Chris ECS

That is tough because I don't know what the market is like in your area. Here, I start at 10 cents per sq. ft., then add a fixed amount for the gum, whatever your hourly rate is x how many hours extra the gum will take. I assume you have hot water, that is the key for the gum.

I've been at it for about ten years, and usually finish right around 100K per year. As a fleet washer for the first seven years I used myself plus one helper, sometimes two and was able to keep labor cost at aobut 20 % including wages, taxes, and worker's comp. This was usually running one machine, sometimes two when I had two workers. Over the last two years, I have switched from fleets to residential and commercial and have been able to do about 100K doing 90 percent of the work without help. It is pysically demanding, especially in the south Louisisna heat, but I much prefer keeping more of the income for myself without the headaches employees cause. I have rarely been able to hire a reliable, efficient employee. The challenge for me is that 100k is about the max I can do alone in one year, and I do want to grow my business by having efficient, reliable employees. At this stage of my businesses I essentially have given up on trying to hire, and I am more inclined to keep working the way I am and waiting for the "right" hiring opportunity to present itself. I have wasted a lot of money, time, and effort over the ten years trying to hire good help.

In ten years I have only seen two or three houses that this happens to, and all of them have been light blue or slate colored. In the past I used a bleach and detergent mix, nothing fancy, and rinsed with little to no pressure. It is the pressure the may remove some of the oxidation and leave the splotchy apperance. Recently I have stopped using bleach and now use percarbonate based cleaners which are much more eco friendly, non toxic, and non-corrosive. I did have a problem with it removing some oxidation but not all of it, and it left that splotchy look. I did not notice it until it had dried. I have not yet tried to correct this problem because the customer knew ahead of time this problem might occur. I had informed her before of the ptotenial for this happening because of the age of the siding and effects of the sun over a period of many years. I am not sure what I will do, but high pressure is NOT the way to go. I will either reclean with same cleaner or brush it off. I know -- some of you think I am crazy for brushing, but it works, it deoesn't take much longer, and customers appreciate the extra effort.