As winter looms, McAdam offers snow & ice management checklist

As one of the region’s largest providers of snow and ice management, McAdam Landscaping recognizes better than just about anyone else that it is a highly demanding, year-round effort that requires thoughtful and comprehensive planning.

So with the approach of winter, Scott McAdam Jr., the company’s sales and marketing director, is offering counsel that draws from the firm’s experience serving clients throughout Cook, DuPage and Will counties.

“Individuals and small organizations, like anyone else, really shouldn’t overlook putting careful thought into who they hire for this task,” says McAdam. “You don’t want to discover during or after a major storm that you have hired the wrong company.”

McAdam provides four keys to consider. Their common thread is a different form of protection, whether it’s watching out for your finances, time, property—or the environment as a whole.

Confirm that your provider is insured.

It’s essential to know the answer to this question upfront, in case there is any damage that occurs in the course of work.

“Does your small operator have sufficient insurance? There are many independent operators seeking to make a go of it in this area, and it’s an important question to ask,” says McAdam. “Get proof, not just someone’s word for it, too.”

Get acquainted with the Snow Removal Service Liability Limitation Act.

Enacted in 2016, this statute spells out a key message for property owners: they can no longer transfer liability to a contractor for losses that were not the contractor’s fault. So, choosing a quality contractor is even more crucial.

“Historically, 100% of the liability in the snow and ice management industry rested firmly on the shoulders of the contractor,” McAdam says. “With the liability limitation act, clients cannot defer all liability to their contractor; many don’t even know this act exists.”

Insist on clear communication.

Reasonable expectations include getting answers to these questions, says McAdam: What kind of weather forecasting do you receive? Do you know when the snow-removal crews will come? What if something pushes them off schedule?

McAdam’s longstanding practice is to furnish notification in whatever manner, and frequency, the client requests. The most popular request, by far, is e-mail, McAdam notes.

Ask about horticultural expertise.

Who cares about your landscape when it’s blanketed by inches of snow? You should—and so should your service provider, says McAdam. Although it is important to address snow-removal needs quickly, that should not come at the expense of your property’s long-term health, he adds.

McAdam, for example, provides a gentler treatment of an ice-melt blend for those areas that need it.

“We live in an increasingly chloride-conscious world, and that is a very good thing,” says McAdam. “All of us have a role to play in environmental stewardship.”

Founded in 1979 by River Forest natives Scott and Rob McAdam, McAdam Landscaping is a full-service contractor for residential, commercial and municipal clients. With the creation of the Nursery & Garden Center in 2003, McAdam moved beyond maintenance and design/installation and into other specialties such as landscape lighting and water features.

The company is online at www.McAdamLandscape.com. For more information, including rates on snow removal services, call 708-771-2299.