Plowing pushes snow and blowing throws it, and that one difference settles most of the trade-offs on a Kitchener driveway. This comparison sets the two side by side, then gives clear rules for choosing plowing, blowing or a mix.
In This Article
Push versus throw
A plow is a blade on a truck, a utility vehicle or a small tractor. It shoves snow ahead of it and off to the side, and the snow ends up in banks along the edges and the end of the driveway. A snow blower feeds snow into an auger and throws it through a chute, so you choose where it lands.
Nearly every difference below follows from that. Pushing is fast over a wide, open area but needs room to store the banks. Throwing is slower, but it works close in and puts the snow where you point it.
Side by side
| Question | Plowing | Snow blowing | Usual edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed on a long or wide drive | Fast, since one pass moves a wide strip | Slower, with narrower passes | Plowing |
| Where the snow ends up | In banks along the sides and end | Thrown some metres to a chosen spot | Blowing, where space is tight |
| Deep or heavy snow | A heavy vehicle copes, though wet snow can overload a small blade | Depends on the machine, and two-stage models cope better than single-stage | Plowing, mostly |
| Finish on the surface | Often leaves a thin layer unless the blade rides low | A single-stage machine scrapes closer, and a two-stage one leaves a thin layer | Depends on the setup |
| Raised pavers and soft edges | A blade can catch them, so slow speeds and blade shoes help | Skid shoes can catch them too, so raise them | Neither, without care |
| Tight spots by walls, cars and steps | Needs turning room, and cannot get close | Works close in and around obstacles | Blowing |
| Walkways and steps | Cannot do them | Can do walks, and steps by hand | Blowing |
| The ridge the street plow leaves | Pushes it out quickly | A single-stage machine struggles, and a two-stage one copes | Plowing |
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What your own driveway decides
Walk it once and answer five questions.
- How long and wide is it? The bigger the area, the more time favours a plow.
- Where would the snow go? Picture the whole surface cleared. If there is no strip of lawn or bed for the banks, a plow leaves you with a problem, and a blower can throw the snow further.
- What is it made of? Interlock and soft edges call for a light touch. Loose gravel is hard on both methods, and needs raised shoes.
- Who else uses it? Steps, a side door, a mailbox and a path to a garden gate all need machine or hand work that a plow cannot do.
- What is in the way? Low fences, parked cars, retaining walls and gas meters change what a driver can safely reach.
Keep the banks off vents, meters and sight lines at the driveway mouth, and never push snow onto the road. The guide to snow removal versus snow plowing explains how the jobs differ.
Choose plowing, blowing or both if
Choose plowing if:
- The driveway is long, wide or shared by several vehicles.
- Snow is often deep or heavy, and speed matters before work or school.
- There is a strip of lawn or bed where the banks can sit.
Choose blowing if:
- The driveway is short or narrow, with little room beside it.
- The surface is interlock, or edges and pavers are delicate.
- Walls, steps, cars and meters crowd the work area.
Choose both if the property has a broad driveway and a set of steps and walks. Plow the surface, then blow or shovel the rest. Many properties end up here.
What to ask a contractor
Ask which method the crew will use on your driveway and why, how it protects pavers and lawn edges, where the snow will go and who clears the steps and walk. Ask, too, how the ridge at the end of the driveway is handled and whether that counts as a second visit.
The published starting price for snow removal at D&D Home Services is $80 per visit at typical Kitchener-Waterloo homes, and seasonal contracts are available. The quote is free and written before work begins, so put the method and the areas cleared on paper. The snow removal equipment guide describes the tools a crew might bring.
Key Takeaways
- A plow pushes snow into banks and a blower throws it where you point, and most trade-offs follow from that difference.
- Plowing wins on long, wide driveways, deep snow and the street plow's ridge, while blowing wins in tight spots, on walks and where pile space is short.
- Your surface, the room for snow banks, the obstacles and the steps decide the choice more than the equipment does.
- Many properties use both, with a plow for the driveway and a blower or shovel for the walks and steps.
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