In short
- Decks and patios are hand work; one firm's 2026–27 form charges extra for attached patios.
- Trex and TimberTech both say metal shovels damage composite boards; a plastic shovel is the safe tool.
- The two makers differ on ice melt: Trex allows calcium chloride or rock salt, TimberTech calcium chloride only.
- HomeStars' Ottawa page lists residential hourly snow work at $60–$100; one Ottawa firm publishes $70 per worker hour.
- Enbridge Gas asks for meters and appliance vents to be cleared with a soft broom, never a shovel.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly snow removal, residential | $60–$100 per hour | HomeStars Ottawa page |
| One-time snow removal, hourly | $60–$120 per hour | HomeStars Ottawa page |
| One-time clearing by hand | $70 per worker hour | One Ottawa firm’s published rate, one-hour minimum, page undated |
| Driveway and sidewalk, per visit | $40–$150 | HomeStars Ottawa page; a deck adds to this |
| Ice management and de-icing | $90–$180 per hour | HomeStars Ottawa page, or per application |
| Attached patio added to a walkway contract | Extra charge | One firm’s 2026–27 form; price is set after a look at the job |
Sources. HomeStars, Snow removal services in Ottawa, cost section, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars, Snow Removal Costs For Driveways and Roofs, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026. One Ottawa firm’s published rates: home page price cards, seen 29.10.2026. One firm’s 2026–27 quote form, walkway terms (form.jotform.com/262174170184252), seen 29.10.2026. One Ottawa firm’s snow removal service page, seen 29.10.2026. Board makers: Trex, Care and cleaning, Trex, Tips for wintertime care, TimberTech, Care and cleaning, TimberTech, Snow decking, TimberTech, Winter deck protection, seen 29.10.2026. Gas: Enbridge Gas, Keep your gas meter clear, seen 29.10.2026. City of Ottawa: Clearing snow from your property and SNOW KNOWledge brochure, seen 29.10.2026. Ontario: Your rights when signing or cancelling a contract, seen 29.10.2026. Published ranges are typical prices; the company that calls you quotes its own.
Which surfaces this page covers
A back deck, a stone or concrete patio, a raised deck with stairs, a townhouse balcony. These are usually cleared by hand, and the quote lists them apart from the driveway.
On one firm’s 2026–27 quote form, the walkway add-on covers paths up to 5 feet wide; large landing pads and attached patios cost extra. HomeStars’ Ottawa page files hand shovelling in tight areas under specialty services. For the front path and steps, see walkway and steps.
When a deck needs clearing, and when it can wait
Three questions decide it.
Is the door in use? A patio door used daily, or a deck with the barbecue, needs a path after each storm, even where the boards can carry the snow.
What are the boards? TimberTech says the moisture and weight will not damage a properly installed TimberTech deck, so clearing is optional for its boards. For wood decks it advises removing snow regularly to relieve pressure and moisture, since wet wood can buckle, crack and rot.
What sits beside the deck? A gas meter or an appliance vent. Enbridge Gas warns that snow or ice there can block vents and let carbon monoxide into the home.
Roof snow sliding onto the deck: see roof snow removal.
The shovel decides the damage
- Composite (Trex). Trex calls a plastic shovel the safest choice for its current lines, recommends shovelling along the boards to avoid dings, and says shovel scratches fall outside its warranty.
- Capped composite and PVC (TimberTech). TimberTech says metal shovels and plastic shovels with a metal edge damage the surface. A rubber-edged blade, or a brush or leaf blower for fresh powder, avoids scraping.
- Wood. TimberTech says metal can damage wood decking too.
One Ottawa firm says its hand crews use plastic shovels to avoid marks on surfaces. Ask the company that calls you what it brings.
Ice melt on boards
The makers disagree, so the brand belongs in your request.
| Board | Ice melt the maker allows | What the maker says to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Trex composite | Calcium chloride or rock salt, rinsed off when practical | Metal shovels |
| TimberTech composite and PVC | Calcium chloride products | Rock salt, tinted ice melts, sand, ice-chipping tools |
| Wood (per TimberTech) | No product named | Rock salt, sand |
TimberTech adds that sand grinds into the board surface. Products, pets and prices are on the salting and sanding page.
Where the deck snow goes
Snow from a raised deck goes over the rail into the yard. Keep it off the gas meter, vents, window wells and shrubs. The City’s Use and Care of Roads By-law prohibits pushing or shovelling snow onto the City right-of-way, and the SNOW KNOWledge brochure makes it an offence for a contractor to dump snow on private property other than the client’s. Mark the drop zone on a photo.
On a condo or townhouse balcony, check the corporation’s rules first; see condo and townhouse snow.
What moves the price, and what the quote should list
Hand clearing is priced by time. HomeStars’ Ottawa page puts residential hourly snow work at $60–$100 and one-time service at $60–$120 an hour; one Ottawa firm publishes $70 per worker hour with a one-hour minimum. Deck size, stairs, a narrow gate, drifts and ice treatment add time. On a season contract, ask which depth brings the deck crew out.
The written quote should name the deck, patio and stairs with sizes, the tool and ice melt, the visit trigger, per-hour or per-visit price, the drop zone and HST. Under Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act, most services over $50 need a written agreement; a written estimate in it caps the final price at 10% above unless you sign a change, and a contract signed at home has a 10-day cooling-off period.
Who you are dealing with
Ottawa Snow Desk passes your request to one independent local snow company. That company calls you back, prices the deck, patio or balcony clearing, and does the work.
Questions to ask the company
- What shovel will the crew use on my boards: plastic, rubber-edged, or a blower for light snow?
- Which ice melt goes on the deck, and does it match what my board maker allows?
- Is the deck priced per visit, per hour or as a season add-on, and what depth brings you out?
- Where on my lot will the deck snow go, away from the gas meter, vents and garden beds?
- Can the deck, stairs and ice melt each appear as a line in the written quote, with HST?
Have this ready for the call
- The board material and brand, if you know it: pressure-treated wood, cedar, composite or PVC
- Rough size of the deck or patio, the number of stairs, and whether it is ground level or raised
- Which door opens onto it, and if that door is used all winter
- A photo showing the gas meter, furnace or dryer vents and any hot tub near the deck
- How the crew reaches the backyard: gate width, side path, a lock code
Questions people ask
Does snow have to come off a composite deck at all?
TimberTech says clearing its decks is recommended for function and appearance but not required, and that the moisture and weight will not harm a properly installed TimberTech deck.
Can rock salt go on my deck?
It depends on the boards. Trex says calcium chloride or rock salt will melt ice on its decking, rinsed off when practical. TimberTech says to avoid rock salt on its boards and on hardwood or pressure-treated wood. Give the brand in your request.
Will a scratch from the shovel be covered by the deck warranty?
Trex says a shovel may scratch the deck and that such scratches fall outside its warranty, and it says to keep metal shovels off Trex decking. Ask what blade the crew uses.
The gas meter sits beside my deck. Can the crew shovel around it?
Enbridge Gas says to use a broom or soft brush on the meter and vents after a storm, and to keep shovels, sharp objects and blowers off them. If the meter is buried or the ice will not come off safely, Enbridge asks you to call it at 1-866-763-5427.
Can the crew throw the deck snow over the fence?
The City’s SNOW KNOWledge brochure makes it an offence for a snow contractor to dump snow on private property other than the client’s. The deck snow stays on your lot.
