We service Hull (Plateau, Birch Manor and Val-Tétreau).

From November 15 to March 31

Our contract covers all snowfalls of 5cm or more. Generally, 1 to 2 laneway clearing is scheduled for a snowfall of 10cm or less, and multiple visits if the snowfall is over that amount. However, there are many instances per season where it is possible, we would go out for less than 5cm simply as a training exercise or because the snowfall was heavy wet snow, and the city plows were out.

Our initial pass is usually completed before the City starts clearing the side streets. We then make a final cleaning after the city completed clearing the streets.

The 5 cm is during the same storm. When precipitation is less than 5 cm, the owner must ensure his own snow removal.

No, the tractor must leave at least 60 cm (2 feet) of space in front of the garage door to avoid causing any damage.

No, unfortunately we no longer offer this service.

No. However, on very rare occasions unforeseen mechanical problems arise that would cause immeasurable delays therefore, there is a plow available only as a urgent last resort backup. Remember, tractor snow blowing is a much more efficient way to clear snow as they are able to disperse the snow more evenly across your property to avoid large and potentially hazardous snowbanks at the end of your driveway.

Yes, the maximum is stipulated in the annual contract. For your information, the average accumulation for the city of Gatineau is 220 cm. Beyond the limit stipulated in the contract, a fee will be billed to the owner. This amount will be understood beforehand in the annual contract. The customer will have the option to terminate his contract after the limit of snow has fallen. To do this, a written notice (by email) must be sent to the Habiterra team. See the Terms and Conditions section of the annual agreement for instructions.

Yes, but we prefer to keep the phone for urgent matters. For a request for service, you can send us an email. Our snow removal operations updates are posted on our Website section "Snow Removal Operations".

Snow blowing with a tractor is the safest method of clearing your driveway. Despite its large size, the tractor distributes its weight across oversized tires, resulting in lower ground pressure than that of an average car. The attachments are carefully calibrated to float just above the surface, minimizing the risk of damage. All of our tractors are fitted with anti-scratch blades, helping to protect surfaces. Despite all the precautions taken, there may be rare instances where the equipment leaves marks.

In order to provide a timely and well-organized service, our operators are unable to request the removal of parked vehicles by knocking on doors. Doing so would compromise the efficiency of our routes and cause significant delays.

You must contact the City of Gatineau to request that a service technician lower the water valve to asphalt level. If the valve is not flush with the driveway surface, it may be damaged or dislodged by our snow removal equipment, potentially causing injury or damage to your property, or damage to Habiterra's equipment. Please ensure it is lowered before the first snowfall.

In the unlikely event of accidental damage to the client's property caused by our equipment, clients are required to report it by email. Habiterra will carry out non-urgent repairs in the spring. In the case of urgent repairs, these will be addressed as soon as possible.

Sanding is not included in our services.

The markers are installed two weeks before the start of the contract and removed within two weeks after the end of the contract (weather permitting).

No. We plan our routes in accordance with the cities snow removal service. Ideally, we arrive soon after the city plow, so you are not stuck coming or going. We also do not overfill our routes. You will find that even at the end of our route you will be done faster than being in the middle of many of our competitors’ routes.

This is by far the most popular question asked. The snow removal schedule varies depending on the amount of snowfall. For example, when the accumulation is 10 cm or less, a single visit is typically sufficient to ensure a full clearing. In the case of heavier snowfalls, two passes will be made. This approach does not allow us to guarantee a specific time of day or night for service. However, as a general guideline, if a snowfall under 10 cm occurs overnight, operations usually begin around 3:00 a.m., allowing us to complete our operations before noon. Heavy snowfalls (over 25 cm) require several visits and may lead to delays, similar to municipal snow removal efforts.

For clients that have a contract for the season. In the event of a medical emergency, you may contact our office or send us an email. While we cannot be held responsible for any consequences resulting from an emergency situation or from our inability to intervene immediately, we will try to dispatch a member of our team as quickly as possible. We generally aim to respond within 30 to 45 minutes following confirmation of receipt of your request.