Everything You Should Know About Snow Removal in Madison, WI

Winter is coming! Do you have a plan in place for removing snow from your property as it piles up? 

Whether it's for your home or your business property, you need a great Madison snow removal service on-call. There are numerous reasons, from safety to convenience, to hire an experienced snow removal crew near you to handle the snow. 

In this blog, we'll go over everything you need to know, like why snow removal is so important, local Madison laws that apply, and what services you should expect when you call for snow removal.

I. Why Hire a Snow Removal Service in Madison?

Sure, snow removal is something that you could technically do yourself, but...

1 - It's difficult work

There's a reason most snow removal companies use large industrial snowplows and high-powered blowers. Trying to do snow removal using consumer-grade tools is exhausting, backbreaking work that can go on for hours... and then be undone by more snowfall by the end of the day!

This is one of those jobs where it really is easier to just leave it to the pros.

2 – It may be outside the scope for your employees

Businesses often inadvertently consume their employees’ valuable work time when they require them to engage in snow removal during the winter. Unless these employees were initially hired for groundskeeping purposes, it’s likely they lack formal training in snow removal. Consequently, businesses risk wasting their employees’ time and productivity, potentially leading to accidents on icy surfaces, which can be unfortunately common. 

(Took out legal liability point)

II. Local Madison Regulations

Along with the more general reasons that it's a good idea to hire a Madison snow removal service near you, there are also several regulations specific to Madison that you should keep in mind.

Ensuring access: Private homeowners are responsible for ensuring that snow on their property does not block access to their property, or that of their neighbors.

Curbside parking restrictions: During heavy snowfall, parking on the street is restricted so that municipal snowplows have access to the street. You need your driveway clear so you can park on your property, or else you could be ticketed or even have your car towed.

Clear sidewalks: If you have a public sidewalk running alongside your property, you are responsible for keeping it clear of snow, even if the sidewalk is owned by the city.

Hydrant access: If you have a fire hydrant on or near your property, you cannot allow snow or ice on your property to block access to it.

In other words, clearing the snow off your property isn't just a good idea - it's the law! A good snow removal crew in Madison can make it far easier to avoid expensive fines (or worse.)

III. Why Snow Removal in Madison is So Difficult

As mentioned above, removing snow is a difficult task – and Madison offers a lot of specific challenges that can add to your problems. A great snow removal service has the tools and skills to overcome these issues!

Extra heavy snowfall. Even in a good year, snowfall in Madison can be 50 inches or more. That makes for a lot of snow that needs to be relocated!

Unpredictable weather. Snow and ice storms can form quickly, with very little warning, dumping huge amounts in a short time that require fast response.

Narrow streets. Complicating the problem is that many of Madison's streets are extremely narrow. This limits where snow can be relocated to and can create difficulties even when hauling it off.

Numerous regulations. As you may have noticed, Madison has a lot of laws relating to snowfall. This requires diligence to stay within regulations!

Regular homeowners and business owners often have difficulty staying on top of these issues. Experienced professional snow-removers can make it much easier.

IV. What a Great Madison Snow Removal Service Can Do for You

When you do call for snow removal in Madison, what kinds of services can you receive?

1 - Snow plowing services 

Of course, any snow removal service is going to have snowplows capable of quickly clearing out large amounts of snow. This can be an excellent way of regaining access to your property or critical areas at a low cost.

2 - Parking lot snow removal

For businesses, it's critical to ensure that both your employees and your customers/guests have somewhere to park in the winter. A good snow removal service can plow through your parking lot early in the morning before business opens, so you're ready to go.

3 - Shoveling sidewalks and pathways 

Smaller areas like sidewalks and other paved paths also need attention. When necessary, a great snow removal crew can still break out the shovels to ensure the 'detail work' is done, and you can get around your property.

4 - Sanding and ice-removal services

Salt, sand, and other deicers are a must for Madison winters. Clearing snow is only half of the job, if there's a layer of ice beneath. Good snow removal services also offer de-icing so that your property remains safe to walk on.

5 - Contracted snow and ice management

For businesses, it may be best to contract with a Madison snow removal service for regular visits. They can work with you to find an optimal balance between visits and costs, so you can keep working no matter what the weather does.

Western Landscape Keeps Madison Snow-Free

While we're best known for our excellent landscaping services, in the winter we become one of Madison's most trusted snow removal experts. We have the tools and the talent to efficiently remove even huge amounts of snow, protecting your property and ensuring you're fully compliant with local Madison laws.

Contact us to make snow removal easy!

Repairing, Replacing, or Removing Retaining Walls - What You Should Know

Retaining walls (also called retention walls) are a unique form of hardscaping, because they aren't just for decoration. Most of the time, they also provide a very important function: holding back soil and preventing erosion.

So, if you're thinking about making any changes to your Madison retaining walls, make sure you have a carefully thought out plan. The changes shouldn't undo the work the wall is already doing. So, let's briefly talk about some options for your retaining wall.

I. Replacing a Retaining Wall in Madison

Retaining walls are under a lot of pressure 24/7 because they're constantly holding back a lot of soil, while also dealing with wind, rain, and other elemental factors. They will wear down over time. Typically, you'll see the wall starting to lean more and more. Or, sometimes, the individual retaining wall bricks will begin to fail, allowing the soil to seep through the wall.

This is when you should start looking into whether it's time to replace the wall. Once it starts leaning at an angle, it's going to be increasingly vulnerable to failure - especially from heavy rains. If that happens, you could have a real mess on your hands.

II. Repairing a Retaining Wall in Madison

Can retaining walls be repaired without replacing them? In many cases, yes, but it's going to be on a case-by-case basis. You'll want to consult with Madison retention wall experts before making any hard decisions.

If your retaining wall is made of brick, and the individual bricks are failing, these can often be replaced. Wooden walls, likewise, are usually segmented so that individual planks can be replaced without too much problem.

However, if the wall is concrete, repairing it will be more difficult depending on how cracked it's become.

III. Removing the Wall

This is something that should only be done with a lot of forethought, and with a plan to handle the landscape without the wall in place.

Now, if you have a short retaining wall that's only a couple of feet high, it's usually not that big a problem. If the wall is removed slowly, the soil can typically be smoothed into a hill which can be sodded. A landscaper removing the wall may also be able to simply haul off extra soil to flatten the landscape. 

For tall walls holding back a lot of soil, removing it may not be a good idea. At least, not unless it's part of a larger plan to completely redo that landscape portion of your property. This is another situation where you need a good landscaping service in Madison to oversee the job.

Western Landscape is Your Local Retention Wall Expert

If you're having issues with your retention walls in Madison, Western Landscape is here to help! We're proudly family-owned, with years of experience serving the Madison area. We offer outstanding landscaping services - including retention wall installation, service, and removal.

Please contact us to discuss your needs.

What To Look for In Madison, WI, Landscaping Companies

There are numerous landscape companies in Madison, WI - so how do you know which ones will be able to design the landscape of your dreams?

Landscape upgrades are an amazing investment for your property. They look great and entice you to spend more time outdoors. They're also a huge selling point if you ever decide to sell your house, wowing anyone who comes to visit. 

But that requires finding a great Madison landscaping company. These are some of the biggest 'green flags' you want to see when you're searching for a contractor.

Four Signs You've Found Great Landscaping in Madison, WI

1 - Excellent communication

You can tell a lot about a company just by calling them up or visiting their offices. Are they enthusiastic about their work? Do you enjoy talking to them about your landscaping ideas? If so, you're off to a great start.

A good landscaper should also have multiple points of contact, or multiple ways of contacting them - i.e., phone, email, Skype, etc. They should always be easy to reach!

2 - Robust pre-visualization options

Today, a great Madison landscaper should be able to show you highly detailed previews of what your new landscape will look like. They can take pictures or videos of your current property and use computer graphics to insert the planned upgrades. This gives you a great idea of what the work will look like.

3 - Strong organization

A major landscaping job is a big project - sometimes bigger than the client realizes. This requires excellent operational organization and management. There should be extensive pre-planning, and you should always have a work supervisor who's assigned to work specifically on your project. Ideally, they should also have ecological consultants thinking about the impact of your work on the local environment or working to make their design eco-friendlier.

When you're calling around, don't be afraid to ask about their organizational structure. A great Madison landscaper will be happy to explain how they keep the project under control.

4 - Reasonable prices 

Landscaping shouldn't cost an arm and a leg, especially if it doesn't involve major changes to the terrain. Always call around to several contractors and get estimates or bids from each. This helps ensure you're being charged a fair price and may even give you leverage in negotiations. 

Madison Trusts Western Landscape

We're a family-owned landscaping service with years of experience serving the Madison area! With options for both landscaping and hardscaping, we can make your property look amazing! We put a strong emphasis on client communication so that we ensure your landscape looks exactly like what you've dreamed of.

Click here to contact us and discuss your ideas!