Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about ClearWorks’ commercial street sweeping, landscaping, and snow management services across Southwestern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Working with ClearWorks
Common questions about our service model, coverage area, and how to get started.
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We operate throughout Southwestern Ontario and the GTA, including Toronto, Aurora, Newmarket, Hamilton, Brantford, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Milton, Kitchener-Waterloo, St. Catharines, Markham, and the Niagara Region.
If you're outside these zones, contact us - we often accommodate extended service areas.
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We service construction sites, commercial parking lots, industrial properties, residential subdivisions, retail plazas, and municipal and public works projects. Most of our clients are property managers, developers, general contractors, and industrial operators.
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Both. We handle on-call and one-off requests, and we build recurring maintenance programs (weekly, monthly, or seasonal) depending on what your site needs. Most clients run a combination of scheduled service and on-call response.
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Yes. Most of our clients run more than one service through us: sweeping and flushing, or plowing and salting together, for example. One contract, one point of contact, one invoice. View all services →
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Yes. We regularly manage multiple sites for the same client across different locations. Consolidated scheduling and reporting can be arranged to simplify management on your end.
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Sometimes. For well-defined jobs where additional information can be provided (such as number of parking spots or square footage) we can often quote remotely. For larger or more complex sites, we're happy to schedule a free in-person walkthrough to understand your needs before putting together a custom, competitive quote.
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For winter services, we dispatch during active events based on agreed thresholds. For sweeping and maintenance, most clients can be booked within 24–48 hours, with same-day response available depending on scheduling and routing.
Street Sweeping & Flushing
Common questions about our sweeping and flushing services. For full details, visit the Street Sweeping and Street Flushing pages.
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Sweeping uses mechanical brushes and vacuum systems to remove dry debris: gravel, dust, and sediment. Flushing uses high-volume water to clear mud and fine particles that sweeping can't fully pick up. Most active construction sites and high-traffic roads benefit from both.
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Most commercial parking lots need sweeping at least monthly, with weekly service on high-traffic retail or mixed-use sites. Active construction sites typically require weekly sweeping at minimum, with more frequent passes during dry or high-activity phases.
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Yes. We schedule around your operations and crew hours. We've worked on active builds across Southwestern Ontario and coordinate timing to minimize disruption while keeping the site clean and compliant.
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Yes. We accommodate after-hours and overnight scheduling for retail plazas, commercial parking lots, and any site where daytime access creates scheduling conflicts. Service is built around your operations, not ours.
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Street flushing suppresses airborne dust, clears mud tracked onto site roads, and washes away surface buildup that sweeping alone can't reach. It's commonly paired with sweeping on construction sites and industrial properties where dust and mud are ongoing concerns.
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Our sweeping and flushing services run from spring through fall, typically April through November depending on weather conditions. Many of our sweeping clients continue with us through winter for snow removal and salting.
Snow Removal, Plowing & Salting
Common questions about our winter maintenance programs. For full details, visit the Snow Removal & Plowing and Salting & De-Icing pages.
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Under the Ontario Occupiers' Liability Act, property owners and occupiers are responsible for keeping premises reasonably safe, including in winter conditions. In most commercial leases, this obligation sits with the property owner or manager unless contractually transferred to a tenant.
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Scope varies by site, but most contracts cover plowing, salting, and ice control, with options for sidewalk clearing and snow bank removal. We structure contracts around your site layout, access requirements, and dispatch thresholds agreed on before the season starts.
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Most seasonal contracts run from late October through early April, depending on conditions. We recommend getting your contract in place by September to ensure your site is covered before the first event of the season.
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We dispatch based on accumulation thresholds and temperature conditions agreed on in your contract. Most commercial clients set a 1-2 inch trigger, with salting dispatched at or near freezing temperatures before ice forms.
Our operations team monitors real-time weather, radar systems, and road condition data. Our newest offering includes optional remote cameras that can be installed on your property to monitor snow accumulation.
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De-icing removes ice after it's already formed. Anti-icing is applied before a storm to prevent ice from bonding to the surface. It's easier to clear afterward and reduces overall product use. We offer both as part of our winter programs.
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We apply road salt, sand/salt blends, and chemical de-icers matched to surface type and temperature. Where asphalt integrity, stonework, or environmental sensitivity is a factor, we select surface-safe product alternatives.
Line Striping & Property Maintenance
Common questions about our line painting and exterior maintenance services. For full details, visit the Line Painting and Landscaping pages.
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Most parking lots need restriping every one to two years, depending on traffic volume, surface type, and sun exposure. Faded markings create liability exposure and may affect compliance with accessibility requirements under Ontario law.
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We use traffic-grade paint formulated for durability on asphalt and concrete. For high-traffic areas or applications requiring a longer lifespan, thermoplastic line striping is also available.
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Yes. Line painting is commonly scheduled alongside spring sweeping and property cleanup so your lot is clean and freshly marked at the same time. We coordinate the timing to minimize access disruption.
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Commercial landscaping maintains the function, safety, and presentation of business properties: parking lots, common areas, entrances, and grounds. It's built around operational schedules, safety compliance, and site presentation, not just personal preference.
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Exterior maintenance covers spring and fall cleanup, grass maintenance, broad landscaping, debris removal, and parking lot sweeping. Services can be bundled into a seasonal program or scheduled individually based on what your property requires each season.
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A thorough spring cleanup typically covers debris and sand removal from parking lots, landscaping refresh, edge cleanup, and a sweeping pass to clear winter residue. It's also the right time to assess whether line painting needs to be refreshed before summer traffic picks up.
Compliance, Safety & Liability
Common questions about regulatory requirements, insurance, and documentation. Contact us for site-specific questions.
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Yes. ClearWorks carries full commercial liability insurance and is WSIB compliant across all operations. Documentation is available on request for your property manager, general contractor, or procurement team.
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Ontario municipalities and provincial regulations require construction sites to control airborne dust and prevent sediment from reaching public roads and waterways. Regular sweeping and street flushing are among the most practical and commonly required mitigation measures.
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Yes. We provide service confirmation after every visit, with timestamps and, where required by contract, before-and-after photos and digital service logs. This documentation supports insurance claims, site audits, and municipal compliance requirements.
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Ontario's Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Building Code set requirements for accessible parking spaces, including dimensions, surface markings, and signage. We stripe accessible spaces to current Ontario code.
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Under the Ontario Occupiers' Liability Act, property owners and managers have a legal duty to keep premises reasonably safe. This includes icy parking lots, walkways, and entry points. Consistent salting, documentation, and a contracted winter maintenance program are the standard risk mitigation.
Still have questions?
We’re excited to take on your summer and winter maintenance projects. Reach out directly or head to our contact page to request a quote for your site.