When we started Roof-Bright of Florida back in 1991 we were constantly asked, What is your warranty and how long does this last. Most of you know that a "good" cleaning will last an average of 24 months. Some longer, some less. However, to generate and on going client base we came up with a Preventative Maintenance Program. This program has proven to be very beneficial and quite rewarding.
We have an agreement that a customer signs at the time of the roof cleaning, if they want PM and this is how it works.
Annually, our service personal inspect the roof for missing shingles, loose ridge vents or visible damage. We then remove loose debris with a leaf blower when a roof is walkable.
We have a misting wand made of PVC that we apply a diluted mixture of chemical to the roof which kills the fungus spore, therefore prohibiting fungus (algae) growth. Our mixture of chemical is 5 gals of SH and 4 oz TSP to 100 gallons. It has proven itself for the past 18 years. We currently maintain over 4,300 roof annally. A service takes approx 30 to 40 minutes to perform.
Pricing for this service is based on the initial cost for the roof cleaning. We have been succesful charging 1/3 of the initial cost.
Example if the cost for the roof cleaning was $500.00, the cost for annual Preventative Maintenance is rounded to $169.00. Not bad for 40 minutes worth of work.
We average 7 to 14 maintenances per day. Plus our cleanings. We've added over 121 new Preventative Maintenance accounts this year.
This has proven to be a great selling point for us as we can offer a Limited Lifetime Warranty as long as the roof is maintained annually and save the customer in the long run. The way the customer saves is: cleaned without maintenance, it more than likely will show signs of fungus growth in as little as 2 to 3 years. Requiring another cleaning at a cost of $500.00 to $550.00 depending on inflation. With Preventative Maintenance after 2 years they will only have spent $338.00 and have the comfort of knowing the roof will look great under the maintenance program.
I've just read on another thread, were many of you disagree with the concept of Annual Preventative Maintenance. I for one have greatly benefited from having established a Preventative Maintennce Program. There are numerous who reject the service. On the otherhand, there are several who like the idea of not being concerned with the thought of having the roof cleaned again. We have customers who have been under our program for a number of years. Our oldest shingle roof that we maintain is now 27years old. Our oldest tile roof is 53 years old. Both still look great. The shingle roof was originally cleaned in September of 1991. The tile roof was originally cleaned in March of 2002. Both still look great. We actually have customers who call wondering when there service is due. They want to make sure their roof remains fungus free. I am able to keep 2 trucks operating 5 days a week and sometimes 6 thanks to our maintenance program.
It may not work for all, but if presented properly it can be very profitable. Today we performed 9 P.M. services in less than 8 hours.
Had we not had our PM program in effect, my net profit for today would have been $0.00
We have a truck set up with a ladder rack, 165 gallon tank, 3 hose reels, 300' 3/8" hose, 200' non marking pressure washer hose, 100' 5/8 garden hose, plastic ball valve and wand with 80/20 tip , a surflo 3gpm electric pump, 4,000psi pressure washer, scrubber and a gas blower.
Upon arrival, we set up the ladder, blow the roof off and clean out the gutters, grab the plastic wand, flip the switch and head up to give the roof a light misting of chemical. Killing the fungus spores. The complete process takes aprox 30 to 4 minutes to perform and for tile roofs we use the pressure washer with a chemical injector to shoot a light coat on the roof.
Very simple procedure that works great.
MY customers love it !!!!! I realize it is not for all, but for me it has been a great success, a wonderful selling point and very lucrative.
I've mentioned this before too. Although it's not for everyone, It keeps us busy in the fall and early winter months. Definitely worth a look-see. Thanks for the post Gary.
This is a great thread! I love that you have given an idea as to how to price this as well as the amount of chem to use. I was thinking that it would need a repeat of the original cleaning.
Thank you!
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Soleil Shepherd Spray Wave Mobile Pressure Wash Inc. 204-509-4976 http://www.spraywave.com
We do not do roof maintenance, at least very much of it, here is why. We are so busy Cleaning Roofs In Tampa, I had to make a decision. Do I send our roof cleaning trucks out to do a 1200.00 Tile Roof Cleaning, or do a 100.00 roof algae prevention ? We do use a top secret roof treatment chemical in our mix we do not talk about, for obvious reasons. It has proven itself to keep roofs clean for longer then just the cleaning chemicals alone. I have considered hiring a special team JUST for roof maintenance, and we may, someday. For a new roof cleaning company, it is not a bad idea, plus other add on's may be sold during treatment like the house and driveway !! It is the SH that is doing all the algae prevention for you in your mix BTW. TSP is actually a fertilizer, but it leaves a film on the roof, and the Salt in the SH is being trapped in this film.. Just using some Borax in place of the TSP, or even better yet with the TSP will provide even longer lasting results. This was the reason Apple Sauce was invented. The TSP traps the Borax in a film, keeps it on the roof longer. Only a slight bit of Borax is a deadly plant biocide and biostat, it will greatly improve upon your great idea
Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:
We do not do roof maintenance, at least very much of it, here is why. We are so busy Cleaning Roofs In Tampa, I had to make a decision. Do I send our roof cleaning trucks out to do a 1200.00 Tile Roof Cleaning, or do a 100.00 roof algae prevention ? We do use a top secret roof treatment chemical in our mix we do not talk about, for obvious reasons. It has proven itself to keep roofs clean for longer then just the cleaning chemicals alone. I have considered hiring a special team JUST for roof maintenance, and we may, someday. For a new roof cleaning company, it is not a bad idea, plus other add on's may be sold during treatment like the house and driveway !! It is the SH that is doing all the algae prevention for you in your mix BTW. TSP is actually a fertilizer, but it leaves a film on the roof, and the Salt in the SH is being trapped in this film.. Just using some Borax in place of the TSP, or even better yet with the TSP will provide even longer lasting results. This was the reason Apple Sauce was invented. The TSP traps the Borax in a film, keeps it on the roof longer. Only a slight bit of Borax is a deadly plant biocide and biostat, it will greatly improve upon your great idea
If you ever decide you'd like to sub out you roof maintenence in the brandon riverview area let me know. Currently I'm set up better for that than 2 story tile jobs.
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Matthew C Perry General Manager Callahan Pro Wash Professional Exterior Cleaning Services Roof Cleaning, Pressure Washing, Paver Cleaning and Restoration 813-727-5161 callahanprowash.gmail.com
I like the idea of maintanace contracts. I started this year with annual gutter cleaning contracts. Roof cleaning contracts? Hmmm? Was talkin to Bill today and that was one topic. Its something to keep you busy when you are slow. I'm like Chris though. I go for the big money! LOL!! Gutter cleans which is how we started... Well they kinda gettin in the way now! lol! Maybe all we have durring the fall? I gotta get them caught up. For maintanace on roofs. How is the contract drawn up? Is is a light misting every year for 5 years?
What Chris said about staying on the roof longer. I noticed yesterday on a deck strip. The floor came out awesome, The rest was awesome but not perfect. I had to touch up the stripping of the wood, couple places, worrying about furring or drying out the wood too much. It came out better. Not perfect (98-99%?). Anyway I'm wondering if I could add ammonox (however thats spelled) could work too on vertical wood? Keep the soap on there longer to strip it like the floor boards?
What Chris said about staying on the roof longer. I noticed yesterday on a deck strip. The floor came out awesome, The rest was awesome but not perfect. I had to touch up the stripping of the wood, couple places, worrying about furring or drying out the wood too much. It came out better. Not perfect (98-99%?). Anyway I'm wondering if I could add ammonox (however thats spelled) could work too on vertical wood? Keep the soap on there longer to strip it like the floor boards?
That's funny... I was thinking the EXACT same thing since I just did an oil-based-silicon enhanced strip and thought I didn't have enough surfactant on their to let it sit long enough effectively. It was a PITA!!
AFT roof cleaning maintenance? Well, I agree with all of you. I do offer a roof cleaning maintenance program because I've only been in business for 5 years and wanted to keep my company (and my face) in theirs as well as boost my gutter cleaning profits. So for me, it was an up-sell - not just a way to stay busy.
It really depends on a few factors I guess.
Also, I recently came across a product that claims 3-5 years moss/algae and fungus spore FREE. We will see... Been doing it long enough to know there's no MAGIC spell. But, I'm trying to get the ingredients from a "friend" on the inside - he- he...
-- Edited by PowerClean on Friday 28th of May 2010 05:46:21 PM
This is my first post. I have been reading posts here for the last 3 weeks preparing to get started in the next few months in roof cleaning........
A question about preventative maintainance:
How does the offer of a warranty (let's say 2 years) affect the ability to sell p.m. service? Do you only offer the guarantee if they agree to the p.m.?
What if they don't want the p.m. service? Do you not offer the guarantee? Won't the customer then worry that the algae will return too soon and not want to get the roof cleaned to begin with?
If you do offer a 2 year guarantee even without a p.m. contract then you can't really sell a p.m. service until 2 years later....Right????