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Matthew · Guest

Lurker joins in the fun

Toy2 · Guest

Welcome, do you have any pictures of your set-up?

I have lurked as well for the past few months, and now have to decide what set-up do I want/need.

Lori from PWP is awesome, and so is Bob from Pressure Tek, so in other words I'm looking at an sir system or the Fatboy????

Again welcome, this site is awesome!!!!

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

Welcome newbies. That was a great intro post Matt.
Anthony it's hard to say. Air rigs are expensive and if properly maintained last longer. They also have some benefits such as not needing to prime the pump and being able to run the pump dry for long periods of time.

Electric pumps are cheap and effective, they are also very easy to fix/replace and have no fuel consumption.

I use air and like it a lot. If you can afford it, I recommend it. But a Delevan will get out the door for less initial cash.

May 25, 2010

I have to agree. Great intro Matt. I was just out in Apollo beach for a House Wash and Concrete Cleaning last Friday. Mirror Lake. I really didn't want to drive all the way out there from Saint Pete but the call I got was from a landlord in NY. I charged him enough for the Cleaning which helped cover my cost for fuel and travel time which made it worth while. It would be nice to have someone out there to flip leads to. I get calls from over your way once in awhile. Welcome to RCIA.

Matthew · Guest

Thanks for the welcome.

We would be proud to work with any one here to take care of a lead in our area. I occassionally get calls for Carrolwood oe even Wesley Chapel, so we'll post those here for anyone that could take them.

I did 3 roofs myself this week. I only got pictures on one.
I'll post them later.

Washed-up · guest

Guys I will also pass on leads to you down that direction. It's just too far for me to travel from Lake county Florida

Toy2 · Guest

Bill,

I agree with the air, my fear is will people around here pay for a roof cleaning?

I know if you have or are a great salesmen you can sell anything, even rocks.

So do I spend a few hundred, or a thousand, that's my problem?????

I talked to a couple people and gave them a price, 15 cents a foot, $300.00, they both thought it was to high and said they would do it for $250.00

Both retired homeowners, with money to burn?????

Again, that's my problem. cry

-- Edited by Toy2 on Wednesday 26th of May 2010 04:50:22 PM

Matthew · Guest

I feel your pain.

We work primarily in Sun City Center Florida where everyone is a retiree.
In addition there is every Tom, Dick, and Harry out there with a pawn shop pressure washer doing 3,200 sqft roofs for $150. Of course they don't use any solution and half use a surface cleaner (yikes is right!).

The only advice I can give you is lead you client with education then try to close the sale. If they don't go for it at least you can hope they'll ask better questions of the next guy. Your customer isn't the cheapskate looking for a quick fix, yours is the responsible homeowner who wants it done right. Find them!

Good Luck.

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

Toy2 wrote:

Bill,

I agree with the air, my fear is will people around here pay for a roof cleaning?

I know if you have or are a great salesmen you can sell anything, even rocks.

So do I spend a few hundred, or a thousand, that's my problem?????

I talked to a couple people and gave them a price, 15 cents a foot, $300.00, they both thought it was to high and said they would do it for $250.00

Both retired homeowners, with money to burn?????

Again, that's my problem.

-- Edited by Toy2 on Wednesday 26th of May 2010 04:50:22 PM

My advice brother...bid higher and let them bring you down to what you will accept. Instead of $300 start at $500, so when they talk you down to $350 you still get what you need. Everyone will be happy. If you are setting the trend for your area than they have no idea what it costs and are just trying to get a better deal in an economy where they know they can.

If this is a market test for you I'd make the cheapest rig I could.

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

Also I would carry a spare. I have 5 aod pumps and will always have a spare on each vehicle at all times. So really you are saving a lot more if you get 2 delevans instead of 2 aod's. Also for your spare, get the cheapest thing that will save you in a pinch.

Toy2 · Guest

Thank you for the advise, it is much appreciated.........again I would not show up somewhere with a cheap outfit, it paints a black eye on any industry.

If I go with PT's fatboy, then I intend on getting a small trailer to haul around, I have thought of using my truck(Toyota Tacoma) but feel its to small to carry everything, ladders, hose, etc....

I do intend on getting the truck labeled-vinyl........

Now I have a 16' TopHat trailer, but feel its overkill for this.....Thanks again smile

Matthew · Guest

I have a '98 Taco myself and pull a 5x8 trailer.
My set up has 2 60 gal tanks and a tongue box which holds the battery, battery charger, pump, and valve manifolds.
I have side mounted ladder racks on each side, although I use one to mount the reel and hold wands of various lengths.
I also carry a 4000 psi pressure washer, hoses, surface cleaner, and 2 5 gallon buckets. All of that is on the trailer. The truck carries tools, ammonia, Muratic acid, Am-Lo, and various other things in seperate tool boxes.

So far I haven't had any trouble and I started doing this in January.

I'll get some pics of the rig I use this week.

Here is a pic of a roof I did Tuesday.

-- Edited by Matthew on Wednesday 26th of May 2010 09:50:53 PM

-- Edited by Matthew on Wednesday 26th of May 2010 09:55:27 PM

Toy2 · Guest

Matthew wrote:

I have a '98 Taco myself and pull a 5x8 trailer.
My set up has 2 60 gal tanks and a tongue box which holds the battery, battery charger, pump, and valve manifolds.
I have side mounted ladder racks on each side, although I use one to mount the reel and hold wands of various lengths.
I also carry a 4000 psi pressure washer, hoses, surface cleaner, and 2 5 gallon buckets. All of that is on the trailer. The truck carries tools, ammonia, Muratic acid, Am-Lo, and various other things in seperate tool boxes.

So far I haven't had any trouble and I started doing this in January.

I'll get some pics this week.

5 by 8 seems like something I need to look at, sounds like a nice set up. Can't bet a Taco biggrin

Cadillac Dan · Guest

WOW I am starting to feel way unprepaired Im using a regular back pack sprayer will it work for now or am I wasting my time I have done my roof my brothers whole house and a few friends houses it seems to work well but on the other hand Ive never use anything eles. Another question I seen at the begining of this topic "no-walk" system and was wondering what that might be

Markus · Guest

I agree. Educating the home owner is essential. There are many pressure washing companies in upstate ny. However, there are very few companies that clean roofs using the techniques posted on this site. We are a new company (still in the early stages of purchasing equipment), but we fully agree and believe in the "Love" mix and application techniques. We are going to focus on educating the owners on what the shingle manufacturers recommend (which is not high pressure cleaning) and how damage can ocur due to these pressure washing techniques.

Matthew · Guest

Cadillac Dan wrote:

WOW I am starting to feel way unprepaired Im using a regular back pack sprayer will it work for now or am I wasting my time I have done my roof my brothers whole house and a few friends houses it seems to work well but on the other hand Ive never use anything eles. Another question I seen at the begining of this topic "no-walk" system and was wondering what that might be

What I meant by a "no walk" system is this:
A system or method by which we can clean the entire roof from the ground without walking on it.

For some roofs this is a s simple as having the right pump and nozzle configuration. For other roofs it requires a lift, or scaffolding, or what not.

Since a majority of the roofs we clean are 25+ year old tile roofs in Florida... I don't really want to walk on them unless absolutely necessary.

Cadillac Dan · Guest

thats basicly what i was thinking but i wanst sure it there was a diffrent way. I would think that spraying from a ladder would result in alot of overspray sopt i guess thats where the right hose and nozzle would come in. being able to do the job with out getting on the roof would be a big plus, that way people cant try to scew you over by having a roof leak before you ever set foot on the roof but they try to blame you also a smaller risk of falling of the roof

RCIA Founder

Matthew wrote:

Cadillac Dan wrote:

WOW I am starting to feel way unprepaired Im using a regular back pack sprayer will it work for now or am I wasting my time I have done my roof my brothers whole house and a few friends houses it seems to work well but on the other hand Ive never use anything eles. Another question I seen at the begining of this topic "no-walk" system and was wondering what that might be

What I meant by a "no walk" system is this:
A system or method by which we can clean the entire roof from the ground without walking on it.

For some roofs this is a s simple as having the right pump and nozzle configuration. For other roofs it requires a lift, or scaffolding, or what not.

Since a majority of the roofs we clean are 25+ year old tile roofs in Florida... I don't really want to walk on them unless absolutely necessary.

Some old tile roofs in florida are so brittle, bird crap will break them!
Walking is not an option on them at all, they must be shot from a ladder or a lift, helicopters are too expensive.

Cadillac Dan · Guest

I was wondering how every one went about doing tile roof i was preety sure you couldnt walk on them i figured a lift would be the best bet. Im glad I have a basket lift license

Matthew · Guest

Right now we either walk them or do them from a ladder or both.
Walk up to the pitch and spray upper 2/3 of the roof and then shoot the bottom 1/3 from the ladder

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Dwayne Miller
FLORIDAWASH

Lake Marion Citrus & Sumter Counties in Florida

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Dwayne MillerFLORIDAWASH

Lake Marion Citrus & Sumter Counties in Florida

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Dwayne Miller
FLORIDAWASH