Pressure Washing New Residential Homes

SunSet

I do PCC. Homes I clean range from 1200 sq' to 6k+ sq'. The drive-ways/side walks are from simple basic up to fancy, colored concrete with all the trimmings.

Last week I have had my 3rd builder ask me if we furnish pressure washing service as well. My experience with pressure washing is going down to 'rent it' for a day distributor and cleaned whatever it was that i was working on. My sidewalks, driveway, porch etc.... I ran a swimming pool for over 5 years, each spring renting pressure washers to clean the deck and the pool. But that is basically my experience with pressure washers.

In your opinion is this something that I should feasibility look into adding to my company or should I shop around for someone that already has a pressure washing company and give them the builders name and number.

If it is something that that has the potential to grow my business with a minimum expense where do i began in 'learning' the in's and out's of how to add it to my cleaning business.

(Or are any of you close to Madison County AL that need additional work?)

boman47k

If I lived closer and maybe knew a little more.... Lauderdale County here.

SunSet

I clean new construction residential homes. I work for about 5 builders in Madison county. Last week one of the builders I recently began cleaning for ask me if we included pressure washing with our services. I had thought about it last year when another one of my builders had ask me the same question, but got busy and never looked into it.

From what i see, the pressure washing includes:
Drive way
Sidewalks
Porches
Garage

This would be for new homes. Since nothing is ever as easy as it seems, I don't believe just renting/buying a pressure washer spraying off the mud from the concrete areas from the subcontractors coming in and out can be all there is to it.

Try to research what is included in pressure washing new concrete; hope you have more luck than me. Research the going rate; no idea. Research what chemicals, if any, to use on new concrete; can't find info.

So I thought I would ask the pressure washing experts on here. I don't know what info to give because I don't know what all it includes. I was hoping someone on here had a pressure washing business cleaning new construction residential to give me any kind of info on it.

It might be worth the drive from Florence if you had a couple to do per day, but since i don't know what type of pricing, if you charge by the sq' or the job or if this is all it includes I have no idea. Send me a pm and i will give you the contractor's name if you would like to talk with him.

SunSet

Can anyone that knows about pressure washing or concrete give me any advice?

boman47k

Huntsville area, right? I do appreciate the offer for the contact, but I'm afraid that is a little too far for me to attempt. Like you, I have little to no experience in powerwashing. I would need to know more about what pressure to use on new concrete, etc.. That being said, and if I was in your position, I might take a shot at it. I would think it could mostly be done with little or no chemicals. I have seen pricing on concrete cleaning around .12 a foot with a big area. In a situation like you have, I think I would just look at the total job and price it that way. If you have a working relationship with the builder already, maybe do one for nothing to get a feel for it. This would give you a good idea of the time you need to charge hourly. If you do not have a washer, maybe charge him the rental fee and rent one for a day. I wouldn't think it would take much pressure for new concrete as far as cleaning. Now, tire marks, if any, might be a different story.

boman47k

Sunset, have you received any pm's from me? I have tried to send a couple, but they are not showing to have been sent.

CarolinaLandCU

If they are asking you to include it. Just say you can and do just water. Don't get into cleaners and chemicals just yet so that way you don't get in a bind of ruining something. Most the time just power washing with out chemicals works pretty good. That's what I do. I don't get involved with the chemicals unless I go to a professional about what I am cleaning and which is best and won't ruin it.

SunSet

boman47k - I guess I can't get pm's. When I pulled up my account this came up "Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page..." I read on here a lot, but don't post very much maybe i haven't hit the magic number or something or I could very well have not set my account up correctly.

Carolina - That is what i am afraid of. Within 4 months of opening up I had a law suite against me because of my ignorance. I probably over research and over think everything i do now.

That is why i am reluctant to say "yes". I read on here and realize how much i don't know - I just don't want to get into the same situation I was in this time last year.

It 'seems' as if it is just getting the mud and muck off the concrete areas is all that is needed, with Residential building slowing down somewhat this is something that could help make it over the hump, but not if my ignorance wins out again.

PressurePros

New construction cleanup can include cleaning mortar smears which has to be done with a buffered acid. Its generally a bad idea to use any type of high pressure on green pours as you can destroy the skim and the 'crete will cure blotchy.

__________________
Ken Fenner
Pressure Washing PA
Roof Cleaning Services PA

boman47k

boman

Sunset

On second thought, I guess some research would be in order. Ken may have just saved you a second lawsuit.

P.S. Think it hard to find info on cleaning new crete, try docks/piers!

About all I could find so far (not here) suggested was plain water and saltwater.

tom connelly

We do all kinds of cleaning from new construction to old construction, wood, masonry, metal, window, EIFS, restorations and protectants. As well as specialty stain removals. Mostly exterior but some interior. You name it we do it. To do a good job with new construction your going to have to use chemicals, well buffered acids and such. There is a lot more to it than what meets the eye, simple water and pressure wont do, at least not for a professional. Use less than 1000 PSI with a high water volume. Your going to have to learn your bricks. A good company to talk to is EaCo Chem, we have tried numerous new construction cleaners and they are by far the best we have found.

www.eacochem.com
1-800-313-8505 ask to speak with Mike or Lynn
they can answer a lot of your questions. tell them gutterclean sent you.

Gutter Clean & Power Wash
Hickory NC

tom connelly

Dont use raw muriatic as it will eat the cream out of the mortar joints and can cause future problems with joints cracking out. You will also have to be aware of chemicals, as well as what they can do if improperly applied and/or rinsed, such as: acid burn, etching, color bleed, haze, efflorescence, white scum, vanadium, and manganese stains, as well as leaving a spotted finish that is undesirable. The recommended PSI for most of your masonry cleaning is no more than 1000 PSI. EaCo Chems cleaners are designed for safe and easy applications, as well as decreased labor costs. ProSoCo also has good cleaners, but are much more difficult to use, don't look as good when you get finished, take longer, and are specified to each brick type which means more chemicals, and headaches. EaCo Chem has a much simpler line with exceptional results, thats why we use them. They are also far more forgiving than most of your other lines, as well as save a lot of money on time.

Gutter Clean & Power Wash
Hickory NC

david67

How much should I charge to pressure wash the exterior of a residential brick home?