I need help pricing my first job please! - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

David Harrington · Freshmen Member

I need help pricing my first job please!

Adam Carpenter · SoftWash Authorized

Beautiful house. Can't wait to see the results. You will be surprised at how much dirt will roll off, even where it doesn't look dirty.

Gutters will need to be hand brushed and that is labor intensive (takes time). Prewet the stucco but do not the gutters. Dry gutters clean up better. We traditionally don't do downspouts b/c they are rigid so we try to stay away from that. But, adding gutter whitening as a final touch really makes the job pop.

We have cleaned a decent amount of stucco since getting our SWS skid last year and it cleaned up awesome for us. You will have to use at least a 2% mix with extra Green Wash, stains may require 3% so make sure you pre-wet and rinse upon completion. I always run a couple test spots in inconspicuous areas to see how hot we need our mix. Those rocks close to the house on the front will be your best friend when the SH runs down the house. I noticed on our last job that we did not lay the mix on quite as evenly as I would have liked and it left light streaking. Make sure to take your time and coat the siding evenly. Also b/c stucco is so porous it requires extra dwell time. Be careful with your cleaning agents on those front doors and any light fixtures. When in doubt, cover them up and/or prewet.

We don't do stain removal...it's hard and it's just not our forte.

We use our skid as a selling point. Customers love to hear that we won't even have a power washer on site when cleaning their stucco. Extra peace of mind, but that is factored into price as well.

Even though it may be your 1st job, or 1st job of that kind, do not miss low.

Bob Riddick · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Nice house, nice neighborhood, great place to get your business off the ground.

We typically don't discuss pricing on the BB for a few reasons; labor prices vary in different parts of the country, and this blog is available for public viewing.

In your case I suggest you calculate how many days this job will take, allow a fudge factor for something you may have overlooked, then calculate your daily rate and multiply. Then add your profit margin and present your proposal.

You may want to consider an offering to this customer if he agrees you can use his house as a showpiece for the neighborhood. Make sure you get take good before and after pictures to show his neighbors.

Shaun Harton · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Great advice Bob, spot on Sir. That is a great first house to softwash David. Good luck Sir.

David Harrington · Freshmen Member

Thanks Guys! I appreciate the insight on this. Being this is in a great neighbor hood I am thinking this is a huge opportunity and will be just what i need to get going! :) I will definitely ask about using it as a show place, do I need any type of release to use the pictures?

Chad Eneix · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Just for clarification, is that EIFS or real stucco? I am thinking it looks like EIFS.

Jeffrey Kirby · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Chad Eneix wrote:
Just for clarification, is that EIFS or real stucco? I am thinking it looks like EIFS.

I agree Chad.

BTW--our bulk rinse pump is low pressure, in comparison to a pressure washer. 100 psi is a mere 20-30 psi more than the usual pressure of a residential water bib. However, be sure that you do not use the 100 psi close to the surface. EIFS is delicate, and needs to be treated as such. SoftWash Systems' skids are by far the best equipment to use to clean EIFS.

In my opinion, 2% should do very well on this house. Be sure to rinse the windows and gutters, and any other metal surfaces, with little dwell time allowed. At 2%, you should not need much anyways. When we provide gutter brightening, that includes the downspouts. Here is how we do our gutter brightening:

1) apply Oxi Wash with a soft bristle brush

2) allow to dwell, about 1 minute

3) agitate the surface with a soft bristle brush, and apply more Oxi Wash if necessary

4) little more dwell time and rinse.

The Oxi Wash truly does 90% or more of the work. Removing oxidation damage is a chemical process, not a physical, abrasive process. The degreasers used in the other products on the market, with "Powerful" names, are also the same degreasers used to strip wood sealer, or degrease an engine or shop floor. They are mild, water based paint removers, basically. We stopped using them because of the occasional damage to our clients' gutters. In short, the less brushing/agitating used will likely give you a better result with no paint damage.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Jeffrey Kirby wrote:
Chad Eneix wrote:
Just for clarification, is that EIFS or real stucco? I am thinking it looks like EIFS.
I agree Chad.
BTW--our bulk rinse pump is low pressure, in comparison to a pressure washer. 100 psi is a mere 20-30 psi more than the usual pressure of a residential water bib. However, be sure that you do not use the 100 psi close to the surface. EIFS is delicate, and needs to be treated as such. SoftWash Systems' skids are by far the best equipment to use to clean EIFS.
In my opinion, 2% should do very well on this house. Be sure to rinse the windows and gutters, and any other metal surfaces, with little dwell time allowed. At 2%, you should not need much anyways. When we provide gutter brightening, that includes the downspouts. Here is how we do our gutter brightening:
1) apply Oxi Wash with a soft bristle brush
2) allow to dwell, about 1 minute
3) agitate the surface with a soft bristle brush, and apply more Oxi Wash if necessary
4) little more dwell time and rinse.
The Oxi Wash truly does 90% or more of the work. Removing oxidation damage is a chemical process, not a physical, abrasive process. The degreasers used in the other products on the market, with "Powerful" names, are also the same degreasers used to strip wood sealer, or degrease an engine or shop floor. They are mild, water based paint removers, basically. We stopped using them because of the occasional damage to our clients' gutters. In short, the less brushing/agitating used will likely give you a better result with no paint damage.

Great points everyone!

AC

David Harrington · Freshmen Member

Thanks Chad and Jeff, I appreciate the help on this! Do you guys have an suggestions for the stains, or will the 2% mix be enough to take those off as well? I will definitely try the Oxi-wash trick on the downspouts for sure!

Chad Eneix · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Sometimes those stains can be taken off with Oxi Wash, and for the rust stains, use F9. Sometimes on EIFS stains will not come off, or the paint layer has been worn or eaten away, or penetrated through. In that case, it would need to be painted, however, it still needs to be cleaned to kill the algae or it will can cause the paint to fail.

My point about "stucco vs. EIFS" was that it is important to use the proper terminology. Customers will refer to it as stucco, and you should correct and educate them on exactly what that it is. You are the pro, and if they get other bids, your knowledge will make you stand out.

David Harrington · Freshmen Member

Thanks Chad! That makes complete sense. I am hoping we got it early enough before it is damaged, but I guess that remains to be seen. Thanks for the tips on oxi-wash and F-9, the more tools I have at my disposal the higher the likely hood I will be successful. I have him scheduled for June 3rd, so anything else that comes to mind before then please feel free to let me know. I really appreciate all help and expertise you guys are willing to share!!

Troy Layman · Lead Tech

David,

If you haven't, up-sale the owner to include the sidewalks. Being a liquid application, there is no way you will be able to apply the cleaning solution to his house without getting over spray onto his sidewalks. He may have some speckles on his sidewalk after otherwise. If he doesn't go for it, as always, prewet anything you don't want to clean to minimize speckles. That is going to make for some gorgeous before/after photos.

David Harrington · Freshmen Member

Thanks Troy! That is an awesome idea, I didn't even think of the sidewalks. I will see what I can do with that as well.

David Harrington · Freshmen Member

Hi Guys, the washing turned out nice, but now I have pale streaks under the windows. Any ideas?

John Aloisio · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Did you use any other chemicals besides your softwash mix in those areas? If so, then that may be why. If not, it could be erosion of the EIFS finish.

Chad Eneix · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

It could also be aluminum oxidation or caulk residue staining leeching down from the windows.

David Harrington · Freshmen Member

Thanks for the help guys. I take it the only way to fix this is Paint it? Or is there another way to make it right?

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

If it is a southern exposure it may be oxidation from the window frames. It will sometime rinse as a milky white or may after you leave some rain may wash it from the frames.