There’s a sense of inevitability about the first snowstorm in Calgary. It’s never a question of if your backyard is going to get covered in snow till spring, more that you don’t know when the first storm will hit. While you can’t do anything about the amount of snow you’ll get each winter, you can take some steps to save time clearing snow this winter.
Stay Snow Free With A Patio Cover
Your patio or deck is the last place you’ll spend time keeping clear of snow. While this isn’t a problem in the middle of winter, the accumulation of snow and ice can make it the last place to defrost in the spring. Your deck can also suffer from ice and snow slipping into the cracks between the boards and then contracting and expanding, so it makes sense to invest in a patio cover to keep the snow and ice off your patio.
How A Patio Cover Helps With Snow Clearing
A patio cover is a solid structure that either attaches to the outside of your home or sits free standing on your deck or patio and gives you coverage right up to the edge of your lawn. It’s clear to see, therefore, that it will give your outside area protection both from snowfall and from snow and ice that slips off your roof. The winter debris will fall onto your backyard where you can choose to shovel it away or just let it pile up to melt away in the spring time. You will need a long handled brush in the case of seriously heavy snow to keep your patio cover relatively clear.
Upgrade Your Patio Cover For Better Coverage
It’s also relatively easy to see the limitations of a patio cover as it pertains to protection from the worst of the winter weather. All Calgary residents know that snow rarely just floats down like in the movies, and the lack of sideways protection will see some snow drifts on your patio. For full protection, you’ll want to consider upgrading your patio cover to a screen room or a sunroom which have mesh or walls to help keep the snow on the outside of your patio.
More Snow Clearing Methods
If this scale of upgrade feels unrealistic right now, here are some more time saving methods to clear snow this winter:
- Buy a bigger shovel – if manual labour is your gig, then all you need is a shovel with a bigger scoop so you’re moving more snow with each lift.
- Invest in machinery – having a snowblower is a great idea if you have a larger property or just hate the idea of shovelling after every storm. They even come in electric models if you don’t want to burn gasoline to clear snow!
- Hire a professional – fortunately, there are plenty of businesses across Calgary who will gladly come and do the hard snow moving work for you (for a fee, of course!), leaving you with time to enjoy how the snow transforms your property.
