Non biz thread/Need home maintenance advice

[selena]

Okay, here's the deal.

I bought a house this last May. My first ever. Yay me!

It sits up on a hill, with a long enough driveway that I am starting to wonder about this winter. The driveway is poured concrete.

I do know that my method of snow removal probably shouldn't be a dump truck full of rock salt. I think that is supposed to be bad for your concrete. I know there is no way I'm shoveling it clear. And parking on the street is not an option. My property is a pie shaped wedge, and I only have a little curved portion that is what would be considered "my" place for street parking. If I parked there, it would block my mailbox.

I'm thinking about a snow blower. But I know jack about them.

Anyone have one? What are things I want to make sure I have if I get one? I looked at them in the Lowes ad yesterday, and my eyes glazed over.

[Sabby]

You want to clear your driveways and walks ASAP after a snowfall or you will just prolong your agony and get major ice build up... and the city will fine you (at least they do here).

A snow blower sounds interesting... this is only our second upcoming winter in our house (we lived in a condo before this and didnt have to worry about it before).

If you cant or wont do it yourself... hire the neighbor kid... or a snow removal service...

You can also buy a product called "liquid heat" or something like that for your driveway to melt built up ice and it wont harm the concrete.


Sabby:flash:

[sarettah]

If you get a snowblower, you want to get an appropriate one for your area.

If you are in an area that gets snow, but only on the average a small amount (ie <4 inches normally per snowfall) Then you can make do with one of those little tiny electric jobbies. Lightweight, get the job done, not overly expensive. But, when you are into an 8 inch snowfall, you will have to do the job twice.

If you are in area that gets lots of snow (>10 inches normal per snowfall) then you want to go with a higher powered one, up in the 6 horsepower or better.

If you are in an area that gets tremendous amounts then you need the 4 wheel truck (or atv) and the plow attachment :okthumb:


Or in any of these situations, like Sabby says, hire the kid down the street :)

[Winetalk.com]

move to South Florida....snow removal is FREE here!
;)

[Newton]

snow angels ahhhhhhhhhh

[voodooman]

Selena,

When I lived in Jackson Hole WY, my driveway was about 3/4 of a mile up
the mountain. I built a carport at the bottom of the drive, bought a snowmobile
and and sled to attatch to the machine and just used it to get back and forth.

[TheEnforcer]

All depends on how much fun you like to have.. :>))

Snow blowers are great. If you get a big one I HIGHLY suggest you get a canopy to go with it so the snow doesn't blow back in your face.


Check out some review sites http://www.consumersearch.com/www/lawn_and_garden/snow_blowers/reviews.html and you'll find one that is within your price range and does what you are looking for.

[helix]

I pay a snow removal service. We settle on a flat rate for the season before the winter snow starts flying. If we get over 2 inches he plows. Sometimes he comes a two or three times a week, sometimes just once a month. It's a gamble, but it's fun. In the end, it's even money.

[PornoDoggy]

Can you just hear the grunts of the Tim Allen acolytes in this thread?

Don't know how big your property is, but if you have a riding lawn mower you may be able to get a snow plow attachment for it.

It may be worth your while to hire somebody to do it. If there is a church, school, or small business around you, call them and see who they use for snow removal. You can sometimes get a pretty good deal from somebody just looking to pick up a little extra while they are in the neighborhood.

[selena]

Ah, I didn't lose my mind after all. I *did* make a post about snow removal.

Thanks to all you good peeps who responded. I think I will look at the prices of blowers that would be good for my area. Then I'm going to balance that out against what I could hire a sevice/teenager for.

If I had a riding mower, I'd buy a blade, but I don't have one of those yet. Though my yard is big enough I'd like to have one.

Thanks again. I'm bookmarking this thread for reference. :)

[Newton]

Teenagers work for coca-cola and pizza :)

[selena]

Teenagers work for coca-cola and pizza :)

In which universe? ;)

[MorganGrayson]

Teenagers work for coca-cola and pizza :)

*chuckle*
Those days are *so* gone, cupcake. Teenagers work for cold, hard cash...and a lot more than it used to be.

When I was growing up in Connecticut - where some winters four feet of snow fell during one good blizzard - my dad had been in the army with the man that drove the town snowplow that did the streets. Now, I don't know what my dad had done for this guy, but whenever he came by and saw our driveway full of snow, he plowed it for us. The rest of the time, my dad got out there with his snowblower and did it. Shovels were reserved for those little snowfalls, and usually just for the walk from the front door to the driveway.

If you're talking serious snow, selena, you're going to need serious equipment. You're also most likely going to need sand or something to prevent it from turning into an ice terror. (One of my most horrible childhood memories was attempting to walk uphill on an icy sidewalk to the bus stop. I fell, sliding open my palms, my tights, and my knees. I couldn't stand up again, but panic made me keep trying...and falling again. Finally, after I'd reduced myself to a bloody, sobbing mess, I realized that all I could do was sit down and slide down to the bottom. I managed to get back into the apartment and scare the hell out of my mother.)

The only thing I like about California is that the absurd hill and one lane drive we currently live on has never and will never see ice or snow.

[Newton]

Mercenary little bastards .. how ungrateful :) Truth be known I had to do it a few times when I was in Canada .. loved it and don't take long to do once you get your back into it.

[ReighlynnRaine]

Teenagers work for coca-cola and pizza :)


hehe and packs of smokes. :) (Before anyone gets jumpy I'm reffering to legal teens and younger 20 year olds.) It's how I got moved. Called up some friends offerd to feed 'em and provided cigarettes. 3 days later viola. All moved. :okthumb: