Clean It Up
UK General Cleaning Forum => General Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: drive surgeon on October 30, 2008, 05:53:47 pm
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hi , is there any guys who have enough work all year round pressure washing? or do you all have add on services? i like what i do so did not want to have to creat another side to my business! maybe i need to just get in with the right firms to get all year round work. domestic stuff is just seasonal so commercial is the only way forward to get all year work! ::)
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i ve gone looking for comercial work now.
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do you do carpet cleaning as an add on? im tryting commercial too but its not easy. :o
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Hi
I enjoy the pressure washing side of the business- but it always goes quiet at this time of year,
I have been running approx 4 years and pick up the odd commericial work - i fill in by valeting and many of these customers now have there drives patios and upvc etc done by myself.
I tend to run a second van if needs be in the summer to accomodate driveways etc, and maintain valeting side of the business.
By a cheap van in the summer - then sell on in the winter.
Currently have a transit for sale which cost 950- will hopefully get 800
but it has done its business.
I have just invested in the gutter vac to fill the void created by bad weather which puts a hold on valeting services.
Hoping for good things from the gutter vac - had some work without marketing - but am going out all weekend pushing this service
regards
Billy
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is it omnivac? dont your arms ache holding it up? ???
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Yes- it is the omnivac- arms and shoulders ache - but with regular use you dont feel the affects as much.
Given up my gym membership- but enjoy using this piece of kit
Regards
Billy
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does it suck good? ;D
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Suction is very good-
just finished cleaning a cricket club- interior beams - full of dust about 7 years worth-
no problems at all.
Cleaned the roof of moss by sucking deposits from tiles
I have encoutered the odd problem with the guttervac eg overhanging tiles - but have just got on with the job and explained to the customer that they have got tiles that may have slipped
Some jobs i have used ladders to repair the gutters - leaks etc.
I usually explained this to the customers when i am giving the quote for the job.
Today - saw quite a few housing associations whos gutters were minging
will be dropping a flyer or paying a visit to try to offer this service.
regards
Billy
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would you say its very hard work or easy money? :-\
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Can be hard work- dependant upon size of the job - height etc- access
You develop your own technique for cleaning
In terms of easy money- i price domestic at 85 - 100 based on accessibility - over a conservatory etc- can be done in two hours - may take upto 3 -
I believe i offer value for money- despite a bloke and his bucket - pricing at 20.
All about customer perception and how you sell yourself-
Looking at the commercial market - eg housing associations- have been following the theads on here - Window cleaning issues before taking the plunge.
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they are over a grand arent they!
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Depends upon size- i bought 48ft system with camera and power pole- have since bought additional generator to power system when custy is not home.
3k nearly for the system i have - probably had about 1k back in three months without marketing.
Billy
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Billy
Good to hear your geting the vac set up of the ground its going to take time but with a good web site/leaflets up you will get some good work :)
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Just waiting on my new leaflets- had some graphics put on my van- done a few jobs
get alot of people stopping asking what i am doing - strange to see someone vacuuming gutters - find one job turns into two or three, offer a repeat service next year discounted if they book now, seems to be working
Regards
Billy
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do you just plug it into custys electric and your away!? how long does the vac go on for without emptying?
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billy, how does it suck up leaves that wont fit through the small head?
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Hi Billy
quite interested in the omnivac you have brought sounds like a good filler for the bad weather. Where did you purchase the equipment from. Was it from omnipole?. and good luck with it.
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Yes bought the system from omnipole -
Sucks up leaves and moss - purchased the powerpole and gutter hook for stubborn tasks- clumps of grass/weeds- if you look around your areas at gutters some have gardens growing in them- you need to break this up first or if poss hook out.
Have had one job which was moss matted like a carpet- yes you do get blockages-
just turn of the motors and drop if poss if not use gutter spike to clear.
So far for every difficult job you get an easy job which you can fly around
If you look at the window cleaning section - some people have created there own and there has been much debate on the pros and cons of the systems.
I Bought the 110v system and run from a generator which i have on a trolley which i push to the custys house, currently a debate is running on extention leads for the system.
Had one of my customers create 20 m of cable for myself, heavily insulated - protected from crushing etc- so i will now be able on some jobs to leave genny in van.
Some guys have system built into a trailer - much debate on the best system- i have purchased the system and will now throw all my weight behind marketing
Vac is adequate and doesnt need constantly emptying unless gutters are full of water- but again look at gutters in your area - jobs vary from 1 to another.
Pole is cold - purchase a good set of gloves.
Glynn at omnipole is consistently introducing new tools to the market and if you have difficult access or issues - flag them up and he will try to design.
Some of my customers would like to see the muck being cleared- there is now a clear view head- or record the vac process and play back.
regards
Billy
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you get a lot of broken pieces or tiles in the gutters too! will it suck them out?
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It will either suck them out or they will stick to the end - i have found the biggest obstruction is either a tennis ball or golf ball, or weeds growing in the downspout
Gutter spike to remove weeds or powerpole and pressure washer, i have a drain cleaning nozzle and i have fed this up the downspout and blown out.
Some guys just pressure wash muck out , benefit of gutter vac is all the muck is collected.
I am still perfecting best methods- but each job has different challenges -
hopefully over the next few weeks i will be in a position to tackle even the most demanding tasks.
One job i picked up a dart which fell to the ground- since purchase a hard hat
regards
Billy
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ouch! :o i dont like the idea of using a pressure washer as the muck will be blasted everywhere! and it can go over custys nice blockpaving, flags etc, vac is best! is it easy to pull vac around with you? i suppose its only really heavy when fully extended but on domestic house is that a problem?
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billy do you buy the pressure washer attachment aswell and whats that runn off
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you only need the pressure washer to actaully make the gutter like new, you can just use the vac to clean the crap out without the need to wash it out! i have a 13hp honda washer so i could use that too to rinse and flush the gutter after vaccuuming!
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billy how do you get to the gutter when their is a conservatory or extension in the way underneath? ???
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If you purchase the power pole you can purchase various attachments including pressure washing tools- which you connect to your pressure washers.
I purchase the power pole- but I already have extendable lance and gutter hook for pressure washing i offer this as an add on service after i have vacuumed.
I clean exterior and interior of gutters if required - i also have water fed poles to assist, cleaning cladding - conservatorys etc.
Regards
Billy
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if you get a big leaf stuck on the end do you need to keep lifting the pole down or do you switch the suction off? i just cant see a load of leaves going down the hose, does the hose get blocked with debris? how do you get it out?
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I dont mean to be rude,
But isnt this going to extraordinary lengths to avoid do a very simple job at a reasonable cost?
I can see a commercial justification but not domestic considering the options available.
steve.
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So far every custy i have visited has been very receptive to the health and safety aspect of the system.
Custy with conservatorys can now have there gutters cleaned.
Commercial work is key and one of the reasons i purchased the system, the system works up to 50ft and i am a bit weary of ladders above a certain height especially as i work alone.
I was asked when renewing my life insurance what height i worked at - this had a bearing on the final sum.
What price on your life ........ yes outlay is heavy- but i will recover my costs.
Just adds another string to my bow,,,,,
regards
Billy
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I can certainly see the health and safety benefits but I dont really see them for domestic work when window cleaners are happy to nip up and do the job for low cost. I will be honest I wouldent go up cos i dont like heights, but any gutters i get just get passed on to a guy who will do them for me and i add 20%.
I certainly like the idea for commercial premises but wonder what the average customer will pay v's expenditure of equipment and advertising etc. If i were to compare the time to recoup costs to say my pressure wash set up I would think it might be quiet slow.
Not intending to be negative on this but i think its something of a neiche which you may well need the correct business already with customers who will use the service. I personally am not convinced its suitable for the average guy out doing pressure washing for mainly domestic customers or is going to keep them going through the winter months.
I may well be wrong, I have been atleast twice in the past ;)
steve
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it looks good , spoke to the rep and he said i need to go down to london to see it working! :'(
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looked on the window cleaning section but not many mention it being a great investment. its just another thing you can do to get work?? ::) ::)