Snow Clearing 101 and FAQ's

At Weisburg we know how valuable communication is. We are always trying to come up with ways to be helpful and transparent in the eyes of the HOA's and commercial properties where we perform snow clearing services. We were recently at a lunch with a property management company, and it was brought to our attention that it might be helpful for them to have an info document that they could include in their newsletters, that would help explain the basics of our snow clearing procedures. This is what we came up with... enjoy!

Snow Clearing 101

• Each unique HOA/property has a snow contract with Weisburg that details the exact scope of snow clearing work that we are to complete. The only exception is if your HOA  point of contact/representative for snow directs us to do something (or not do something) that is normally in the contract. (more on this later)*
• During storms, we only perform preliminary rough plowing, and treat zero-tolerance properties and other immediate hazards.
• It is policy to wait until snow has stopped completely before we begin full clears. This is because if we go out and perform services before the storm stops, we would likely need to return to the property to do the same services again. This causes a higher than necessary invoice and is not an efficient way to use our resources.
• WLM cannot take special snow removal requests from individual homeowners. All requests must    go through the HOA or property manager. We cannot complete any work that is not approved due to liability issues and billing restrictions.
• In extreme blizzard-like conditions, snow workers may not be able to work safely when the wind chill factor drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Weisburg reserves the right to temporarily halt snow clearing operations on individual driveways, walkways, and steps when weather conditions pose a risk to worker safety.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Weisburg know when to begin snow clearing services?
 
Your HOA has two options in their contract when it comes to initiation of services: Automatically, or initiated by the HOA point of contact.

Automatically: If this option is selected, Weisburg will initiate shoveling services within 24 hours of the end of any snowstorm. These services are based on thresholds and other specifics in the snow contract that is unique to each HOA. Some properties have low thresholds where we shovel even if there is only a trace amount of snowfall. This is usually hand shoveling of North facing areas and mailboxes. Other properties may have thresholds of  4" or more, where Weisburg would have to wait until accumulation reaches that 4" before we could perform services. There are also thresholds for plowing, and drifts. If you have any questions about what the thresholds are for your HOA, please contact your property manager or an HOA board member.
 
Initiated by HOA point of contact: For properties that have chosen the option to initiate snow services themselves, Weisburg will wait until we get a phone call or email before we begin services. We will then respond within a reasonable amount of time, but priority is given to customers which have automatic services.
 
* In some cases, the HOA point of contact will contact Weisburg and give directions that don't match up with normal thresholds. For example, the HOA point of contact may request that we not shovel or plow lower priority areas until directed to, or not at all. This could be to save money, or other extenuating circumstances.  If you see areas that are normally serviced go untreated for a lengthy amount of time, please contact your HOA point of contact for snow; they may have given us directions that differ from the regular snow contract.
How does Weisburg manage to meet contract expectations in cases of prolonged snowstorms and heavy snow events of 6" or more?

When these situations arise, our focus is "rough plowing" based off of the following priorities:
• Priority 1 - Rough Plowing of roadway driving lanes if specified.  Plowing may have to be performed several times due to equipment limitations. 
• Priority 2 - Rough Hand Work if specified.  Note: individual driveways and walks at HOAs are usually not cleared until snow diminishes or stops.
• Priority 3 - Rough application of salting chemicals if specified.
 
Then as the storm diminishes or stops completely, our focus is to do a final clearing based off the following priorities:
• Priority 1 - Plowing of roadway driving lanes to reasonable width, if specified.      Driveways will often be back-dragged with plows rather than hand-shoveled.  In most cases, plowing will precede hand shoveling. 
• Priority 2 - Hand shoveling on sidewalks and individual driveways. When accumulation exceeds 6 inches or when drift conditions exist, snow shoveling may be delayed due  to labor limitations. 
• Priority 3 - Application of salting chemicals to specified surfaces after snow is cleared if slippery conditions exist. 
• Priority 4 - Lower-Use Common Area Sidewalks if specified (i.e. walkways that are not in close proximity to building or home entrances). 
 
Why are there still big piles of snow on my property after snow clearing services have been completed?  (What's the difference between snow clearing and snow removal?)
 
Unfortunately it is common vernacular to use the term "snow removal", when really the appropriate term is "snow clearing" - Weisburg does not "remove" snow from properties. We clear the snow from streets and walkways and place it in designated areas. These areas are usually downhill, in South and West facing areas with lots of sun exposure so they will melt quickly. We try to avoid pushing piles into shady areas and uphill to avoid freeze-thaw situations as much as possible.
In terms of blizzards or very heavy snow, these designated areas become full and we have to push snow wherever is available. We will remove and haul away excess snow piles during final clearing if requested/deemed necessary by the HOA (this is rare).
 
What should I do if I feel that the snow clearing services where I live are not meeting my expectations?
 
Get in touch with your HOA board or property manager to clarify any confusion that may exist about what the snow clearing contract dictates. Each HOA makes decisions based on the best interests of their residents while keeping the budget in mind. We renew snow contracts annually, however contracts may be amended at any time to reflect any changes that might be required to meet the needs of each HOA.