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For a new guy you got your sh-t together good luck & welcome to the site if i didn't say that already, try door hangers or fliers just drive around on a do nothing day hand out 2 or 300 hundred to dirty roof houses and your'll get some calls

Have you ever cleaned any roofs? The reason I ask this is because do some friends or relatives to start with before jumping into it on the public stage on main street where everyone is gonna judge you from the work you perform. Make sure you have your mix and technique down before jumping into the public scene.

Jeff

I spotted a deck after a few roofs and lost all the money on that job when I first started using the love. I agree with Jeff, get some practice. As far as you rig and trailer go...seems like you did your homework. Good work and keep it up!!

Looking at this post reminded me that the picture associated with my user name was my most stressful roof to date!

It was the first time I had to clean a roof on a house with cedar siding. I had cleaned quite a few roofs, but had only done homes with brick, stucco or vinyl for the most part.

I was so stressed about doing this home, I brought extra guys with me just to keep everything wet.

Not only did it have cedar siding, but there was a cedar deck all around the back of the home. I may have single handedly lowered the water table in Chester County PA while cleaning that roof! In fact, the neighbor came over at one point and complained that I was running too much water into his yard!

When it was finished, it looked perfect! No spots on any part of the house or deck and the customer was very happy! I had a good routine and the ground guys knew exactly what to do. God help me if that were my first roof. I probably would have quit!

Brian

-- Edited by theroofcleaners on Wednesday 5th of August 2009 03:24:48 PM

Thanks for the encouragement. I think the one thing I am most concerned about is the roof actualy coming clean! I have seen some very dirty ones out there. I know you guy's all say "trust the Love". I do not intend to rinse so I am a little anxious about the real dirty ones.

Its funny but now I have to concentrate more on my driving coz all I do is look at roofs as I drive around town. I think I am obsessed.!

I started this thread so I guess this is the best place to post my progress. PLEASE PLEASE, if you see any red flags shout them out.

I finished my trailor today and tested the system. Works swell!
Going out now to pick up Insurance documents and apply for local license.
Meeting with a couple realtors after that to drum up some business. Starting at $.22 for one story house and $.27 for two story. Also offering a 15% discount for the realtors customers. For the residential customers a free gutter cleaning up to 100 linear feet or 10% discount for new customers.
Commercial accounts will be on a per bid basis.
HERE WE GO! GERONIMOOO!

 Pat heres my two cents i have never charged by the sqft i look at the job and see what there is like Steve said cedar siding ,decks , shurbs, pitch of roof, 1 story 2 story, awnings ,furniture, and on and on as for free gutter cleaning maybe inside but if your talking about the outside and your buying stuff like Gutter Zap you better charge ,doing and average house try charging 400 and learn from there ,as for the 15% to realtor customers its better to give the realtor a few bucks in their pocket telling them thanks for the job

Well I did it!

Everything went real smooth, only took 1.5 hours to set up, wash and tear down (plant covering etc.). Neighbors came over and asked for cards, got to give them all the "sales pitch", smooth as silk.
Too good to be true. Went back three hours later... looked just the same as before I washed! I WAS FREAKING OUT!
It is a dark brown roof, stains were significant and I put on a good coat... I kept telling myself "trust the Love".
I tried to call some of you for advice, got hold of Kid in Branson Mo. He had a good laugh at my expense. He said "I bet you were freaked out!" he then gave me good advice, said "be patient, give it a few days and wait for some rain to rinse it. I told the customer that I would be back to check in a couple days and if it needed it I would wash again. Kid said to try rinsing it first after a few days. He said he has trouble with the brown roofs sometimes too.
I am still nervous. I used a 60/40 mix and my SH is good (checked with my supplier on a how old it was) so I guess I will just have to wait and see.
Does anybody else have any thought or advice?
Patrick