Snow Plowing Forum?

[Mbella]

Chris and I have noticed some posting related to snow plowing and have discussed adding a forum.

It is very important to us to keep this board focused on the hardscape industry, so we have carefully considered each forum that is included on the board. After careful consideration, I feel that adding a forum for snow plowing would be an appropriate addition to this board because, like myself, many dedicated hardscapers plow snow in the off season. The topic of snow plowing has and will continue to be discussed on this board. Dedicating a forum on the site will create a place for snow plowing to be discussed without taking other threads off topic, or diluting the other forums.

If we strictly interpret “Dedicated to the Hardscape Industry and it’s Professionals” then we shouldn’t have forums related to landscaping and lighting. I hope we all agree that those forums are complementary to what we do as hardscape professionals and I feel a snow plowing forum would be as well.

Give us some feedback.

Just a heads up…..Next week we will be discussing adding a mowing forum.:lie: Just kidding!:pound:

[tthomass]

What if you had a 'Related' forum.........under that there other forums such as 'snow'. Seems singling it out though. Maybe labeling a forum for what you do in the off season?

[Mbella]

What if you had a 'Related' forum.........under that there other forums such as 'snow'. Seems singling it out though. Maybe labeling a forum for what you do in the off season?

That's definitely one of the thoughts I had. What other sub forums would you include in that forum?

[Colonial]

maybe include in a related forum, hardscaping... haha just kidding. snow plowing, landscape lighting, and general landscaping. The way its broken now everything is directly related/directed to harsdscape. If we put in a just snow area then we should have the other areas separate as well....

[CaptainsLS]

Why dont you just call the forum "the off season"?

[Mbella]

Why dont you just call the forum "the off season"?

Like I said, I thought about that and am not opposed.

Captain, can you think of other sub forums that we could place in the "Off Season" forum?

[Mbella]

maybe include in a related forum, hardscaping... haha just kidding. snow plowing, landscape lighting, and general landscaping. The way its broken now everything is directly related/directed to harsdscape. If we put in a just snow area then we should have the other areas separate as well....


What is your opinion of the "Off Season" forum?

[Colonial]

Needle Point? badminton? lol

[CaptainsLS]

Well, tree work comes to mind. I don’t provide this service and I don’t know many hardscapers that do. Snow removal is a good 30% of my business; I think you should just see how it goes with just snow removal. Another idea is interior masonry work. I always wanted to get into that for the winter and just let my guys do the plowing. :smow:

[Colonial]

i would love to give up snow!!!

[Mbella]

Ok, I agree with the "Off Season" forum. The first sub-forum will be snow removal. Others can be added in the future.

[CaptainsLS]

Does anyone do interior masonry?

[GreenMonster]

Another idea is interior masonry work. I always wanted to get into that for the winter

agreed there Captain.

Mike, I think lighting and softscape are DIRECTLY related to hardscaping. Plowing is not. It doesn't belong here, IMHO.

[Mbella]

i would love to give up snow!!!


Why don't you?:noidea:

Wait a minute.....This could be a great first thread for the Snow Removal forum.:dance:

[Colonial]

because of the amount of money we make on it, if i could replace it i would in a heart beat.

[CaptainsLS]

Why don't you?

We got 1/2" last night. I was out for 10 hours.:dance:

[Mbella]

agreed there Captain.

Mike, I think lighting and softscape are DIRECTLY related to hardscaping. Plowing is not. It doesn't belong here, IMHO.

Mark, I respect your opinion, but can you elaborate on the DIRECTLY.

I would argue that there are hardscapers that offer snow removal and don't offer landscaping, or lighting.

They offer the snow removal service because they cannot offer hardscape services during the winter months.

[Mbella]

[QUOTE=Colonial;2722]because of the amount of money we make on it, if i could replace it i would in a heart beat.[/QUOTE


I hear ya on that.

That's the point, you can't replace it with hardscaping and it is definitely a popular and financially benefical complement to a hardscaping business.

[GreenMonster]

Mark, I respect your opinion, but can you elaborate on the DIRECTLY.

I would argue that there are hardscapers that offer snow removal and don't offer landscaping, or lighting.

They offer the snow removal service because they cannot offer hardscape services during the winter months.

A truely complete hardscape could, should, or do have plantings and lighting. Therefore, those are subjects where I can see good discussions as it relates to the design, installation, etc of lights, plants, water features within a hardscape. I mean, there was just a thread about designing hardscape around softscape or vice-versa.

Plowing doesn't have jack-chit to do with hardscaping, unless you're plowing a paved driveway! I think basically, most of us offer plowing because a) we're full service b) we need winter revenue c) there's too much damn snow to pass it up.

[Mbella]

A truely complete hardscape could, should, or do have plantings and lighting. Therefore, those are subjects where I can see good discussions as it relates to the design, installation, etc of lights, plants, water features within a hardscape. I mean, there was just a thread about designing hardscape around softscape or vice-versa.

Plowing doesn't have jack-chit to do with hardscaping, unless you're plowing a paved driveway! I think basically, most of us offer plowing because a) we're full service b) we need winter revenue c) there's too much damn snow to pass it up.

Agreed Mark, but what about a truely complete hardscape business? You are looking at the hardscape projects. I am looking at the business as a whole.

Most of us offer snow removal services. Why shouldn't we discuss it here on the site?

[GreenMonster]

Hey, Mike, whatever you want, really. I'm not trying to argue, it's just my opinion that this site would be more hardscape specific. There's a plow-site out there already. Given a vote, I'd say "no", that's all.

Besides, if we all focused our efforts on hardscape, we could help each other get rid of this plowing BS, and do all that interior masonry mentioned :)

[Colonial]

yea that would be nice do interior rather then plowing

[Mbella]

Hey, Mike, whatever you want, really. I'm not trying to argue, it's just my opinion that this site would be more hardscape specific. There's a plow-site out there already. Given a vote, I'd say "no", that's all.

Besides, if we all focused our efforts on hardscape, we could help each other get rid of this plowing BS, and do all that interior masonry mentioned :)


I'm not trying to argue either Mark, just looking for opinons. If it was just what I want, it would be up already.

I don't care how much you focus on hardscape, hardscaping will never be a reliable stream of revenue during the winter months. If you budget correctly for the hardscape season, no winter work is necessary. However, that isn't usually the reality for most complanies. Stuff happens.

As far as interrior masonry as an alternative, there are guys that do that year round. If you think you can tap into that for just the winter months and keep multiple crews busy, good luck. Much of the interrior masonry I see happening is veneer work. Don't even think about competing with the lick em and stick em guys.

[cgland]

If I could add a snipet! One thing that I have done over the Winter is Tile work and Drywall. Would those be suitable "Off Season topics"?

CHris

[Mbella]

If I could add a snipet! One thing that I have done over the Winter is Tile work and Drywall. Would those be suitable "Off Season topics"?

CHris

All I would say is, good luck competing with those guys. You'd be better off performing snow removal services.

Also, they are so unrelated to what a hardscape professional does that you'd be better off visiting a forum that deals with tile work and drywall.

[B.L. Landscaping]

another possibly for an off season forum "holiday decorating" alot of gusy in my area do it.

[tthomass]

Couldn't all of this just go in off topic? Its not hardscapeing, its not related. It is something some of us do because it is related to the industry. Really, who on here advertises 'retaining walls, patios, pavers, masonry and snow removal'?? I think if you add one you'll add another.....where do you stop?

Its not hardscaping, so its off topic and thinking about it that is where it belongs. My thought.

[cgland]

All I would say is, good luck competing with those guys. You'd be better off performing snow removal services.

Also, they are so unrelated to what a hardscape professional does that you'd be better off visiting a forum that deals with tile work and drywall.
Maybe the drywall is unrelated, but tile? Tile is right in line with what hardscapers do. Same methods (for the most part), same skill set.

Chris

[Ground effects NH]

Does anyone do interior masonry?

Yes, I will be working with one of the local masons this winter. The small job that he does not want thru the yr he refers to me, Block chimneys, Brick steps, Hearths.

[Grn Mtn]

okay, I for one love plowing, the number of posts on PS attests to that. I also really like the potential of this board, top notch hardscapers throwing around ideas. Plowing also has another really good forum - snowplowing-contrators.com so because of the two, I vote no to plowing here, try to keep this pretty focused, that said lighting and softscape are directly related to hardscaping (lights go into pavers and walls and help you use the spaces at night, and hardscaping is used to contain softscapes which inturn soften aka making the hardscape "feel" more pleasing.)

[custom patios]

aye aye captain. i do interior tile, marble, and any type of indoor masonry i can get my hands on. i wish i could sit around and do nothing, but such is life. and i live to plow,plow,plow
steveo

[Mbella]

Wow! I never imagined we'd receive such an overwhelming response in favor of a plow forum.:whoo:

Seriously, we are going to create a "Off Season" forum and leave it at that.

Thanks for the replies guys.