ALPINE SMITH, Inc. offers the
most high-tech and best-value snow removal solution in South Lake Tahoe.
Because we believe in our commitment to you, ALPINE SMITH, Inc. has dedicated
itself to superior service, and less hassle. This means we use only the
best snow removal equipment and hire only the most knowledgable operators.
We have the training, the knowledge, and the desire to keep your driveway
snow free.
Why do I need snow removal services?
Snow removal services are for
anyone who expects their vacation time to be a vacation, and not a snow-clearing
day. They are for the working man that longs to arrive at work refreshed
from a pleasant nights sleep and not worn-out from clearing the driveway.
Living in snow country can be a time consuming commitment, but with ALPINE SMITH
Inc., it doesn't have to be. Our trained professionals have the equipment,
and the know-how to make snow removal a seemless task that you never have
to think about again.
How much insurance do you carry?
ALPINE SMITH, Inc. carries a
$1,000,000 liability insurance policy and all of our employees are covered by a workers' compensation policy.
Do you have your Contractor's License?
The Contractors
License Board does not require a Contractors License for snow removal.
Other snow removal companies hold licenses for their non-snow removal
related activities.
Can your snowblowers handle South Lake Tahoe winter conditions?
Yes, ALPINE
SMITH, Inc. has been successfully
removing snow from South Lake Tahoe communities for many years. The compact
and lightweight design of our tractors makes us especially well equipped
to handle the more technical terrain of South Lake Tahoe. Additionally,
our Zaugg snow blowers have a superior design and increased durability
to handle whatever our Tahoe winter brings.
Why does
ALPINE
SMITH use Holder tractors?
We researched many different
snowblower-based tractors, including tractors from Bobcat, New Holland,
Trackless and others. Based on our research, tractor demonstrations, and
operator testimonials, we concluded that a Holder is the most suitable
and reliable tractor for Tahoe’s snow conditions.
Holder's engineering is light-years ahead of any other snowblower-based
tractor. It has about fifteen major technological advantages that the
competition lacks, including load sensing, hydraulic accumulator, a reliable
and effiecient Deutz turbo-charged engine, 6:1 planetary gears, and multi-disc
wedge brake system. Coupled with a Zaugg commercial snow-blower, we are
in a class of our own.
How many driveway clearings come with a seasonal agreement?
Your agreement provides you with
unlimited driveway clearings from First Snow to April 30th.
When do I need to sign up for
service?
ALPINE
SMITH, Inc. offers a $25 DISCOUNT
to homeowners who commit to our snow removal service by September 30.
This incentive is designed to encourage early commitment and allow us
to accurately plan our winter operations. Early commitments help us hire
the appropriate number of operators, invest in new machinery and stake
your driveway before the snow removal season begins.
Do you accept credit cards?
ALPINE SMITH,
Inc. accepts Visa and Mastercard.
Rather than use a seasonal contract,
can we give you a call and have our driveway cleared as needed?
Of course. ALPINE
SMITH, Inc. offers on call service
for all South Lake Tahoe residents, however it is important to take into
account the different cost structure. For on call visits ALPINE
SMITH, Inc. calculates the fee
for service based on the driveway size, slope, and amount of snow that
has fallen.
Because of this, many customers find the break-even point with a seasonal
contract to be only four or five visits to the site. You also may find
that with only on call service, a sheet of ice has formed beneath the
snow creating a much larger problem.
Many of our clients enjoy the following benefits of having their driveway
cleared all winter:
Unlimited emergency access to their home in case of fire plumbing freeze-up,
etc.
No phone calls or emails to coordinate on-time clearing hoping that
we are available and between storm cycles.
No concern over changing arrival and/or departure times from you South
Lake Tahoe home.
Do you offer any discounts?
Yes. ALPINE
SMITH Inc. offers a $25 DISCOUNT
to homeowners who commit to our snow removal service by September 30.
This incentive is designed to encourage early commitment and allow us
to accurately plan our winter operations. Early commitments help us hire
the appropriate number of operators, invest in new machinery and stake
your driveway before the snow removal season begins.
ALPINE
SMITH, Inc. will begin snow removal
operations when snowfall reaches a depth of approximately 6" in your route
area. Therefore, the timing of snow removal may vary from day to day.
However, ALPINE SMITH
Inc. tries to begin its snow removal operations between 3:00a.m. - 5:00a.m.,
with our routes taking about six to eight hours to complete. Because of
the unpredictability and severity of the weather, we cannot guarantee
that we will arrive at your house at a set time every day.
Why do you perform snow-removal in the middle of the night?
Traffic and safety concerns make
nighttime the best time for our operators to be out. While our tractors
are light and highly maneuverable, they are constantly backing out of
driveways. Operating during the middle of the night allows us to work
quickly and without the risk or delays of vehicular traffic.
Do you remove berms?
While we cannot coordinate our
efforts with the City of South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County, our crews
do monitor their snow removal progress. Based on that information ALPINE
SMITH, Inc. decides whether or
not the berms are a significant hindrance to homeowners and whether they
should be eliminated immediately or during the next day of snow clearing.
However, there are times when we are not able to return the same day because
of operator fatigue, heavy snowfall, slow road clearing response from
the City of South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County, etc.
What if the City of South Lake Tahoe or El Dorado County berms me in after ALPINE SMITH, Inc. has cleared my driveway?
ALPINE SMITH, Inc. will make
every effort to return to your home and clear the berm. Please realize
that a number of factors (including snowfall conditions, number of available
operators, etc) will influence our ability to do this. If we cannot return
to your home on the same day, the berm will be removed on our next pass through
your route.
Are the City of South Lake Tahoe or El Dorado County responsible for the berms they leave?
Should I be protecting my landscaping from your equipment?
ALPINE
SMITH, Inc. snowblowers will
not damage any of your landscaping. That being said, you should always
stake and tie off shrubs, bushes, and trees before the snow season starts.
Do you cover end of season damage to my property?
If damage occurs as a result
of our negligence, ALPINE SMITH,
Inc. will repair any property or landscape damage caused by our equipment
to its previous condition at no cost to the homeowner. ALPINE
SMITH, Inc. will not be responsible
for superficial gouges and chain marks resulting from normal snow removal
operations. ALPINE SMITH,
Inc. will not repair or pay for the repair of driveways that crush or
deteriorate due to water saturation or thin asphalt or base.
Will my driveway always be snow free?
In an ideal world the snow would
fall in short blocks, then have long breaks. In our world, the snow falls
in inconsistantly and sporadically. Your contract with ALPINE SMITH, Inc.
guarantees you one snow removal per 24 hour period. While this is usually sufficient, we do reccomend you prepare yourself to remove the snowfall
from small storms that may be less than 6"
How close can you get to my garage door?
Our tractors are highly maneuverable
and lightweight. In most cases, this means we can safely operate within
a foot of your garage door, a parked car, or other object blocking our
tractor. If the operator deems that the potential for damage is too high,
we will not approach the object so closely.
I only visit my in home South Lake Tahoe a few times per year , can we use you on an on-call basis?
Of course. ALPINE
SMITH, Inc. offers on call service
for all South Lake Tahoe residents, however it is important to take into
account the different cost structure. For on call visits ALPINE
SMITH, Inc. calculates the fee
for service based on the driveway size, slope, and amount of snow that
has fallen.
Because of this, many customers find the break-even point with a seasonal
contract to be only four or five visits to the site. You also may find
that with only on call service, a sheet of ice has formed beneath the
snow creating a much larger problem.
Many of our clients enjoy the following benefits of having their driveway
cleared all winter:
Unlimited emergency access to their home in case of fire plumbing
freeze-up, etc.
No phone calls or emails to coordinate on-time clearing hoping that
we are available and between storm cycles.
No concern over changing arrival and/or departure times from you
South Lake Tahoe home.
Do I need to call before coming up to my home in South Lake Tahoe?
Although it is always nice to
here from our customers, no phone calls or emails are necessary. We remove
the snow from all of the driveways in our routes without regard to their
occupancy. This helps ensure no ice sheets or other problems are created.
What if there's another car parked in my driveway when you come to remove the snow?
We will safely work around the parked car(s) and clean up any
remaining snow on our next pass. Because our routes are often cleared in the middle of the night, we will
not disturb the occupants of the house to move their cars. If possible, we ask that you park on one side of
the driveway rather than the middle. This allows us to clear the unoccupied side rather than nothing at all.
If there's heavy snow falling, and a couple of feet in my driveway, but I need to leave, what can you do for me?
If there's heavy snow in your
driveway, there's probably also heavy snow on the roads. Until the City
of South Lake Tahoe or El Dorado County clears the roadways, it may not
be safe for you to operate your vehicle on the road. We encourage you
to procceed only if you can do so safely.
The steep slope of my driveway is causing me difficulties.
Some homes in the South Lake
Tahoe area were built without fully considering the effects of winter.
Unfortunately, ALPINE SMITH,
Inc. cannot guarantee full access to the home in these situations. ALPINE
SMITH, Inc. will make every effort
to keep constant access available, but reccomends using a four-wheel drive
vehicle and/or tire chains to access your home.
Do I need to wait for my driveway
to be cleared before leaving?
Not at all. Driving on the snow
will only pack it, and with our regular snow removal service, it will
not turn to ice.
What if I sell my home during the winter season?
ALPINE SMITH, Inc. asks that
you prorate your snow-removal service while you are in escrow. If that's
not possible, we would be glad to prorate the service for you and refund
any unused portion.
What if one of my snow stakes is knocked out?
If you find you are unable to
repair the stake yourself, please contact us and we will be happy to assist
you.
