[Carl2009]

Pressure washing building exteriors that is  

I have just done a job today for £280. Cleaned the soffits, fascias and gutters and pressure washed the outside. A large detached house, plus a small add-on - this place http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Tegryn&aq=&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=16.680516,46.538086&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Tegryn,+Llanfyrnach,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.968173,-4.58147&spn=0.067792,0.181789&z=13&layer=c&cbll=51.968351,-4.580883&panoid=oc8h_0DSVHE5VZhqtw-0zQ&cbp=12,287.08,,0,0.42


I started in the wind and rain at 08:30 and finished at 15:00hrs without a break, and I mean without a break. The job went fine - trf'd the pvc and rinse then use a 24' pressure washer lance, turbo nozzle and 3600 psi machine to clean the walls. It's like wrestling a mad beast and totally knackering. I couldn't face unloading the van when I got back - as usual with these jobs i'm totally soaked to the skin down to my undies, even with the oilskins and wellies.

The job went well enough - some loose paint so it came off (and all over me - i'm still picking flakes out of my hair post shower. Holding the lance trigger is also hard on the hand - I might have a touch of carpal tunnel syndrome so it bl*&dy well hurts. The money is OK, but i'm glad 2morrow is Saturday.

I think that at 47 i'm getting on a bit for these big jobs - or am I being a nancy boy? I'm pretty fit and strong, but by Chr*st i'll be having a pint of homebrew tonight. I think on balance i'd rather have a £200 day cleaning windows with my SLX.

[Dave Turley]

Hi Carl

I know exactly what you mean.

I hate to refuse to quote, so I quote expensive, still get the job, and still wish I had been cleaning windows with my SL-X.   

[mlscontractcleaner]

Just a pity you can't powerwash with you SL-X

[trevor perry]

Just a pity you can't powerwash with you SL-X

i have turned a 27ft CLX into a pressure wash lance its brilliant not having to mess with the silly twist clamps that are on other telescopic pressure wash lances, and its lighter too

[Carl2009]

Pics of your CLX would be good, but what about it being too whippy. My pressure washer gives a serious kick when I pull the trigger!

[Darranvps]

Carl
What flow rate is your pressure washer

[Carl2009]

18 lpm

[Helen]

Pressure washing building exteriors that is  

I have just done a job today for £280. Cleaned the soffits, fascias and gutters and pressure washed the outside. A large detached house, plus a small add-on - this place http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Tegryn&aq=&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=16.680516,46.538086&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Tegryn,+Llanfyrnach,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.968173,-4.58147&spn=0.067792,0.181789&z=13&layer=c&cbll=51.968351,-4.580883&panoid=oc8h_0DSVHE5VZhqtw-0zQ&cbp=12,287.08,,0,0.42


I started in the wind and rain at 08:30 and finished at 15:00hrs without a break, and I mean without a break. The job went fine - trf'd the pvc and rinse then use a 24' pressure washer lance, turbo nozzle and 3600 psi machine to clean the walls. It's like wrestling a mad beast and totally knackering. I couldn't face unloading the van when I got back - as usual with these jobs i'm totally soaked to the skin down to my undies, even with the oilskins and wellies.

The job went well enough - some loose paint so it came off (and all over me - i'm still picking flakes out of my hair post shower. Holding the lance trigger is also hard on the hand - I might have a touch of carpal tunnel syndrome so it bl*&dy well hurts. The money is OK, but i'm glad 2morrow is Saturday.

I think that at 47 i'm getting on a bit for these big jobs - or am I being a nancy boy? I'm pretty fit and strong, but by Chr*st i'll be having a pint of homebrew tonight. I think on balance i'd rather have a £200 day cleaning windows with my SLX.

Isn't that what being self employed is all about....picking and selecting what you want to do. Nah you're not old at 47, but if it's hurting now think what it could be like in 10 years time. Take it easy, earn easy money

[Carl2009]

You're quite right Helen. I certainly won't be doing it in 10 years, that's for sure. I'm only about 4 years from slowing down to a 3 day-ish week and pressure washing at 20 feet won't be something i'll be doing then, that's for sure. I'm going to concentrate on jobs that don't give me sleepless nights mentally planning them and stressing about how knackered i'm gonna be after i've done them.

[Alan McTernan]

Hi Carl,

We pre-brush the dirty marks with chemical (tfr) (by dipping the brush in a bucket) we then hose the dirt off with our PW extendable lance, with the pressure turned down and i find that works pretty well (but then i am only 34)

Hope this helps

Regards
Alan

[the bfg]

I did my last pressure washing job last September and I wont take any more on because at 6"6 and even with a lance attachment I find it back breaking

[Nick Wareham]

I get asked to do it by some customer or other every week, and I will not.

For the simple reason that my time is better spent cleaning windows, which is just as good paid and MUCH easier.

[trevor perry]

Pics of your CLX would be good, but what about it being too whippy. My pressure washer gives a serious kick when I pull the trigger!

i will take some pics when at office on monday, it isnt whippy at all i think the pressure hose going up the pole gives it added strengh and stability, i use it with a 3000psi pressure washer at 21 litres a minute and it is fine with that.

[david thomas]

I did a drive and gutter clean i'm 50  worn out after this type of  filthy crap work can make more money cleaning windows plus £15.00 petol for the presure washer would pack it in but both vans advertise this work

[chopsie]

can you accept the work and then sub it out to someone local and reliable and take a small finders fee?

[prestige cleaners]

I charge stupid money for this work now, usually don't get get
It but I hate it, so no skin off my nose.