The Weather

[James 624]

There has been no relief in the weather department concerning the rain and storms this year and last. Over the years here in CT I've gotten killed repeatedly . At what point do you quit wood care or scale back what you take on. This is a serious issue and a dilemma because the Wood Care jobs I get are non compete and I just got another great referral .

[PressurePros 248]

Rick, it is a great fill in for your guys. I have three crews out today that will finish 4 house washes by 1 pm. Here in the midatlantic house washes average about $600.

[RPetry 564]

Rick, it is a great fill in for your guys. I have three crews out today that will finish 4 house washes by 1 pm. Here in the midatlantic house washes average about $600.

Ken,

I hear you, and have no doubt if marketed and operationally set up correctly, house washing can be much more lucrative than exterior wood.

Guess I'm too stubborn and gettin' old and "fat".

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

Rick,

Remember when you finally broke that stubborn barrier of yours and advertised? You were amazed as I recall....

ADD HOUSE WASHING.....your guys will love you and it's a great way to keep your customers happy too.

Beth

[RPetry 564]

Rick,

Remember when you finally broke that stubborn barrier of yours and advertised? You were amazed as I recall....

ADD HOUSE WASHING.....your guys will love you and it's a great way to keep your customers happy too.

Beth

Beth,

Yeah, I can be a bit pig headed. The ~ 1K in advertising we now do translates into about 30K of business.

Finally getting around to designing, coding, and getting the website on line also has paid off in spades.

Your right about the help. This week will be a meager paycheck for my kids. Other than no interest, a few other things keep me from considering house washes.

First, I don't like working off ladders. 20 yrs. ago, no problem, and I'm not afraid of heights. But one fall at my age could be disastrous.

We use a Hydrotek 4.5 gpm portable cold water machine. I am of the impression that more gpm is needed, along with hot water for nasty gutters, etc. Also a skid unit with hose reels is preferable. Don't think I could mount that stuff in my E-250 and still have room for wood equipment and supplies. Although Tom at ACR could probably figure out something.

I also refuse to wash windows. Won't even do my own at home!

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

Rick.

No ladders....

Beth

[RPetry 564]

Rick.

No ladders....

Beth

Beth,

Then how can one scrub and adequately rinse those real high up gutters?

[TNRoofCleaner 16]

Beth,

Then how can one scrub and adequately rinse those real high up gutters?

Extension pole.

Rick I don't even have a pressure washer to use at the moment and I use a dedicated pump to wash the houses. Some gutters come clean without scrubbing. Spray the cleaner on and rinse then follow up with a sealer/mildew retardant.

[RPetry 564]

Pat, Beth, & Ken,

Thanks for the input. Maybe this old dog can learn new tricks. But not this year, we have too much wood to do.

Odd thing is, I give out one of my local wood competitors business cards to my customers that want a house wash. He does them, we don't.

[Celeste 341]

Daniel,

Because that is what I like to do. That is what I am interested and good at. If I had to wash a home or clean concrete to make ends meet, I'd be in another business.

+10! There is nothing better than to have a business built on something you love and enjoy doing :)

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

+10! There is nothing better than to have a business built on something you love and enjoy doing :)

True, but you do wash houses.... ;)

Beth

[plainpainter 217]

Beth,

Yeah, I can be a bit pig headed. The ~ 1K in advertising we now do translates into about 30K of business.

First, I don't like working off ladders. 20 yrs. ago, no problem, and I'm not afraid of heights. But one fall at my age could be disastrous.

We use a Hydrotek 4.5 gpm portable cold water machine. I am of the impression that more gpm is needed, along with hot water for nasty gutters, etc. Also a skid unit with hose reels is preferable. Don't think I could mount that stuff in my E-250 and still have room for wood equipment and supplies. Although Tom at ACR could probably figure out something.

I also refuse to wash windows. Won't even do my own at home!

Rick the only need for ladder is cleaning gutters free of debris and dedicated window washing. Washing homes with a 4.5gpm machine is tit - bigger machines only expedite the process - but I've been washing averaging 2 hours per home with 4.5gpms. As well no need for a skid - because there is no need for hot water - I have never seen any test that proved gutters come cleaner with hot water. I have actually changed my chems slightly and 80% of gutters come perfect with no brushing using cold water. Hot water is only truly needed for concrete cleaning and washing fleets during the winter. Mount the hose reels upside down from the roof of your van and plumb your machine from inside on those house wash days - you are just a couple of hose reels away from having a succesful house washing business.

Rick - I am telling you this - because I am big time 'woodie' - and trust me house washing is like bonus money for those days you can't work on wood.

It's very complementary to your services.

Another word of advice - don't advertize house washing - sell yourself as a wood specialist - and you will get customers asking you anyways - and it will be bonus money

[PressurePros 248]

70% of my gross dollars still come from wood so it is hard for me to let go. I would switch to all vinyl in a heartbeat but I would have to triple my customer database and incoming leads to make the same money. That's not real easy to do. So I stay a woody. I love house washing and I don't mean from a lucrative viewpoint. It is as, if not moreso, gratifying to take a nasty house and completely change its entire curb appeal in 3 hrs or less. If you want, come over the bridge and I'll take you on one. It's much easier than woodcare. you can stay home when its cloudy and looks like rain and send the kids out to bring you back a check.

[Celeste 341]

True, but you do wash houses.... ;)

Beth

I'm not sure you can count the 3 house washes we've done this season - particularly since they were part of the deck pitch :)

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

Sure they count.

You washed a house. It was an add on.

Beth

[RPetry 564]

... I love house washing and I don't mean from a lucrative viewpoint. It is as, if not moreso, gratifying to take a nasty house and completely change its entire curb appeal in 3 hrs or less. If you want, come over the bridge and I'll take you on one. It's much easier than woodcare. you can stay home when its cloudy and looks like rain and send the kids out to bring you back a check.

Ken,

I cannot see it. From a satisfaction standpoint. House washers around here are probably the veritable "dime a dozen". Is there really that much difference in a detailed professional co. doing the work as opposed to a part time, HD washer spraying some bleach?

I don't know. Wood, with the right customer and hurtin' wood is an art. Spraying vinyl is kind of a letdown.

[bigchaz 157]

70% of my gross dollars still come from wood so it is hard for me to let go. I would switch to all vinyl in a heartbeat but I would have to triple my customer database and incoming leads to make the same money. That's not real easy to do. So I stay a woody. I love house washing and I don't mean from a lucrative viewpoint. It is as, if not moreso, gratifying to take a nasty house and completely change its entire curb appeal in 3 hrs or less. If you want, come over the bridge and I'll take you on one. It's much easier than woodcare. you can stay home when its cloudy and looks like rain and send the kids out to bring you back a check.

To me concrete is concrete...dirty or not its whatever. Completely changing to the look of a deck from gray and old to fully restored and seeing the customer beeming with joy...thats satisfying. I don't think you see that coming from a house wash job.

[RPetry 564]

... Completely changing to the look of a deck from gray and old to fully restored and seeing the customer beeming with joy...thats satisfying. I don't think you see that coming from a house wash job.

Well said Charlie. But what is more important, how to you and your crew see your efforts after the end of the day? Satisfaction of effort pays dividends, money is a sideline.

[Tonyg 14]

I notice that some supplement with add-ons such as lighting or other extras for the decks. For you guys that offer such services/products, does this offer any significant revenue? If not what percentage would you say that these extras mean to your total "wood" sales?

Also, has anyone ever thought about adding carpentry as in rebuilds or additions to existing decks or even new builds?

[bigchaz 157]

Tony, I've been toying with the dream to somehow do furniture and accessory sales for decks. Tons of people comment to me when the deck is resotored that they are putting the old grill or chairs in the trash and getting new ones since the deck looks so new. Haven't figured out how to execute that yet though. Not sure how profitable it would be

[Tonyg 14]

Tony, I've been toying with the dream to somehow do furniture and accessory sales for decks. Tons of people comment to me when the deck is resotored that they are putting the old grill or chairs in the trash and getting new ones since the deck looks so new. Haven't figured out how to execute that yet though. Not sure how profitable it would be

Great idea Charlie!

That's something that didnt even cross my mind.

[PressurePros 248]

Uggh.. 40% chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. To stain or not to stain.. Trying to get this bear done today.

[jnoden 15]

Are those plexiglass strips instead of spindles on the upper deck? It rained here last night and we have a 30% chance of rain today. Now if it doesnt rain for two weeks straight I might be able to get caught up.

[PressurePros 248]

Jim, they are actually solid glass channeled into the rails. The wood was routed for exactly the size of the panel so there is no side-to-side movement. The company that built it did great work. I'll post all the pics when I am done. Over 3000 s/f of wood. Here's a closer pic.. mold's nice huh?

Edited August 12, 2009 by PressurePros

[jnoden 15]

Thats neat. Looks like a cool deck to restore and have in the portfolio. Personally I couldnt have the glass on my deck because Im sure either myself or my son would end up breaking some of them.

[Scott Paul 164]

Uggh.. 40% chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. To stain or not to stain.. Trying to get this bear done today.

Sweet Deck Ken! Post some pictures when done!