Grimes Excavating and Snow Removal

There are certain fixed and variable costs that we incur to provide a responsive snow removal service.  Most of the fixed expenses, like facility rent, payroll for operators, staff and mechanics, insurance, equipment payments, marketing, communications and taxes do not change much due to the severity of the winter.  However, the variable expenses include fuel, parts and repairs, which fluctuate from year to year and season to season.  

Our season contract price also varies depending upon the driveway’s difficulty, size and amount of snow accumulation. The time actually spent clearing driveways represents only one portion of the labor needed to maintain a reliable snow removal service.  We have a team working all season long to ensure our snow removal service is reliable and professional.

Please call us regarding your driveway and we would appreciate the opportunity to provide you with a snow removal quote.

The timing of our snow removal is subject to the unpredictable timing of winter storms. Grimes Snow Removal will begin snow removal operations when snowfall reaches a depth of approximately 4". The timing of snow removal varies from day to day. Due to the unpredictability and severity of winter storms, we cannot guarantee that we will arrive at your house at a set time every day.

Most of our snow clearing shifts occur during the middle of the night and allow us to complete our driveway clearing before you need to leave your house in the morning. However, there may be some instances when you may wake to find snow in the driveway because the snow did not accumulate until later in the morning, thus delaying the start time of our snow removal service until later in the day.  Additional factors that impact the timing are:  school closures; road closures; the county’s timing to name a few.

Rest assured knowing that we monitor the snow accumulation and will start clearing driveways as soon as possible.  Many sleepless nights are spent checking snow depths and waiting until we get the required amount of snow to trigger clearing.

The routes are structured so that all driveways on the route can be cleared within 4.5- 5 hours. During a severe storm, it may take longer to clear each route. The operators are assigned to a specific route and clear the same driveways in order to provide the fastest, most effective snow removal service. It’s our goal to keep the routes structured as close to the prior season to keep the same semblance of timing and predictability.  The routes change slightly from the previous year based on our number of customers.

You can help us by signing up for snow removal service as early as possible. The earlier we can accurately identify the routes and start familiarizing the operators with their routes, the quicker we can provide you with timely, thorough snow removal service.

Operating during the middle of the night allows us to work quickly and without the risk or delays of traffic.  We clear driveways in the middle of the night whenever possible because there is very little traffic on the roadways at this time. Ultimately, reducing the chances of accidents with vehicles.

For a number of reasons it is impossible to coordinate our service with the county’s road plowing crews. Grimes Snow Removal will monitor their snow removal progress to decide whether or not the berms are a significant hindrance and whether they should be eliminated immediately or during the next day of snowclearing. However, there are times when we are not able to return the same day because of operator fatigue, heavy snowfall, etc. and the berm will be removed on our next pass through the route.

If there's heavy snow in your driveway, there's probably also heavy snow on the roads. Consider the possibility that it may not be safe for you to operate your vehicle on the road.

We encourage you to proceed only if you can do so safely. Please be aware of your vehicle’s capabilities and limitations. However, under some conditions it is wise to remain inside until Grimes Snow Removal clears your driveway and the county clears the roadway. 

Please refer to the links provided by our websit to access updated road and weather conditions.

In most cases, our small equipment can safely maneuver within 12 " to 18 " inches of your garage door, car, stairs and/or entry. We risk the potential for damage to your property and our equipment if we plowed any closer. Our operators will remove snow from around these areas to the best of their ability.

At the beginning and end of each season Grimes Snow Removal will install and remove snow poles at no charge.

If you have a snowstake that has been knocked out, please try to reinstall the snowstake yourself. If it is not possible to reinstall it, please notify us and we will send someone out to fix it.

Please have your vehicles ready to move so when we arrive, we can clear your driveway. If you are not home or unable to move vehicles, we will only clear up to and around vehicles or any area that is accessible. We will attempt again on our return visit.

Unfortunately, some homes have been built without fully considering the effects of winter. Though Grimes Snow Removal will do all it can to maintain access to and from your home, it cannot be responsible for the lack of accessibility due to the steep slope of driveways, or accessibility problems caused by vehicles not well suited for winter conditions, unfamiliarity with winter driving, etc.

Grimes Snow Removal suggests that homeowners with difficult driveways or driveways that have poor sun exposure or are susceptible to icing maintain a 5-gallon bucket of sand in their garage. 

Yes. “On-Calls” are part of Grimes Snow Removal’s business also. “On-Calls” cost an average of $150.00-$200.00 per clearing. However, just like a seasonal snow removal quote, the fee will vary based on driveway size and the amount of snow accumulation.

Most people prefer the seasonal contract as the break-even point is only six to seven clearings and is an easier and cost effective option.

Grimes Snow Removal will reasonably repair damage to your property caused by our snow removal service. Grimes Snow Removal is not responsible for chain marks, scratches or gouges resulting from normal snow removal operations. Nor will we be responsible for driveway damage resulting from poor construction. Grimes Snow Removal is not responsible for damage to property left in, constructed or placed adjacent to the driveway that is not clearly visible to the operator and properly marked by the homeowner.

Homeowners receive unlimited driveway clearings from November 1st until April 15th. Historically, we have provided snow removal service before or after this timeframe if weather dictates.

We accept checks and credit cards at this time. We request you pay your full contract amount by the first of November each year. This will maximize your contract by receiving a full season of plowing. Please contact us directly should you need to discuss payment options.

We carry the appropriate worker's compentation insurance and liability insurance. If requested, we can provide you with a copy of our insurance policy. 

Yes, Grimes Excavating and Snow Removal has a contractor license.  If requested, we can provide you with this information.