R&G Almanza clears snow and ice from homes and businesses across Chicago, Skokie and the North Shore: driveways, sidewalks, walkways, decks and roofs, using plowing, snow-blowers, hand shoveling and de-icing that won’t harm your lawn, plants or pavers.
Residential Snow Removal & De-icing
As landscaping professionals, we know how to clean up snow and prevent the formation of ice around your house without hurting plants, lawns or hardscape features such as patios.
We always use the correct snow removal equipment, which best fits your property’s size and layout. For example, some areas may require the use of a snow-blower or good, old-fashioned shoveling.
De-Icing salt and chemicals serve a double-purpose:
- To prevent fresh snow and ice from forming a bond and sticking to the ground
- To melt existing snow or ice
We have standard procedures on how and when to use these de-icing agents that will keep your property safe and flourishing not only immediately after application but will also keep the plants and landscape features safe and damage-free.
Roof Snow Removal
We clear built-up snow and ice from residential roofs. Some rooftop snow can insulate, but heavy buildup needs watching, for several reasons:
- Too much snow weight might cause parts of your roof to crack or collapse. How much snow a roof can safely hold varies greatly, based on the condition of the roof, the roof’s own weight and how long this weight has to be supported
- Ice build-up on your roof and icicle formation might signal a poorly insulated roof. This is because ice usually forms if the roof radiates heat and melts the snow it is directly in contact with. Some of the resulting water freezes and turns into ice. If your gutters are blocked as well, the formation of ice can become much faster
- The freezing and thawing cycle can form small pools of water that can rot your roof
- Icicles are dangerous in themselves
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to consider removing the snow from your roof. Of course, the need may vary from year to year, depending on the amount of snowfall. However, it is best to have a professional help you with this task, for safety and roof maintenance reasons.
Driveway & Sidewalk Snow Removal
Most cities, such as Chicago, require property owners to clear snow from sidewalks adjacent to their properties in a timely fashion. This also includes landlords, who are responsible for removing snow on their rental property.
When it comes to driveway snow removal, it all depends on your timing. It is a common occurrence for city plows to push snow back into freshly cleaned driveways. If you know their timing, you can wait until they are done plowing your street and only then begin removing the snow. If you are using a snow removal company, it is also best to let them know when it is the best time to come.
Some areas you need to pay attention when removing sidewalk snow are fire hydrants and mailboxes, they need to be clear so they can be used when needed.
Decks & Walkways
Decks and walkways are usually more circulated than other areas around your home that you can avoid after a snowfall.
R&G Almanza can keep your deck and walkways clear of snow without scratching the deck or dislocating pavers. We also know which ice-melts to use, based on your deck material and surrounding landscape.
De-icing Services
We choose de-icers that protect your landscape: rock salt can hurt plants, so we offer eco-friendly de-icing agents on request to help your plants come through the winter.
Our professional teams use the right ice-melt every time.
Commercial Snow Removal
We provide commercial snow and ice management for properties large and small, with equipment matched to each site:
- Plowing – trucks matched to your property size
- Using snow-blowers
- Manual shoveling
- Salting and ice-melt application
We offer both emergency snow removal and contractual snow removal. So, no matter if it is a one time job or a seasonal contract, we can get the job done.
We plow and de-ice across the North Shore — including Evanston, Wilmette and Northbrook. Pair winter service with fall cleanup so beds and lawns are ready before the first freeze.
