A-205 Exterior Renovation
Snow-melt systems for a heated driveway, walkway or front steps
Electric cable or hydronic tubing under interlock, concrete or asphalt, with sensors that start the system when snow arrives, designed by our mechanical and engineering teams.
- Started as a mechanical contractor
- In-house engineering department
- Free estimates on every project
Free, no-obligation estimate. We typically reply within 24 hours.
A-205.1 Why MKC
Why choose MKC for a heated driveway
A heated driveway is a mechanical system under a paving job, and it has to be designed that way. The heat source, the tubing or cable layout, the controls and the electrical or gas supply are planned before the old surface comes out, then installed and tested before the new surface goes down. MKC started in mechanical work, so one company sizes the system, builds the base and lays the stone.
Designed with our mechanical division
Our mechanical team sizes the boiler or electrical load for the area you want clear and lays out the tubing or cable. The system is tested before paving, our engineering department reviews the design, and the paving crew works from the same drawing.
A-205.2 Scope
What’s included
- A-205.1Driveway snow-meltThe full driveway or tire tracks only, under interlock, concrete or asphalt.
- A-205.2Walkways & stepsHeated paths and landings from the driveway to the front door.
- A-205.3Hydronic systemsPEX tubing carrying a heated water and glycol mix from a boiler.
- A-205.4Electric systemsHeating cable or mats in concrete, asphalt or the sand bed under pavers.
- A-205.5Sensors & controlsMoisture and temperature sensing that runs the system only when needed.
- A-205.6Paving finishUnilock, Techo-Bloc and Permacon pavers, or concrete or asphalt.
A-205.3 Budget & schedule
What affects
the price
Every estimate is built from your measurements and choices. These are the things that move the number most.
A heated driveway goes in with the paving, so plan on the paving schedule plus a few days for tubing or cable, testing and controls. The work has to happen before the ground freezes, and boiler or panel upgrades can add lead time.
Every project is different, so your estimate comes with its own written schedule, and we aim to beat the usual industry timeline on every job.
- 01Heated area
Every square foot adds cable or tubing; electric driveway systems typically need at least 35 W per square foot to melt snow.
- 02System type
Hydronic needs a boiler, pumps and a manifold; electric needs 240-volt or higher circuits and panel capacity.
- 03Existing surface
Pavers can be lifted and relaid; concrete or asphalt is replaced, or topped with a new layer over the heating.
- 04Power or gas supply
Panel or service upgrades, or a gas line to the boiler, when the house lacks capacity.
- 05Controls
Automatic snow sensors cost more upfront than a manual timer but avoid running the system on dry days.
G-003 How we work
How we deliver your heated driveway
- 1
Free Estimate
Tell us what you have in mind. We review your space and goals and give you a clear estimate at no cost.
- 2
Planning + Permits
We finalize design and scope. Our in-house engineering team prepares drawings, engineering letters and permit applications.
- 3
Material Procurement
We order from trusted suppliers such as Unilock, Techo-Bloc, Permacon, TimberTech, Trex and Benjamin Moore, and schedule deliveries around the work.
- 4
Construction Process
Our crews build to code with site supervision and regular updates, so you always know where things stand.
- 5
Project Completion
Final inspection, walkthrough and clean-up. On time, within budget and beyond expectations. That is the MKC Guarantee.
Plan your project
with a free estimate.
We review your space and goals and give you a clear estimate at no cost.
A-205.4 Questions
Questions about a heated driveway
Don’t see your question? Call (647) 637-6052 or ask in your estimate request.
Electric or hydronic: which suits our driveway?
Electric systems use heating cable or mats set in concrete or asphalt, or in the sand bed under pavers, and run on 240-volt or higher circuits. They need no boiler or pumps, which suits walkways, steps and tire tracks. Hydronic systems circulate a heated water and glycol mix through PEX tubing, with heat from a boiler through a heat exchanger, so they need mechanical equipment and room for it. We compare both for your layout and energy supply.
What does a heated driveway cost to run?
Four things drive it: the area you heat, the system type, your energy rates and how often it snows. Controls make the biggest difference: moisture and temperature sensing starts the system when snow arrives and stops it when the surface is clear. Heating tire tracks instead of the whole driveway cuts both the install and running cost. We explain what drives operating cost for your design before you decide.
Can you add heat to our existing driveway?
Interlock is the easiest: we lift the pavers, install the cable or tubing in a new bedding layer and relay the same stone. With concrete or asphalt, the surface is usually replaced, though some electric mats can go on the existing slab under a new layer about 2 inches thick, which raises the grade. It costs the least when the driveway is due for replacement anyway.
What permits or inspections are involved?
Snow-melt cable and its circuits are electrical work, so in Ontario they must be installed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor, who files a notification with the Electrical Safety Authority, and inspected before they’re buried. A gas boiler must be installed by a TSSA-registered contractor. Driveway width is set by your zoning by-law, so a wider driveway may need approval too. We plan each approval the design needs, and who handles it, before work starts.
Will it keep up with a heavy snowfall?
Sizing and controls decide that. A sensor that starts the system as snow begins, or a controller that preheats the surface ahead of a forecast storm, keeps it ahead of the snow, while manual timers often start too late. Snow shovelled or plowed onto the heated area from elsewhere takes much longer to melt, so we plan where cleared snow will go.
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A-204G-009 Free estimate
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