[Londoner]

OK, before you move this it is a window cleaning topic because I want the opinions of a few window cleaners not a few patio washers although anyone who does both would be useful.

Today I cleaned a regular customer who had just had her front drive pressure washed. Splashes all over my windows and in this hard water area that means I have to use Cillit Bang so I was a bit fed up.
She only has a small front garden which has been block paved. Whoever did the pressure washing had done a good job ( apart from the windows) and had sealed it afterwards with what looked like varnish.
I asked her how much they charged she told me £200 and it was clear from the way she said it she was happy with the price.
They did next door as well and at least another one further up the road.

I have two questions

(1) Is £200 the going rate for this kind of work?

(2) What do they use to seal it?

Apart from the cost of a big pressure washer this appears to be money for old rope. Beats window cleaning. There must be a catch, what is it?

[windowwashers]

hit a miss work is the catch, paving sealant is what they used, I do both window cleaning and cleaning on patios (not as many patios as I used to as it can be a right pain in the bum).

good add on for window cleaning just dont rely on it as it tends to be seasonal.

how long did this guy spend on it would be the question I would ask.
as sealing it aswell seems a very good price unless it was 4 square mtrs
Ian

[TVCS]

I agree with Ian

I do presure washing as an add on to the window round.  Very very  busy at the moment but wont be long before it fizzles out again.   I havent done any sealing as the way I figure it is,  if it isnt sealed it will go green and slippery again and I can go and clean it again. 

Ant

[Londoner]

How do you advertise it? do you leaflet or use yellow pages or something else?

[karygate]

i started pressure washing as an add on this year and am doing about one a week,but getting busier. good little earner,but i would not bother offering sealing as 
 it is a lot more expensive and not worth the hassle. we have not advertised , just keep getting referals from my window customers etc . (apart from some signs on side of car).

[paul mather]

I've done a few imprinted concrete jobs. Cleaned & then sealed them. Problem is the sealant is nearly £100 for a 20 litre drum & it doesn't go a real long way, especially on block paving as the blocks are extremely porous. So in my opinion unless you are short of work  think twice before you committ yourself to it.The hourly rate on this type of work once you have taken into consideration your expenses isn't that amazing.

However sometimes you just fancy doing something a little different for a change, so go for it, just don't expect to make your first million.

[TVCS]

HAd a patio and path  clean to do yesterday.  Whilst doing it, over the road a chap turned up and started to do the neighbours concrete drive.  With a tiny karcher.  We finished and I went over to say hello, and where he had CLEANED the concrete it was stripe city.  It looked a right mess.  I asked if he was going to go over it and he replied " Nope, why?" 

Get the right equiptment, and make an effort.  This chap couldnt give a monkeys.  We always do a really good job and take out time but with this vebra drive over the road it made ours look even better.

[simon knight]

Hi Vince, before I ever took up this malarky I did a bit of patio/driveway cleaning.

It can be a good earner but it's really hard graft and very seasonal...April-September.

It's the sort of work you may take on if for some reason you had a blank couple of days but for me (even though I have the equipment) don't now touch it.

For guidance I used to charge £1.50 per sq yd.

[michael papworth]

How long after cleaning do you apply sealant? Does it need to dry first or can you apply the sealant to wet surfaces?

[simon knight]

Dun

How long after cleaning do you apply sealant? Does it need to dry first or can you apply the sealant to wet surfaces?

Dunno...never used it. Got about 6 bags of sharp sand sitting in the garage though.