Forum

Replies

• 

  Graeme @ BGS November 3, 2009 at 7:12pm

  We got asked this in Feb by a few clients when we had all that snow but 1. You couldn't get the grit for love or money by then and 2. For what they was willing to pay I wouldn't of wanted to risk writing off a vehicle in the bad conditions.
  
  Funny on one of the commercial contracts it was actually stated that we would be responsible for gritting but then advised in December that if they actually instructed us to grit the path ways etc and failed to request this on a regular basis they could of been held responsible for any incidents so they felt it prudent not to grit at all!
  
  I think if the weather conditions with the current trend it would be worth re-visiting this service.
• 

  pete November 3, 2009 at 9:25pm

  We look after a couple of residential estates all year round and when the snow's down there's not a lot else we can do - we knock at each front door and ask if they'd like their personal little path up to the main one cleared, (and if they want any shopping done) explaining about liability and that we can't do it unless they say so..... but I'm getting older myself and don't like feeling I might slip over... the point of my post is to direct you to snow shoe grippers -
  
  ice grips
  yaktrax
• 

  Classic Gardens November 3, 2009 at 11:40pm

  We offer this out to large Companys who have offices on industrial parks.
  They require us due to health and safety, to grit any paths at the first sign of frost, which normally means us going out at 7pm and not getting back till past 12.
• 

  Neil Petrie BSc Landscape Mgt November 4, 2009 at 6:18pm

  I too have thought about this kieran. Good to see what the rest have to say from their experience. Maybe not something to bother with unless contracts like Martins.
• 

  Kieran Ray November 4, 2009 at 6:29pm

  It does seem that way, I do a bit of subbing for a family friend who has a commercial maintainance company and he has 5 sites he has to grit and has already got his grit, 20 tonnes of the stuf.
  
  I was going to try and do a bit with him and get some of my own sites. I havent had a proper call regarding construction for 3 weeks so thought I might go back to my roots and try to get some contracts.
  
  Neil Petrie BSc Landscape Mgt said:

  I too have thought about this kieran. Good to see what the rest have to say from their experience. Maybe not something to bother with unless contracts like Martins.
• PRO

  Gary RK November 4, 2009 at 6:55pm

  Realistically it's the domain of commercial sites where it can and is profitable, but hard work.
  
  You need contracts, service level agreements, acurate (ie subscription based) weather forecasting, equipment, supplies, good staff, clothing and contigencies.
  
  We do it & have pretty tight contracts & SLA's that define what, where, how & when its done. Failure by a contractor can leave them liable. You should have worksheets to record the trigger point of the visit and if possible have your visit signed off (by site contact, Security etc). We also take digi pics on arrival & departure. That way we can address any issues...
  
  We have ours on a retainer fee, with a SLA based on likely events.
  
  We have substaintial stocks of rock already in place (and in fact had supplies left over from earlier this year. The forecasting service we use alerted us in enough time that we did get a large additional order in place before supplies ran out. Get it wrong and you end up short or sitting on a large stock. We ended up selling bags of the stuff 'retail' to people
  
  The biggest winner is dependable staff will to work unsocial hours (.. it costs !) & good equipment.
  
  For residential properties it is hard to convince them it's worthwhile cost (like most things they'll say I can do that, it's easy, an hour later they have exhausted their one bag of rock salt they've had for years, it won't spread, they get fed up etc etc)
  
  Whether you do it or not depends on your desire/need to generate year round work. I would rather have my guys out spreading grit/shovelling snow than go short time working, winter shut downs or lay offs.
• 

  Kieran Ray November 5, 2009 at 9:21pm

  All good food for thought, It may be a bit much to go for without the equipment, id have to get a spreader and tow bar as my van doesnot have one. Maybe for next year! I imagen if I get enough intrest though ill do it, I dont shy away from a challenge.
  
  Lets hope its a cold snowy winter and the call come in.
• 

  Neil Petrie BSc Landscape Mgt November 5, 2009 at 10:51pm

  Yeah, I ditto those thoughts Kieran. Certainly not something to commit to on large scale contracts wothout all the paperwork in place to cover it. Like yourself, though, I too enjoy a challenge and will maybe trial the idea, and certainly do some research on equipment requirements. Good to hear thoughts of you 'bigger' pro's!
  
  Kieran Ray said:

  All good food for thought, It may be a bit much to go for without the equipment, id have to get a spreader and tow bar as my van doesnot have one. Maybe for next year! I imagen if I get enough intrest though ill do it, I dont shy away from a challenge.
  
  Lets hope its a cold snowy winter and the call come in.
• 

  Neil Petrie BSc Landscape Mgt November 5, 2009 at 11:04pm

  I'm quite sure my grandad bought a couple of Hagglunds military personnel carriers from these guys a number of years back... for highland forestry work. He's not one of these eccentrics with tons of old machines and engines lying about!! No offence to all you old eccentrics!!
  
  Pro Gard said:

  You can get second hand tow behind gritters from the ex goverment vehicle surpluss sellers eg J Sharples
  
  http://www.jsharples.co.uk/
  
  I am always checking supliers like this weekly to see what comes available...... often some intresting stuff!
• 

  Kieran Ray November 5, 2009 at 11:26pm

  Ifound some on ebay! About £500ish. Snowex aparantly do good gritters from towball mounted to large trailed n mounted spreaders.