6 Costly Misconceptions About Power Washing

Russ Spence

Commercial Pressure Wash Expert
6 Costly Misconceptions About Power Washing

Misconception #1
It's Easy Enough That We Can Do It Ourselves. This may be true to some extent but you can easily cause
damage to yourself and your home if your not careful. I don't recommend to anyone to pressure wash from
a ladder, this is very dangerous and should be left to a professional. Washing your vinyl siding from the
ground at an upward angle will force water behind the siding causing water damage. Getting up in the air
and away from the house will allow you to rinse the siding at a flatter angle. This can only be done with the
proper equipment. Another thing is even small consumer grade pressure washing units put out too much
pressure to wash vinyl, asphalt shingles, and pressure treated wood. Having the right equipment allows you
to turn down the pressure, so your not causing damage.

Misconception #2
High Pressure Is The Only Way To Get It Clean. Not true at all. Only contractors that use inferior cleaners
have to depend on high pressure to do the job. High pressure can do a lot of damage to your home. To
much pressure will force water to get behind the siding of your home causing mold and mildew problems.
Wood is softer than you might think, and using too much pressure to wash a deck can cut wood and leave
unsightly marks and scars that will show through the sealer. Using too much pressure on asphalt shingles
is a huge mistake. Shingles have small pieces of grit on them, similar to sand, called granules. Excessive
pressure can blow these granules off the shingles, lessening the longevity of your roof. Make sure
contractor grade cleaners and the right amount of pressure are being used.


Misconception #3
The Cleaners Being Used Will Damage Your Plants Or Hurt Your Pets. Quality contractors use only
environmentally safe products that will not harm your pets. But plants are more sensitive and need to be
protected. If a cleaner is allowed to dry on the leaves of a plant it can leave burn spots. Covering plants with
plastic is an option, but that can also be dangerous to the plants on a hot day. A better alternative is to wet
the plants down with water before, during, and after the cleaning process. As long as cleaners are not
allowed to dry on the plants, there should be no damage.


Misconception #4
Your Roof Is Black Or Has Black Streaks On It And Needs Replaced. Not necessarily true. Unsightly black
stains or streaks on asphalt shingles is caused by a hardy type of algae called Gloeocapsa magma. This type
of algae thrives in humid and warm climates and usually appears, first, on the North slope of the roof
where shade is prevalent and moisture tends to accumulate. The algae feeds on the crushed limestone that
is used in asphalt shingles. Rain then spreads the algae down the roof, causing black streaks. As the algae
breaks down the shingles, the granules that protect the shingle are loosened and begin to fall off. This
causes the roof to deteriorate and diminishes the roof's ability to reflect heat rays. If left untreated, the
algae will reduce the life of your roof, diminish your home's curb appeal, and increase your home cooling
cost.


This roof algae can be killed and removed to restore your roofs appearance. But the right cleaners and low
pressure is a must, so that damage is not done to the roof.


Misconception #5
You Should Hire the Company that Offers the Lowest Price. Maybe, but not always. Here are some points
to consider:

(1) The price you see advertised may not be the price you pay. Many homeowners have learned that the low
price they saw advertised lasted only until the contractor did the estimate. Then they were pressured into
paying a lot more for a variety of add-ons .

(2) Some contractors market strategy is to get jobs by being the lowest bidder. The contractor will then cut
corners in order to turn a profit.

(3) Due to low start up costs, many companies come and go. When first starting up, a lot of companies do
not educate themselves, because power washing looks easy and profitable. So, they lack the right
equipment, cleaners, insurance, knowledge, professionalism, and normally, will charge an extremely low
price.


Misconception #6
Any Honest Power Washing Company Should be Able to Give an Estimate Over the Phone. It would be
easier if this were true, but it is not. Honest, reputable power washing companies almost never give a
cleaning estimate over the phone. Most companies charge by the square foot or linear foot. But there are
too many variables that can change that price from one home to another. For instance, different types of
terrain or landscaping can affect the price. What type of wood is your deck? Has it ever been sealed? Is
water accessible at the job site? Maybe your house is not extremely dirty and could be done for less than a
dirty house the same size. The good news is, once an estimate is given by a quality contractor, you know
that that's the price you will pay (no last minute surprises).
 
Good shzit Russ :)
I especially like the bit about low price.
What they do here is low ball to get the job away from honest contractors.
Then, they lower the boom 1/2 way through the job.
The customer feels helpless, and capitulates.

I SCARE the heck out of potential customers by educating them about low ball tactics.
 
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/295621/things_to_look_for_when_choosing_a.html

Things to Look for when Choosing a Pressure Washing Company
By David Lee
If you are looking for a quick and thorough way to clean your house's exterior, consider pressure washing. Pressure washing is best left in the hands of a professional. However, a pressure washing job done incorrectly or by an unqalified pressure washing contractor can cause damage to your home or property. The damage can be costly.
Outlined below are ideas to guide you in your search for a quality pressure washing contractor. Additional advice is provided as well on how to deal with the contractor of your choice when the cleaning work is in progress, and when it is completed.
1. Equip yourself with a clear understanding of the risks involved in pressure washing and how to minimize these risks. Taking the time to educate yourself thus will enable you to distinguish between the mediocre outworker from the quality contractor.
2. Arrange to meet the contractor in such a way that they evaluate the site to be worked on together with you. Establishing clear communications at this point will help limit the possibility of errors in the estimating process.
3. Consult with several contractors, asking each specific questions about the service to be provided, including procedures, expected results, and the risk of damage. Expect the more professional ones to entertain your inquiries, listen to your concerns, and have questions of their own. They will usually demonstrate some initiative in sizing up the site for you, and make a reasonable disclosure of what they can offer and what they cannot, giving you an almost complete picture of what the job will look like.
4. Request a Methods Listing. This list will summarize and outline the steps that the contractor will take during the project. It maybe part of an estimate or on an entirely different piece of paper. The methods listing is an excellent tool for comparing and contrasting potential pressure washing services with one another.
5. Inquire about the service's equipment. Do they own the machines or just lease them from another company? Ownership is an indicator of a long-term commitment to the pressure washing industry, while renting is evidence that they are only an occasional or temporary provider.
Professional pressure washers will have equipment that meet these specifications: 11 to 15 horsepower (hp); 3000 to 4000 pounds per square inch (psi) pressure and 3 to 6 gallons per minute (gpm) water flow. A pressure washer that has a rating of 2000 PSI and 2 GPM or below is residential-grade equipment.
6. Ask for a Demo. You will find a few pressure washing contractors actually agreeing to give you a demo because doing one can be both time consuming and difficult to stage. Many contractors will deny demonstration requests and insist that the client be available at the initial stage of the project. This practice is not uncommon. Contractors will instead request that you be around when the job starts. If for any reason you are unhappy with how the work is going, do not hesitate to let the contractor know about your concerns.
7. Get Estimates in Writing. An estimate on paper is extremely important for pressure washing contractor jobs. These estimates help to protect both you and the contractor. Make sure that the written estimate details specifications of the service, final project expectations and total expenses in work, labor and materials.
8. When getting referrals, make sure that they lead you to the type of work you want done. If it's your deck you want tidied up, then you shouldn't be receiving a recommendation for a vinyl siding cleaning. Put the referrals you obtain to good use. Get feedback about the prospective contractor's professionalism and workmanship. Ask the person providing you with the referral whether the cleaning process and its outcome were to his satisfaction.
9. Guarantee and Financing Policies. Read over the financing or billing policies and customer guarantee or satisfaction papers. Make sure that you understand policies in regards to payment schedules and deposits. What type of satisfaction and guarantee does the contractor offer on the finished project?
10. Coverage. Make certain that the contractor has liability coverage. Professional pressure washing contractors will have coverage for their customers and themselves. Liability insurance should cover potential on-site mishaps, injury or property damage.
11. Evaluate Cost. The fees for the pressure washing job will be a determining factor in deciding which pressure washing contractor to hire. However, make sure to evaluate the quality of work that you will be receiving for the project. A lower bid does not necessarily guarantee high quality work.
12. On-Site Inspection. During the pressure washing project, be present on-site to inspect the work and keep an eye on the work being done. You should be available to talk with the contractor should any problems arise.
To sum up: Educate yourself about pressure washing and how it is done. Ask questions and get references for each pressure washing contractor. Do a thorough cost comparison of the project, materials and labor and use commonsense. Eliminate potentially poor quality pressure washing contractors. A qualified professional will be more than happy to help you through the entire selection process and provide you with the necessary information you need to make an informed decision.
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Great Info I am still working on my website, as others would like to also use it, if it's ok?
Yes by the way I am new to the board... hello to everyone. I have learned so much info on this site. Everyone seems so helpful. I started my company two years ago but just started doing PW this year and I love it. I know I should introduce myself as a new member but can't find where. Thanks for all the anticipated help. Jerry
 
Here's what I've learned from the SEO firm and web design company that has redone my website. If you want to use someone else's words or content on your site that's fine, but you need to go through it and change it around so its at least 30-50% different than the original. Several reasons why. Number one: just copying and pasting without permission is plagiarizing. Number two: it could raise a red flag with the search engines and they will see it as a duplicate and will penalize you for it. Meaning that page won't rank at all, and you certainly don't want that. Number three: the original author could be a jerk if he wanted and just report you to google. Its not hard and all you have to do is prove to them you had the original content first. They will penalize the copy cat by not allowing any page of their site to ever rank. In this particuliar instance I have reported two sites that I found my stuff on word for word. I proved to them it was mine through my computer files and plus it was on my old website from a couple of years ago. Don't worry it wasn't any of you guys that called or emailed me asking permission. So IMO just take a little time and reword, rewrite, move around some sentences, break out the thesaurus and make it unique compared to the original and then nobody gets hurt.
 
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