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814jeffw

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Posts posted by 814jeffw

  1. Posted · Report reply

    If psi was on every box I wouldve taken that into consideration purchasing a pump up.

    So I think you are mistaken on that.

    With lawsuits as prevalent as they are these days, it would be VERY foolish for any company to not put a PSI rating on the jug they're putting out on the market for just any knucklehead to over inflate. Are you even sure what PSI refers to?

    Did you really read the box to see what information it provides?

    Jeff

  3. Posted · Report reply

    Every single jug has a PSI rating. There isn't a company making pump sprayers that doesn't put a MAXIMUM PSI rating on the box or in any literature that may come with the sprayer. Also,...Any pump sprayer that is pumped to max. psi and having the nozzle adjusted in the right position will shoot further than 12 feet.

    If you can, put up a picture of the pump sprayer you are using. Almost sounds like you're talking about bottles with a squeeze trigger.

    Jeff

  5. Posted · Edited by 814jeffw · Report reply

    Why give something extra for free. Or loose the job because of a competitor priced it just washing the house and no scrub?

    I been washing houses for 4 years now and didnt know the difference till this year. I dont think the customer knows either.

    All we can do is explain the difference and cross our fingers. Or match the price of just the wash, make some money. And dont scrub the gutters. Just xjet or downstream them. Call it a day, get paid.

    You lost me here,...what is being given away?

    You didn't know the difference from what,....cleaned gutters compared to dirty gutters?

    Are you saying you've never cleaned gutters with the proper cleaner in 4 years?

    Sorry,..but your post is hard to decipher.

    Jeff

  6. Posted · Edited by 814jeffw · Report reply

    Ken, I think you would agree that gutters can make a huge difference in the outcome of a job. So my question to you is, why would you want to allow the customer to decide this important detail. Especially when you consider the unaware customer may not even know how much of a difference it makes,...but you do. I personally couldn't wash the siding and allow the gutters to remain looking untouched. Just seems like a bad idea.

    Also, seems to me it could possibly hurt "quality of work" advertising. Meaning, other potential customers, see those dirty gutters and figure you don't do the gutters,...and they aren't aware it was the customers' option.

    Jeff

  12. Posted · Report reply

    I offer no warranty work on any cleaning.

    No offense Ken,...but the house washes you give warranties on for two years for everything above 10 feet are maybe customers who just don't want to be a pain and they know that it's tough to guarantee this type of work. I am in Pa as well and in two years th houses I do still look good, but I bet there's some mildew growth,...even if it isn't visisble from the ground. Not knocking your warranty, if you're selling with it that's what counts.

    I agree with Dan, seems hard to give a guarantee where elements that are out of your control can be the determining factor. Things like; What's under the siding, landscape and the obvious,...mother nature itself.

    I prefer to give customers an honest evaluation on what to expect where longevity is concerned,...with the above elements being taken into account for each job.

    Just wondering for those who offer warranties,...do you bring up the fact or do the customers inquire? I only ever get asked about 3 times a year if warranty the jobs cleanliness,....and that's on roof jobs. And again I tell them what they can expect.

    If I do a house surrounded by other infested houses, they get about a 2 year expectancy before any reoccurence,...where the house in the country setting gets about a 3-4 year expectancy.

    Jeff

    Jeff

  15. Posted · Report reply

    Hi Mike, ideally that roof should just be replaced,...but we don't live in an ideal world. Not much you can do with that roof in the way of physically removing the growth. I would tell her all you can do is kill it and it will fall off over time. You may also want to explain to her that the gutters are most likely in need of cleaning out,...simply because off the amount of granules that are likely to be in them.

    always sell a job for what it is, don't sugarcoat it.

    Jeff

  18. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks John. I wondered about the warranty. I would like to just fix it myself if I could. I use to have a backup but just recently sold it to a friend of mine because I figured I wouldn't need a backup this soon,..ha,ha!! Bought it from PressureTek and I'm sure it wouldn't be an issue,...just didn't want the down time. Maybe I will just buy another one and have this one sent back and repaired and have it as a backup.

    Lesson learned on backups.

    Jeff

  19. Posted · Report reply

    I have a General 3045 pump. I bought it brand new just this past Spring.

    I've used General pumps forever it seems, and this is the first one that has ever leaked oil. I've had them an average of 2-3 years,...never any oil leaks,.. and this one is only about 4 months old and is leaking oil pretty bad. Used it last on Saturday and will be taking it off today to see if I can at least locate the source of the leak. My questions:

    Is there any known defects in any of the recently sold General pumps?

    What's the most like source of the oil leak? (Maybe hard to say I know)

    Thanks,

    Jeff

  20. Posted · Edited by 814jeffw · Report reply

    I have done several brick restoration jobs over the years, but I have a customer who wants just a "regular" cleaning of the unpainted brick. He does not want the restoration type cleaning, which I recommended.

    Approximately 100 years old with just typical road dirt and that sort of thing. I like getting a clean looking surface, which in my experience takes the restoration products such as Deitrich or Prosoco.

    Any suggestions on what I could use to get a decent cleaning on the brick. Was thinking if just using my basic house wash with maybe a little sodium hydroxide added for a little more cleaning power. Or should I still be looking at an acid based cleaner applied at a more diluted concentration?

    My biggest fear is with brick it seems to take the restoration products to make a real difference,..but I'm fussy!! But I think this guy just wants the loose dirt off so he can begin painting the trim and to just have a generally clean building.

    Thanks,

    Jeff

  21. Posted · Edited by 814jeffw · Report reply

    As long as it is butyl based it should work on the typical gutter streaks. Different products will vary on percentage of butyl,..but they're usually effective as long as there is butyl in the product. Everyone seems to have their favorite. I personally like the Castrol cut into thirds. But temperature will be the determining factor on dilution ratios. Just have to gain experience when judging temperature and how it will effect your job for the day.

    Never tried potassium hydroxide based for gutter streaks, but it sounds as though it works also.

    Ken, is it ever gonna stop raining here in Pa????? I can do houses, but my roof jobs are stacking up,...guess I'm gonna have to work harder on the nice days if this pattern continues. Using today as maintenance day.

    Jeff

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Get the tank(s) to haul 300+ gallons of water. Not sure what you're using well water for in your cleaning applications, but city water makes your soap work better and rinses easier when doing house washing. It always scared me to death to hook into someones well because although they may say it's ok, all it takes is one good draw and the pump can start pumping air and burn up,...I don't ever want to burden a homeowner with that expense. You being the contractor needs to be aware of your water consumption and make that responsible determination. If you do use the customers' well, run it intermittently, with the use of a buffer tank of at least 100 gallons.

    Jeff

    Jeff

  25. Posted · Edited by 814jeffw · Report reply

    Knowing how to evaluate aluminum siding and selling the job for what it is,...is the most important thing. If you know how to evaluate the siding, the method used should be second nature. But if the customer doesn't uderstand, then move on to the next job.

    With aluminum it's nearly impossible for people on a forum to give suggestions. Pictures help, but still there is the issue of the actual condition that only hands on evaluation will do. I think that is why the suggestions haven't been coming in.

    Jeff

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