Jump to content

Jeff

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content count

    3,820

  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by Jeff

  1. Posted · Report reply

    I'm getting confused now...I thought the idea of the Xjet was to be able to deliver a higher concentration of chems to the surface being cleaned...Which is defeated by using 1/4 hose and lowering that concentration. Why not just downstream if you're going to go that route? Personally, I love downstreaming, haven't used the Xjet in months.

    Mike W & Tony C

    I'm probably not quite explaining it right/ But it works for me. I juice up the mix in a bucket. But Ive used 3/8 th hose and say I used 4 - 5 gallon buckets of mix (The 3/8th just empties the bucket REAL quick) Now with 1/4" hose same exact house I would use less than 2 - 5 gallon buckets

    The 3/8th just draws out of the bucket to quick for me. Heck and the 1/4 hose is cheaper to buy and so isnt the 1/4 hose barbs, fittings & shut off when you have to replace them, SAVES $$$$. But like I said 3/8th just empties out to quick

    I dont know if I explained it, but try it you dont have to mix up as much for a house wash

    you just have to juice up your mix a little and you still get a real good concentration

  2. Posted · Report reply

    Patrick

    Did you mention the ratio you used for gutter zap. I use it straight and rinse

    quickly afterward.Like bforbis said you can rub the finish off the gutter if

    not carefull.PM me with the cost of the barlox. I have been getting it from the other source.The original xjet seems to have a greater distance.Also I agree on the 1/4" line, but the draw rate is bad when tring to use an extension wand.Even when holding the extension wand ground level.It will feed but as soon as you raise it the drawing stops. I only use 5-7 gallons of house wash for a 2000sqft house.Call me if you need help, we are less than 5 miles from each other.

    If you need another house to practice on, my wife said to come do ours.She has given up on me.

    Rodney GO CLEAN YOUR HOUSE !!!!!!

  3. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks for all the replies.

    Jeff - like the idea of converting the x-jet to 1/4 inch. As for Barlox I have the advantage of living close to Xterior's store. Barlox with no s&h is about the same cost as anything else with s&h.

    Patrick

    Say hi to Ron from Xterior, he helped me a ton in the beginning. He also can get you all the parts to convert to 1/4"

    JL

  5. Posted · Report reply

    Xjets are set up for a 3/8 hose and all the fittings are 3/8th. With 3/8th you will use alot of chems , it empties a 5 gallon bucket quick. I converted all my Xjets to 1/4 inch and i use much less chems. i do a 2000 sq ft house usually with less than 2 5 gallon buckets of house wash usually about 6-8 gallons of mix. I just mix it a little stronger and it works great. For high peaks, you can use a step ladder or a 4 ft extension

    As for the gutters remaining gray, they might be a cheaper quality and the finish may not be as good to begin with. When useing G Zap becareful that the gutters arent painted it can take the paint right off and can do it to a cheap factory finish also. all of a sudden you can have nice silver gutters

    Paint store should be able to order 28ft pin lock, Lowes or HD has 27ft twist lock

    Barlox is a real good soap but pricey, I like it for roofs also gives great cling

    Congrats on your 1st house wash, they get real easy over time & alot quicker

    Good luck

    JL

  6. Posted · Report reply

    I have a neighborhood where Ive done cleaning of common area curbing & sidewalks, then I apply rust remover Oxalic to everything. Tomorrow I'll be doing a walkthrough the entire nieghborhood to set up this service on a contract basis.

    Now I will be cleaning concrete once every 12-16 months but they want the Ox applied 3 times a year within a 8-9 month period while their irrigation system is on and just after they shut it down for the year

    Now the rust removal 3 times in my opinion is overkill I know I'll only need to do it twice a year. Should I tell them it only needs to be done 2 times or should I do it 3 times and take the money, each applications going to be around $1000 - $1400 and if by chance some areas need it 3 times then I'll do it

    I know what I think, what do you think?

    Thanks

    JL

  10. Posted · Report reply

    Wood restoration would have to be my least favorite. I dont have patience for it thatmuch. I'll do it but since its such a hard sell around here, I've found I dont even try to sell it here. Plus its hard to schedule, because of having to go back and stain and if that day you schedule it doesnt have the proper weather it really messes up scheduling

    My favorite is just about everything else, I like the larger projects that take several days and several men to do it.

  13. Posted · Report reply

    Jeff,

    Consider this....

    What if:

    • you had a set radius where they were free (for example 10 miles - primary service area)
    • you had found that outside of that radius the number of clients accepting your proposals dropped

    Under these circumstances, would you perhaps consider having a small fee for the estimate, that would be deducted from the total if they go with the estimate? Would that possibly:

    • reduce the number of unproductive trips farther away from your central service area
    • increase your close rate in that outlying area

    Food for thought...we think about this every year, but have not put it into effect so far. We never rule it out.

    Beth

    I'm just wondering how you would bring up telling someone theres a fee for an estimate. What would you say?

    It would be nice to charge a fee to defer the cost. Its just not the norm so I think they would just call someone else

    I think you may not get any of the jobs ifyou tell them theres a estimate fee.

    I'll ask if its a distance away how many sq ft is the house and if its a small house that I'll probably not make much $$$ I tell them its out of my area for a small job and I thank them for calling

  14. Posted · Report reply

    With costs rising, its getting to the point that we may have to charge a fee for estimates outside of a pre-specified radius. The time it takes to get there and the fuel expended can really add up.

    In a way this will help other contractors as well because it encourages local customers to seek local contractors and if they want someone from outside a service area, then they would be subject to a fee to entertain a price comparison. This applies according to region and demographics to support it and would not necessarily be acceptable everywhere. Its an idea and I think its time has come for further consideration.

    In addition, the estimate fee could be waived if the prospect accepts the contract otherwise they will be billed for the estimate after the estimate period expires.

    Input, ideas, thoughts???

    Rod!~

    I just cant see doing it, I cant see it being a uniform thing that everybody would charge. Like I said to many dont & wont charge for estimates. I wouldnt pay it. You have to make it up another way. Look in any Yellow Pages and you see free estimates.

    If you were going to charge how would you go about it, just wondering?

  16. Posted · Report reply

    OK let me explain what I need

    I probably have a project that I'll have to clean off some mold & mildew from stucco/dryvit buildings one building is 14 stories the other 8 stories. The drivit is white in color. Now get this, the white dryvit has the mold & mildew on it. The property only wants the white cleaned they dont want a whole building washed, because the majority of the building is other type of surfaces such as brick, block etc. Now the white dryvit is little sections here & there about 7 areas, the biggest areas being around 140x2 ft the smallest being 4x6 most are just around 6x10

    OK now I dont want to have to rig this building its not worth it and would be pretty difficult to rig due to many factors and its just not cost effective.

    This mold & mildeww will just wash right off with some 12% & a rinse Ive done it before no pressure is needed at all. What I want to do is set something up with a chem pump and a long chem line (up to 160 ft)and lower it to these areas from the roof. Now on the spray end Id like to have a spray bar(maybe just pvc) with at least a few spray tips and be able to trigger the setup from the roof apply the chem then lift back up to roof and then run water through it for rinse. All these buildings are just on straight drops, no windows or other obstructions. The others surfaces dont have any mold & mildew. The weight of the hose should hold it close to the building .

    Any ideas, should I use a shurflo or is there some other king of pump. I have the idea, but just dont know the best materials to build it. This is something I could use on at least a few occasions. If I can figure how t build it it will be a 1 day job, instead of a 3 or 4 day job moving rig all around 2 buildings. Plus I know the property, they wont spend the money

    Come on guys some help would be great and if you could build it for me would be nice LOL

    Thabks

    JL

  17. Posted · Report reply

    I going to be doing a project which will require me to apply Oxalic 3 times a year (Irrigation rust). It will be several thousand sq ft of concrete curbing & sidewalks. I usually apply ox on large areas with the Xjet, but some of this concrete requires a stronger mix of ox

    I remember seeing somewhere a chem sprayer (I think a pump up) it was 5 or 6 gallon on wheels that might work for some of this project

    What other types of sprayers/pumps are good and will last with oxalic running through it. Something portable, because I dont want to mount it in my trailer because this project the trailer will be cleaning the concrete and one of my guys will be applying Ox as the concrete drys

    Thanks for any help

    JL

  18. Posted · Report reply

    ive got a 77+12 and its good for me except ive run out of room .Im planning on buying a enclosed soon .for the advertisement thing.probally a 77+16

    Steve, Cant beat the enclosed for advertising. Ive had dozens of people call or talk to me because of my trailer, just since I got it a few months ago. Ive already made thousands because of the rolling billboard.

    Richard what size engine is in the van. You could letter it up also for some great advertising

  23. Posted · Report reply

    I need some help!!! I have some very big things happening, one is Im going to be the exclusive PW contractor for 2 very large PM companies and they want me to set up maintenance PWing of many properties and do on a contractual bases, with set times of year to do the work, I also will be getting a large concrete cleaning & rust stainremoval job for a high end neighborhood I will be cleaning all the concrete curbing & sidewalks through out this neighborhood and its alot. I will be cleaning concrete every 12-14 months, but I'll be applying rust remover to all the concrete very 2-3 months

    With all that said, I dont have any real Idea how to write up a maint. contract. mostly everything i do know is basically " go ahead & do it" and I do. Even the 18 banks I do 1/4ly & biannually I dont have a written contract.

    Does anyone have examples of maint. contract that I could see or maybe you could help me figure out how to do these contracts. If you could post different samples that would be great or email or call me 843-446-5931 jlecours@sc.rr.com

    Like I said its going to be big for my company and I want to be professional and have the proper contracts, wording, set up etc etc

    I really need some help on this:deal: . Thanks in advance

  25. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks everyone, but it doesnt matter after 4 hrs last night & 2 1/2 hrs so far tonight, Im 3/4's through the $#$##% box and thats just seperating them into different piles, then i still have to seperate the piles. But instead Im going to JUMP OFF A BRIDGE, OK only kidding, Ive just never seen so many receipts in my life................:lgtear:

    Is anyone else going thru this or am I the only fool that throws hiis reciepts in a box

×