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Post Info TOPIC: Driveway and Sidewalk Cleaning Business?
Wizba4444


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Driveway and Sidewalk Cleaning Business?
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Hey all,
This is my first post and I'd like to think out loud and get some advice and information.

I'm in Sarasota, Fl and I've thought about a pressure washing business for years that focuses on driveways and sidewalks only.

I owned Apple Painting in Sarasota for about 15 years and started it in 92 coming out of a recession. I made some great money by going after niche work and the momentum as the economy grew was very powerful. I wonder if the same thing can be done with pressure washing? This business has come a long way since I was washing houses and I'd like some input.

I believe it would require volume work within one subdivision at a time to be cost affective and walking neighborhoods with fliers to be successful. Also, I could see attempting to sell commercial properties and associations on the flat work only.

The big dollar items are hard for everyone right now, so I wonder if the compromise is small dollar stuff now. Instead of the house, the driveway and walks.( $45- $95 ) Instead of the apartment buildings, just the walks or balconies. Condo Associations can improve the properties appearance by cleaning the drives and sidewalks for now. each resident pays $20-$30 kind of thing.

I'm working on a flier I will use to test for the response rate and say that the pricing is for that week only while we are in that neighborhood.

If this could work the next question is what rig and equipment to start out with and what are the best cleaners to use? We only used chlorine back in the day.

In talking to some folks locally, this is what I've come up with so far to try to get it up and running:

-10 foot trailer

-4000psi hot water washer 4gpm

-110 gallon tank

-20" or 16" surface cleaner ( I'd like to go bigger, but I'm told smaller is quicker.)  I assume that is unless you are putting out 8-10 gallons.

-what cleaners would you suggest?

-Obviously speed is the key so anything I can do to build it for efficiency
would be the best.

I'd love any suggestions or constructive criticism you can give.

Thanks in advance



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garyw


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Since this forum is basically for non-pressure roof cleaners, you may be better off posting your question on here.
http://www.uamcc.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=2

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Roof Cleaning Palm Harbor FL 727 543 3276


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This would also be your best bet for getting answers I do both Roof Cleaning and Pressure Washing and I am over on PWI as well. Come check it out.

http://www.propowerwash.com/board/upload/indexold.php

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Wizba4444


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Thanks for the info.

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Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777


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Wizba4444 wrote:

Thanks for the info.



If all I did was clean d/ways and walks, I would want me a hot water skid of 8 to 10 GPM
Unless ya want to get a good sun tan ?

 



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Clear Shine


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I would seriously reconsider a 4gpm machine and at bare minimum go with a 5.5 for flat work. You may also want to do some research on pricing too and you can find them on those boards and www.ptstate.com is also another good site...

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Roof Cleaning Palm Harbor FL 727 543 3276


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I got to meet Tim the other day at Pressure Washer Products when I went to pick up my new Delevan that Lori gave away. Whooo Hooo! Thanks again Lori.

Anyway, it was real nice to meet Tim. He seems like a real nice guy. We didn't get to talk for very long because I was in a hurry to get to my last job for the day but it looked like he got to spend some quality time with Lori and go over equipment options and such.

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Palm Harbor FL 727 543 3276 on Tuesday 23rd of February 2010 07:35:39 AM

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Tile Roof Cleaning�Palm Harbor�Florida
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Clear Shine


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Tim,

Listen to what Lori says, she wont steer you wrong or try to sell you something you dont need. If she says you need it, you need it. Just a couple of little pieces of constructive criticism. When you rethink your pricing, do not count of high volume. Unless, you have some kind of super connections or something, you will not get high volume right out of the gate. Get with someone that is far enough away from you that is in the florida area that is willing to help you with your pricing and what top dollar you can get in your region. Make a business model and know what your man hour charges are. Most one man operations need at least $100 an hour in profit to survive.

Also, you are correct about the surface cleaner going faster, in a way. What you said is correct for having a smaller machine like a 4gpm.... the bigger the GPM, the bigger the surface cleaner you can push. A 4 gpm is best suited for a 16-20 in and a 5.5gpm will push up to a 24-26in. surface cleaner. If you live close to Lori, talk to her and she will tell you what you need....

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Jeremy Kiefer

Clear Shine Maintenance

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