan at the beginning of the winter where your "snow dump" is on your lot.
4- Most if not all contractors will now have a "maximum precipitation" clause. I heard of a few guys last year who almost went belly-up and they don't want to take any risk anymore. This coming winter is supposed to be pretty much like last year from what I heard...
5- prices will vary widely but, for a quality, well equipped contractor who have commercial insurance (a blade can easily rip a house corner, you know! Try to have an "under-the-table" guy to reimburse that!) you can estimate over $300, and it still depends what size of driveway, how difficult it is to do and, of course, if you want the guy to also do balconies and sidewalks by hand...

 

[voyageur11]

Bought mine from a place in Laval. They sale and repair, pick up and deliver if you cant do it with your car. It take 2 or 3 days to fix and not 3 weeks like sears.

 

[GTA refugee]

8 HP snow blower.

I have a 20 x 60 flat driveway, I suspect that the 8 HP snow blower is enough for my needs. As far as brand goes. They all have the Brigs and stratton or techcumseh engines, so they are all prety mych the same machine. Except for the Honda snow throwers that are $more than 3 times the price of regular machines.

 

[voyageur11]

Did mine for years with a 8hp and i can park 10 cars in my driveway it all depand of how heavy the snow is and how far you can throw it away For the last 2 years i got a 11 hp and what a difference In my case more power is better

 

[master_bates]

I have a 9 hp Ariens, flat driveway

 

[metoo4]

I have a 20 x 60 flat driveway, I suspect that the 8 HP snow blower is enough for my needs. As far as brand goes. They all have the Brigs and stratton or techcumseh engines, so they are all prety mych the same machine. Except for the Honda snow throwers that are $more than 3 times the price of regular machines.

- Do you have enough space to put the snow close-by? If not, you need power to send it farther!
- In your street, are they pushing the snow in driveways or picking-up immediately? Sometimes, pushed snow turn into very solid stuff! Think about these Sunday mornings when you don't want to go out shoveling, that packed snow will have packed even more while waiting for you, needing more HP to move it out!
- Coming winter is supposed to be not that cold but, lots of snow. That mean heavy thick sticky snow! If it doesn't exit the chute fast enough, it will clog and make the job damn right dangerous, as you'll get fed-up with unclogging and might be tempted not to shut the engine... These belt-clutch sometimes keep moving a bit when not engaged, too bad for fingers...
- All snow-blowers have break-away bolts on the auger. These are to protect the blower in case of overstress. A smaller blower will have to work harder, making these even smaller bolts break easier. It's bad having a thrower who work only one side "à-la-Jean-Chrétien" plus, you'll have to replace the damn bolt at some point!

Don't get me wrong! Smaller will do the trick! But is it worth the aggravation?

 

[MakeIt]

How can you beat a contractor?

GTA

Been using a contractor for about 10 years now. This was first year that I got a significant increase. I now pay about 230 tax in for a double driveway, up from 205 last year. Guy shows up at least 3 times a day on heavy snowfalls. My entrance is always clear. Even with a snowblower, you have to consider the time and effort of doing this work yourself. It would take me at least 45 mins for a heavy snowfall when all is said and done - getting dressed for a heavy snowfall, going out and getting the snowblower out of its storage, making sure its got gas, getting ti started, doing the blowing (snow that is), cleaning and putting machine away, back to house, getting undressed, cleaning up all the snow, throwing all the wet stuff somewhere to dry - just writing this is making me tired. And that's at 6:30 AM. I come home from work and I have to start all over again!!!! No offense guys but the ROI doesn't work and I can find better things to do with my time than clear snow. $230 for the winter is a deal!

Makeit

 

[GTA refugee]

I am going to go the Blower and snow tent route.

I just picked up the blower today at MAXI it is a 8.5 HP Poulan blower with a tecumseh engine. It also has a light and a remote chute control to control the direction of the chute left and right, up and down. I am planning to get a double car tent and possibly a second single car tent.
As far as the contractor is concerned, I have heard that they are putting clauses into their contracts to charge more for each cleaning after so many inches of snow falll has occured over the winter. It is because 2 years ago, they stayed home most of the time and made money on the contracts. Last winter they spent all their money on gas cleaning snow and getting to the sites to clean the snow. So, the $200 contract could cost you $400 or $500 depending on the amount of snow that falls.

 

[MakeIt]

I already have my contract in place for this year. There is a limit for of 275 cms of snow for my contract which runs Nov 1 to April 1. The Average snowfall in Mtl is about 225 cm and last year was near record at about 375 cm. My contractor MAY charge me for snow in excess of 275 cm. If he does, it will be at a rate that is proportional to what he is currently charging me. This seems quite fair from my perspective. If he had applied the same terms last during our near record winter, I could have paid about an additional 90$. I believe there are some contractors out there who gouge their customers but then they don't stay as customers. I live in the suburbs and competition is strong around here but its not just about price, its also about service. I changed contractor 3 times before I found a reliable contractor.

Anyhow, good luck with your blower - it'll give new meaning to a BJ. I suppose with your tent, it'll be a CBJ - LOL.

BTW, I found that snowblowers and lawn mowers sell really well at garage sales in case you change you mind next year. (I also contract out my lawn mowing but that's a different discussion)