Hi All!,
I’m the owner of a cleaning service in Central Florida and looking to add pressure washing to my service. I have used a home unit with a lot of success, but I want to purchase a pro unit, probably a trailer, and start marketing pressure washing as a stand alone profit center of my company.
I want to know what the pro’s wish they had when they began their businesses. Hot Water? Dual capability? Dry Ice or Sandblast? Training packages?
Help!
PeteK
Hi Peter, I’m new on here as well, and am currently working on getting setup. But I can start by telling you what the Veteran’s on here will probably ask you…
What type of work will you be going after? Residential: House washing? Roof washing? concrete? Or, Commercial: Buildings? concrete sidewalks? Parking lots/ Garages? Fleet washing?
That’s all going to have a bearing on your ideal setup
Where in central Florida? That’s a bit vague. Plenty of people from central Florida take advantage of this forum so you may as well just spill the beans.
Good point Mike. I serve from Tampa to St. Augustine with some of my centers but my primary area will be Sumter, Lake and Marion County.
Wow, you do some travelling.
Higher volume machines are the way to go. 8 gallons per minute is the way to go if possible. It’s a bigger investment but will pay off quickly because your crew
will be so much more efficient.
Hot water isn’t a necessity if just doing residential, but it still helps in certain situations. If you are targeting some commercial clients, then be sure to invest in a burner. Grease, oils, and gum come off easier and better with heat.
Thanks Mike. That is something I needed to know. One of the coating company’s that I want to work with suggested a minimum of 5.5 gal and 4000psi. It was never my intention to settle for the minimum and I was browsing at machines at the 8 gal/min level.
Would you consider 5000psi over-kill? Also, I’m looking into deck and fence cleaning and sealing. How much muscle does something like that require?
Yes, I would consider 5000 psi overkill. Especially in the residential spectrum. The decks and fences will take very little pressure to do them the right way. In fact, most residential work can be done with minimal pressure.
If you are looking at doing wood, definitely do a search on it. There are a lot of great threads here that describe most of the process.
Thanks again Mike
Peter First welcome to the PWRA… The first thing that I would rec is joining the PWRA for all the great benefits including vendor Purchase’s (machines and equipment)…
Also when you become a member you get access to Webinars which there is a entire 45 min q&a on equipment and getting started.
Do your research ask a ton of question and learn about Softwashing… ;)… If you have any questions please ask way.
As a MOD on the PWRA board Im always available on Voxer and here on the boards…
Thank you ARCPW,
I have stumbled across Softwashing but it seems that since my primary is concrete, my focus should be more on pressure. Is that true or am I just showing my ignorance.
One thing you might help with is training. Should I try everything? I have always believed the Bible is the only “one size fits all” book.
Peter,
In Washing Pressure Plays a roll when doing Concrete but you want Water Flow… More flow means faster cleaning. When washing a house vinyl,stucco,painted or anything else you need to learn how to soft wash those surfaces…
To start out with this is what I would rec for a new business.
That is where I would start out…
But then you need to add water tank (225 gal),Chem Tank, hose reels, DownStream Injectors, Jords Nozzels,Trailer with brakes, Truck to pull the trailer, and some odds and ends.
Again ask away with any questions that you may have
Thanks ARCPW, I have been self employed since 1967 and I learned everything through associations such as this. You have been a great help.
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif][COLOR=#141823]14 foot dual tandem This will fit into a standard garage that is 19.4 long a 16 won’t[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif][COLOR=#141823]2-8 gpm cold units with generators (anything less than a eight gpm machine is a waste of money and you will be up grading)[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif][COLOR=#141823]A single 12 gpm 110 hot box. (12 volts are …****) Hot water opens up more doors which means more money[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif][COLOR=#141823]Electric reels After 5 houses I become lazy…[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif][COLOR=#141823] Bobs fatboy roof cleaning kit. Ive owned 5 different roof machines and its the best one in my opinion [/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif][COLOR=#141823] 4 by 14 signage on both sides that are on doors that open to the equipment …you dont need a wrap…letters are good enough if its done right
35 foot water fed pole system with DI , ro water or both
A Gas Vacuum you dont have to have it but there is a use for it and 99% of normally pressure washers dont do interiors.
one large buffer 225 and a couple of chemical tanks 100’s
ladder rack that not only holds ladders but surface cleaners extra hoses ect.
Vise mounted on the trailer
tool box
organizer box for fittings [/COLOR][/FONT]
Thanks Lou,
That’s what I was looking for.
Now for the ‘stupid’ in me…does a 110 hot box mean I will have to plug in on location or purchase a generator or converter?
Also, I am thinking of not doing roofs because of the dramatic increase in insurance. Do you think the extra business is worth the 400% increase in insurance expense?
110 volt, and yes to powering it, choose which ever suits you.
What part of roof cleaning increases insurance 400%?
I have a friend with a national chain who says his $25/tech is $100 if he mentions roof cleaning…this is in Florida
If you have custom cold water machines built you can add generators to the unit.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2
He’s right Guy. My insurance company quoted me roughly 4.5 times the amount I am paying for pressure washing and gutter cleaning, when I asked about roofs. Actually, I originally thought I purchased insurance for pressure washing, roof cleaning and gutter cleaning. That’s what I told the agent who I bought insurance from. Then two or three weeks later he called me and asked if I was cleaning roofs, because I guess someone from the underwriters of the insurance went on my website and saw roof cleaning. They threatened to cancel my policy right there. They said I needed a separate policy and quoted me $4500. I didn’t even clean a roof yet! So I scrubbed all roof cleaning from my site and all my ads. I have to get established with better cash flow before I go for that. Also workers comp takes 18.6 % too.
He’s right Guy. My insurance company quoted me roughly 4.5 times the amount I am paying for pressure washing and gutter cleaning, when I asked about roofs. Actually, I originally thought I purchased insurance for pressure washing, roof cleaning and gutter cleaning. That’s what I told the agent who I bought insurance from. Then two or three weeks later he called me and asked if I was cleaning roofs, because I guess someone from the underwriters of the insurance went on my website and saw roof cleaning. They threatened to cancel my policy right there. They said I needed a separate policy and quoted me $4500. I didn’t even clean a roof yet! So I scrubbed all roof cleaning from my site and all my ads. I have to get established with better cash flow before I go for that. Also workers comp takes 18.6 % too.
