Craig

I work approximately 50 hrs/week, not including doing paperwork and billing. I also make my own brochures, mailers, coupons etc. in photoshop. I have 2 full time employees now that work 32 to 50+ hrs/wk. Unfortunately I spend 168 hours a week thinking about business.

I was pouring Oxalic acid (dry powder) into my mixing bucket. I poured in the right amounts and of course didn't have goggles on. A little bit of the powder was still left on the top part of the bucket... when I let the bucket back down on the ground (not very nicely) the dry oxalic kicked back up into my eyes! My knees buckled to the ground in about one second. Luckily I was right next to the drain port on my holding tank (which has a 6' -3/4ID" hose attached for whatever) so I could wash out my eyes right away! It didn't make for a very enjoyable house wash though.

You can also try to get into the post construction stuff AFTER the "Post Construction Cleanup." I've found out here that there aren't too many PW companies that know how to clean up a driveway properly. Many use high pressure and no chems... peel the layer of cream right off the top of the newly poured concrete. I just landed a contract with a builder out here that has two tracts of 4000+ homes built in the last couple of years. They are building other tracts too and would like my services. Get in touch with the customer relations managers and give them a demo, but be ready to put on your best show. Sometimes you may have 10 or more people watching you! :^) What I am doing with this company is handling their service calls on the houses already built.. like paint in driveway from other contractors, oil spills, rust and other contaminants. I washed a house the other day because the lady thought her siding was stained... made it look like new. There's a lot of work to keep you busy in the construction business, but be careful. New construction concrete takes precise dwell times and technique if you're using chems and don't use much pressure. The rest of it is cake!

Same here. I thought about starting one a couple of years back and I might even still! I have a GREAT name picked out.. How about this... "No S*IT!" LOL

Hey Jon, Here are some other ways to deal with "Is that your best price?" Is that what your basing your purchasing decision on? ..is BEST PRICE??? You can always go and find a better deal down the street but your best price may not necessarily be your least expensive decision! There comes a point at which you just need to make a choice. Then ask "If two contractors charged the same price and one did a better job than the other who would you rather go with?" ...then sell yourself and close the deal. Or end it with, "And hey, I am so confident you will be happy with my service and results that if you aren't, don't pay me!" ...now where is your water spicket? LOL Craig

I stumbled into this business two years ago while doing a brainstorm. At first I thought about auto detailing, but no thanks... people are too picky and stingy when it comes to their cars. Then after doing some research I realized you could get a hot water unit and I was sold on the concept. I bought my first hot pressure washer without ever even pulling the trigger or hearing one! Now, two years later I'm fully set-up with reclaim, chem knowledge, and do interiors as well as exterior cleaning. I finally got to go full time this month (November, 2004) and I'm keeping really busy. I'm amazed on a daily basis how it seems every small house-call of an oil stain, garage steam-clean, patio cleaning... turn into a full day's work. All I can say is ALWAYS try to upsell, let people know by way of a brochure when you get to their house (builds credibility, trust) and tell them everything you can do to help them. Yesterday for instance, I was called to clean a driveway in a fairly prestigious neighborhood. There were oil stains as well as rust, pretty typical situation. I steam cleaned it, used DR-60 on the oil and rust, then asked the customer if there was anything else he'd like me to do while I was there and already set up. I ended up washing his pool deck, exterior furniture (I do awnings as well), house, and next week I will do THREE of his restaurants! ...and then I'll get the contract monthly (didn't ask yet but just know it!). ...Oh, now 2 neighbors want theirs done too. This has been happening on almost every call. :^) ..I'm counting my lucky stars and hope it keeps up!

I use NMD-80 ONLY. Cut it 4:1. Only problem is that in heavy eff. areas I've needed to treat it up to 6 times before it was totally gone. Most of it is gone in 3... just learn how to read the foam!

I just thought I'd share a tip for those guys who do work and still have wet, dirty cold hands! Maybe this thread will start some others on what attire you're wearing to keep dry and (somewhat!) clean.. I like and I'm sure others out there like to wear those thin leather gloves that wrap tightly around your hands. Having finger dexterity and freedom of movement is very important.. but how do you keep them dry without buying those big bulky waterproof gloves? The answer is simple. Buy a box of those vinyl (latex free if you want) disposable gloves. They're the kind that doctors wear and you can buy them almost anywhere. They usually come in a box of 50 and run you about 4 bucks. Wear them under your normal glove and they'll keep you dry, clean and warm. Throw 'em away when you're done... they're cheap!

What would you recommend as the most efficent and cost-effective way to acid-etch concrete before painting? What is your method of application, do you neutralize with another chemical or just plain water?

Ok, jobs done, came out perfect and here's what worked. Remember that this concrete was 40 years old and VERY hard, so I needed a strong acid to eat at it quickly. There were a lot of old oil and rust stains. 1. Power wash concrete to clean it. (water only no degreasers as they will neutralize the acid.) 2. Mix 50/50 Muriatic with water in bucket. 3. Apply with x-jet nozzle at 2:1 so final HCL dilution is 4 to 1. 4. Let dwell for 10 minutes 5. Neutralize 6. Power wash with surface cleaner The oil and rust were 95% gone, concrete sparkled and had a very nice uniform etching

Ok. Thanks Celeste. That's pretty much what I figured as the muriatic will work faster and stronger. I may just buy a throw-away pump up sprayer to use as the job is pretty small-just a double car garage. It's my first acid etch and faster is better... time is money. And again I am still think that being such a strong acid, it's better to neutralize with R-109 just to be safe after rinsing. Thanks, Craig

Thanks for the replies. Here's what I've found out so far. 1. Steam Clean it. 2. Apply Oxalic mixed 8oz/gallon, let dwell 10 minutes. 3. 25 degree or turbo nozzle the concrete again to get desired degree of etching. 4. Neutralize I'd really like to stay away from muriatic if at all possible and am trying to find an alternative. What do you think of this?

I recently got a call from a contractor that spilled "Neoprime"-water based neopreme primer on clay/orange colored concrete. He stated that in the past his cold water machine could get the spills out. In this instance they won't. Has anyone ever tried to get these types of stains out? I'm going there this weekend and want to be prepared in case hot water doesn't do the trick. thanks.

or maybe citric? I've not put an acid down on colored concrete before, don't know if it would change color or not.

Hello Everyone, I'd like to welcome the newest addition to our family, Kaitlin Zita Harrison. She was born on November 2 and is our first. I can't leave her alone already, what a bundle of joy!! I'm trying to get my wife to change to cloth diapers so I can just steam them off with my rig... cheaper this way?? LOL

Thank you so much everyone. Zita is doing well (Mommy) and healing one day at a time. Sleep is hard to come by but emotions are not. I've never loved anyone so much in my life! Zita's mother just flew out from Hungary so she's being a big help to us. It's so nice to have someone just to watch her for an hour so we can catch up on rest. Craig-SW Power Washing

No kidding, Alan. With what's coming out of my little prize I wouldn't want to jam up my washing machine :^). But then again my work clothes aren't any better.

Hi Dale, Please send them to crgharrison344@cs.com If you would like anything in return PLEASE just ask... I know what a headache it can be to give your information away for free. Let me know how I can help you in return. Thanks, Craig