Hello. I’m bidding on this roof. The square foot is 3,000. That’s not including the pitch. I’m going to charge .23c per sqft. totaling $690. My plan is to rent a scissors lift, then x jet without a proportioner with 12.5. The building is surrounded by concrete. The roof material is aluminum shingle. There are no gutters. The guy doesn’t want the building cleaned just the roof. I told him that if the roof mix drips down the building and streaks appear it will need to be washed. He was understanding of the possibility. Does this sound like a solid game?
My first roof cleaning will be a different residential roof this Friday. I told this customer that I’ve never washed a roof, but I have read plenty about it. He started offering to help me and buy chemicals for me, etc, etc. and said I sound like the most competent of the companies he has spoken to. He only wants half of the roof cleaned, and has gutters, and doesn’t really care about run off or the risk of killing be vegetation. I think it will be a perfect learning experience with someone so understanding. I would practice on my own roof but it’s brand new. Any suggestions?
The alley way is to narrow for me to get far enough to jet the roof mix.i was planning on just billing the rental at cost. $200. The residential I won’t be using a lift. Good point about the neighbors but I think his gutters drain underground to the street. I’ll be in the neighborhood today. I’ll double check
I only use ladders if I need to. If I have a scissor lift, I don’t need to. I would rather not be holding onto a ladder with one hand, xjet in the other.
I would invest in a 12 v pump. Pressuretek has a decent kit for $300ish. X jet might do it but I wouldn’t count on it. If you’re running a smaller machine like 4 gpm then your chances are better but you don’t want to show up with a lift and x jet amd not be able to do the job. At $600+ you still middle a little money and then you’ll have the tools to do jobs like this in the future. Also no problem climbing a ladder with just one chem house attached to a 12v. If you do go the x jet route you can always just use a longer hose. I think I remember a thread where @squidskc used 100’ X jet hose with success. I’m sure he’ll correct me if I’m wrong.
I’m on the job site right now doing the residential roof. It’s not going great with the x jet. So I will be taking your advice and getting the roof system. Quick question tho. It’s my understanding that the dwell time should be about 20 minutes. If I get some roof mix on the vinyl, how should I rinse it without diluting the roof mix.
And this is why it’s hard to get decent pricing from the public. Guys on the internet asking how to clean a roof while they are on the job cleaning the roof. This whole post is unreal
Not much you can do about getting mix on the vinyl. Thats why I include a house wash with every roof cleaning. Before I did it like that half the time I would end up with clean straks on The house and wnd up washing it anyways so I just include it and charge a little more. Are you doing this job solo? Ideally you have a second guy keeping g the siding and landscaping wet.
I value your opinion at times. Other times you give off a vibe that you are threatened by the new guy/weekend warrior. It’s an incredibly easy industry to enter. Low startup cost, and minimal technical skills, insane profit margin so I get why you feel how you do. I respect that you take your profession seriously. I’m doing my best to do the same. I have started with a 2.5 gpm machine and a pickup. In 4 months I’ve since upgraded equipment and trailer as suggested by this forum, even you. I’m now considering hiring one employee. I have insurance up to 1 million and I’m licensed. I’m having great success, much of it I owe to the info I’ve learned here and this thing called the “internet” that you often seem so hostile towards. Ironically you participate heavily in this same internet. As it pertains to this particular job, the customer called my business and requested his roof be cleaned. I told him I’ve never done a roof and he may want to find a different company. He insisted that I could do it. I’m sure I could do it, but it will be a learning process. Not quite sure why I felt the need to explain myself to you, but I did. I respect you I guess. You still remind me of that asshole uncle from the country that you can’t help but to hate to love.
No I have a guy with me today. Actually just my dad. He’s retired and enjoyed getting out of the house. Thanks for the info. I’ve canceled the job for today. The x jet just wasn’t getting a hot enough mix. For anyone reading this that’s in my shoes, just invest the money in the right tools for the job. I read elsewhere that people had success with the x jet which is why I gave it a shot. I can’t see how they did. I’m going to order the roof system and try again. I offered the customer a free driveway cleaning and he said absolutely not, he’s going to pay. Seems like I’m making a few freinds a long the way.
And the price I’m charging is above average for my area. $250 for half of the roof. Maybe some other guy that lives across country is messing up your local prices. I’m not looking to degrade the profit margin just to get a job.
Yup. Same kit I started with. I added the pump in a box for $100 but its pretty basic wiring so if u can do it yourself that works too. Go with the 5/8 in house though. You’ll get more distance and it’s not much more
Well, you know I’m not much for apologizing, so I won’t. You can’t clean roofs with an xjet
Someone will pop up and say they did, just like there is always that one thst uses a direct drive with a tank. Don’t let a customer talk you into something you don’t know how top do. Congrats on having insurance. I don’t do enough residential to worry about competition. It’s the professional image that concerns me. Buy Bob’s kit. Switch out the wand for a garden hose nozzle. Buy several nozzles. Work hard. Be smart. When you get thru you’ll be done
