mas3372

I would love to attend one, it would just depend on location, time and of course expense.

Hey, Just wanted to share some recent call backs. I have recieved about 5 call backs in the past 2 weeks from very happy customers. The compliments I recieve actually make me blush. I have had nothing but very happy customers and I am actually worried on how I will take the first unhappy customer. The most recent was today. A gentleman asked me about 35 questions before he agreed to let me do the job. He then just called to rave about how great his house and gutters look. He went on to tell me that the last house he owned was power washed and the person doing it killed flowers, streaked his windows, fogged a window and left pressure marks in his wood siding. All of these things I avoided and he was very impressed. The calls like this are very rewarding and really make me proud of how much I have been able to learn and achieve in just a few months. Thru the use of this website and a little trial and error, I have accomplished a confident attitude when washing and selling. The future looks good. Actually looking to make a few changes. I am thinking about buying a flat bed pick up to mount my equipment so I can hire a friend to do some work when I am not able to. Pay him and turn a profit. Just wanted to share my good call backs with you all and thank you all again for all the help you have given me. This forum has helped me tremedously and without it, I am not sure where my business would be.

Thanks for the advise MIke. I am the very up front, this is how it is going to be type. So is he. I am confident that if I got that route to hire him, we will be fine. It will probably only be a day or two a week for a few months, nothing crazy. Thanks again.

Phil, A couple more quick questions if you don't mind. Have you used e plus and if so, how do the citrus cleaner and e plus compare. Do you downstream the citrus cleaner

Thanks Phil, I am going to order the kit tomorrow. Does it come in a powder do you know? Thanks

Mix 3/4 pound of E plus per gallon of water.mix 2 gallons e plus with 3 gallons 12% and I then downstream 12:1. Works great. No real problems with windows or shrubs. I like E Plus but am very interested in the citrus cleaner from sunbrite as well. Anyone have a review on it? Mike? Thanks

Hey scott, Thanks for the insight on the flat bed. I have a friend who owns a landscaping business and rents me a section of his garage for my trailer that the flatbed would also fit in. I don't have any accounts yet, I havn't tried to hard either, so I don't think I will be doing much washing this winter. Season will probably dry up from Nov thru March. At which point I hope to be plowing. As for cleaing up I can usually do it in about 8 minutes, I have timed it. The bed is nice and low to which makes it easy. It is nice to have a close friend to trust. Some time off and still making money sounds so nice.

Thanks everyone. I think a flatbed is the way to go. No trailer to hook up and try backing down long driveways. The only problem is I can only afford an older truck right now, I want to avoid a payment until the rest of my equipment is paid off. I am looking at a 1988 ford f 360 with a 12 x 7 bed, dually. Great shape and it runs good. Only $1500. But if the truck brakes down, I am out of service. I agree that work suffers if I am not there. The person who would work for me is a close friend from the fire department that also lives down the road. I trust him more than anyone. He also has triplets at home. I would probably spend this summer showing him what I have learned and then see what happens,. I don't think I am pushing it to fast. No major commintments, My buddy knows his work load would be dependent upon demand. Ron, If you are serious about coming down, that is fine with me. I have only been doing it a few months but feel as though I have learned so much. The toughest part of this job is the detergents. So many out there with so many mixed reviews from everyone. The best thing I have learned as far as that is to just get sample packs and see for yourself. Just like I did with downstreaming vs. x jet. Downstreaming is for me. Thanks agian. Mike

I walk the perimeter and pace it off. Each pace is 3 feet. Mulitply the footage by 1 for 1 story sections and by 2 for 2 story sections and by 3 1/2 for 3 story sections. Add all the sides together. Add $5 for each dormer, and $5 - $10 for each additional time consuming peak. My house washes include scrubbing the outside of the gutters, chimneys and front steps. I also add $1 per shutter, they can be a pain to cleanout the back of. Hip roofs have more gutters but less siding on with the lack of gable ends. therefore it is a trade off. Ie. A colonial house that is 36 x 20 two story with a walk out basement (3 story rear). Garage attached that is 20x20 1 story. Front of the house is 36 x 2 = $72 Rear is 36 x 3.5 = 126 Sides are 2 at 20x2 = $80 Garage is attached so only 3 sides at 20 x 1 = $60 Subtotal of $338 House has extra peak in front that is a PITA = $10 9 Shutters on the front $9 I dormer over garage or looks only (remember no room above) $5 Total price is $362 - I then round to $360. The house I just described is my home plus I have a farmers porch and deck which are not included in the price.

Has anyone tried the new gutter grinade from pressur tek? Sounds good, but I would love some feedback from anyone who has tried it.

Quick question. I got my downstreamer in from pressurtek and will be installing next to my hose reel as advised. I do however have 2 other downstreamers plumbed in before my discharge quick connect that were there from the factory. I am thinking these should be removed to help with the draw. Me thinks that they would draw air perhaps and lessen the draw. Any suggestion. Thank.s

Thanks for the help. I can't wait for my next wash tomorrow. That shooter tip from pressure tek rules.

Dan, what would recommend for the least amount of pressure for rinsing plants and windows that will not drop the pressure enough draw chem? Thank you for welcoming me into the world of downstreaming. I just go back from the last wash of the day and again I would get all the way around the house and go back for the bucket and say "doh, no bucket"

I tried the downstreaming today with the parts from bob at pressure tek and I love it. Great chem application, cut the thickesy mold and mildew off. Reached 35 feet with a straight tight stream, much better control than the x-jet. still used the m5 to rinse, adjustable pattern is a great bonus. I now believe I am a downstreamer. No more bucket either. I kept looking for it. x-jet ptsd I guess

power House from sunbrite is awsome. Mix it 10:1 and brush it on. Or mix it 5:1 to x jet it on for the high gutters. Same MSDS as gutter shock but cheaper. A five gallon bucket should be enough for all my gutters this year. Works great. Get it on and rinse it off. No waiting.

As I thought. Thanks for the help.

Been washing for 2 1/2 months now. Part time, 2 days a week. First year at this. 36 house washes 2 store front sidewalks 2 deck strip and seals Nothing to brag about, but pretty happy so far that I am getting business. The competition in the area really picked up with low ballers but they are starting to thin out. Still have a lot of year left. My goal was 100 house washes and pay off my equipment. I am on track to do that a bit more. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks Mike, Your right. As soon as I posted that I remembered the difference. Having a pool for years, I should have realized that sooner. Thanks.

Perhaps the stupid question is the one not asked. So I am sucking up my pride and asking. for so long I have heard the work etching and have just assumed I knew what it meant. But the truth is, I am not really sure what everyone means by etching. I really am somewhat intelligent, I mean it. I am just not exactly sure what etching is. Can anyone explain?

You can make chlorine stronger by buying the granular and mixing it in water. However, cholrine takes a little time to dissolve. I am sure someone has tried this once or twice. Any luck or thoughts on this.

Thanks guys, The streaks on the glass dosn't seem to be in the glass, just on top. I will try the eplus again and see if that works. Thanks

Dan, It is not that I don't understand a word and I do know how to google things and look things up in a dictionary. The reason I ask here is simple. Words can be given their own meaning in certain trades, ie. powerwashing, in which those words take on different meanings that good old webster may not publish. I just wanted to clarify what it is meant by in this field.

Thanks bob, Is it possible to etch glass with alkaline as well. I have some spots on my truck windows, nasty, nasty streaks that I can not seem to get out. I sprayed my truck by mistake with e plus and 12% , though I had my truck wash mix in the bucket and now I have these streaks. Thought this was perhaps what was meant my etching. but etching is more the destruction of glass my removing material is what I understand you to mean.

Windows? What actually happens to the windows? How do you fix them if possible?

Hello, Just went to see a residential property that needs some odds and ends. Mostly due to her son and his paintball. Seems the little brat dosn't mind shooting a residence worth 2 million. So mommy and daddy called me. They need a stone wall with mortar washed, total square feet of wall surface is 420. Stone wall has the most paintball marks. Once was a color paint, now is only white. She claims is comes off with water if done right away but this has been on a few months. The second part is a fence. 42 6' long sections of 3 rails each, Each rail is 4 inches wide x 4 sides. Wood fence painted dark green. Only wants one side done which means the posts and 2 sides of each rail. Tried to explain the whole thing should be done, but she dosn't care about the part facing the woods. If the price is right though, she will consider the whole thing. Third is about 20 stone pavers,each 1 x2 and they all stand alone in tall grass. Goes from pool to pool house. And last is a landing outside of her side door loaded with irrigation rust. Area is 100 feet square. I have not priced so many little things for one job so any help would be great. As I said, 2 million dollar piece of property, very nice area. I am thinking $150 for the wall, about 35 cents per foot square, it could take some time with the paint. The fence I am thinking about 20 cents per square foot which comes out to about $200, this should probably be more. The pavers I am thinking $50 flat. And the landing, if Rust will even come off stone, I would charge $75 for. Treat with oxalic and blast away. A total of $475 and about 4 hours of work. Do these prices seem to high, to low, ball park. Any help would be great. Thanks Mike