Mike Williamson

I agree, but the reality is that it is often very difficult for solo operations to meet with every homeowner in person and still have time to get any work done. It's hard enough to find the time to bid jobs at all, let alone work around everyone's schedule. I can say that I never meet at least 1/2 my customers in person...I do the estimate when they're at work, I do the job while they're at work, and they mail the check. I have a fairly high closure rate, and some of that is most likely due to pricing. If I had the time to meet every homeowner in person, I may be able to up the pricing, but my costs would increase quite a bit both in time spent and in fuel running all over town around their schedule. I agree that if my closure rate dropped significantly, this would be one area to look at improving. For now, it isn't a problem.

I'd have told her to have the $99.00 guy do it, and to call me when he screws it up.

No way. The wax doesn't costs me less than $1.00 for a housewash. It's a good investment to get excellent results. It isn't something I want to upsell, it's the edge that makes my work better than much of my competition. If it needs wax, I use wax. If not, I don't use it. It's $150.00 for a 55 gallon drum kit, so that's $2.72/gallon. Figure $3.00 with shipping...so far I have managed to arrange to pick it up or have it delivered during various round table meetings with Steve, so I don't usually pay shipping. I use roughly 3/4 gallon in a 5 gallon bucket of housewash, and the typical housewash takes two buckets...so it coests me around $4.50 per housewash for the soap, another $2.50 for the chlorine, and maybe $0.50 for wax/foamer/rinse aid, as needed. So, at most, a housewash costs me $7.50 in chems. Another $1.00 in fuel for the washer. I know you didn't ask all that, but I just felt like sharing! :)

Not sure what you're referring to...Citracleen isn't a heavy degreaser. It is a soap designed for housewashing, and designed to mix and work well with chlorine.

some folks use the foamer every time...I only use it if I'm using the wet wax, since the wax cuts down dramatically the foaming ability of the citracleen.

I used Espec's d-Limonene for a short time before I, like Scott, tried Steve's chems. There's no comparison. I have a 1/2 a drum or so of it if anyone wants to come pick it up. It's a little more the 1/2 the cost of citracleen, but, IMHO, that's the results you get too.

Do you mean 4 casters? I prefer the type with two larger tires in the back and one caster in the front...easy to maneuver without having to fight stiff casters, keep it from going sideways, etc.

Typically forward and back. If you have a 3 wheel model, you can't go side to side. If you have a rental place in your area, see if they rent them...give one a try and you'll be sold!

I'm not sure...whatever came with the little grease gun I bought. I don't believe the spinner instructions specified what type of grease.

You're correct. You'll want to use an inline high pressure filter on the surfacer, which will keep you from getting debris in your nozzles or in the spinner mechanism. You also want to make sure you check and change the tips periodically as they wear. Remember, they're spinning at 2000rpm through water, sand, grit, etc, and the holes will wear, making them larger. This will cause you to lose pressure and cleaning effectiveness. Depending on the brand or model, you mean need to grease the swivel from time to time. Other than that, there's not really an maintenance involved. A 20" would be a good size, though I've not run into anything I can't clean with 24.

Yep, it does!

I agree, to a point. What you buy also depends on what you can afford, and how much you use it, and what you're using it for. If I was doing just the occasional driveway or sidewalk, a cheaper unit would be fine. I wouldn't waste time replacing parts that aren't broken, though it's a good idea to get replacement parts so when/if you need them, you have them. I wouldn't buy from a rental place...people trash that stuff too much, and they don't sell until it's worn out... Whatever you get, get it soon! Wanding a drive is just nuts. You either spend a HUGE amount of time, or you wind up with substandard results. It's hard to clean well and evenly with a wand without spending a LOT of time doing it. Time is money! A surface cleaner should pay for itself in a very short period of time.

I agree, when dealing with a 2 or 3 story house, the time involved is higher, so the price is higher. I think that's one factor people forget when comparing prices here in FL to those in other areas...probably 95% of the homes I was are single story. I have a Coress extension wand, and have used it a grand total of twice in the past 6 months or so, since I bought it. I rarely need a ladder to access any part of a house.

I've heard plenty of stories of folks missing the deadline for chargebacks and missing out. Yet another reason I'm not interested in taking CC

1. Xjet housewash mix onto driveway 2. Put Xjet away and any other equipment from the housewash that isn't needed 3. Clean the driveway. 4. Cut in around the garage and anywhere else, and rinse. The housewash mix, in a 5 gallon bucket, is 1 gallon citracleen, 1-2 gallons of chlorine, and water. the soap makes a real difference in the cleaning.

If the streaks are barely noticeable, I'll give the owner the option to pay for gutter shock or not...suggesting they don't. If they're bad, that's factoredt into the price just like every other part of the job is. If you're wondering why I suggest they don't, it is because, as I understand it, the products used to remove the black streaks also removes a very very thin layer of paint along with it...something I don't think is justified to remove barely noticeable stripes. As far as how long it takes to get rid of stripes, about an extra 10 minutes per house...I keep my gutter shock in a pump up, and if needed, I spray the gutters/fascia with it after soaping things down, and let it dwell along with the housewash mix. It doesn't take more than an extra minute per side to do this....I very very rarely have to scrub or brush...I DID with gutterzap, but not with Gutter Shock. As a result, the difference in price is not that much, not even close to $75.00

Oh, yeah, you can get the hose off the gun without shutting the machine down...Take the tip out of the gun, pull the trigger, and pop the hose off. It may not work if you're running a really high gpm machine. You then make sure the ball valve is open, and plug the hose in, then shut the ball valve!

Maybe so...there are some things I know are real, and others I am not so sure. Here's a strange twist...I was listening to Coast to Coast (art bell) with George Nori last night while driving back from my Burger King job. I don't typically listen to this show, but it can be interesting to hear all the nutty stuff people come up with. Anyway...They were talking about these strange looking rodent like creatures people had been seeing, and how they might be from another dimension or aliens...One lady described them as looking very similar to the stitch character. Just a bit strange. Yes, we believe what we want to believe....but that doesn't necessarily make what we believe wrong. Are there spiritual things going on in this world? Yes, I know that for a fact. Can I prove it to you? Nope...I only have my own experiences to go by, and me telling you what I have felt or experienced doesn't make you feel them or experience them. Are there things we just don't understand? Of course.

Jesus, get one!!! Depends on your money....if you don't have the cash, see if you can find one used, or even a new whirl-away (a cheaper knock off of the whisper wash). Even a 16" surfacer would be much faster, and neater, than wanding!! If you can afford it, a 24" steel eagle or whisper wash would be a good choice...I have a 28 (or 30?) in whisper wash big guy and I love it, but the price on those new approaches $900.00 or so...I bought mine barely used for about 1/2 that. I can do a standard garage (2 cars wide, 2 cars deep) in 20 minutes, including Xjetting housewash, dwell, clean, and rinse. Even if you could do it that fast with a wand, I'm not worn out afterwards with the surfacer. And on a long, straight sidewalk? It just flies!

What kind of pump is this? Roller pumps aren't rated by HP, but rather by RPM. Granted, they need a certain HP to get them turning and keep them turning, but having 1.5 as opposed to 3 won't make it put out any more flow.

In my situation, I have to have a ball valve for the surfacer. One my steel eagle 24", there's no way to turn the surfacer off unless you cut off the washer or close the ball valve. I can't very well leave the surfacer spinning on the concrete for 30 seconds in one spot while I walk back to the trailer to cut it off. One the Big Guy, I have a trigger grip on it, but I keep that zip tied open, since I get tired of hold it open all day long. I just use the ball valve to turn it on and off. If I'm not doing concrete, I keep the ball valve in the trailer. Since I do the DW last, I'll stick it on there when I'm prepping for the DW.

The CC company CAN do chargebacks beyond the 90 days, but by law, they HAVE to deal with it if it is within 90 days...beyond that, they are not required by law to do so. Then you're at the mercy of a CC company's whim.

Check out the winning bidder's feedback...It appears he decided not to pay $11,100.00 for a stuffed toy!

Y'all are making the assumption that this is a scam, and the story is false... Maybe you're wrong.... :lgbugeyes

If you paid by CC, just put it into dispute with the CC company. This is why it is smart to purchase things, especially things like this, with a CC. I think it is 60 days, maybe 90, that you have to dispute it, so hurry!