Beth n Rod

Ok, I guess I deserved that one William. I'm an old geezer too by the way of things and agreed, I won't go pushing for license in either of your areas.I may push to buy you dinner instead if we ever get to meet, how's that? Rod!~

This is where we don't agree. I believe it is because you are in the commercial segment vs us in the residential side. The game is not the same and yes, for your end it is just pressure washing. No really significant training or expertise required. Just have to know what the difference is between what is clean vs what is still dirty I guess. In residential work, there is wood which is easily damaged, there is siding and a sub-structure which can be damaged by the high pressure water injection. There are chemicals that we use, sealers and finishes which have to be removed or maintained. It isn't just pressure washing here. It takes knowledge and training to understand how to deal with these substrates. All you have is brick and concrete. No problem, blast away. The more pressure the better I would assume is the primary M.O. I will try to make it more than it is because any... how did you put it 'joe blow homeowner' can do what you do but they cannot do what we do without creating damage. They cannot achieve the results we do without knowing what they are doing first and most of all...why! It is an industry based upon the practical and appropriate use of a pressure washer. I understand your position. Set in your ways and see no reason to change them. I am however looking out for my business and it requires more than the ability to pull a starter cord and hold on tight. Otherwise, I would not know so much about chemicals, study the USDA forestry labs handbook, keep up to date on every sealer I can and learn how to deal with it from preparation to application/maintenance and removal in addition to understanding the OSHA laws and regulations that my business is held accountable for. I don't expect you to understand and yes, I do fight for what I believe in and yes we are on opposite sides of the fence, but we are also in different states and arenas. You sound as if you have the benefit of not needing licensing to help deter hacks and encourage responsibility in business operations. This is where our situations differ. Rod!~

The cheapest guy in town is just that - the cheapest guy in town. :lol: I would rather be somewhat higher in price and thought of as the BEST company in town. :dancing: Your friend USED to be in business. Why isn't he now? Beth :groovy3:

I will expound upon what Beth posted regarding the different licensing; There is a significant difference between standard business licenses and a Home Improvement License. For those in the commercial arena, licensing is a formality. (Perhaps a requirement in some states) For those in the residential segment, it is mandatory in states that have this process in force. Insurances, Got employees?...need I say more? Rod!~

It's not everyone, but I am glad you asked the question. In our area, there are many who start up a pw'ing company and create havoc with pricing and perception of the rest of us who are working our best to provide the best results for the lowest price possible and still make a profit. No, it isn't rocket science but it is a science in itself. This is high pressure, chemicals and many different substrates. Common sense does not reside in the minds of those looking to make money instead of building a business. Responsibility for ones actions are the basis of the argument and licensing is a means to an end. For those of us like you and other posting here, we obviously get it. We take responsibility for the impact we have on a property and make sure it is only cleaner and not damaged from a lack of knowledge employing a dangerous piece of equipment. But, even though it is to some a "mediocre blue collar job", to others it is more. It is a business and a means to support a family. It provides jobs for those it employs and in an effort to retain those employees, it needs to stay profitable. This helps to provide benefits for those employees and incentive to stay with the company. Business licensing, insurances and so on are a necessity to maintain an air of responsibility and provide a safety net in the event something goes wrong and someone gets hurt or property gets damaged. Accidents happen. I can understand the perspective of those who don't feel licensing is of any benefit to them. Obviously your circumstances are different than ours. While I respect those positions, I do not condone them for the rest who are reading this thread and have either started a new business or are considering doing so. The laws are in place and put there because of the many who ruined it for the rest of us. We must now make due with what we have allowed to be placed upon us but in our case, if you are in business in our state and are not compliant, we WILL turn you in. Why? because our business suffers whenever a company does damage to the reputation of an industry that is already struggling with the numerous individuals that think pressure washing is easy and uses one without understanding or concerning themselves with the damage they are doing to other peoples property in order to make a buck. This creates a need for our company to be hired to correct the damage and creates a perception among our customers that somehow, we (as an industry)do not know what we are doing. We are then left to fight to reverse this perception and restore confidence at a higher cost to our customers than they should have ever had to pay in the first place. This is why. Rod!~

Olympic Maximum is not a hard strip at all. You can do this. Dwell time matters. Beth :cup:

I think it is funny that the people responding to this thread are commercial guys. What we are really talking about is Home Improvement Licensing.... Beth

Signature please....... Beth

Depends on the job and the degree of difficulty. You are in the range for PT or cedar maintenance... Beth

...btw, I am encouraged by the responses to this poll. We have a majority at this time who believe it is better to be licensed than not. I think it is a good step forward. Rod!~

Does the fence need washing too? :lol: Beth :cup:

BBB, angies list, craigs list...etc. are already on the ball on this one. Nothing wrong with them with the exception that some of them can be reported to with malice and false claims. Therein lies a problem I see with your suggestion; how do we sort out those who would post crappy work and pose it as coming from an otherwise reputable company who never produced those results? Nothing is foolproof or hack proof. As I said, we can argue all the possibilities but while we are squabbling amongst ourselves, the companies that provide substandard services or take advantage of customers are still operating. We need a stronger remedy with teeth to help clean up and discourage further substandard operating practices. I see we are at the fence now, but how do we remove it and start working together to improve our industries image? Rod!~

No to photos on our web site naming them by name, and that is not something we would do. Our goal is to educate the consumer and to perform outstanding service. We build long term professional relationships. We hear plenty from consumers about these kinds of hacks. We feel it would be unprofessional to bash the competition. Their work speaks for itself. In our area a cease and desist letter carries weight. Clearly we do not agree here. That is okay. :) Beth

All this anti-government andtidisestablishmentarism talk is nonsense. Tony, I find your arguments arbitrary in addition to being unsound business advice for anyone looking into starting up a business and wanting to do it right only to find questionable information (furthering the confusion and inadvertantly supporting the illegitimate operators which damage the reputation for the rest of us in the interim) being posted by those whose remarks can be construed to mean that it is not worth doing it LEGALLY! You are already contesting the information regarding a recent cease and desist order relevant to a contractor here and postulating that it is in essence a wasted effort. To what end? I find you a weak position on this one and personally, not one that I would like my customers reading and drawing a negative conclusion from. Every action is the first in a series of steps that leads to results. This order is the first that will provide documentation to support the actions which if necessitated to lead to the conviction(s) if this company does not change it's ways. Licensing does not prevent shoddy work or bad business practices, but it does protect the consumer by providing information about the company in order to gain remedy. Without it, they are anonymous for the most part and very hard to find when things go wrong. Do you disagree? The point you may not have noticed while focusing on presenting your case against the benefits of licensing, is that those who continue to operate in the shadows never change. We can argue all the potential possibilities regarding numerous instances where licensing may or may not have helped but overall, we should take it upon ourselves to demonstrate that when people decide to operate a business in a manner that is detracting from our industry as any respectable trade that they will be turned in and forced out of business unless they change their unacceptable practices. This is the message we should be sending and by setting the example, others will follow. But as long as there are others who think like you and continue to argue against legitimate business practices, nothing will change. All in all, if we as an industry are not part of the solution, we are perpetuating the problem when allowing this kind of mindset to continue. Think about it. Rod!~

Tony, If they do get a license (betting they do not) then if they have complaints filed against them, they can lose that license and face fines and jail time. They are accountable. (at least here in MD) The consumer is protected by a guarantee fund. The contractor will have to shape up and do better. it's a good thing provided you don't aspire to remain a hack. I do not see nearly as many bad licensed contractors here as I do unlicensed ones. Other states may be different. We do make it a point to urge consumers to check licensing and also the BBB to see how companies rate. Beth

I don't know how it works in your state, but if you were getting a license in ours for example, it is not just a matter of paying a fee. You would have to complete an application with verification of some form of experience for the field you are entering. You then get to take a crash course in contracting law. (the book is about 120 pages and includes much to do with business law and operational aspects as well) Then you are required to take a test proving you understand it. Upon passing the test given by a state approved facility, you are required to submit proof of insurance and pay the fee for the license. It is valid for 2 years and provided you are in good standing with no claims against your business through fault of your own, you can renew. The overall objective of this is to make sure you as a new business person can succeed in your endeavors by helping you to make a more binding contract and avoid losses by defaults created by unqualified contracts. It helps the contractor and protects the contractee! In the past, it was just that easy to obtain a license as you have postulated is the case in your state. In regard to your opinion of licensing...Put yourself in the shoes of a client who got burned by an unlicensed contractor and either received shoddy work and/or got ripped off. I think your view of business responsibility and customer perceptions could use some improvement after that statement. Rod!~

Cande, I'm talking about physical damage you can see. And about laws that protect the consumer against those who did the damage. Are you saying we should not have that right or protection? And the hacks who cause damage should be able to get away with it? Beth

Our state licensing has been around for years. It is not a federal political discussion - please don't try to make it that. Beth

I am dancing!!! :dancing: :banana: There is an unlicensed hack that has been advertising heavily and tearing the cr*p out of property here. They wash and seal on the same trip, use high pressure only, and tear up wood and ruin property. Over 30 BBB complaints, and multiple complaints by consumers to Maryland have been filed. We were hired to go fix one damaged deck, and the owner gave me a copy of the state's cease and desist letter. Violation of that order can lead to heavy fines and jail time. I am glad to see the state is working to protect the consumers from illegal businesses. What a refreshing thing!!! Happy spring! Beth

Wow! Time flies! Beth

Try Jim Foley. Beth

Yep. Slammed here too, and loving it. Ditto that on the peeps Jim. :dancing: Beth

Welcome to the forums. Please go to SETTINGS and add your signature. House rules. Beth

Not working... Beth