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Celeste

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Posts posted by Celeste

  1. Posted · Report reply

    We have personally used the Flood Spa N Deck line - it's a bit more expensive since it requires two separate coats (a clearish base coat then the tinted top coat) The finish is quite nice but the best quality is that you apply it IMMEDIATELY after washing the deck - no waiting until the next day or week or month because of weather. Flood sent us about a milliion brochures finally - would be glad to mail if you are interested. Here's a pic of the arbor that we stained with it (PLEASE DISREGARD THE GRASS - YES WE KILLED IT ON PURPOSE)

  4. Posted · Report reply

    $1000 is actually a bit less than we billed total for all of that, however, one thing to keep in mind with our contract is that we don't get paid the going rates for all of these houses. We are also getting the interiors/exteriors/re-cleans on 1800 houses in the next 5-7 years. You can do the math on how many that is per week so we are based in part on QUANTITY. These houses range anywhere from 1028 sq ft to 4,000 sq ft., both 1 & 2 story homes. Because of the low end pay, we've leaned to haul A** at this poiint because as we all know, time is money!

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Does anyone know the actual law regarding transporting bleach and acid on the same trailer/truck? Our trailer has two 25 gallon tanks on the rear - one clearly marked ACID and the other, approximately 18 inches away is our housewash mix, which contains bleach. We were told by a guy who works for a chemical supply house that it is illegal for us to carry both at the same time. If this is so, it poses a pretty nasty problem for us since we do an awful lot of houses that are 3 sides of red Carolina mud covered and brick faced on the front (all new construction by the way). Would this be a question for our state DOT? I hate to start calling around and sending up red flags.

    Thanks for any help:dunno:

    Celeste

  11. Posted · Report reply

    I'll have to do some scrounging in my notes but there is a company that sells a sealer for copper, along with some pretty pricey stuff to clean it as well....if your client doesn't want the patina returning. I've read the instructions on Tarnex (we also have a copper bay window to do and we've figured $125 as well and are located not too far from you) Anyway, the way I read the Tarnex instructions, it's gonna be a big pain for something the size of a bay window roof. The Cream of Mushroom soup things sounds interesting.....wonder how it will smell in this 95 degree weather we're having :) Post your results and what you used when you get done please?

  14. Posted · Report reply

    Our best success was actually driving to new developments, contacting the builders directly. We have about over a half dozen builders...one that we signed a 10 year contract with. (Our company is only 7 months old) You'd be surprised how much work you can get being face to face - more importantly, if you someone calls you - BE AVAILABLE OR RETURN THE CALL ASAP. We are consistently complimented for always returning calls promptly...it keeps the biz coming back.

  15. Posted · Report reply

    We printed a lot of information about the fungus and provided it to the homeowner, told them we were sorry but we couldn't help them. We have also contacted most of our builders that were using mulch and they are all switching to pine straw now...amazing what education will do.

    Thanks for all of the responses.

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Paul, I knew I could count on your wisdom - they backed off when we mentioned signing something and are leaving the temp decisions up to us now (thank goodness). The project manager told me that he was not used to what our company projects - his last p/w were two guys with a HD 1800 pull around machine. We did some flat work today with a surface cleaner and he was bug-eyed at that - it was quite funny.

    I am going to print your information tho and add it to my wisdom book :)

    Thanks,

    Celeste

  17. Posted · Report reply

    HELP!!!!!! We need a good, good waiver of liability for our big contractor to sign. It's been snowing here about every other day, temps try to get into the upper 30's and this guy wants the brick cleaned on one of the houses (we managed to get the other three during one of our balmy 41 degree days last weekend). So far, one guy in charge is getting it when we say the temps are NOT optimal for cleaning brick (and concrete??) but in the event that upper management gets very insistent, we want a very thick butt-cover. We don't want to refuse the work if it may cause us to lose this contract and he may say that he won't hold us responsible if the faces of the bricks blow off two days later, but I want it in writing - preferably signed in blood. If anyone has a waiver that they will share we will be eternally grateful.

    Thanks for any and all help,

    Roger & Celeste

  19. Posted · Report reply

    I wish we didn't have to worry about temps - here in the Carolinas we routinely drop below 30 degrees from about mid-November until mid-March. As to your other question....yes they had these washed very late in the game, another point that will be brought up this week. Since we had already done the interiors of these houses (including the window tracks), during our re-clean, we'll have to clean the tracks again from the pressure washing.

    This is a new kind of development concept for around here and there are still many bugs to be worked out. These particular four houses are the model homes and scheduling has been beyond the normal house for sale. We had to clean a little earlier in the process because the designers and furniture had to be put in - the weather has delayed other work being completed. My personal opinion is that winter is not the optimal time for them to be trying to do this. Pressure washers are not the only tradesman to be affected by cold weather - can't pour concrete, can't paint and if those two aren't complete, CAN'T PRESSURE WASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    On the upside, we didn't have to worry about any landscaping around these houses :)

    Celeste

  20. Posted · Report reply

    Excellent points Paul - There are issues lacking in their contract (clearly it is for their benefit above all others) and we are addressing everything at one time next week. For example, the main office, the construction (scheduling) office and the sales office in this development - none know what the other is doing. We scheduled cleaning the exteriors of 4 houses today (all requiring some acid work) because the construction office wanted it today. We had realtors and potential buyers ALL OVER THE PLACE - walking through our blockades because they couldn't drive through them (I mentioned acid and they beat a very hasty retreat), but this traffic slowed our progress down. Realtors are now pissed off because we prevented them from showing the homes - contractor is going to be pissed on Monday am because work is incomplete. 6:00 pm on Saturday when no one in the management position is going to answer my calls was IT for me. We shut down. If the right hand, left hand and rear end of this operation can't get themselves coordinated - we will begin charging for fouling up our schedule. GGGGGRRRRRRRR....thanks for letting me vent.

    Truly this is a great opportunity for us - we are so new and to have landed an exclusive contract this large. We should easily have 2 houses per day interior, maybe 3-4 per week (but all in one day) to pressure wash so even with all of these, we'll have time for what we really want to do, which is to preserve and refinish decks!

    I'm sure we'll be getting more efficient with every house and we'll be open to any suggestions we can get and will have no problem sharing any shortcuts we come across :)

    Celeste

  21. Posted · Report reply

    Paul, their contract was about 40 pages long - it covers virtually everything. We have already had to renegotiate our price as what they represented was not accurate. Thus far, they seem very willing to work with us. My main concern of the contract though is the out clause - which is there. Right now this is a great safety net since we are just starting out. I'm living on these boards looking for ways to make the pay worthwhile!!

    Celeste

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Insurance - both General Liability & Workman's Comp. This may take some shopping (don't know about your state - took me a couple of days to find ours in NC)

    Some will say if you're the only employee you won't need WC until you get employees but it has been our experience here that you can't get on most builders jobsites without the little piece of paper.

    Good luck - did you get my pm?

    Celeste

  23. Posted · Report reply

    Another thing to consider on employees - cleaning interiors requires nothing more than someone wanting to work. Temp agencies can prevent payroll issues that some smaller companies don't want to mess with. When you find one that really gets it, offer to hire then if you find you will continue to need steady help, otherwise, work until you about drop and then call in reinforcements :)

    Celeste

  24. Posted · Report reply

    We are doing the interior final cleans (in NC area). List B is pretty accurate. One builder pays us .15/sq ft + $6/window. We upcharge $25 for excessive drywall, excessive paint, excessive trash (if if happens) We get average of 1 house per week, 1300 sq ft takes 2 of us about 4 hours. Our very large contract (signed for 8-10 years) pays .12 / sq ft - nothing for windows (in the middle of re-negotiating this though). Houses range from 1500 - 3500 sq ft with bookoodles of windows. Quantity reigns with this contract though since it is for 4-5 houses per week as well as all of the pressure washing. Women may have the cleaning gene but my husband kicks butt on windows.

    It's pretty rough work (or it can be) but the weather doesn't mess you up much and if the work is consistent - hey the bills get paid!!!

    Best of luck,

    Celeste

  25. Posted · Report reply

    The Bible is no more heresay than reading these posts. The books in the Bible were written by specific authors and none require any more proof than a history book that you pick up off the shelf. I personally don't feel there is any such thing as "blind faith". One has either found their faith and lives by and through it or they are just going through the motions. If you truly live your life as God guides you, there are no questions. Only when you have truly experienced deliverence and wholly given your body, mind and soul to God can you see that faith is not blind. It is a gift.

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