drod17

Does anyone own a BE surface cleaners? If so, how are they performing? I have my eye on a 16" for $280.00 brand new,but would like some info before the investment. I would like to spend at the most $350.00 as i am just starting out. I own a belt drive 3.5gpm 4000psi 13 hp pw. Any input would be greatly appreciated..

For those of you who started part time in this business, what are realistic numbers in this economy as far as income is concerned. Is 400.00 net a month reasonable at first? Or will i go through some struggling pains trying to get my business off the ground. I am planning on working in the afternoons and on weekends until I can go full time. I will market in the local newspaper and mail out about 500 postcards in the beginning. I will be running a fully licensed and insured company and I will be the only employee for now. I will be concentrating on residential only and i will price reasonably according to what professionals will be offering in the area. If anyone would share their experiences I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks for all of the input. I am a teacher by day and have the luxury of having the summers off (without pay). I also have two weeks off during Christmas and another week during Spring break. During this time, I will be focusing on pw. I will also be pw in the afternoons after work. Remember your humble beginings and keep the feedback coming.....

Cleaned my roof (2200 sq. ft.) today to gain exp. Used a 4000psi/3.5 gpm machine and a 16'' surface cleaner. took me 3:35 min. to complete the job. Did not use any chemicals. roof tiles were real dirty, but by the time i was finished were squeeky clean. Is this good time with a 3.5 gpm pw? Had to go over the same area bout 3 times in order to clean it. I plan on charging for a similar roof $200-$250. It is an upscale community with an HOA. Is this also a good price to charge? My neighborhood is littered with low ballers. Seems every time I get home, there is a flyer or postcard of some kind advertising 130 roof wash with driveway sidewalk and a house wash!! Any info will help a fellow newbee....thanks

After spending 3 months reading this forum, and just about to launch my business, I now know how low ballers can hurt this business. Living in a community where homes range in price form $375k to $800k with square footage ranging from 2100sf to 4000sq ft, I do not know how this individual will survive. This is his advertisement. One story $ 133.00 up to 3000sq ft which includes roof window frames and screens exterior walls gutters Patio and pool deck driveway sidewalk and swales. Two story $158.00 up to 3000sq ft.which includes the same as the one story. The advertisement alone probably cost him about $400.00. 1/4 page color ad. He states he is licensed and insured. I would list his phone number and the name of his company, but do not feel it will be professional...

will try to upload file later

I do not know if you guys are refering to terracotta tiles. I have seen these cleaned with 12% clorine and dawn soap. I also know asphalt shingles are treated with chems and then hosed down. The roof tiles I am refering to are pourous more like the texture on a brick. I have only seen them cleaned with a surface cleaner. There are two companies that have cleaned roofs in my neighborhood and both of them have used surface cleaners. They may have used some type of chem beforehand, but I have definately seen them with a surface cleaner on the roof. These two companies are reputable and I know they charged my neighbors $250.00. I am not saying they are doing it correctly or charging the right price, but I have never seen anyone down here use chems on a roof and then just hose it off from the ground. If anyone in Dade or Broward county will be nice enough to show a newbie how to clean a roof with chems and a hose on the specific tile mentioned, I will buy them lunch!!!

sorry, forgot to add I would like to do residential work with it mostly roof tiles and brick pavers..

I am in the process of putting my own trailer package as opposed to buying a complete one from a vendor. I believe the vendor packages are over priced. For example, if I were to put a trailer package myself these would be the costs. BE belt drive 4.0 gpm 4000 psi w cat pump 1,400.00 4x6 utility trailer from Lowes 1650 lbs load cap 500.00 100 gal. water tank from internet vendor 200.00 150 ft. hose reel from internet vendor 250.00 150 ft of hose from an internet vendor 200.00 All brand new equipment... total cost $2,550.00 A similar package from an internet vendor with the same pw is $3995.00. The only difference I see with this package is that the pw is bolted to the trailer and the trailer is made by anderson trailers. The pw I plan on buying has wheels on it with a handle to make it portable. Can I simply bolt it to the trailer or is there another part that I should bolt it down with to make it a skid mount. I think the $1,500 difference is huge for someone that is just starting out. Granted the reel and the hose on the vendor package may be of better quality. Any info will help. Thank you

Thanks for the info Mathew, the sale of the PW fell through as I was getting suspiscious of the seller. He wanted a money transfer through Western Union instead of paying through ebay's paypal. There are alot of people out there trying to scam others... especially over the internet. anyway, I want all of you to know the info on this site is gospel and i will keep searching until i find the right start up equipment. my budget is around 3k for equipment.

Thank you for the info. i think i will skip on the lowes trailer and get something that is more heavy duty. Also, I just purchased a belt drive MI-T-M cw 3004-4mgh with an 11 hp honda and a general pump 3.5gpm and 3000psi on ebay (only doing residential work for now). These look like good quality machines. I would like to know if anyone out there has owned one and can share some light on this particular model or the brand itself. i bought it fairly cheap (original retail is 2k) from a tool rental distributor that inspects them and then sells them. Tt was made in 2005. Hopefully I will be able to get about 2 years from it. What do you guys/gals think?

the trailer has 12'' rims which i will be upgrading to 13''. Hopefully my signature will show under this post.

Well, here is my first post on this forum... starting my new business in the next couple of months and am about to purchase a PW. I am in between a dewalt 3800psi/4gpm/11hp Honda with CAT pump from HD or a 4000psi/4gpm/13hp Honda with a general pump from spraymall.com. both retail for 1k. I want to know what you guys think.

For now I will be doing driveways, roofs and housewashing. I will also like to do concrete as well. Basically all residential stuff. I would like to use some money in order to advertise at the start.That is why I am in between the pressure washers mentioned. If I can do a good job with a direct drive machine for the first three or more years, I will be happy. Once I have enough capital, I will invest in a top notch rig. I have been reading these forums for about a month and I have gained a great deal of knowledge. I will be doing everything the right way ins./ lic/and most important of all I will not be a low baller (I have read the posts) and I admire the pride all of you have demonstrated on this board and would not do anything to tarnish that. I will be washing my house as well as my inlaws and other family members homes, in order to gain the experience needed before starting as a business. I would also like to thank those that are wishing me well in my venture.

If i do decide on a direct drive unit say from northern tool or spraymall.com, should I go with one with a cat pump or general? They both carry a 5 yr warranty. Spraymall.com sells the units with the cat pump $200.00 more than the ones with the General pumps. That would bring their price of the pw with the cat pump to $1,200. That being the case, then I think I am better off buying their belt drive model with a general pump 3500 psi/4gpm for $1400.00....what do you guys think?