Gas station canopy, 2nd try

L

Lee

Member
Perhaps I didn't give enough info the first time. I was asked about cleaning a canopy at a gas station. I have never attempted something like this before. What is the procedure to do this? What works best - a lift or an extended wand? What type of soap and do I apply w/ x jet? Any electrical worries? I just have no idea and hate to learn some of these lessons the hard way if there are people who already have and can help.

Thanks again for any advice you can offer.

Lee
Aqua Fortis
 
ron p

i have not done this type of work but can give you a link to look at www.doitrightonline.com
its a awning cleaning supply co.
they show pics of people that use there stuff to clean what you want to clean.
they use what i call phone co. vans
you know the ones with a man bucket
they sell chems and tools
they also have a tech. support 800 number and e-mail help there prices are high but you might get what your looking for
plus who knows awning cleaning can make you lots of $$$$$$ contracts bi monthly work
im looking into it right now myself
TGI FRIDAYS,BLOCKBUSTER,APPLEBEE'S,ECT....
those older trucks are about $10,000 but
you dont need rancy equipment to do this type of work. Plus i have links to polish's made just to brightin up plastic signs [refurbishing] plus extra $$ changing light bulbs.
where theres a will theres a way
good luck and i hope ive helped
 
Hello Lee,

I saw your first post and figured you would get several guys telling you how it can be done.

We have done quite a few over the years. Mostly for one company. They seldom wanted the underside cleaned. Mostly the facia.

We tried working from the top of trucks, scafolding, lifts, etc. Mostly we ended up using pole and wand extensions and working from the ground. Much faster and usually safer. Also harder on the guys doing the work!!

Depending on the soil and condition of the paint we might use a diaphram pump, pump-up, or brush to apply our detergent. Product that we like best is a sodium metasilicate based product. We always brushed the surface.

Never had any problems with electrical. Remember the fixtures should be weather proof. Of course you don't want to go crazy around any electrical at anytime!

If you would like to chat, give me a call.

Dave Olson
 
On an electrical note, I have heard you have to cover the gas pumps and prevent them from getting wet.......
 
Hi Mike,

We cover the pumps to keep them clean from dirt and stuff that we are blowing off of the canopy. Yes some of these pumps have a lot of credit card readers that could be damaged from the cleaning. But remember these pumps also see the rain/wind etc.

Dave Olson
 
I've never cleaned a canopy, but I bid on one. The owner of a Mobil station is the one that told me that. They have that Speedpass equipment on them, and apparently, this station owner had a problem one time when it was power washed.

I say for the little bit of money and time it would take, just cover them up to be on the safe side.
 
I did the underside of about fifteen of them last summer. Bought an "X-Jet specifically for the job and it worked perfectly. Also used a product from Delco, I think it's DNB 1430. Mixed in some Dawn for cling. Worked great as well. Didn't have to brush a thing.
Allow about fifteen minutes dwell time for the detergent to do it's stuff. Do it at night when there is less traffic. Shut down one side of the station at a time, including the lights. Definately cover the pumps. A pump serviceman told me it was $4500. to replace the card reader. Make sure you cover your face as well. Very messy working overhead.Charged twice the rate I normally charge for flat work.
Good luck.
Barry
 
I only have two things,


Make sure they have never been painted. Most of the time these undersides of the canopies are made from aluminum. They are painted from the factory. The problem over the years instead of getting them washed well they use a cheap water based latex paint. (Sometimes interior paint) this could become a nightmare. I have washed a few over the years that have been painted substandard. (Be careful and try to see if the surface is really shiny. that’s a good indicator that it’s original paint.

If you use caustics be real careful.

I too wash these from the ground.

My second note is that you use the car wash water on the site if they have one. It spot free and will help out a lot.
 
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. This customer is mostly concerned with the underside of the canopy. We'll talk to him today and see how it goes.

Thanks

Lee
 
oops Sorry Lee ...
I either didnt see this or avoided it ..

either way here is what I do >>>

alot of times the owner/manager waite untill that canopy is really filthy before he calls anyone ...... So ya almost haveta brush it ........ My box trk. is high enough to stand on top of it and use it as a scaffle . I pre-spray it then brush then rince.
If you can get him on a reg. schedule you wont have to brush the second time ..

hope this helps...>>> hope it wasnt too late fer ya..
 
Re: ron p

ron p said:
they use what i call phone co. vans
you know the ones with a man bucket
those older trucks are about $10,000 but
you dont need rancy equipment to do this type of work.
Click to expand...

I've seen them called "boom" or "lift" trucks, although we just call 'em "bucket" trucks out here. Things to watch for when thinking about buying one is the height of the lift, whether it's extension or scissor and the condition of the PTO and hydraulics. Get yourself some info on some heavy equipment auctions or truck auctions in your area and spend some time at them checking these trucks out before you buy. The electric company or tree company buckets go approx. 58 feet high, the phone company buckets only reach approx. 24 feet high. You can pick-up a larger tree or electric company bucket truck for between $4,000 to $6,000 and still get it in half descent shape. Surprisingly enough I've heard of them as low as $3,000. Check out the tranny's also, these things usually get a heck of a beating when they are in service. Also, make sure the GVW on the truck you are looking at is less than 26,001 lbs. or you'll have to get a CDL (commercial drivers license) just to operate it, plus anybody else in your crew will also need one if they are going to even move it around.
 
Bucket Truck

I sold my bucket truck last year. We had it for 14 years and just did not use it enough! It was either to big for some or to little for other projects. When we bought it we could not rent this type of equipment. Now we have several rental yards in the area that have in stock most anything we need!

Was a "75 Ford F700. 25500# GVWR. Had about 40,000 miles and around 3000 hours. 361 V8 Gas, 5 spd with 2 spd rear. 900x20 tires. Single man bucket put your waist at 40 feet. We replaced all hydraulic lines in booms and also had Hi and Lo pressure water lines and an 110 volt electric line running in the boom. We could plug in to the base of the boom and then used a short line at the bucket. No lines draped down!

Was a great truck in Great condition. Sold it for $11,000 cash!

Dave Olson
 
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