General advice for SCARED STUDENT!!!

Hi everybody, I'm 20 years old and a university student in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada), and I decided to start a little summer business...pressure washing! I just bought a 3000 psi and 4 gpm cold water pressure washer, but I'm really worried I've gotten in over my head. I have some jobs lined up and I have some serious questions that need answering, so if anybody has the time...please help me out!

1. What pressure should I generally clean siding, fences, decks, etc at? I want to do a good job, but I DONT want to damage anything, any advice for pressure level and avoiding damage?

2. Should I use chemicals when I do siding, etc? Mild ones of course, and env. friendly, but some people say plain water should do it, others say spraying on chemical first is essential to doing a good job. any insight?

3. How long does it take to do a single level average house? A semi truck? maybe a time/squre foot indicator would be good.

4. Should I invest in a surface cleaner? I think i'm going to, cause I think it will take forever otherwise. any advice on what to watch out for?

5. I've been browing through some posts, and I don't know what "2-stepping" is. a description would be great.

6. Someone was talking about "blue water filters" that you can put over storm drains when you're cleaning fleets, are those effective and are they expensive?

7. I'm getting an extension wand, I think it will save me time from using ladders. anything to watch out for?

thanks so much, ANY advice would be great, even if it's only on one question.

thanks for your time,
Brent

You have lots of Questions and good ones too!

1) As for Sidewalks 4gpm@3000psi will do fine
Fences and decks Require TLC and you don't need that much pressure.

2) Chemicals with cold water. With a Hot Water machine you won't need chemicals on the light jobs.

3) I don't know I don't Pressure Wash.

4) A surface Cleaner will clean better because it stayes 1-2 inches from the ground all of the time and gives an even clean. If you buy one make sure the spray tips are set up for your machine. 2- #2 tips will work nicely.

5) Two step is a dance done by Cowboys. LOL
Two step means that there are two steps to cleaning with that type of machine. First an acid is applied then an alkali follows. They should call it 3 step because the rince cycle is important too. The concept is for washing trucks. As a truck goes down the road the Ions are one polarity on the truck and the opposite on the dust. The dirt attracts to the truck like a magnet. The two step neutralizes the Ions and the dirt comes off easy.

6) The filters are not the right way to do the job water still goes down the drain and the filters do not remove the emulsified solids in the water. Plus there is no tolerance for any water going down a storm drain by the EPA standards. You should vacuum the water up and dispose of it according to your local laws.

7) With an extension wand you will have a hard time keeping balance and your arms will get tired real quick. I suggest a belt harness if you go that route.

thanks john, very helpful. I always appreciate decent advice.

brent

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