Jump to content

Adrian

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content count

    3,038

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    13

Posts posted by Adrian

  1. Posted · Report reply

    If a house takes 2 hours to clean with a 4gpm, you will knock off a lot of time with 5.5gpm Save at least an 1/2 hr or MORE per house. Add it up 100 house save 1/2 hr thats 50 hours saved you could do another 25-30 homes with the time saved. think of it as 50 hours saved at an average rate of $100 an hour, thats $5K, pays for that machine in no time

    Dont worry about carrying a lot of water, you will not need to in 99% of jobs

    Jeff.....Bottom line...... straight from the manual ( if there is one ) words of wisdom. nice!!!

    my .02 is this.... as a one man op, there is a very prosperous avenue with wood resto as well. Since I am sure deck washing will be included more often in the resi market. You will see alot of it. Might as well learn the resto side of things. Not that commercial doesn't pay well. But, there can be an overwhelming fatigue whereing so many hats int the commercial side of things as a 1 man op.What always feels best to me is that wood resto has never been on a Net 30, 60, 90. I have actually done better $$$ with resi than comm. But that is just me. Decks pay better.

    I guess I just like it simple. Best of luck in whatever direction you go.

    Happy New Year to everyone as well...... it's been a while.

  3. Posted · Report reply

    Bring your trailer with you and give a demo. Some will hire on the spot, some will start the chain of events for you. Remember that whoever you are speaking with on the phone or face to face, make them feel that they are the most important person in the world. Beause they are!!!! They are the ones that will send you in the right direction through " first contact".

    Chain businesses will take longer to establish vs. a stand alone business with the owner onsite. Follow up and keep asking questions. Main question after demo and follow up is "when can we schedule" and "are you still interested.

    Direct and up front with your questions will save you time and cut to the chase.

    You can concievably make 1200 cold calls on the phone in a month and it will at least yeild SOME work. Depending upon your sales pitch.

    Cold calling requires alot of smiling and tough skin.

    follow up follow up follow up.

  6. Posted · Report reply

    You wish they would log in, ok here is one way to try and make that happen since you have the phone book open, check all that have web pages and send them an Email inviting them to come check out TGS.

    Those that don't have web pages if you are up to it a post card or letter on your letterhead inviting them to check out TGS.

    Or start a round table in your area.

    Or buy them all out and own Texas as far as pressure washing goes.

    Great idea Jon. Iam all about having a round table here in Houston.

    Starting to mill the idea around in my head a bit. Maybe by Spring it could happen with proper planning.

    side bar........ I was hoping to contact you while I was in ABQ for the balloon fest. Did you make it this year? I thought it was awesome this year. Crazy schedule I had. Maybe next year we can meet up.

  7. Posted · Report reply

    Not everyone knows about the Grime Scene. But there are ALOT of contractors in our area alone Gene. At least 50 ads in the yellow pages.

    Plus there are many who offer PW as a side service. There is alot of competition ( if you actually look at it this way). Most I have seen are newbies and there are several well established firms out there as well.

    I certainly wish they would all chime in to show an interest in a Round Table.

    It could be a quarterly event IMO. Help us all stay current with the technology and continued education.

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Hopefully the asphalt and Ready Seal (being oil based) will pull into each other. I am guessing that the RS did not discolor other than making it look darker????????

    Maybe you are on the right track with warm water as the other chems we would normaly use ( more than likely) break down the asphalt.

    Might try the warm water with soap surfactant and stiff bristle it for a while to see what happens.

  17. Posted · Report reply

    IMO, no product will last the lifetime of a deck.

    If most of your estimates are in the same range then start comparing the credentials and visuals of those firms. The highest bid can hit the bricks. He may do good work, but the product he is applying is what is in question.

    Ohio experiences all 4 seasons. There is simply no product that good for all 4 season for life. Unless of course it is sealed in kryptonite.

    There are contractors on this forum that are in your area and are very reputable and professional. They will not zoom you into a bogus product, and will do quality work. Do a members search and get another opinion. Sounds like another usual project for most of us.

  18. Posted · Report reply

    You know - I don't know anything about what this guy was doing,

    My point exactly, neither does he.

    maybe you misread the info about it.

    3 men, 2200s.f., no chems, 4hrs 35 min. to complete.

    I have yet to remove artillery fungus using downstreaming and soft washing techniques.

    You probably don't leave gouges in the wood when you need high pressure either.

    Big difference.

    But, I am sure you would have a proffessional outlook and open mind to techniques that would improve the quality, efficiency and time sensitivity, not to mention save and make more $$$. Esp. after 30 years.

    Where as my own brew of TSP, multiple applications, and brushing, high/low pressure rinse - gets rid of it every time.

    .... again..... 3 men, NO CHEMS, ladders, high pressure, single story, trim only. cmon man hear what I am saying. You know that it doesn't take you 4 and a half hrs. to wash and prep a house.

    This guy is stuck in horse and buggy mode. And closed minded about better techniques.

    I'm sure you would have offered some positive input as well if you saw the project.

    Most of us here would extend a hand to someone in quicksand because at the very least you want them to survive.

  21. Posted · Report reply

    Of course everyone knows that I will say take the financial hit now, or, later.

    You will need a sprayer when your volume grows. Get with Tracy or Pete at Sun Brite in Lawrenceville and see if they have what's called a Deckster.

    Well worth the cost, or see if they have one on consignment for sale from someone getting out of the biz. That's how I got mine and it has been blowing through decks in a real hurry. Get the varible degree cone tip and a long and short wand. It will pay for itself in no time.

    Or just drop 50 - 100 on a pumper and make your own.

    But, you will need a spray at some point.

  22. Posted · Report reply

    ...interesting. Sounds like you have the right gear for whatever job you encounter. If I worked the way this painter worked, I would be out of a job, because of obsolete applications and time consumption. People like him make me want to stop being so neighborly and helpful. Like I said his 30 yrs of experience has not yielded much actual " horse sense" to know a good thing.

    upstreaming, downstreaming, xjetting, would have saved him 3 hours of labor on his books for 2 employees. But, what do I know with only my few yrs under my belt to his 30? Some people are afraid of change. Some are too stupid to change. This guy happens to be both.

  23. Posted · Report reply

    Is it me - or do others find these constant posts about orgs to be boring? John - what the heck is so important about forming an organization, that you constantly post and post non-stop about it?

    I haven't been on TGS lately until today, but I have noticed alot of the times I post, it tends to fall quickly with no response. Maybe John is just trying to get some info by posting in different sections of the forums.

    Nonetheless, my business being a one man op is obviously governed by not dropping huge chunks of cash into org 's and COC's.

    If I budget well, I stay afloat.

  24. Posted · Report reply

    2-What should the starting membership price be??Should it be high such as $350 or should it be in the range of $100 so more can join and help the org offer more for its members sooner then just collection $350 with no real benefits.

    Be Creative and let your vision flow here:sunshine:

    My take on part 2 of your question John, is that a lower membership fee would draw more members, which could give the org a good early push. Not to mention the collective of info and experience early on from those members who joined soley on price. Still a plus.

    ... as for part one of your question, you really need volunteers that are dedicated to both our industry and their skills. Not to mention seeing past the startup itself.

×