I go on the roof and measure and inspect the whole roof. I look for missing shingle, check the vent pipe boots and flashing. I try to get .35 sq ft for shingles. Then up charge from there. Sandy is going to help alot this year with damage.
Good idea. I moved it. Chris originally started this thread on the open forum but IMHO I feel that this type of discussion is better left out of sight to non members and general public. If Chris feels differently he can move it back.
I dont care if low-ball hacks see this post. But as far as guys saying what they charge is ok, it is important to also discuss that up here in NH I pay 3.18 per gallon and that is bulk. We also pay more for shipping costs and that translates into higher sq/ft costs. I had a few customers that told me that my sq/ft price was higher that what they found on the internet.
I dont care if low-ball hacks see this post. But as far as guys saying what they charge is ok, it is important to also discuss that up here in NH I pay 3.18 per gallon and that is bulk. We also pay more for shipping costs and that translates into higher sq/ft costs. I had a few customers that told me that my sq/ft price was higher that what they found on the internet.
At that price you have no choice but to charge a higher price and I am sure you are pointing that out to your potential customers. I am sure once you add in shipping cost it could be well over $3.50 a gallon. Compare that to some in the South that pay less than $1.00 a gallon. That makes this whole pricing discussion very subjective.
The difference in chemical costs is negligible in the overall pricing model. Does it effect OP? Yes to a certain extent but it's not a primary factor when setting your pricing schedule.
My service area constantly comes up as the highest cost of living in the nation. So are my materials and gas cost's. Add to that, most every roof has a tenacious mix of GM, Algae and various types of moss'. "It will go away with wind and rain", never works here. So yes costs here are definitely higher. I would like to use the 'insurance' news video but am envisioning how much time I will be spending explaining to potential customers the $500. amount mentioned. Maybe I can edit that part out.
My service area constantly comes up as the highest cost of living in the nation. So are my materials and gas cost's. Add to that, most every roof has a tenacious mix of GM, Algae and various types of moss'. "It will go away with wind and rain", never works here. So yes costs here are definitely higher. I would like to use the 'insurance' news video but am envisioning how much time I will be spending explaining to potential customers the $500. amount mentioned. Maybe I can edit that part out.
Stands to reason cost is subjective. Though I don't have the solution cost as an issue because I clean strictly or 98% cedar. But for those that have a asphalt market and then maybe competition and the cost of overhead, cost of living factored in, their profit margin has to be close.
I use the insurance video and the price issue hasn't come up. Just got a call from Grand-view, Mo. about cleaning a cedar roof where the insurance company told the lady to clean it or else.
In the last year I have received a number of cleaning calls because of the insurance company. Allstate refers them to me if they are cedar.
Eric, I was just down in Fl for a few days and if you look at G trends south and north west is ground zero, market awareness is where it at for our businesses to grow, on the 500.00 quote, we have a lot of 1200 sq ft cape cods, we could do 4-5 a day if close together and be home by 6. Of course that does not happen enough.
We charge on avg about 700 a house, but we don't fight the moss and lichen that you do, when we see it heavy, we charge for it, we have to knock it off sometimes with a little water from a hose, it stays for months and months without a little help. Sellers don't want to look at dead white moss on the MLS that looks like dead grass. We see heavy moss about 20% of the time.
I would take the video, edit out the interview and insert yourself cleaning a roof and make it your own video, the edits on video are easy. We spent no money and about 2 hours on it, it worked for us.
My service area constantly comes up as the highest cost of living in the nation. So are my materials and gas cost's. Add to that, most every roof has a tenacious mix of GM, Algae and various types of moss'. "It will go away with wind and rain", never works here. So yes costs here are definitely higher. I would like to use the 'insurance' news video but am envisioning how much time I will be spending explaining to potential customers the $500. amount mentioned. Maybe I can edit that part out.
My Son was born in Sacramento, it was 110 degrees there, so we drove over to Frisco, missed a turn, and saw Santa Cruz for the first time. It was awesome! What a cool place! I was unaware there was any Algae out there.
Redding was cool too! Spent 2 weeks on a houseboat on Lake Shasta!
Thanks for the feed back guys. I think I will be using the video. I have gotten a couple jobs from insurance cancellation threats. This surprised me (a nice surprise). My service area really is a microclimate that is affected by some extremely hearty growths. I learned everything from the members on this site, but I have had to educate myself quite a bit about local growths and how to remove them properly. Not that there is not a load on the subject here, but I have definitely had to augment.
'Perfect when you leave', is the expectiation around here. That suits me fine, but it requires much more time than a roof covered in gm only. I feel like I have it pretty well wired (but it costs)
I know there is varying degrees and types of roof infestations throughout the country. I reckon the guys in the north west have there hands full.
Oh Yeah, roof cleaning up in Western Washington is nearly a whole different subject. Those guys up there are faced with shingle splitting Moss, as well as GM!