Snow Shovelling and Snow Blowing in Winnipeg
Snow blowers for open driveways, hand shovelling for steps, tight corners and gates, matched to what each part of your property needs.
Winnipeg Residential Snow Removal uses a snow blower where the ground is open and a shovel where it is not, and most Winnipeg properties have both kinds of ground. A wide driveway suits a machine. A set of front steps, a gap beside a parked car and the strip along a garage door do not.
Choosing the right tool for each part is most of the job. A machine works fast on a long run of snow, but it leaves a rough edge and it cannot reach the places people actually walk on first.
Where does a snow blower make sense?
A blower earns its keep on long, flat, open surfaces, such as a double driveway, a path along the side of the house or a back walk that runs the length of the lot. It moves a lot of snow in a short time and throws it clear of the cleared strip.
It works best on a fresh fall of light snow. The deeper and heavier the snow, the more passes it needs, and a very wet snowfall can clog the chute. We watch for that and switch to shovelling when a machine would just smear the snow around.
In West St. Paul, which runs from Middlechurch up to Rivercrest, a long driveway is a job for the blower. The steps and doorways on the same property still need hand work.
When is a shovel the only thing that works?
A shovel is the right tool wherever a machine cannot turn, reach or tell where the surface stops. That list is longer than people expect:
- Steps and porches. Treads and landings are cleared by hand, edge to edge.
- Decks and raised walks. A machine can catch boards and railings.
- Gates and narrow side yards. Too tight to turn a blower around.
- The gap beside a vehicle. Close work next to a car or a bin.
- Corners and edges. The blower leaves a ridge that a shovel squares off.
Hand work also gives a cleaner finish. Snow left on a step is the part that turns to ice by evening, so we take that surface down to the tread.
How do we finish the job after the machine pass?
The machine does the bulk of the clearing, then someone with a shovel goes back over the property. The last pass squares the edges of the driveway, clears the ends where the street plow leaves its ridge and takes the steps down to the surface.
That ridge at the end of the drive is the heavy part. Under the City of Winnipeg’s snow clearing policy, windrows left across private approaches by sidewalk plows are the property owner’s to remove. We cover that in our windrow clearing work, and it is usually shovel and muscle, not machine.
Can I book it for one storm, or all winter?
Both. If you only want help after the bigger snowfalls, book per-visit snow removal and call when you need us. If you would rather not think about it, a seasonal contract puts the property on our route for the whole winter.
Either way, we agree up front on what gets cleared and with which tool. That is the same list whether it is the first snowfall of November or the last one in March.
What should I tell you before the first snowfall?
A few details change how we clear a property, and it helps to mention them when you ask for a quote:
- Surface type. Asphalt, concrete, interlock, patio stone or gravel.
- Loose or uneven spots. Heaved pavers, a gravel edge, a crack at the garage door.
- Where snow can go. The corners of the lot where a pile will not block a window, a gas meter or the next storm.
- Anything buried. Garden edging, a hose bib, a low light or a bird feeder pole.
With that on file, the first visit goes the way the tenth one will. We also clear driveways and sidewalks and walkways as their own jobs if that is all you need.
Get the right tool on your property this winter
Tell us about the driveway, the walks and the steps, and we will say which parts get the machine and which get the shovel. Ask for a quote before the first real snowfall.
What's Included
- Snow blowing for wide, open driveways and long walks
- Hand shovelling for steps, porches, decks and gates
- Edges and corners finished by hand after the machine pass
- Light, dry snow and heavy wet snow handled differently
- Can be booked per visit or added to a seasonal plan
Other Services We Offer in Winnipeg
Snow Shovelling and Snow Blowing Questions
Do I need both a snow blower and a shovel for my property?
Most properties need both. A blower handles the long, open runs of driveway and walkway quickly, but it cannot work on steps, tight gaps beside a car or the corner of a deck. Those get shovelled by hand.
Is snow blowing or shovelling better for heavy, wet snow?
Shovelling in lighter passes usually works better on heavy, wet snow, because it can clog a blower and leave a slushy trail behind. We pick the tool when we see the snow. A dry, light fall in January is a different job from a wet March dump.
What is the easiest way to clear snow from a driveway?
For most homeowners, a snow blower on a flat, paved driveway, with the edges and the end of the drive finished by shovel. Gravel and uneven surfaces call for care so the machine does not throw stones. If the plow has left a ridge at the end, that part is shovel and muscle work.
Will a snow blower damage my interlock or gravel driveway?
It can if it is set too low. We raise the skid shoes on interlock, patio stones and gravel so the blades clear the snow without scraping the surface. If you tell us about loose stones or uneven pavers when we quote, we plan around them.
How much does snow shovelling and blowing cost in Winnipeg?
It depends on the size of the driveway, the length of the walks, how many steps there are and how often you want us. Our [cost guide](/blog/snow-removal-cost-winnipeg/) explains what moves the price, and a quote for your property gives you the actual figure.
Get a Free Snow Shovelling and Snow Blowing Quote
Ask for a free quote for this winter. Tell us what needs clearing and we will tell you how we would handle it.