jbruno

I'm glad to Hear that Hugh is up and running Mike! I'm also glad to hear that I've inspired a few thoughts about this topic. But let me tell you 1 more thing that has been goiung through my mind. remember when I was 'getting' out and then I was back in?? Well someday I may sell this business, or just sell off the equipment and when and if that day comes, I don't want to leave my previous customers in the dark when I stop powerwashing. Eventually I will get a few raises in the fire dept. and maybe even promoted, and maybe by then I WON'T have to powerwash or maybe I'll be doing something else (yada yada yada!). And maybe by then the market will be flooded with powerwashers. And I'm not saying that i'm going to teach EVRYONE how to powerwash, but a select few will get my help if they want it. But there is SO much to be washed, that I haven't even scratched the surface. So if I pass on my knowledge and feel confident that I can refer my past customers to someone else then I won't have any guilt when and if I close up shop.

Thanks Ron. Mostly I was influenced by Mr. Rowlett and a few other people I have met through these boards. Of all the things I have learned from these people I think the MOST helpful things are the ones that have taught me how to run my business, and how to be an 'ambassador' of powerwashing. (wow that was corny!LOL) Because Powerwashing is so new to my area, I also want to the consumer to be educated in what Power Washing really entails. I would say that 80% of my business this year was new business, but probably 50% was becasue of recomendations...

Are there specific reason for the re-growth? i.e. lots of tree coverage, gutter problem, or a poorly draining yard? I'm sure you've looked at this, but sometimes there's not enough sun or breeze and too much water and shade?

I know you're not bashing Part-timers, and I am a PTimer. But yes in the BEGINNING, I had noone teaching me about pricing. So I used to think "if I make $300 today on 2 small house washes, I'll be happy" At the time it worked because I had no truck payment, and my equipment only cost me 2K. But the more I read boards like this and the bigger my expenses became, the higher my price went. Not ridiculous high, but defenitely miles ahead of the lowballers. But the other thing is that the market isn't saturated by tons of guy doing powerwashing. Anybody that starts out around here (NY) and wants to learn the right way will get my help. I will tell them what chems to use, how to clean stuff, stain and I'll even let them know what my price ranges are, because I want them to realize that they can do a good job, with good materials, and get paid REALLY WELL, thus eliminating a lowballer. If they take the lowball route than I'll blow them out of the water with past performance, and salesmanship, as well as the fact that i won't take the shortcuts!

I find that NOT wierd. He basically was doing the same thing we do hear but in person. Don't look at it as something wierd, or read into it. He may have been lining you up for some jobs he couldn't handle, or big jobs he figured you could help him with. I for one am trying to hook up with Tom Defrancesco from this board so I can help him start out his residential business nearby me. Sure it will be "competition" but as long as he isn't a Hack or a lowballer, It helps the industry and myself in the long run. And No Tom won't be a hack, because I'll learn him the right way! LOL

I don't even know where to buy Pittsburgh paints around here, let alone there deck cleaner.

I'm pretty sure Hacketsown is somewhere I've heard of... what else is close by? Paramus is 30 minutes from me, and I've done work in Fairlawn. (friends of my Uncle)

Get a tank that fits into your pick up bed? or van. They make so many sizes of these things that you could probably get a 100 to 150 gallon tank that doesn't take up too much room. Plus at 5.5 gpm you may need more than a 15 gallon head start.

find out if these people have a burn barrel. I did a job two years ago and couldn't figure out why there was so much smoke staining. I busted my ass on the back of the house and side. I brushed gutter shock on it twice and hot water rinsed it. It took about 90% off. problem was the previous owners were burning TRASH in the back yard. If it were just wood being burned, it wouldn't have been a problem, but plastics really create a mess when they are burned

Tom You're home? just in time for some rain!

That is a regular Superman T-shirt, No Papi crapi in this house!

Hey Len, Wanna come up to NY and make a BOAT LOAD of money? There are tons of concrete jobs waiting for a guy with your experience. But first you'll have to even out my basement floor. My limited experience with concrete and a pushy building iunspector got me a nice un-even basement floor. I couldn't get a guy to come a poor my floor (5 calls) I did ALL the prep/ 10 yards of stone, plastic and pressure treated border to level off to. All the Mason had to do was show up and work his magic. Well the inspector kep[t pressing me to do it, so me an the boys tackled it ourselves. Boy did I learn a lot that day! LOL

And We Got The 5th game Yesterday. Hot Damn!!

If you can afford it, then I guess you get the 3 day sanding. I actually like the "clean and run" jobs. staining sometimes gets a little annoying!

tell him you can take care of it. then drill a hole in the spot that pools the water. LOL. If you pacth, it will be different colors and it may not adhere unless done properly. And it all costs money!!

John, First of all stop with the Mets, they still have to win about 23 world series to catch the Yankess. (we'll pro-rate it because they haven't benn around in a while so we'll make it 13 WS) Zap, Your Bullpen is HORRIBLE. Schill leaves with a 2 run lead. I couldn't keep my eys open, and fell asleep before the rain delay was over. I shouldn't watch any of these games, I've seen about 4 innings this weekend and they weren't the good ones! LOL P.s. WOO HOO 4 outa 5, looking for the 5th today!

I talking smack only because the Yanks spanked some ass the last two days! Plus if we lose two to them we still leave beat town in FIRST place!!!

Jamie, what was the reasoning behind sanding the deck? was he getting rid of fuzzies, or was the wood in bad shape? other than those 2 reasons, I would think that the person probably paid for something they didn't need...

They really look good the first three games. HA HA Go Yanks!! Hey Papi put on a glove and play baseball. that's why he shouldn't be MVP!! MAnny at least plays the field and actually is getting better at it. But he's still a zero! p.s. Nice bullpen. LOL

That deck is awesome. all of mine look like that after I wash them. I call it two- tone. Oh shoot, two-tone is supposed to be two different stain colors! LOL

Tom, sorry once again the day slipped by. Started out in Warwick picking up my truck, then did an estimate in Sugarloaf, then to Roe brothers for some lumber, then to middletown to start the transfer of equipment from trailer to box truck. got home at 6 and had the kids for a few hours while the wife scrapbooked. At 8:30 I started the primary coat of Coranado floor epoxy. I'm hoping this will keep the floor of my truck from taking a beating. But back to wood restoration. Save your money (I know thw PWNA guys are gonna yell at me) I'm doing a deck on Monday monday or Tuesday, and hopefully I'm going to be doing an entire cedar house and lots of Pressure treated decks at anothe rhouse next week. (one in Chester, other in sugarloaf.) I als have another deck to do in sullivan county. They all would be good to tag along. I'll try and call you tomorrow.

here's a few pics on how my trailer was first set -up, now it's a mess! LOL I put my reels out the back door for 2 reasons, 1. because I had a side door that I would be going in and out of to get chems and supplies and the sorts, so I wanted that clear. 2. I try to back into each driveway, this way I'm not losing distance in my hose stretches. and If I don stay in the street, it works just as well, No matter what side of the road you're on.

Here is a project I got involved with for a friend! $600 for house wash, and deck strip/stain... would ahve benn easy money if she told me she had 4 layers of stain and some latex paint (i think, it was like armor) on it. Striped it once and took off 2 layers, then tried to sand but the boards were so bad I couldn't get the sander fush to the wood. So I flipped all but 3 boards! Took 4 hours to pull nails/flip and screw down 5 lbs. of screws, and I still need more!

yeah, He changed his request. change your price or tell him to wait till the end of the season when he closes the pool. If the kids (or whoever) are still using the pool, you'll have a hard time getting it to dry. I have done some work around pools, and the chems I use haven't harmed any pools yet. plus there's a couple thousand gallons of water diluting the chems (some will argue not to do it) I do tell the owner that there might be a little 'debri' in the pool, but I try not to do pool work during the busy swimming season. Usually I do them in the spring right when they open and the re chems aren't adjusted anyway, or the pool is still a little cloudy or dirty, or I wait till they close them up.

That's the guys that I use, It's actually A-1 Hydro (no tek). They are pretty good about selling you a machine, but they are expensive for all the bullshit. I'll call you on Thursday, and we can talk about what you want to get. I bought from them originally because I wanted someone close in case it broke down. p.s. I'm running that machine at 6 gpm and it has the thermostat! we can get together and you can see my set up.