PressurePros

It's very area dependant. Using Mike's example above I would quote $495 for a simple soap on/soap off job. If the garage were stucco and the foundation of the house was loaded with rust that required acidic treatment I would quote $895 and include hand brushing gutters, specialty cleaners and polymer/was coating on all structures.

0025 tip will give you the maximum height and will still work with a 4 gpm machine. To make life easier on you get a smaller orifice 0 degree tip to rinse with. If you use a 6 ft wand you should be able to hit 50 feet.

Life is way too short to worry about it.

I'm close enough to MD. If we make it in late October/early November, that would be prime (for me anyway) TGS fo' Life, Shane you cedar destroyer.

LOL. Sometimes.

I had a potassium hydroxide based cleaner that must have been very potent. I mixed it according to manufacturer directions and paint came off gutter in one swipe. F-13 I'm sure is a good product. Dan mixes his own chemicals.

Potassium Hydroxide is hot and will strip paint very quickly.

• Faster • More Efficient • Less chance of damage to landscaping and windows, you don't have to worry about rinsing windows and plants as much • Use less chemicals- one bucket does entire house • Higher spray - you can reach 40-50 ft with right nozzle • No buckets or hoses to lug around (or spill) • Safer for user as dilutions of 12% are effective at killing mold but with no mist to choke you or the neighbors • No overspray • Less chance of damaging or "signing" oxidized siding Downsides are: Dilution may be too weak for stucco or dryvit Once you try this a few times with the right nozles you will probably be keeping your X-Jet on the truck more often than not. Its like anything else that is new you have to change your mindset. I never looked back.

www.mapquest.com 19063 Philadelphia suburb

I have not used my airless in a dog's age. PM me for a solution that will set you back about $80 and will spray everything including solids. (Not a Control Spray)

Put down the edit button an step back slowly. The guy's name is Ed. Mister Ed is not slanderous and I was addressing Mr Jim not slamming anyone from some obscure message board. I do appreciate your nurturing ways, Beth but mothering is not neccessary.

Unless the deck were huge, say 1500 s/f of floor I wouldn't bother. Its another tool to unload and out away. You still have to cut in with a surface cleaner so the overall time savings on a mid size deck would not be worth it to me. Its not always about speed, sometimes you have to weigh all the variables. If potential damage to a deck is even remotely possible with a certain tool, I find alternate methods.

James, I hear you 100%. This is one of the reasons I switched to WTW but still you have customers that are not willing to spend $1500-$2500 every few years to keep their deck maintained. Every builder I encounter says that 80% of his new construction is composite. Then you have ipe. In my opinion this is even more of a losing battle. Now you have Mr Burke at WRCLA spreading the word that all we as deck professionals do is destroy wood by using a PW'er. The writing is on the wall which is why I introduced the Restore-A-Deck system. I am retargeting smaller decks we can complete in 4-5 hours. The big ones are nice for the portfolio but end up being logistical nightmares and time eaters. I am in this as a business, to make money. Decks are a shrinking margin and they represent 80% of my business. Capturing a large share of a shrinking market is not a smart business plan. I think the market for small to mid size decks will remain constant, so again that is what I am targeting. Heavy rain will of course hinder any facet of our business, there is little you can do to hedge against it. But supplementing your business with property cleanup (housewashing, concrete etc) is a little insurance against losing big money waiting for monsoon season to end. I hope it gets better for you up there.

Any successful chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Unless you have plan for the other downstreamers, I would remove them.

Perfect way to draw attention to your website! You will have all of their contact information. Now you can call/write "I'm sorry to inform you that Joseph Wedlim over on Spore Street won the free housewash but we'd still love the opportunity to clean your property as well. We are offering a 15% discount on service to all whom applied. When is the best time to give you a no obligation quote?"

For some reason, I did receive it. It was in the PWNA email (which I have not been a member of for a bit of time but still get the newsletter). He and his wife were on a motorcylce and fell in a ditch. I think the article said he broke his wrist?

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You are so right, Rod. My goals are hindered by this very factor. I seem to get the blue flamers. They rocket to superstar status, I reward them for going above and beyond then one day, I'm sitting with two trucks, four jobs and only one employee shows up for work. It makes me look bad. It screws up my schedule and affects the bottom line in the worst way possible. Some of these guys aren't kids either. I have hired young, old, vets, part timers, college educated, high school drop outs, recovering addicts, and a union painter that had his own business. I've used labor services and spur of the moment day labor. It's disenchanting to say the least. I'm easy to work for. I demand a certain level of performance but I am also very accomodating on schedule. Can't work a certain day? Just let me know in advance and I will work around you. Car broke down? No problem someone will get you on the way to the job site. The work ethic is not there. I even have tried hiring and leting these guys know, look this is your opportunity for ground floor entry into becoming a right hand man and possible ownership in my growing company. Nada. I am in a tough stage. Growth is imminent. I have more work then I can keep up with some days so I can definitely expand. There is only so many times I can raise my prices without bordering on ridiculous. The problem is location and guarantee of winter work. A guy that is worthy wants a decent salary and he wants it 52 weeks per year. I have added interior services like painting and finish carpentry but come second week of December through the end of January, people close their shutters and their wallets. I have to bite the bullet I suppose and pay a couple of guys and let my other income avenues support me. Back to the original question. While I like to be in the field and enjoy working with wood, as it is it is not profitable enough to offer the kind of craftsmanship I am currently offering. Next spring I will be setting up wood wagons (as we refer to them) Two pickup trucks, 4 gpm cold water portables, backpack sprayers, Wood Tux, premeasured chemical, hose reels, portable HVLP sprayers. These will be 'deck-in-a-day' setups and will fill in the blanks for the $400-$600 jobs I am currently turning down a bit too often. Each crew can do two per day or at least 5 maintenance cleanings. When this system is as refined and profitable as can be, and name recognition holds weight, it will be franchised. The Restore-A-Deck™ business plan includes nationwide retail distribution in higher end hardware and lumber yards by 2008.

are you kidding me?

She is seeking knowlege. Her friends unfortunately have rhetoric based in semi truth. Your knowlege has to seem tangible. Explain how her friends are right to be concerned about damage. That is why you not only carry liability insurance but have refined your technique to be as gentle as possible on the brick and at the same time achieve impressive results. Use words like efflorescence.. explain what it is and how it can be avoided or if it is already there, removed. Explain that your pressure washer is merely a tool in your arsenal that you use to agititate and wash away dirt. Tell her you do not rely on high pressure to clean, that is why your results are superior and can guarantee no damage. (PS I don't like going above 500 psi on brick unless I know what type it is) Unless you are worried about surrounding vegetation use a fairly potent mix of your housewash blend. Mortar tends to hold mold and needs a higher concentration of 12%. The citracleen will work well from what I know of it.

Gross goals won't be affected by anything other than sales, effeciency or weather. Now net, that seems to be something that is already on a diet with rising insurance, gas prices, etc. As to the original question.. May was the best month I ever had since doing strictly residential. Organizing jobs by location, raising prices, downstreaming chemical, hiring additional labor, focusing advertising and the use of Wood Tux I hit one fourth of what I did the entire season last year.

Barry, I hope you don't mind if I make a suggestion. It's easy to let stress turn into depression. I find that if you are working on things in between calls or jobs your motivation stays high and stress and depression don't have a chance to settle in. Look into joining a group like BNI or any contractor networking group that meets on a regular basis. The first year full time is slow. Its a great time to refine sales technique, marketing strategy and to network. Even going to a meeting of other contractors once a week will do wonders for your morale. Before you know it, the other members are tossing you a bone here and there and then you end up with a big contract one day that puts you on the map. Stress is a killer. I try to do everything possible to alleviate unneccessary aggravation and worry but owning a business has many facets that can get your stomach in knots. I went to the doctor's last month and BP was 140/90. I got into the trap of eating fast, sleeping less and not exercising. One needs to keep the balance pf healthy mind, body and spirit for success. Don't discount the spiritual side of your being. Meditation and prayer are vital to my success. I wish you well. Hang in there and remember. This is the hardest year. After this one is over it gets easier..I promise.

great stuff

Deck and Shake brightener is oxalic isn't it?

Sanding is the only thing that will take those out.