What type of plow blade should my snow removal company use on my interlock driveway in Orleans?

This is a critical question that many Ottawa homeowners with interlock driveways overlook until they discover chipped pavers, displaced edges, or polymeric sand scraped out of the joints after the first big snowfall.

Blade Types and Their Impact on Interlock

A standard steel blade is the worst choice for interlock driveways. Steel catches on raised paver edges, chips corners, and scrapes polymeric sand right out of the joints. Over a single Ottawa winter with 20 or more plowing visits, a steel blade can cause hundreds of dollars in paver damage. Rubber-edged blades or polyurethane blades are the correct choice for interlock surfaces. They flex over slight height differences between pavers without catching, and they leave the polymeric sand largely intact. Some Ottawa snow removal companies also use back-drag blades with rubber edges specifically designed for residential driveways.

Questions to Ask Your Snow Removal Company

Before signing a winter contract, ask the company directly: what blade material do they use on interlock surfaces? Do they switch blades between clients, or do they use the same steel blade for every driveway? A reputable Ottawa contractor will confirm they use rubber or poly blades for interlock and will adjust their blade height to sit slightly above the surface rather than scraping flush. In neighbourhoods like Orleans, Barrhaven, and Riverside South where interlock driveways are extremely common, most established companies already carry the right equipment.

Setting the Blade Height

Even with a rubber blade, the plow should be set to leave approximately 5 to 10 millimetres of snow on the surface rather than scraping down to bare pavers. This thin layer protects the surface and joints, and a light application of calcium chloride after plowing will melt the remainder. This approach is standard practice among experienced Ottawa interlock contractors and prevents the gradual wear that full-scrape plowing causes over multiple seasons.

Protecting Vulnerable Areas

The edges of your interlock driveway are the most vulnerable to plow damage. Snow stakes placed along the driveway borders help the plow operator see the edges clearly during early morning or overnight plowing. Soldier course borders (the edge row of pavers) should be checked each spring for displacement. If your driveway has a concrete or natural stone border, ensure the plow operator knows not to hook the blade under it.

Cost Difference

Some snow removal companies in Ottawa charge a small premium — typically $5 to $15 more per visit — for interlock-specific plowing because rubber blades wear faster and need more frequent replacement. This is a reasonable cost to avoid paver repairs that can run $300 to $800 for a section.

Use Ottawa Driveways to find snow removal and interlock contractors in your area who have the right equipment and experience with paver surfaces.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The Ottawa Construction Network connects Ottawa homeowners with qualified professionals:

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• Dreamwood Construction & Renovations