Welcome New Members

Hello, my name is Ian Maynard and I am from Houma, LA. I am married and have two boys that keep me on my toes. I am a supervisor for a major oilfield service company working in the Gulf of Mexico. Well, with things getting real slow in my industry, I got tired of just sitting around the house waiting for the phone to ring. I started doing little odd and end jobs for family and friends and made a few extra dollars along the way. Well one of the jobs I was on was pressure washing a home and a business. I finished both structures in two days, and made a decent chunk of change. I had already done a little pressure washing before I started in the oilfield, so I would say that I already had more experience than the normal homeowner. Anyways, after talking with my wife, we decided to go ahead and give it a shot by opening up our little pressure washing business. Everyday I ride around my neighborhood and see lots of dirty driveways and gutters, and I know most of my neighbors really don't want to do it themselves. The first three I talked to each said "please, wash it for me, I will happily pay!" So, here I am - giving it a shot. I purchased a used semi-pro pressure washer from a relative and also purchased a new 3500 psi / 4.0 gpm Cat/Honda washer from a vendor a few hours away. I purchased a trailer and mounted them, also purchased a few accessories including hose reels, 250' of non-marking hose, two surface cleaners (small and large), and a water tank. I finished rigging up everything today, and earlier this week I registered my business, obtained licenses and liability insurance (can't have enough of that stuff) and start my first official job Saturday morning!!! Hope all goes well, and hope to learn alot from all of you in the future. Thanks!!!

welcome to PWI Ian!
 
Hey everyone!
My (quick) story: the company I've been with since '98 is about to re-structure around end of summer. They offered all of us long-timers a very nice buy-out offer (enough to live off for more than a year) but we have to stay till May 23rd, 2016. If we say, "no" to the buy-out offer there's no guarantee any of us will have a job when the re-structure rolls around. That means we'll be laid off, no big buy-out check, just the standard bye-bye... With a mortgage and a family to support, I need a plan. My wife and I are pretty sure I'll take the buy-out along with that big fat check.


I think I have the same questions as most everyone else that's starting out. I'll have quite a bit of $$$ to spend but that money is supposed to last until I can replace my current income. I'm pretty sure spending $10k without having 1 cleaning job would be a bad financial decision for my family (at this point).


I did some very basic power washing at my own house and a neighbors house, years ago. Just driveways and fences with a inexpensive Home Depot PW. Took forever but it was enjoyable! I also ran my own lawn service and I was doing pretty good. I have decent business sense and not afraid to work hard and hustle.


As I'm reading, I understand I should be looking for a machine that's 4+ GPM, belt drive, skid mount. I have a small SUV that can pull a trailer but not sure how much it would cost to get a setup that includes a trailer vs buying an old truck just for work (or a van).


That's about it, without writing a book. LOL!
 
New member

Good morning,
My name is John Norwood with B'n'R Suds out of McCamey, TX. I hAve been washing oil field trucks here for 2 yrs and am looking to expand into commercial and residential property washing. I recently put a bid in to wash or local hospital(all of it). 278k sqft. I need help filling out vendor packet for another bid I'm going to bid on.

John Norwood
Owner
B'n'R Suds
bnrsuds@gmail.com
bnrsuds.squarespace.com
 
Hey everyone I am new to this and I am excited to be apart of this. I am a manager with Technicare (Ohio branch) and I am in charge of all things involved with pressure washing.
 
Hello All,

I am Brian Carlson and am just starting out in Pearland, Tx. I first want to say that this site is awesome and full of information, decided to job this group of professionals. Here is a brief over view of my start up, and who i am. I have spent the last 4 months researching equipment, cleaning techniques, reclaim systems, advertising & marketing strategists, chemicals and applications, business structures. The last month has been a busy one, putting the business plan into action. I currently offer services for Residential- House Soft Wash, concrete deep cleaning, Concrete sealing,Driveway restoration, Fence Restoration, gutter brightening and Commercial properties, and fleet washing. I plan to expand in to F9 rest removal and a roof washing system in year two....unless lots of calls for roofs come in, of course. i still work over seas in the oil field but i wanted to start something for myself that satisfies me as well as provides a top of the line service to my customers. Anyways check out our web site and let me now what you think...dont want to go on and on but could do this for a while.haha
 
Welcome to the forum Brian. Lots and lots of good folks and information here...

Mike
 
Hello All,

I am Brian Carlson and am just starting out in Pearland, Tx. I first want to say that this site is awesome and full of information, decided to job this group of professionals. Here is a brief over view of my start up, and who i am. I have spent the last 4 months researching equipment, cleaning techniques, reclaim systems, advertising & marketing strategists, chemicals and applications, business structures. The last month has been a busy one, putting the business plan into action. I currently offer services for Residential- House Soft Wash, concrete deep cleaning, Concrete sealing,Driveway restoration, Fence Restoration, gutter brightening and Commercial properties, and fleet washing. I plan to expand in to F9 rest removal and a roof washing system in year two....unless lots of calls for roofs come in, of course. i still work over seas in the oil field but i wanted to start something for myself that satisfies me as well as provides a top of the line service to my customers. Anyways check out our web site and let me now what you think...dont want to go on and on but could do this for a while.haha


Welcome to PWI....your link in you signature is nit going tom your web site...might want to check that. Goes to Core Laboratories
 
Hey Doug, I've got a feeling it's deliberate. Too many hits too quick...
 
Whats going on guys-
My name is Vinny DeFilippo, i live up in Connecticut, unfortunately, but fortunately there is a alot of houses and roofs to be cleaned!! I started my company last year but things never took off until about a month ago with the right marketing, (senior discounts). Im 21 and in college and have previous experience with roof cleaning and power washing. I just started investing in my rig on my five foot trailer. i just purchased a 50 gal. tank with a 7gpm fatboy and planning on using the solenoid hook up. anyone have any tips to make the wiring a little easier for me to understand? also i have a hannay hose reel but the swivel is ceased on it. i recently purchased a triton 1/2 in swivel and planning on changing it out. im letting it soaked with some pb blaster as we speak but anyone care to share how to swap it out? not sure if i have to wrench it off, or remove the c-clip and go from there. Thanks!
 
Whats going on guys-
My name is Vinny DeFilippo, i live up in Connecticut, unfortunately, but fortunately there is a alot of houses and roofs to be cleaned!! I started my company last year but things never took off until about a month ago with the right marketing, (senior discounts). Im 21 and in college and have previous experience with roof cleaning and power washing. I just started investing in my rig on my five foot trailer. i just purchased a 50 gal. tank with a 7gpm fatboy and planning on using the solenoid hook up. anyone have any tips to make the wiring a little easier for me to understand? also i have a hannay hose reel but the swivel is ceased on it. i recently purchased a triton 1/2 in swivel and planning on changing it out. im letting it soaked with some pb blaster as we speak but anyone care to share how to swap it out? not sure if i have to wrench it off, or remove the c-clip and go from there. Thanks!

Welcome Vinny....be sure to fill out your signature
 
First off DO NOT DROP OUT get your degree..dam i miss college!!! codos for the effort to expand and welcome Vinny! Market what works and attack it head on buddy! Once you have sold clientele then expand and build in your weak areas of service. cant help on the wiring as i am no electrician. if you can get some industrial grade WD-40 and work it back and fourth.. if that dose not work spray it with some Corrosion-X.(my dad lives by this stuff) Good luck man! We are here to help!
 
awesome thanks alot man for the support, invested about $300 in some advertising in my local paper for a good sized ad and started to get busy. im already starting to learn what not to do on a house which is the hardest part!
 
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