MaineWindowCleaning

Hey all, I'm bidding on a job here in Grand Rapids MI and this prospect wants the chemicals I'm using. So I break it down for her to, 12.5 % chlorine, simple cherry and water. Then I just received a follow up email that the other two estimates mentioned that they were using a biodegradable chemical application. What am I missing? Are the chemicals I'm using biodegradable? Please educate me...Thanks much in advance Ken

I'm looking at adding roof washing to my window cleaning and power washing business and would like advice for the equipment investment and cleaning process. Thanks in advance for your help! Ken Maine Window Cleaning & Power Washing West MI

Holly Cow there are many factors to consider with this type of work??? But I's sure it can be Mastered! Thanks for your help!!

Many things to consider on this one!!! Thanks for the insight, Charlie!

Hillarious..Good to go to bed on such a light note! Turns out she is a 70+ year old retired catholic lady who seems to have worked for Russian intelligence, CIA, & FBI. I've met my match with this one:)) Thanks Rick, Ken

In my 8 years in business I've never been grilled like this. It's been a long winter up here and I could use the work but not with this type of customer. I will use the statement "That is proprietary information that I do not share". Thank you, Douglas

Ok. So I'm reading that the greenery must be protected by wetting it down or tarps or both? I have a home that has 7500 square ft. very difficult to get to from the back. Lots of ladder work. I'm not sure if I want to venture forth with this roof?? I'm brave and like a challenge... but I'm questioning myself here.

What is the best bidding method for the roof washing?

I'll give Bob a call. thanks Ken

Hello all, I have a couple of apartment buildings that a property management company wants a bid on. I've done a lot of window cleaning for them but I haven't been able to capture any power washing. what I'm look for is how to bid commercially and be competitive. They want me to just do the siding and external of the gutters, which are white. The buildings look like they have some mild mold but that's about it. Here are some of the specifics: 2 vinyl sided apartments each 244ft around two story in the front three levels in the back facing the lake with decks from end to end 2 garages each 77ft around. most of the siding is on the ends and is connected by a breezeway to the apartment. each garage has 50ft of gutter. 60ft of entryway with white gutter Thank you in advance for any help, Ken

If you want to dazzle your customer and shame your competition get a waterfed pole with a pure water system but don't just rely on this. If the windows have never been professionally cleaned then you need to get up personal with the window first. There are no short-cut to perfection. Yes, many short-cuts to mediocrity but that will kill your business in the end. I will list one of the procedures I use to shine my customers windows: Note: The following is a procedure that will include owning and knowing how to use a Waterfed pole system. 1. After I have powerwashed the home making sure all of the screens are removed, I will climb to the window then I will scrub the window with a strip-washer. Then scrap the window with a 6" window cleaning blade ( If Needed). If there is nothinig to remove with the blade then use #0000 steel wool to scrub off any dirt residue ( all while the window is soapy wet). Then have your help or you waterfed clean the window. the customer will be yours for life..This you can do as a perk or for a charge that you will determine. I can do one of these windows in under a minute, working by myself. If I have help then of course the time is cut way down. The windows will shine!!!!!! Important: do not let the window dry before you scrub and rinse with waterfed brush! Rinse well and make sure your Waterfed system has sufficient water pressure. I hope this is of some help Ken Here are my mixed bed resin tanks. They give me all the pure water I need to clean windows and often times not even climb a ladder.

HI Greg, I just talked to Bobby is SC yesterday who responded to my post and gave me some advice very similar to yours. So with that helpful advice I put together a $987 estimate, thinking it would take me between 10-15 hrs to do this by my self. From my original post info. do you think this is in the ballpark? Thanks for your reply!~~ Ken

Thanks, Kory!

Hi All, I'm still new to the whole power washing and stain world so please be as clear and descriptive in your responses as possible. I have a PW & stain job I need to complete for a college here in Grand Rapids MI. The decks are on apartments, 1st and 2nd story. One of the deck types are freshly built treated lumber and the other has a old dark stain that needs to be stripped and brightened. It was to wet last fall to get at it so I need to complete them this spring. Here is my question: 1. How to set up an proceed in cleaning decks that are over one another. The decks all have spindles. What is the best procedure? Thanks in advance for your help, Ken Maine Window Cleaning Grand Haven MI

It's a freightliner, And we love her :)

I've been doing a lot of window cleaning work for Calvin College here in Grand Rapids and bottom line is they trust me. I gave them a quote of what I thought I needed after doing some research and that was it. I couldn't complete the work last fall because the we weather didn't allow. So here I am ready to complete it this spring, Lord willing. I have really come to enjoy power washing and staining decks, I just don't like all the chemicals. My hope is that I will be even better at this work than my window cleaning! Thank you for you response, very helpful!

I thought I had saved the signature line I created , I guess not. I've attempted again. see if it works now????

What is a good chemical to use for readying a new wood to take stain?

Thanks for the heads up on signature line!

top & bottom I believe if new wood needs to have a stripper. It seems to me that the new wood will be easier than the old decks with the old brown stain.

I have a small amount of experience with wood but it's growing with each job and the research I do and associations I acquire. I will be doing this alone. I did thirteen decks on a ground level in the late fall and all went well but this is another story. This happens to be seminary housing so the stuff on the decks will be grills or gardens. I just need to drive on and get it done. We are having nice weather at the time so I will probably start the cleaning process next week on the first two buildings. Thanks for your input, all very valid points !! Ken Maine Window Cleaning West MI