Clean It Up
UK General Cleaning Forum => General Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: johnstanley on January 04, 2004, 03:59:54 am
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:)hi
im just starting a driveways/patio cleaning comp has any one got any tips or usefull info
thanks john
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Hi John
I am just doing the same thing ready for springtime.
I have just purchased a Kranzle machine and I am impressed with its results.If you have not got your machine yet its worth having a look at their site www.kranzle.co.uk (sorry express). I have certainly found there is no need for hot water machines and chemicals forget it. As long as the machine is powerfull enough it will do the job.
I would be interested to know how you are going to price up i.e. per square meter or per hour,etc.
would be good to share our thoughts/potential prob's
Regards Russell
;D
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hi russell
thanks for the info i think im getting a washer off e-bay
have you heard of soda crystals they are cheap and good for grease let me know if you want some info
john
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yes please John send me any info you have and i will likewise. what machine are you going for??
have you considered using it for fascias and soffits ??
i get a lot of these in the spring but iam not sure wether it would make more work or not.
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hi russell
im just phoneing round for supplyers(what area are you)
fascies/soffits you could cause a lot of dammage with a pressure washer on wood
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John,
In my humble oppinion you would be better off getting a petrol engined unit ( 11hp Honda or Briggs and Stratton ) with a power output of 200bar. This will clean anything and will last you forever. Treat yourself to a Turbo lance and there will definately be nothing that you won't be able to get clean.
If you want to ask any questions on how to do certain things / Tips etc let me know what you need and i'll do my best to answer them.
Hope this helps
Denzle
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hi denzle
thanks for the info
its good to know theres help out there i'll be in touch or let me know if you think of anythink :D
thanks john
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Hi Recs
We'll let you off the Kranzle issue but I'm interested to know why you went for it rather than any other?
How are you going to deal with oil and grease patches if you dont have heat or chemicals?
I'd agree with the spec that Denzle gave and although we supply Karcher machines we supply quite a few Deltas for this type of work. If you're interested in more info click here: http://www.express-cleaning-supplies.co.uk/shopbask/it120014.htm
(http://www.express-cleaning-supplies.co.uk/shopbask/it120014.jpg)
Regards
Mike
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From experience, oil and grease are very difficult stains to remove and its a brave man that claim's he can remove it completely.
For block paving i would say that the best approach is to remove the affected area and replace with new or reclaimed blocks, the same goes for slabbs.
And don't even think about cleaning tarmac drives as you'll rip big chunks out of it. I have tried numerous chemicals which will often lessen the stain but i have never completely removed it.
Maybe a hot water machine might but the price of those is prohibitive.
Denzle
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Just had a look at the spec of mikes machine, that is exactly the sort of thing to buy !!
It'll last you forever and will clean anything. just one tip though... get a turbo lance as well, that will set you back about £80 and is worth every penny.
Denzle
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This seems like a good add on business.
As a matter of interest how much say per sq/yd would you charge to clean drive ways and patios etc?
Many Thanks
Mark
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Mark,
Have a look at my last post under Rotary Washers, that will give you an idea of pricing. Bear in mind that all areas of the country are different and what works for one may not work for another and of course the more affluent areas will pay more.
Denzle
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Hi Mike
sorry for delay answering- busy boy.
the reasons i chose kranzle is locality (essex) where i am based plus excellent pricing. I got a great deal on a factory return machine 1 month old with a cracked casing(now has a new one).
Denzle
I would only use machine on upvc fascias/soffits as you say it will cause damage to standard wood type.
I am using the machine as a bolt on to my windows hope to get a lot of work in the springtime .
Russell
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Rus,
Don't know if your interested but you can get extention lances that will reach facias etc from the ground. I have one that goes to 21' high, it is a bit of a beast at that kind of hight but it is good.
Fom memory it cost about £100 and was made by Whirlaway.
Just a thought.
Denzle
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Rus,
Don't know if your interested but you can get extention lances that will reach facias etc from the ground. I have one that goes to 21' high, it is a bit of a beast at that kind of hight but it is good.
Fom memory it cost about £100 and was made by Whirlaway.
Just a thought.
Denzle
Hi Denzle,
Is this extension wand you have made from fibre glass?
I used to have these (yellow in colour) when finances allowed I upgraded to aluminium,much better control and fewer accidents! ::)
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:)hi
im just starting a driveways/patio cleaning comp has any one got any tips or usefull info
thanks john
John, the best advice IMO would be don`t underestimate the work and time involved.If you have enough work pass on block paving restoration and concentrate on flags,concrete and PIC.Speed is the key to make money,and rotary cleaners is the way to go.
Be extra careful doing flagged areas as invariably the mortar jointing is much softer and liable to damage and blow-out.Your existing client base(if you have one) should provide you with enough to get started, but be choosy.
A 45 degree fan tip,and a pin jet will come in handy and if you can, go for flow rate not PSI to clean and try and hook up with a chemical supplier in your area,chemicals do have there uses for certain jobs.
I move around quite a bit in the restoration of PIC, resealing and restoring colouring,as increasingly companies seem to apply nothing better than varnishes instead of a quality sealant.If you have any questions feel free to ask away,hope this helps!Good luck
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Yes Pepe it is a yellow fibreglass extion wand and at full reach it is a beast to control. However i seldom need the full lenght so the end section gets left in to give me a bit more rigidity. Don't often use it but it's there for when the need arises.
Denzle
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hi pepe
thanks for the info do you use a hot or cold washer
do you think hot washers are any use for cleaning driveways
rotary washers are costley do you know a supplier?
thanks for your help
john
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I have been looking at this as an add on and have found a supplier in Doncaster if this helps.
http://tech-clean.co.uk/
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thank rob
iv been after that address for ages
thanks john
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Hi John / Rob
We've got details and prices of all this equipment (including the pressure washers, Whirlaway, extension lances, belt kits, etc) in our catalogue if you'd like a copy :)
Regards
Mike
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;D..What a great subject......What a load of replies.....
The one about no hot water or chemicals is a cracker.....
Get the biggest most powerful machine you can and blast it all to kingdom come....Brilliant....
What about the damage then???
Hot water and chemicals clean better and quicker....Simple as that really.....
Work smart not hard....
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Wreelyclean,
Does your hotwater machine and chemicals remove oil stains completly, I don't mean just a bit of surface oil or BBQ fat, i mean the car that has been leaking oil for the past couple of years all over a block paved drive and has been absorbed to about 1/2" to 1" into the pavers themselves.
Denzle
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Oooops that should have read Hotwater Machine,
Half a bottle of red and the spelling does to rachet.
Denzle
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Why wont this forum accept the word Hot Water joined together ? It wasn't me spelling my worms wrong after all ;D
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:o :o..No my machine and chemicals will never completely remove all oils..especially the soaked in for ages type......anyone who says that it will has a magic formula as far as I`m concerned.....I tell them straight if it looks a bit iffy.....it may be better to replace the few badly stained blocks....and here`s the number of my mate who is a mechanic to fix your car....don`t forget the finders fee from your mate though ;D ;D
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hi john,
wow
what a response !!!!
i myself am just starting up a pressure washing buisness
i have a karcher machine hot/cold and found that i shouldnt need to use chemical as it has enough power to move most things!!
i've just put my ad in the local paper and i HOPE i get some response from it,im really want big contracts like mcdonalds and car forcourts and with any luck i might just land one!!
i've been told that roofs are a good earner as well,any tips yourself or others have i'd be most interested!!
thanks
blade
:) :) :) :) :) :)
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hi blade
you dont need chemicals but for what thay cost it makes it a lot easyer and faster ;)
which karcher is it ? and how do you find it
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Denzle....hoT WATer....d'ya see ;D
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hi
john,
the karcher im using is a hds 745 model!!
i find it very easy to use and very powerful as well
the water heats up pretty quickly to!!
so far ive only used it on my mates drives and patio's,just for practice really not had any paying jobs yet :'(
out of interest how do you price your jobs up,ie per sq metre or just by the how the job looks and how much time it would take you???
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hi blade
i price per sqr m with a starting price so if you go to a small job your not doing it for nothing
have you had anything to do with rotary washers yet?
where abouts are you based?
have you used any chemicals yet?if so wot dose it price up at?
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hi john
i've sent you a pm!!
no i've not used one of the rotary washers yet but they look really good and seem to do a big area at once which will cut the time of a job in halve,i think there are about £500-600 each,so once i've got some money together i might invest in one of these!!!
cheers
blade
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Just a tip from my own experience.
When going to look at the job, check the water pressure from the tap you are going to use. Some are so weak you could pee faster,(if you were a horse) and it may affect the water pressure that your machine can produce... no water in..no water out :) ;)
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John,
In my humble oppinion you would be better off getting a petrol engined unit ( 11hp Honda or Briggs and Stratton ) with a power output of 200bar. This will clean anything and will last you forever. Treat yourself to a Turbo lance and there will definately be nothing that you won't be able to get clean.
If you want to ask any questions on how to do certain things / Tips etc let me know what you need and i'll do my best to answer them.
Hope this helps
Denzle
i also am just starting and would be interested to know which f.s.c. you use. for instance, why does a whirlaway cost so much more than a gerni?---am i missing something here?------thanks, roger.
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i have been pricing at about apound a square metre and finding that i get the work at this price, if i go any higher then i find i am not getting the job what are others charging.
the machine i use is trailer mounted with a 1000 litre tank that lasts for over an hour when full the machine is diesel run and heats the water to 150 degrees at 21 litres a minute so using a fsc i can fly through the work. the main advantage of hot water is when you come to remove either chewing gum and graffiti .
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www.merrillfoxenterprises.com
My site originates from the US, and I have many customers in the UK that purchase pressure cleaners, Whirl-a-ways,Long wands,and turbo nozzles, etc.
I give delivered prices to the nearest international airport that services your area. ( You have to pay additionally your taxes and clearing of customs ) I have received many compliments on the quality, and am told that I have saved them money.
I am available to help select equipment packages and I am available to help with technical questions.
Let me know if I can be of help to anyone.
Happy Hollidays,
Merrill Fox
fox@merrillfoxenterprises.com
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I have bought things from Merrill and the service you get is first class.
I have had things deliverd quicker from America than from 50 miles away from me .
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What a coincedence! I've been looking into this too had a look at Kranzle machinery too. Asked and got loads of advice from a local who does the whole graffiti thing but mainly house restoration (blasting off exterior paint) forget Mcdonalds they don't want to pay! Looks like I would need to use a buffer tank to feed a decent washer cos outside taps don't produce fast enough. Trouble is you will be competing with Mr DIY and his £50 B&Q washer and I rekon I would need to spend £2000 minimum for some robust kit. Also thinking of tagging it onto window cleaning must admit damage to property could be a worry. I'll keep watching this thread with interest.
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I would need to spend £2000 minimum for some robust kit. Also thinking of tagging it onto window cleaning must admit damage to property could be a worry. I'll keep watching this thread with interest.
Hi Dave, yes for a decent set-up you are going to spend around 2K for a Cold water machine with a decent engine and pump etc.
As for property damage, this really should not happen, as long as you do your research, practice then do the job properly.
Roger
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We've supplied lots of people with equipment to start a patio cleaning business. In fact, one of our sales guys left us to start a business himself after selling so many start up packages. However, he did ok for about 12 months but then sold all his equipment and gave it in. His conclusion was that it was an ideal business to get into if you could add it to existing services (such as carpet cleaning etc) but it wasn't consistent enough to live from. I think part of his problem was also that he started in October and people arent very interested at that time of year.
I have to tell you that out of all the cleaning businesses I've seen start up recently, the ones that have done best are the ones who have bought the Concept 2o pure water window cleaning equipment. There are a number of advantages but I guess the main one is that business is repetitive and theres plenty out there. Pure water window cleaning is big business at the moment but because so many window cleaners are trying to do it on the cheap by 'building' their own systems, they're not getting the most from it.
If you're interested in more details have a look here http://www.express-cleaning-supplies.co.uk/oos/reachandwash/421025.html or give us a call.
Regards
Mike
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We've supplied lots of people with equipment to start a patio cleaning business. In fact, one of our sales guys left us to start a business himself after selling so many start up packages. However, he did ok for about 12 months but then sold all his equipment and gave it in. His conclusion was that it was an ideal business to get into if you could add it to existing services (such as carpet cleaning etc) but it wasn't consistent enough to live from. I think part of his problem was also that he started in October and people arent very interested at that time of year.
Hello Mike, have to agree with you starting a pressure washing business in October is a bit late in the season. I only pressure wash, also have the woodcare side of things which goes hand in hand with pressure washing. I find the season can last from late January to first week of December as this year did for me, so really and you will know this anyway, it is all about marketing, advertising and being able to produce the end product. I take pressure washing very seriously, and I still belive it is an untapped market, done properly, hence you can make a season last 11 months.
Roger
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Yes I agree with Roger for me I have been cleaning right up to 2 weeks ago, stopped now due to lack of interest by customers (Xmas etc;).
I expect to start off slowly mid Jan and end up running by March
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www.merrillfoxenterprises.com
Pressure cleaners, flat surface cleaners, and more
High Quality and reasonable
We are a US company and have many customers in the UK
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What would be required for a basic patio / drive cleaning business set up and how much would this cost from the various suppliers that have posted on here please?
Thankyou