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Exterior Attack PW

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Posts posted by Exterior Attack PW

  4. Posted · Report reply

    You probably do, but I wanted to make sure. Are you using bleach alone, or is there soap added to you solution? Bleach by itself is NOT a cleaner. It's an action chem ( the release of the oxegen is what really does the work) but there needs to be a surfactant to help the water work better. The "soap" will allow the water to lift the stain out by creating affinity with the stain material and the water molecules. As was stated by the speaker at the Myrtle Beach roundtable, more (stronger) bleach doesn't

    necessarily make things better. Because the oxegen release happens faster when it's stronger, in some situations, more damage may occure, but not neccessarily more cleaning. Using bleach is fine, but used much above 3% should be cause for great concern for the substrate. Just food for thought.

    So how would you mix it then? I would like to spray it out of my chemical tank because its easier for me to do. I have a 35 gallon tank so what would he ratios be? And what surfactant would you recommend?

  5. Posted · Report reply

    How do you guys spray your chlorine for concrete work? Do you downstream or use your low pressure setup (delavan, surflo, flojet) etc. I use downstreaming right now but I am thinking about switching to low pressure so I can mix up the chlorine a little stronger maybe 1:1 or 2:1. If any of you guys use a low pressure setup to spray your flatwork what are you using? What chemical concoctions, ratios etc. Here in florida driveways and sidewalks especially get pretty nasty. I just want to cut down on my time getting the chems to work a little faster.

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Everyone has to start somewhere. Just don't take your time and do it right. Don't quit your day job yet. You have a paycheck coming in right now. I think if you started out with nights and weekends like you said would be your best bet. PW is my side business, so those slow times don't hurt that bad. Like Tracy said above, do some free stuff for friends and neighbors. Thats what I did and it worked out great. You can try out your techniques, get your chemicals proportioned right and see how long it takes so you can charge your customers accordingly so you can make some money. I say good luck. Thats what these boards are for, to help out others. Your not going to find out everthing because there are still trade "secrets" so to speak. If I could help out let me know.

  7. Posted · Report reply

    If I were you I would start out slow. First, you have no experience what so ever. Start off slow. Maybe buy some decent used stuff at first. Start off with a cold pressure washer, a surface cleaner, a couple of hundred feet of hose and go out and try to find some business. The guys you are talking to about about a Mi-T-M setup just want to sell you something. Just because you spend $8000.00 doesn't mean you will have a quick return on your investment. The guys that have all the nice rigs, hot and cold PW's, chems tanks, hose reels on every side of the truck etc.. have been doing this job a long time and are when established and have the business and the knowledge to do it. You have to learn to "Crawl" before you "Walk". Back to the no experience part, you can mess up someones house real bad if you use the wrong chemicals. Start lurking on these boards and reading and asking questions, thats what I did when I got into the business. You will get some great information from guys who will give you some good advice. I guarantee that everyone who reads this will agree with me. DON'T GO OUT THERE LIKE A HACK AND MAKE US ALL LOOK BAD. LEARN HOW TO DO IT AND DO IT RIGHT. DON'T BE THAT LOWBALLER THAT WE ALL LOVE TO HATE. ps. I started out with used equiptment and have only about $1000.00 invested minus the trailer which was given too me. I don't have all those fancy tanks and such. I have the right stuff to do the job. Good Luck.

  8. Posted · Report reply

    I stopped into a Sonic Restaurant recently after seeing how dirty there outdoor seating area was. I asked for the manager to see if they would be interested in my pressure washing services. Here comes the manager, maybe 19 years old. I couldn't even hold an adult conversation with her. I stopped talking and left her with my card. She probably put her chewing gum in it and threw it away. She was able to tell me that they use a garden hose on occassion to get up some of the ketchup on the concrete. Oh yeah, I NEVER eat there either.

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