About a year into this. Learned a lot about what to do and what not to do.
Current setup is a 8gpm Honda igx800 with heat. I rarely use heat. 425 gal buffer tank and 25 gal chem tabk. Trailer build from BCE. 5.5x12ft dual axle.
Lessons: I don’t like jobs that require heat and won’t pursue that type of work. I rarely need the huge buffer tank but it’s handy once or twice a month.
I need to add a softwash system. What would you recommend for residential roofs, stained stucco and stubborn concrete?
Right now thinking of swapping the 25gal tank for a vertical 55. DIY proportioner. Hook water line up to the extra hose off the buffer tank. Add softwash reel to the trailer. Am I missing anything?
Why do you not like jobs that require heat. You’ve got a big competitive advantage with that machine. That you have is a big selling point, plus can big steady money maker for you.
Probably has to do with me not being super comfortable with those jobs. I know the chems and techniques for residential pretty well. Not the same on oil/grease/gum issues.
Also, the times I’ve used heat it’s still tough to satisfy the customer. I set expectations that you should see a 50-70% lightening of the stains but they will not be fully gone.
It’d be nice to have some steady accounts but from what I’ve read most gas stations/fast food joints want the work done overnight. I wouldn’t want to do that job and I don’t think I’d want to have to deal with late night calls from an employee.
Making excuses but I haven’t chased that type of work and just don’t encounter it much.
It’s a learned art, just like any washing, no one’s born knowing how to remove a grease stain. There is some night work, but the majority of mine is early morning, which is nice to start at 5 and by 9am done for the day if you want. Some of it can be kind of nasty at times, like dumpster pads, but the majority of it is maintenance cleaning, so after the first month or 2, you’ve got it in pretty good shape, so not too bad and unlike residential, it’s steady demand year round. It’s only about 25% of my business but covers pretty much all my fixed overhead.
