Got asked to bid a 7 story hotel. Soft wash Hardie siding. Confident I could do it. But never done one and not sure where to start. Do you price the floors separately? Or just use the lin.ft around the building? Add for each balcony, etc.? Will I need to rent a lift? (That's a joke, btw) 😄
BlueRidge said
May 4, 2017
Doug helped me once with some pricing. It might need to be adjusted but it's a good starting place.
1 story 3.25, 2 story 4.25 3 story 5.25 and so on... per LF. This does not include the lift.
I have adjusted these a bit to not over price and have not only done well getting the work but with the end result in the bank.
Fred W said
May 4, 2017
I don't help anyone.....I just take.
Hotels are "generally" going to be easier because they don't have balconies or exterior halls most of the time (that tall anyhow).
You can't work the busy hours and you'll need ground guy's. Hopefully Ray can chime in.
Bryan P said
May 4, 2017
This one is downtown so I've got to figure out where the water goes and all. I think they just called me in for a third bid, but at least it's an opportunity and a learning experience.
waxman18324 said
May 4, 2017
We did one a year and a half ago but it was only four stories in down town Stroudsburg. We did it in three days from the ground. It was perfect shooting weather. It should be on the board under one of my promo posts. Btw...it was all dryvit and no balconies.
Hank
Bryan P said
May 4, 2017
Baton Rouge Roof Cleaner wrote:
I don't help anyone.....I just take.
I know. How do you live with yourself? haha.
BlueRidge said
May 5, 2017
Bryan P wrote:
Baton Rouge Roof Cleaner wrote:
I don't help anyone.....I just take.
I know. How do you live with yourself? haha.
Good point Bryan!
Fred W said
May 5, 2017
Bryan P wrote:
Baton Rouge Roof Cleaner wrote:
I don't help anyone.....I just take.
I know. How do you live with yourself? haha.
I don't!
SprayWash said
May 5, 2017
Bryan P wrote:
This one is downtown so I've got to figure out where the water goes and all. I think they just called me in for a third bid, but at least it's an opportunity and a learning experience.
The third … So you're the Fluffer.
Give me a call at 850– 528– 3226, let's talk about it. Hotels are one of our main specialties
Bryan P said
May 8, 2017
Looked at this job this morning and I'm confident I could clean it. But since it's downtown there is no green space and 100% of out runoff will go through the storm drains. Two large street drains and five 12" drains in the parking lot. Who has experience with this?. Even if I had reclaim equipment there's no way I could divert thousands of gallons like that since it's all concrete everywhere.
-- Edited by Bryan P on Monday 8th of May 2017 07:11:04 PM
Looked at this job this morning and I'm confident I could clean it. But since it's downtown there is no green space and 100% of out runoff will go through the storm drains. Two large street drains and five 12" drains in the parking lot. Who has experience with this?. Even if I had reclaim equipment there's no way I could divert thousands of gallons like that since it's all concrete everywhere.
-- Edited by Bryan P on Monday 8th of May 2017 07:11:04 PM
No retention pond for the parking?
Bryan P said
May 8, 2017
BlueRidge wrote:
Bryan P wrote:
Looked at this job this morning and I'm confident I could clean it. But since it's downtown there is no green space and 100% of out runoff will go through the storm drains. Two large street drains and five 12" drains in the parking lot. Who has experience with this?. Even if I had reclaim equipment there's no way I could divert thousands of gallons like that since it's all concrete everywhere.
-- Edited by Bryan P on Monday 8th of May 2017 07:11:04 PM
No retention pond for the parking?
Nope. Everything goes to the Tennessee River two blocks away.
Roof Stain Removers said
May 9, 2017
If you soft wash, you are cleaning with salt water. The Tennessee river eventually deposits its water in the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. (I apologize for not being knowledgeable about your particular watershed, however I don't live there.) SH, (as it's called on this forum) degrades to table salt.
Either clean with salt water or pre-salt a salty body of water and send it down the river. Your move. (No, I can't spell "knowledgeable." However, I can copy and paste.)
Bryan P said
May 9, 2017
Roof Stain Removers wrote:
If you soft wash, you are cleaning with salt water. The Tennessee river eventually deposits its water in the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. (I apologize for not being knowledgeable about your particular watershed, however I don't live there.) SH, (as it's called on this forum) degrades to table salt.
Either clean with salt water or pre-salt a salty body of water and send it down the river. Your move. (No, I can't spell "knowledgeable." However, I can copy and paste.)
Yeah, unfortunately, they won't see it like that. I talked with a window cleaning company today that does a lot of work downtown and they have to reclaim even their filtered waterfed pole water...and every time have to get the city out to see their plan. They've offered to quote providing reclamation for me but if they can't, I'm not gonna bid it. There's seriously nowhere to divert it to, so it would have to be vacuumed up and hauled away. Not gonna do that, we'll have thousands of gallons.
Fred W said
May 10, 2017
Bryan P wrote:
There's seriously nowhere to divert it to, so it would have to be vacuumed up and hauled away. Not gonna do that, we'll have thousands of gallons.
First....CALL RAY
Second....WHY NOT BID???
Sorry to yell at you but you're too far away to slap....:} These are the jobs that can make you money and change the entire direction of your company (if you want it to). How many guys will walk away? Lots.....and they probably know it! You might need to rent a large truck to pump the water into and find a farmers field where you can let it go but all of that costs money. You don't charge them "at cost" because it costs you time to deal with it. Make yor bid large enough that if you win you can smile and say YES!
Look, I've never done the reclaim either but if you need help just call. Obviously Ray is the man to go to but if you just want to bounce stuff around before or after you call him I'm always here.
-- Edited by Baton Rouge Roof Cleaner on Wednesday 10th of May 2017 07:06:59 AM
Bryan P said
May 10, 2017
Thanks Doug for keeping me in line. It's been a rough couple of weeks. The commercial jobs I've been doing are costing me a fortune and I'm in the hole waiting on checks. So I'm being hard on myself.
Art O said
May 11, 2017
Baton Rouge Roof Cleaner wrote:
Bryan P wrote:
There's seriously nowhere to divert it to, so it would have to be vacuumed up and hauled away. Not gonna do that, we'll have thousands of gallons.
First....CALL RAY
Second....WHY NOT BID???
Sorry to yell at you but you're too far away to slap....:} These are the jobs that can make you money and change the entire direction of your company (if you want it to). How many guys will walk away? Lots.....and they probably know it! You might need to rent a large truck to pump the water into and find a farmers field where you can let it go but all of that costs money. You don't charge them "at cost" because it costs you time to deal with it. Make yor bid large enough that if you win you can smile and say YES!
Look, I've never done the reclaim either but if you need help just call. Obviously Ray is the man to go to but if you just want to bounce stuff around before or after you call him I'm always here.
-- Edited by Baton Rouge Roof Cleaner on Wednesday 10th of May 2017 07:06:59 AM
Doug how many 7 story Hotels have you washed?
Fred W said
May 12, 2017
Art O wrote:
Doug how many 7 story Hotels have you washed?
Zero....why?
Admin said
May 13, 2017
Baton Rouge Roof Cleaner wrote:
Art O wrote:
Doug how many 7 story Hotels have you washed?
Zero....why?
Because you are pushing a member to wash a 7 story building that has only been washing for a year or 2. Let him work his way up to the bigger jobs. There's more to this then just shooting soap!
-- Edited by Admin on Saturday 13th of May 2017 10:38:39 AM
Diamond Roof Cleaning said
May 13, 2017
Art i was thinking the same thing.
Admin said
May 13, 2017
Perfect Disclaimer for this Thread
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by the National Soft Wash Alliance and it's members and while we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
Bryan P said
May 13, 2017
For what it's worth, Doug isn't pushing me to do anything. He's a personal friend and really wants to push me forward knowing i've got the sense not to get over my head. I won't bid anything blindly...and have another job to bid that is very similar, also downtown. I've talked to Doug, Ray, and others and the building is not that difficult...but the reclaim situation is complicated. Would be a fun job if I could figure out a washwater solution.
Art O said
May 13, 2017
Bryan P wrote:
For what it's worth, Doug isn't pushing me to do anything. He's a personal friend and really wants to push me forward knowing i've got the sense not to get over my head. I won't bid anything blindly...and have another job to bid that is very similar, also downtown. I've talked to Doug, Ray, and others and the building is not that difficult...but the reclaim situation is complicated. Would be a fun job if I could figure out a washwater solution.
Good Luck!
John Aloisio said
May 13, 2017
Bryan,
Call me we have done this on three separate occasions now and the reclaim is not as bad as you think. I have a few tips that might work for you. I am of the mindset if you don't try then you might as well not even answer the phone when a building owner calls. We make a ton a profit on these kind of jobs, just for that reason...most guys just don't want to do it. And the whole money on the street and owed to you, just consider it money in the bank, as long as you have a binding contract. There was a point last year when I had well over six figures owed to me and that was a little nerve racking, but it makes you buckle down and offset with residential.
Fred W said
May 13, 2017
Bryan and John nailed it. If we're too afraid to do something because we've never done it......we wouldn't be in business.
Bryan is perfectly capable, has his head in the right place and he has the help of guys like Ray, John, myself and many others. There is nothing to fear but fear itself.
Admin said
May 14, 2017
Being that this is so easy, Lets get a list together of all the things needed to clean a 7 story building 1) How many Employees 2) Safety Equipment, Whats needed for the Employees and foot traffic 3) What Insurance is needed 4) How much Cash at hand should he have. 5) What Certifications should he and his men have . 6) How many trucks is needed 7) How much Hose is needed, Chem and water 9) What and how many Pumps is needed 10) Is permits needed 11) What Size Chem tank is needed
12) How much S/H is needed on site
13) What Re Claim equipment is need
14) What Else?
15) Cost to get all the above done before starting the work?
Fred W said
May 14, 2017
Admin wrote:
Being that this is so easy, Lets get a list together of all the things needed to clean a 7 story building 1) How many Employees 7 - One for each story
2) Safety Equipment, Whats needed for the Employees and foot traffic 7 ropes - One to climb down the building and 6 laid out so as to trip people who try to walk in the danger zone.
3) What Insurance is needed $7 Million
4) How much Cash at hand should he have. $7.00
5) What Certifications should he and his men have . 7 certifications for all of them
6) How many trucks is needed 7 (well, really only 6 but the 7th is to go get lunch with
7) How much Hose is needed, Chem and water 7 feet of each. Just tie them together if you need more,
9) What and how many Pumps is needed 7
10) Is permits needed 7 of them
11) What Size Chem tank is needed 7 gallon
12) How much S/H is needed on site 7 gallons
13) What Re Claim equipment is need All 7 of them
14) What Else? 7 more questions you forgot.
15) Cost to get all the above done before starting the work? $7 (see #4 above)
Great questions actually and all would be part of the due diligence process to place a bid. It would be kinda fun to do one here and just see what kinds of questions people come up with.
BlueRidge said
May 14, 2017
Baton Rouge Roof Cleaner wrote:
Admin wrote:
Being that this is so easy, Lets get a list together of all the things needed to clean a 7 story building 1) How many Employees 7 - One for each story
2) Safety Equipment, Whats needed for the Employees and foot traffic 7 ropes - One to climb down the building and 6 laid out so as to trip people who try to walk in the danger zone.
3) What Insurance is needed $7 Million
4) How much Cash at hand should he have. $7.00
5) What Certifications should he and his men have . 7 certifications for all of them
6) How many trucks is needed 7 (well, really only 6 but the 7th is to go get lunch with
7) How much Hose is needed, Chem and water 7 feet of each. Just tie them together if you need more,
9) What and how many Pumps is needed 7
10) Is permits needed 7 of them
11) What Size Chem tank is needed 7 gallon
12) How much S/H is needed on site 7 gallons
13) What Re Claim equipment is need All 7 of them
14) What Else? 7 more questions you forgot.
15) Cost to get all the above done before starting the work? $7 (see #4 above)
Great questions actually and all would be part of the due diligence process to place a bid. It would be kinda fun to do one here and just see what kinds of questions people come up with.
The magic number is 7?
With all jokes aside, it is good to post and ask these questions. For those who have done buildings over four stories, they can add some insight that would be helpful for the first job at that height.
Fred W said
May 14, 2017
I totally agree Brett. That's why I started this thread
John Aloisio said
May 15, 2017
We have done ten story Marriott and a bunch of jobs that were between 5-8 stories. We just did a six story Hilton Garden Inn a month ago. 6-8 employees can easily get the job done, just need to pick it apart logistically. Safety is key and all your guys should have he proper PPE, but also should have a minimum of OSHA 10 and lift operator certs. A job that size in a downtown setting, OSHA WILL pay you a visit. Have a written safety plan and sc on site and it will make life easier for you. Insurance...if you have Joe Walters, you are most likely not covered properly above 3 stories high. THe reclaim is an animal in itself and will double the cost of the job. Chems are easy if there is a place onsite where you can store safely, just have Univar deliver there and fill up when needed. pumps, we clean everything with 12 volt and have no issues. The biggest issues on these jobs is the water sources, the Windows and most important... Dealing with the safety and chem misting of people and cars. You will most likely need to shut down sidewalks and possibly a street, and permits are needed and sometimes you have to provide police assistance, which you should put in the bid as well. Use red Danger tape, not yellow caution tape. People are conditioned to the yellow tape and just walk right through it. The red danger tape seems to work better. Include an option in your price to clean the Windows after you wash the building, and sub it to the window guy you spoke to. also, when you reclaim or vac up the chems, you can dump them in any sanitary sewer by law. every building has them in parking garages and other areas, you just need to find them and set up a pumping systems.DO NOT dump into the river. The Federal Clean Water is in affect and more policed now more than ever. You will incur fines.
Doug helped me once with some pricing. It might need to be adjusted but it's a good starting place.
1 story 3.25, 2 story 4.25 3 story 5.25 and so on... per LF. This does not include the lift.
I have adjusted these a bit to not over price and have not only done well getting the work but with the end result in the bank.
Hotels are "generally" going to be easier because they don't have balconies or exterior halls most of the time (that tall anyhow).
You can't work the busy hours and you'll need ground guy's. Hopefully Ray can chime in.
Hank
I know. How do you live with yourself? haha.
Good point Bryan!
I don't!
The third … So you're the Fluffer.
Give me a call at 850– 528– 3226, let's talk about it. Hotels are one of our main specialties
Looked at this job this morning and I'm confident I could clean it. But since it's downtown there is no green space and 100% of out runoff will go through the storm drains. Two large street drains and five 12" drains in the parking lot. Who has experience with this?. Even if I had reclaim equipment there's no way I could divert thousands of gallons like that since it's all concrete everywhere.
-- Edited by Bryan P on Monday 8th of May 2017 07:11:04 PM
No retention pond for the parking?
Nope. Everything goes to the Tennessee River two blocks away.
Either clean with salt water or pre-salt a salty body of water and send it down the river. Your move. (No, I can't spell "knowledgeable." However, I can copy and paste.)
Yeah, unfortunately, they won't see it like that. I talked with a window cleaning company today that does a lot of work downtown and they have to reclaim even their filtered waterfed pole water...and every time have to get the city out to see their plan. They've offered to quote providing reclamation for me but if they can't, I'm not gonna bid it. There's seriously nowhere to divert it to, so it would have to be vacuumed up and hauled away. Not gonna do that, we'll have thousands of gallons.
First....CALL RAY
Second....WHY NOT BID???
Sorry to yell at you but you're too far away to slap....:} These are the jobs that can make you money and change the entire direction of your company (if you want it to). How many guys will walk away? Lots.....and they probably know it! You might need to rent a large truck to pump the water into and find a farmers field where you can let it go but all of that costs money. You don't charge them "at cost" because it costs you time to deal with it. Make yor bid large enough that if you win you can smile and say YES!
Look, I've never done the reclaim either but if you need help just call. Obviously Ray is the man to go to but if you just want to bounce stuff around before or after you call him I'm always here.
-- Edited by Baton Rouge Roof Cleaner on Wednesday 10th of May 2017 07:06:59 AM
Thanks Doug for keeping me in line.
It's been a rough couple of weeks. The commercial jobs I've been doing are costing me a fortune and I'm in the hole waiting on checks. So I'm being hard on myself.
Doug how many 7 story Hotels have you washed?
Zero....why?
Because you are pushing a member to wash a 7 story building that has only been washing for a year or 2. Let him work his way up to the bigger jobs. There's more to this then just shooting soap!
-- Edited by Admin on Saturday 13th of May 2017 10:38:39 AM
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by the National Soft Wash Alliance and it's members and while we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
Good Luck!
Bryan,
Call me we have done this on three separate occasions now and the reclaim is not as bad as you think. I have a few tips that might work for you. I am of the mindset if you don't try then you might as well not even answer the phone when a building owner calls. We make a ton a profit on these kind of jobs, just for that reason...most guys just don't want to do it. And the whole money on the street and owed to you, just consider it money in the bank, as long as you have a binding contract. There was a point last year when I had well over six figures owed to me and that was a little nerve racking, but it makes you buckle down and offset with residential.
Bryan is perfectly capable, has his head in the right place and he has the help of guys like Ray, John, myself and many others. There is nothing to fear but fear itself.
Being that this is so easy, Lets get a list together of all the things needed to clean a 7 story building
1) How many Employees
2) Safety Equipment, Whats needed for the Employees and foot traffic
3) What Insurance is needed
4) How much Cash at hand should he have.
5) What Certifications should he and his men have .
6) How many trucks is needed
7) How much Hose is needed, Chem and water
9) What and how many Pumps is needed
10) Is permits needed
11) What Size Chem tank is needed
12) How much S/H is needed on site
13) What Re Claim equipment is need
14) What Else?
15) Cost to get all the above done before starting the work?
Great questions actually and all would be part of the due diligence process to place a bid. It would be kinda fun to do one here and just see what kinds of questions people come up with.
The magic number is 7?
With all jokes aside, it is good to post and ask these questions. For those who have done buildings over four stories, they can add some insight that would be helpful for the first job at that height.
I totally agree Brett. That's why I started this thread
We have done ten story Marriott and a bunch of jobs that were between 5-8 stories. We just did a six story Hilton Garden Inn a month ago. 6-8 employees can easily get the job done, just need to pick it apart logistically. Safety is key and all your guys should have he proper PPE, but also should have a minimum of OSHA 10 and lift operator certs. A job that size in a downtown setting, OSHA WILL pay you a visit. Have a written safety plan and sc on site and it will make life easier for you. Insurance...if you have Joe Walters, you are most likely not covered properly above 3 stories high. THe reclaim is an animal in itself and will double the cost of the job. Chems are easy if there is a place onsite where you can store safely, just have Univar deliver there and fill up when needed. pumps, we clean everything with 12 volt and have no issues. The biggest issues on these jobs is the water sources, the Windows and most important... Dealing with the safety and chem misting of people and cars. You will most likely need to shut down sidewalks and possibly a street, and permits are needed and sometimes you have to provide police assistance, which you should put in the bid as well. Use red Danger tape, not yellow caution tape. People are conditioned to the yellow tape and just walk right through it. The red danger tape seems to work better. Include an option in your price to clean the Windows after you wash the building, and sub it to the window guy you spoke to. also, when you reclaim or vac up the chems, you can dump them in any sanitary sewer by law. every building has them in parking garages and other areas, you just need to find them and set up a pumping systems.DO NOT dump into the river. The Federal Clean Water is in affect and more policed now more than ever. You will incur fines.