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RE: He Stole Our Job, but KILLED the Plants!

Matthew · Guest

Gypsum on the soil...
Water it in real good.

Then miracle grow and Black Cow manure....

There was still some green, which meant at the time of the picture ... there was still some hope.

PowerHouse-John · Guest

Chris, I know you didn't target your post at me. You might not even know I exist yet, but I clean roofs alone and I do a great job. With sprinklers, tarps and plastic you can do the job without damage to plants. It's a pain in the butt, and it takes more than 2x as long but I don't get enough work to hire someone yet. Just because it's a one man show doesn't mean the owner is a hack. Blame the hack because he's a hack, not because he works alone.

Matthew · Guest

I posted this somewhere else and I think it bears posting here.

A sprinkler can't dial 911 if you fall.
A sprinkler can't switch valves.
A sprinkler can't make more mix.
A sprinkler can't fetch your gatorade.
A sprinkler can't tell the home owner it's not a good idea to stand under the eaves.
A sprinkler can't see when the gutter is leaking or damaged.
A sprinkler can't hand out business cards to a pssing by neighbor who is intriqued by what's going on.

A sprinkler cannot replace a groundman, ever!

If you can't afford a ground man, then get out of the business.
$6-10 bucks an hour takes you from a "guy who can spray junk on my roof" to "a professional company who can give me the service I deserve."

Sorry if I stepped on some toes, but if $50 a roof breaks your business... You weren't in business for long anyway.

Tarps in 100 degree Florida weather will do more damage than a well controlled roof mix.

You don't start a Moving Company without a hand truck and dolly and you don't start a roof cleaning business without a groundman.

You may not be able to hire a full fledged employee, but there is no excuse for working alone.

Mar 7, 2011

Matthew wrote:

I posted this somewhere else and I think it bears posting here.

A sprinkler can't dial 911 if you fall.
A sprinkler can't switch valves.
A sprinkler can't make more mix.
A sprinkler can't fetch your gatorade.
A sprinkler can't tell the home owner it's not a good idea to stand under the eaves.
A sprinkler can't see when the gutter is leaking or damaged.
A sprinkler can't hand out business cards to a pssing by neighbor who is intriqued by what's going on.

A sprinkler cannot replace a groundman, ever!

If you can't afford a ground man, then get out of the business. WOW! You must feel you have some serious clout! Give yourself another pat on the back!
$6-10 bucks an hour takes you from a "guy who can spray junk on my roof" to "a professional company who can give me the service I deserve." If you believe what you just said, you need retraining. It takes a lot more than that! And $6-$10 an hour? You must have a lot of turnover and a lot of untrained guys on your jobs! Who can do good work for 6 bucks an hour?

Sorry if I stepped on some toes, { No problem, as long as you can handle the replies you may get-like mine! } but if $50 a roof breaks your business... You weren't in business for long anyway. You seem to miss the point. It's not a matter of money. I DON'T CARE TO BE AN EMPLOYER and I think if I made it 20 years, I must be doing something right?

Tarps in 100 degree Florida weather will do more damage than a well controlled roof mix. But a combination of a well controlled roof mix [ I use a 2 gpm pump or 2 of them in tandem which = 3 gpm in reality ] What gpm are you pumping? Also, if you knew how to use tarps, you'd know you water the plants, put on the tarps and run sprinklers on the tarps to keep them cool. I have been cleaning roofs in SW Florida since 1991, so I'm somewhat of an authority on it, and you?

You don't start a Moving Company without a hand truck and dolly and you don't start a roof cleaning business without a groundman. That's not a very intelligent analogy, do ya think?

You may not be able to hire a full fledged employee, but there is no excuse for working alone. I think you are talking through your hat my friend. You do business the way you choose and then tell other professionals they should do it your way too. Who the H_ll do you think you are? The Roof Cleaning King?

Obviously, I disagree with you completely. I have over 20 years in this business, so I know you are wrong. It's all a matter of choice.

A sprinkler can't dial 911 if you fall. - that's true, so you need to learn to walk on roofs safely. Years of experience is what it really takes and the less "New guys in training" a business has, the less the chance of that happening. I never have a new guy in training-do you??? confuse

A sprinkler can't switch valves.
A sprinkler can't make more mix.
A sprinkler can't fetch your gatorade. These 3 are just laziness, not a necessity. Jees, how long does it take you to do aroof??? I can wait an hour or 2 for a gatorade if I was dumb enough not to take it up with me! biggrin

A sprinkler can't tell the home owner it's not a good idea to stand under the eaves. I tell the homeowner about that before I begin, don't you???

A sprinkler can't see when the gutter is leaking or damaged. I can, because after I clean a roof I have a garden hose attachment that hangs from the gutter and washes it out and because that when I'm done on the roof, I can see that and tell them. But I don't fix gutters. That's a gutter man's work.

A sprinkler can't hand out business cards to a pssing by neighbor who is intriqued by what's going on. That's my loss, isn't it? But with 20 years of customer base, I have less concern about that. As they walk by, if they want my attention, they will get it. It happens all the time!

A sprinkler cannot replace a groundman, ever! Wrong, that's just exactly what it does.
Chuck Bergman Roof Cleaning, since 1991 { Prior to that, from 1978 on, I cleaned roofs with a pressure washer, because I didn't know of a better way.

-- Edited by Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 on Monday 7th of March 2011 06:22:30 PM

Matthew · Guest

You and I will have to agree to disagree then.

I'm not saying a one man show can't give a good job.
I'm saying there is no reason not to add the value of a groundman to your business model.

One man show's pulling rusty trailers and taking beer money to do roofs is why Florida is the hardest state to work in as a roof cleaner.

But each their own, I suppose.
I don't personally have anything against you Chuck.
As far as I can tell you're a man of integrity who provides a wonderful service and does a great job.

But as an Industry leading standard setting orginazation I don't think we want to be creating dozens of roof cleaning companies based on one man and a $5.00 aparatus.

I have never hired a plumber, electrician, roofer, or any other tradesman that didn't have a helper or apprentice in tow.

Why should we be any different?

Guest

Matthew,..you haven't any clue as to what you're talking about.

Jeff

Confident Roof Cleaning Houston TX · Guest

I think both have valid points.

The responsible thing to do is to advise new guys to use a ground guy. If not for plant protection then for the safety factor. I don't care if you've walked half a million roofs, it only takes 1 fall with nobody around to really screw you.

roofcleaninginnc · Guest

Matthew has a point, but there is no arguing against Dougs experience or wisdom!

Mar 7, 2011

Matthew wrote:

You and I will have to agree to disagree then. I agree.

I'm not saying a one man show can't give a good job. I'm glad to hear that!
I'm saying there is no reason not to add the value of a groundman to your business model. I explained my thinking on that. We are father and son, if we see the need for a ground man, we have it!

One man show's pulling rusty trailers and taking beer money to do roofs is why Florida is the hardest state to work in as a roof cleaner. Those people have nothing to do with my business of 20 + years.

But each their own, I suppose. That's more reasonable.
I don't personally have anything against you Chuck. Nor I you, until you made that dogmatic post. Now we move on I hope!
As far as I can tell you're a man of integrity who provides a wonderful service and does a great job. Thank You, I assume the same with you!

But as an Industry leading standard setting orginazation I don't think we want to be creating dozens of roof cleaning companies based on one man and a $5.00 aparatus. We are not creating roofing companies, to my knowledge? We are teaching all companies, new and old, the proper methods of cleaning roofs, weather a 1 man operation or a business with 6 trucks carrying 2 men each. Do it right or leave it to someone who can, I believe. I don't see the relationship between 1 man and whatever you could be referring to as a "5.00 aparatus?
I have often worked across the street from 2 man roof cleaning companies, with rusted out junk equipment, mine is just fine!

I have never hired a plumber, electrician, roofer, or any other tradesman that didn't have a helper or apprentice in tow.
I have, my complete air conditioning system was just replaced by a very professional AC company, by 1 man.
My Comcast cable TV tech just came out and went up a ladder to check wires on the pole out back and he was alone. The plumber who replaced my hot water heater was alone. The pool man comes alone. The electrician who worked on my breaker box was alone. In fact, I can't even think of any 2 man crews working for me at all!
Why should we be any different?
We both made our points, how about we drop it now and we both go do our work as professionals, you your way and me mine!

Mar 7, 2011

Matthew wrote:

I posted this somewhere else and I think it bears posting here.

A sprinkler can't dial 911 if you fall.
A sprinkler can't switch valves.
A sprinkler can't make more mix.
A sprinkler can't fetch your gatorade.
A sprinkler can't tell the home owner it's not a good idea to stand under the eaves.
A sprinkler can't see when the gutter is leaking or damaged.
A sprinkler can't hand out business cards to a pssing by neighbor who is intriqued by what's going on.

A sprinkler cannot replace a groundman, ever!

If you can't afford a ground man, then get out of the business.
$6-10 bucks an hour takes you from a "guy who can spray junk on my roof" to "a professional company who can give me the service I deserve."

Sorry if I stepped on some toes, but if $50 a roof breaks your business... You weren't in business for long anyway.

Tarps in 100 degree Florida weather will do more damage than a well controlled roof mix.

You don't start a Moving Company without a hand truck and dolly and you don't start a roof cleaning business without a groundman.

You may not be able to hire a full fledged employee, but there is no excuse for working alone.

I replied somewhere else and I agree, my reply bears reposting here. Then lets drop it? I am just replying to you. We are both professional roof cleaners, you are an employer, I am not, that's all.

If you can't afford a ground man, then get out of the business. WOW! You must feel you have some serious clout! Give yourself another pat on the back!
$6-10 bucks an hour takes you from a "guy who can spray junk on my roof" to "a professional company who can give me the service I deserve." If you believe what you just said, you need retraining. It takes a lot more than that! And $6-$10 an hour? You must have a lot of turnover and a lot of untrained guys on your jobs! Who can do good work for 6 bucks an hour?

Sorry if I stepped on some toes, { No problem, as long as you can handle the replies you may get-like mine! } but if $50 a roof breaks your business... You weren't in business for long anyway. You seem to miss the point. It's not a matter of money. I DON'T CARE TO BE AN EMPLOYER and I think if I made it 20 years, I must be doing something right?

Tarps in 100 degree Florida weather will do more damage than a well controlled roof mix. But a combination of a well controlled roof mix [ I use a 2 gpm pump or 2 of them in tandem which = 3 gpm in reality ] What gpm are you pumping? Also, if you knew how to use tarps, you'd know you water the plants, put on the tarps and run sprinklers on the tarps to keep them cool. I have been cleaning roofs in SW Florida since 1991, so I'm somewhat of an authority on it, and you?

You don't start a Moving Company without a hand truck and dolly and you don't start a roof cleaning business without a groundman. That's not a very intelligent analogy, yawn

do ya think? confuse

You may not be able to hire a full fledged employee, but there is no excuse for working alone. I think you are talking through your hat my friend. You do business the way you choose and then tell other professionals they should do it your way too. Who the H_ll do you think you are? The Roof Cleaning King? biggrin

Obviously, I disagree with you completely. I have over 20 years in this business, so I know you are wrong. It's all a matter of choice.

A sprinkler can't dial 911 if you fall. - that's true, so you need to learn to walk on roofs safely. Years of experience is what it really takes and the less "New guys in training" a business has, the less the chance of that happening. I never have a new guy in training-do you??? confuse

A sprinkler can't switch valves.
A sprinkler can't make more mix.
A sprinkler can't fetch your gatorade. These 3 are just laziness, not a necessity. Jees, how long does it take you to do aroof??? I can wait an hour or 2 for a gatorade if I was dumb enough not to take it up with me! biggrin

A sprinkler can't tell the home owner it's not a good idea to stand under the eaves. I tell the homeowner about that before I begin, don't you???

A sprinkler can't see when the gutter is leaking or damaged. I can, because after I clean a roof I have a garden hose attachment that hangs from the gutter and washes it out and because that when I'm done on the roof, I can see that and tell them. But I don't fix gutters. That's a gutter man's work.

A sprinkler can't hand out business cards to a pssing by neighbor who is intriqued by what's going on. That's my loss, isn't it? But with 20 years of customer base, I have less concern about that. As they walk by, if they want my attention, they will get it. It happens all the time!

A sprinkler cannot replace a groundman, ever! Wrong, that's just exactly what it does.
Chuck Bergman Roof Cleaning, since 1991 { Prior to that, from 1978 on, I cleaned roofs with a pressure washer, because I didn't know of a better way.

Spud · Guest

I'm just about to get cranked up in the business and I was looking at doing a one man operation just because I don't have anyone helping me right now. If I wasn't concerned I would have already been out slapping some bleach on a roof not knowing what I was doing. I found this post because I was hoping a sprinkler would take the place of a groundsman and allow me to do a job by myslef. I would love to be to the point of having a helper and maybe down the road another truck but for now it will be me and maybe a friend helping on bigger houses. I definitely want to do a great job and get return business, which is why I am reading daily to try and know the right ways to do it. I DO NOT want to ruin someone's plants for sure.

Confident Roof Cleaning Houston TX · Guest

Hey spud, you can pay someone $8 an hour to be a ground guy and it will be worth it. Just budget it in and price high enough.

Guest

I like your new title Scott...lol

Roof Cleaning Cleveland (216) 323-0552 · Mar 31, 2011

Spud, I've worked by myself. It's a lot easier when you have help.

Jason LWRC · Guest

Man. As a newcomer I was looking to be working a 1 man show until I could afford to hire some help, but the last thing I want is to ruin someones plants because I wasn't watering enough or overlooked something. Does make sense to have an extra hand for watering and another set of eyes to see something you might've otherwise missed. This forum is such a blessing to me, good to hear experience teach.

RCIA Founder

Jason, what is a Premium Memeber ?

yawn

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"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"