Hosting for the Holidays? A Snow Checklist Before Guests Arrive
Holiday visits in Toronto often fall right after a storm. Older relatives, children and guests carrying gifts all walk the same path to your door, usually after dark.
Think about where cars will go
Clear more of the driveway than usual, and free the street parking in front of the house if the city plow has walled it off. Guests who park in a snowbank tend to track it all inside.
Make one wide, clear path
- Shovel the front walk to its full width so two people can pass, one carrying a casserole.
- Clear the porch, the landing and every step down to the surface.
- Knock packed snow off the doormat and boot tray.
Treat the steps last
Steps are where most falls happen. Apply de-icer after shovelling, not before, and add a second light coat if the temperature drops in the evening.
Light the way
Snow hides the edges of steps at night. Make sure the porch light works, and add path lights or a string of lights along the railing.
Watch the roof edge
Icicles hanging above the entrance look festive, but a falling one can injure someone. Have them brought down safely before the party.
Short on time?
Phone us before the guests arrive. A crew can clear the driveway, the street spot, the path and the steps, then salt them, while you finish cooking.
Other notes: Freeing a snowed-in car · Icicles above the entrance · Choosing a de-icer