[cleanimperial]

Hi

I have been asked by an existing client to jet wash all the paved areas around the building . I have never done this work before Haven’t a clue what to charge or what health and safety I need, do I need goggles and so on? Also has any one got any tips ie what type of Jet wash to use, will a standard  one be powerful enough. Your advice would be great. The size of the job is roughly 200 ft square.

Thanks Fred

[Joe H]

Not a huge area. No need for big expense.
Did my block paving drive the other day with a Karcher and their flat surface cleaner. That area is doule drive - squeeze 4 cars on it.
Go on Ebay and search for Karcher pressure washer - they were doing a pack on a shopping channel the other day for £99 inc lots of goodies inc the flat surface rotary cleqaner which is about £50 retail.
On Ebay you can get 10 wholesale for £350 all brand new, and thats not just the rotary attachement - its the whole thiing.
Handy for doing your own areas and car washing too.

[Mike Halliday]

sub it out to a drive cleaning company.

not worth buying kit just for this one job.

Mike

[Andy Foster]

If you are happy to lose the customer then go ahead and do just as Joe has advised.

If you do anything less than a great job then all your hard work building the trust of the customer is out of the window.

Imagine a jet washer being asked to clean someone's carpet and buying a crate of vanish and a bag of cloths... effectively the same advice Joe's given you.

Food for thought.

[Joe H]

I know as well as you do, Andy, that a home pressure washer system is not going to do the job of a professional pressure washer producing lots more pressure and costing a lot more.
but Fred doesnt say he is going into business - it sounded to me, and I may be wrong, that an existing cc customer asked would he do 20 sq yd around his house. A one off? No doubt the customer knew full well Fred was a carpet cleaner and not a pressure washer. 20sq yd is the size of a lounge but in this case spread around the property.
Assuming the condition of this 20 sq yd area around the house was like my block paving then the little home power wash will do a very adequate job (I know that because I just done it) which his customer could be well pleased with.
If its anything more serious then something beefier will be required, so either he goes bigger more powerful, or he turns it down, or sub contracts.
Fred asked for some comments & advice and he has got 3 so far, up to him now what he does with them.

[Andy Foster]

Sorry. No offense meant Joe.
I didn't mean he should go out and buy the proper equipment, just give the customer the right advice and if they then say for him to go ahead then it is their decision.

Regarding the potential Karcher purchase, for 20 sq yards he will not even get his money back... the most he could expect for a clean and resand of that area is around £60.

Anyway Fred, some differing opinions... over to you.

Andy

[cleanimperial]

Hi all

Thanks for all your advice. I think I need to explain it better.

The area is roughly 200 square foot so it is quiet a big area. I have looked in to it more and I will hire a diesel powered jet wash. Some areas are very dirty. Do I need to put any chemical down first, would this help?

My client is a manager for a block of retirement flats she would like me to do it because she knows I am trust worthy and wants to put the work my way.

I gave her a quote of £125. And she said that it was not enough. Its not her money so she doesn't care. So she has left it with me to charge her accordingly so how much would you charge?

Thanks again for your advice.

Fred.

[Andy Foster]

200 square foot is about 22 square metres - in other words, 2 metres by 11 metres (10 foot by 20 foot)  If that is not the case then please post the dimensions.  In pressure washing terms this is a very small area and you could not hope for any more than £3 per square metre.  you don't need to put any chemicals down in my opinion but others will tell you differently.

Andy

[John Kelly]

I would agree £3-3.50 is the going rate for a clean, more if re-sanding or sealing. She sounds like a customer from Heaven.

[elliott cleaning]

As John says, a 'customer from heaven'.  Quote £5 plus per square meter & they tell you to up it.  Wish all my clients weren't spending their own money.
£3 is more realistic in the business.  22 sq. m. should take you no time at all to clean. As Andy mentioned - if it is just round the perimeter of a building it will probably be general dirt/greening. Will blast off with water. No cleaning agents required.

[Joe H]

Like I said - buy 10 off Ebay at £35, use one and charge £60, £70 whatever to do a miniscule 20 sq yds, keep this machine fo royurself and when they come back for more, take the other 9 to a car boot and sell them for £50 each (£100 on telly). Quids in.

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

I wouldn't say my advice was properly legal but going back to the original question there are some health and safely issues to think about.

You will have trailing hoses/cables to think about. Can you see them all the time becasue it can be a trip issue if there are many people coming and going.

Insurance for pressure hosing can get expensive. Insurance companies are worried about stones being flicked off the floor and damaging windows etc. Also they worry even more about stones being flicked at people.

May need to consider how the water will drain away and pools of dirty water leave dry lakes of muck later on which may need to be disposed of.

You may need to consider cleaning/leathering down windows and painted brickwork may also need cleaning as a result of the spray.

Don't forget to have a circuit breaker on the electricals.

Unless I'm mistaken then if re-sanding is an issue then you need to make a return visit to do this when it is dry enough to brush the sand in.

I certainly wouldn't say I'm an expert on this but maybe these few thoughts will be of help.

[Joe H]

Good points from the Doctor