Heated Driveway News

Snow Removal - the Easy Way

Have you driven down the street after or during a snow storm and noticed that the snow doesn’t stick on a few driveways? Others are covered in snow and some are getting impassable. There is a very good reason for this. Those in the know have installed a radiant heat snow removal system. Also known as a driveway snow melting system or heated driveway system, these are forms of electric radiant heat. When a driveway goes in, just before the concrete or asphalt is applied a grid of heat cable is installed and the finish surface is applied over that. A sensor switches on when conditions are favorable for snow, activating the system. There you have it – one of them fancy driveways that seemingly “repels” snow! (Well, actually, it melts the snow, but you get my drift; no pun intended.)

If you live in an area where you get lots of that white stuff, a heated driveway makes all the sense in the world. Don’t worry if you already have your driveway in and don’t have this system. It isn’t that difficult to install over an existing driveway. The wire grid is laid over the existing driveway and a layer of asphalt or even concrete is applied over that, no major demo is even required. I think it’s quite a bit easier than moving to Florida or Southern California. No packing required.

A radiant snowmelt system may not be the first thing you think of when looking for conveniences to have on a new home but it wouldn’t take too many failed attempts at driveway traversal for that to change. The look on your face as you get out of a car on a perfectly clear driveway when your neighbors are snowed out (or in) would just about make it worth it right there. Consider this as your next remodel.