Quoting a Roof that hasn't been cleaned in 20 years
EthanB said
Apr 29, 2022
I am curious to hear how everyone quotes extremely dirty roofs. I cleaned a roof the other day and multiple sections were north facing and had never been cleaned in 20 years. Those sections before treating were solidly black. After the first treatment the shingles cleaned up in some parts but there was still some pretty heavy brown stains. I rinsed it down and then treated it a second time. The stains were so heavy that even after the second treatment there was still a faint brown so I spot treated a third time. My bleach was fresh and I was using a 50/50 mix each time.
I charged $750 because it was a 2500 sq ft home with a pretty large 4 car garage on the side and they wanted me to soft wash the siding of their second floor. At the end of the day I ended up using about 40 gallons of bleach since the roof was so badly stained. I am thinking in the future of saying that my price includes one treatment and additional treatments will be $150 or more extra depending on the size of the area that needs to be retreated. I'm curious to hear how other people quote/handle extremely stained roofs.
Jeff Wible said
Apr 30, 2022
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 said
Apr 30, 2022
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 said
Apr 30, 2022
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 said
Apr 30, 2022
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 said
Apr 30, 2022
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 said
May 1, 2022
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 said
May 1, 2022
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!
Admin said
May 17, 2022
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 said
May 18, 2022
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 said
May 18, 2022
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 said
May 19, 2022
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 said
May 19, 2022
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!
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
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!
We were responding at the same time! Interesting how we basically said the same thing. Great minds huh!
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!
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!
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!
*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!