Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

EthanB · Newbie

Quoting a Roof that hasn't been cleaned in 20 years

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Well,.roof cleaning is sometimes the way you describe. More times than not re-treaments on certain spots is normal. I wouldn't sell it the way you describe,..people want to know what it will cost,....they don't want a big surprise. Just price it for worse case scenario. Too many variables that could turn into four or five treatments and could run the price way up,..and contractors without scruples would take advantage of that type of pricing structure. I hear what you're saying but we're supposed to know what we are doing.

*Typically,..the brown stains left behind will wash away over time,..brown is dead,..black stains left will not wash away and needs re-treated.

** I've stated numerous times over the years,..sell the "job" for what it is,.not to make the sell. And when explained properly to the customer that it sometimes takes time to totally come together. Especially where physical growth is an issue.

Jeff

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

It would be helpful if you would go to this link Introduction and introduce yourself. We like to get to know the people here.

A few things... you are in PA and it's still cold. SH doesn't like cold so even an easy roof will take extra time. A 50% mix is usually not needed. We clean all asphalt roofs with 40%. For the size roof, your price seems fair. The way I look at it, most we win, some we don't do as well. My preference is to do the job for the price quoted and don't nickle and dime the customer. They will be back, but if you keep adding money, you might not hear from them again. This year we already have a three week backlog with 30% returning customers.

We always start cleaning on the dirtiest part of the roof, giving it more time to dwell. As we move around we can retreat if needed and once the entire roof is done we will retreat or touch up as needed. White roofs look worse than others when finished. We do not rinse roofs and when you rinsed and reapplied you removed what might still be working and added water to the mix you reapplied. What is left was given a name by our friend Art Green (RIP), "biofilm". The brown stuff is dead algae. It will wash off with the rain. As I mentioned previously, white roofs are tough and the biofilm really shows.

Forty galls of SH is way too much for a 2500 sf roof. Pray for heavy rain and the downspouts drain to never-never land!

The next few roofs will easily make up for the time you put into this one. You are a owner operator so your time is much different than having to pay employees. Once you dial in your process, these difficult roofs will be much easier.

Here my analogy when it comes to charging more after the quote. When a mechanic says they will charge you $750.00 to fix your truck and you show up to pick it up and it's now $978.85 because of all sorts of "extras"... I just don't like that. I'm old school and have built our business with that attitude and my customers always compliment us on how we run things.

Okay... you just got my opinion!

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff Wible wrote:
Well,.roof cleaning is sometimes the way you describe. More times than not re-treaments on certain spots is normal. I wouldn't sell it the way you describe,..people want to know what it will cost,....they don't want a big surprise. Just price it for worse case scenario. Too many variables that could turn into four or five treatments and could run the price way up,..and contractors without scruples would take advantage of that type of pricing structure. I hear what you're saying but we're supposed to know what we are doing.

*Typically,..the brown stains left behind will wash away over time,..brown is dead,..black stains left will not wash away and needs re-treated.

** I've stated numerous times over the years,..sell the "job" for what it is,.not to make the sell. And when explained properly to the customer that it sometimes takes time to totally come together. Especially where physical growth is an issue.

Jeff

-- Edited by Jeff Wible on Saturday 30th of April 2022 06:46:31 AM

We were responding at the same time! Interesting how we basically said the same thing. Great minds huh!

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Ha, Ha,..yea,..I noticed that! You were more articulate though. I'm kinda' crude in my explanations. Speaking of Pa temps,.... 32 degrees here in Central Pa this morning!

Jeff

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff Wible wrote:
Ha, Ha,..yea,..I noticed that! You were more articulate though. I'm kinda' crude in my explanations. Speaking of Pa temps,.... 32 degrees here in Central Pa this morning!

Jeff

Yea, a bit wordy this morning! Yankees tend to have a more direct approach!

I hope he returns to see what we said. He'll get way more here than FB groups with endless guessing!

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

BlueRidge wrote:
Jeff Wible wrote:
Ha, Ha,..yea,..I noticed that! You were more articulate though. I'm kinda' crude in my explanations. Speaking of Pa temps,.... 32 degrees here in Central Pa this morning!

Jeff
Yea, a bit wordy this morning! Yankees tend to have a more direct approach!
I hope he returns to see what we said. He'll get way more here than FB groups with endless guessing!

Grumpy old men

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Art O wrote:
BlueRidge wrote:
Jeff Wible wrote:
Ha, Ha,..yea,..I noticed that! You were more articulate though. I'm kinda' crude in my explanations. Speaking of Pa temps,.... 32 degrees here in Central Pa this morning!

Jeff
Yea, a bit wordy this morning! Yankees tend to have a more direct approach!
I hope he returns to see what we said. He'll get way more here than FB groups with endless guessing!
Grumpy old men

I like that! It feels like a great compliment! biggrin

Admin · Head Quarters

BlueRidge wrote:
Art O wrote:
BlueRidge wrote:
Jeff Wible wrote:
Ha, Ha,..yea,..I noticed that! You were more articulate though. I'm kinda' crude in my explanations. Speaking of Pa temps,.... 32 degrees here in Central Pa this morning!

Jeff
Yea, a bit wordy this morning! Yankees tend to have a more direct approach!
I hope he returns to see what we said. He'll get way more here than FB groups with endless guessing!
Grumpy old men
I like that! It feels like a great compliment!

You earned it!

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I hope EthanB got what he wanted! One Way! As usual, we get people who do things they learn on FB or who knows where. It doesn't work... They come here for help and we graciously give it, never to see them again!

Maverick Contracting · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Talking about FB...
Recently I saw on the front page of my googley page someone aka pro-know-it-all teaching how to "properly" clean with an electric PW, yellow (dangerous for newbies) and... AND a expandable pocket hoses that if you ever used one puts out a stream smaller than a mouse piss'ing!

The flow rate is so insufficient the pump draw if it doesn't collapse the hose entirely in time will burn out the pump most likely.

Anybody is a SUPARSTAR on Youstubes I guess!

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Nothing wrong with being a know-it-all,...as long as you have an open mind and are willing to learn from others,.... AND are willing to admit that you really don't know it all!!

*I think that's the category I fall into, Ha, Ha,...

Jeff

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff Wible wrote:
Nothing wrong with being a know-it-all,...as long as you have an open mind and are willing to learn from others,.... AND are willing to admit that you really don't know it all!!

*I think that's the category I fall into, Ha, Ha,...

Jeff

You said it well Jeff! I never quit learning or closed to a new idea.

Mav... I don't understand why the pressure washing world has to have so many experts who must walk around with their face in the forefront showing off a how to in the background! I left ALL the pages and I don't watch any videos!