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• • 

    Stephen r Brook-Smith > Oliver Ashton December 16, 2022 at 8:57pm

    My bad ;)
• 

  Peter sellers December 17, 2022 at 10:12am

  

  Steve 

  Yes we've been  gritting for 12 years.

  There's a lot you need to know without sounding too much of a know it all !

  Firstly. As it's a supermarket and inevitably covered in cars most of the time, do they want all of it doing or just access roads and walkways? If it's all this means outside trading hours which will mean late at night or very early morning when there aren't parked cars.

  Spreader- don't even think about using a pedestrian broadcast lawn Spreader, we did initially- they don't work with salt, not enough agitation.  There's only two we've found that work consistently and don't go wrong and they are the Matterhorn and the Mont Blanc imported by Gritex, Matterhorn £300, Mont Blanc £695 approx Inc vat.

  Salt - we only use white rock salt, this is pure salt with no aggregate,  it spreads a lot easier doesn't go into a muddy mess and treads into clients buildings. We pay £3.19 plus vat per 25 kg bag.

  You will have to watch the weather forecast like a hawk, if you salt and it then rains and re-freezes big problems!

  Time - It takes us around 40 minutes to salt an area the size of a football pitch plus your travelling time , it's not a job to underpriced taking into account anti social hours, responsibility.  We always put premium winter tyres on our vans as we can be travelling in hazardous Road conditions,  don't buy budget winter tyres,  they don't work ! So to be geared up there's money to be spent and this has to be reflected in the charge. 

  You haven't mentioned snow, we are contracted to move this also as there's a limit to the effect salt will have, yes put plenty down if snow forecast but if there's a lot it's ineffective.  We have an arrangement with another contractor to bring a JCB in if required you need to ask your client if this is part of the deal. 

  In extreme conditions you will use a lot more salt than you would just preventing freezing so you need to explain and quote accordingly. 

  Hope that helps, please ask if anything else. 

  It's probably best to charge per visit excluding salt used, but make a margin on the salt this way you will be covered if conditions are such that you use more salt than normal. 
  • 

    Stephen r Brook-Smith > Peter sellers December 17, 2022 at 11:22am

    

    That's some great information and Thankyou for your time in sharing the knowledge 

    as it's the first contract I was thinking of initials spresding with a shovel in a barrow and Working my way up , how many bags would you use on a football pitch ? I guess the first visit is a big learning curve here!
    • 

      Peter sellers > Stephen r Brook-Smith December 17, 2022 at 11:44am

      

      Stephen, 

      A wheelbarrow is a non starter,  you won't spread evenly and just end up with a lot of salt in one place and not much in other places, plus you'll use far more salt than necessary,  trust me we've tried it !

      As to how many bags we'd use 4 to 6 on a football pitch size area applied with a Matterhorn spreader think you'd use at least double that with a barrow.  If you search Matterhorn spreader on ebay there's a charity who've had some new one's  donated and if any left were £171 Inc carriage 
      • 

        Stephen r Brook-Smith > Peter sellers December 17, 2022 at 7:37pm

        

        That's great information once again Thankyou , ill

        check eBay and  try and come up with a figure 

        here's some pics 
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          Stephen r Brook-Smith > Stephen r Brook-Smith December 17, 2022 at 7:38pm

          

          
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            Stephen r Brook-Smith > Stephen r Brook-Smith December 17, 2022 at 7:39pm

            

            
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            Stephen r Brook-Smith > Stephen r Brook-Smith December 17, 2022 at 7:40pm

            

            
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              Peter sellers > Stephen r Brook-Smith December 17, 2022 at 7:56pm

              

              Stephen  . It's a big area , all those  spreaders on ebay are sold so you would need to buy from Gritex.  Going on the area I would go for a Mont Blanc as they hold more. Guesstimate about 10 bags with a spreader and around an hour, wouldn't attempt with a barrow ! Both spreaders will throw 3 metres . We'd be charging £200 plus vat per visit Inc salt, Anything else please ask. 
• LJN PRO

  Gary RK @ Landscape Juice Network December 19, 2022 at 5:20pm

  LJN PRO

  We also grit - so my tuppence worth;

  • search LJN - often discussed topic at this of year
  • understand what client really wants - terms & expectations may differ 
  • understand trigger points - who & when & confirmation done. we use GPS tagging & photos and/or Security sign off 
  • property access - car parks often get specified  as out-of-hours
  • consider what happens in ice-grit-rain-refreeze scenarios - do you go out again and who pays for multiple applications 
  • audit trail - in case of dispute / litigation
  • ensure your PLI is extended to cover this aspect
  • define area to be gritted / snow cleared 
  • if snow clearance - define push back areas
  • document any existing damage
  • check grit source/quailty needs to be as dry as possible
  • white salt tends to be best in terms of flow, coverage etc BUT has no mechanical grip, so consider brown grit if slopes involved 
  • don't buy 2nd hand gritters - they're being sold for a reason 
  • we use vehicle mounted & pedestrian gritters ( for smaller areas and paths etc )
  • be clear and upfront in charges etc
  • it takes a toll on personnel, gritters and vehicles (obvious, but salt is highly corrosive!)
  • don't under sell yourself ( you could end up being a fall guy or a busy fool )
  • clarify payment terms
  • get invoices in promptly as 'memory' of bad weather often drains fron clients 
  • finally, document in a contract and do not proceed unless signed-off

  Like anyone who grits commercially, could probably write a book about it !