| Power washing is the application of high | | | | time-efficient. If you are dissatisfied, |
| pressure water spray. Some of the most | | | | don't hesitate in telling them so. In the |
| popular services include the cleaning of | | | | long run you will have saved them both time |
| concrete patios, sidewalks, decks, house | | | | and effort.Inquire about Equipment. Is it |
| siding, entrance ways, and driveways. In the | | | | owed or rented? Owed or leased equipment is |
| hands of a qualified pressure washing | | | | evidence of a long term commitment to the |
| individual, the results can be astonishing, | | | | field of pressure washing. Renting shows only |
| and well worth the investment.However, in the | | | | an occasional need for equipment. Also ask |
| hands of an unqualified person, the results | | | | about the extent or power of their equipment. |
| can be quite devastating. Water this powerful | | | | For most pressure washing jobs they will have |
| has the strength to cut wood and damage most | | | | equipment ranging at 11-15 HP (horsepower, |
| surfaces. In the hands of the unskilled, the | | | | strength), 3000-4000 PSI (pound per square |
| risk of damage is greatly increased, if not | | | | inch, force) and 3-5 GPM (gallons per minute, |
| inevitable. For homeowners previously unaware | | | | flow). While for the most, they will not be |
| of this danger, it has cost them dearly. | | | | using their equipment at full power, |
| Don't fall victim to this.Pressure washing | | | | equipment of this caliber provides the head |
| requires SKILL and KNOWLEDGE. No common Joe | | | | room and adequacy for doing business. A |
| can move the spray wand more accurately, more | | | | rating of 2000 PSI and 2 GPM or less, is a |
| consistently, and more effectively, than the | | | | residential grade of equipment. It will not |
| qualified power washing specialist. Fail to | | | | perform at the level of doing business |
| realize the skill of the trade and you may be | | | | (possible evidence of a substandard service |
| setting yourself up for unwanted | | | | provider).Get Referrals. These provide the |
| dissatisfaction and costly damage.Finding a | | | | consumer with a detailed track record of a |
| Qualified Power Washing Specialist.Educate | | | | contractors past work experience. Just |
| Yourself. This is the primary defense in | | | | remember, a pressure washing business is |
| protecting yourself from under-qualified and | | | | called to perform any number of different |
| poor quality jobs. Once the consumer | | | | cleaning services. Whether it be siding, |
| understands a service and what's involved, | | | | decks, sidewalks, gutters, patios, or |
| they will be well equipped to distinquish | | | | driveways, be sure the referrals and |
| cut-rate jobs from quality workmanship. | | | | references you receive are representative of |
| Realize the possibility for damage exists, | | | | the service you desire. For instance, someone |
| and cut-rate performance increases your | | | | seeking deck cleaning should receive deck |
| exposure to costly repairs. Knowing what's | | | | cleaning referrals, not vinyl siding |
| involved is your protection.Educate Yourself | | | | cleaning. As for a number of referrals, the |
| -Family, Friends, and Neighbors. There are | | | | more the better, but 6-12 should suffice. And |
| several ways of educating yourself. First of | | | | don't forget, once you have the referrals, |
| which, is to consult your friends, family, | | | | use them. Ask specific questions concerning |
| and neighbors. It may be that some of them | | | | quality, workmanship, expected outcomes, |
| are already familiar with the service you | | | | cleaning procedures, business character, and |
| desire. They may already be knowledgeable of | | | | satisfaction.Satisfaction and Billing |
| the application, procedures, outcomes, and | | | | Policies. A number of power washing |
| liabilities of your situation. They may even | | | | businesses offer various policies that help |
| refer you to a qualified contractor. | | | | ensure customer satisfaction. One of which, |
| Likewise, they may advise you to avoid a | | | | is the suspension of billing until job |
| certain business that is notorious for poor | | | | completion and customer satisfaction. Ask the |
| service.Educate Yourself -The Internet. There | | | | contractor, in the event of customer |
| is a wealth of information pertaining to | | | | dissatisfaction, what their policy |
| power washing on the Internet. This page and | | | | is.Insurance. Check to see if your contractor |
| many others supply information for both the | | | | carries liability insurance. A qualified |
| homeowner and the professional. Check | | | | pressure washing contractor, realizing their |
| pressure washing home pages, consumer groups, | | | | responsibility, will have taken the time to |
| and bulletin boards. All of these will help. | | | | protect both themselves and their clients |
| Simply type "power washing" or "pressure | | | | from possible on-site accidents, injury, or |
| washing" in any major search engine or try | | | | damage.Be Present at Job Duration and |
| the other consumer guides provided by Carved | | | | Completion. This is your way of observing |
| Stone Publications to get yourself | | | | work activity as it takes place. It gives you |
| started.Educate Yourself -Keep Your Eyes | | | | an idea of what is involved in pressure |
| Open. As you commute across town, keep your | | | | washing and allows to see cleaning results as |
| eyes open for pressure washing specialists at | | | | they occur. Quite often, the results in |
| work. Don't be afraid to approach them and | | | | cleaning are remarkable and the consumer |
| inquire about their service. This is an | | | | should experience this process first hand. |
| excellent time to see the process of power | | | | You actually see the effectiveness and value |
| washing at work as well as to ask any | | | | of the service for which you will be paying. |
| questions you may have. Most power washing | | | | It settles the mind, knowing you have |
| contractors should be very excited to explain | | | | received good service for your hard earned |
| their service, its strengths and its | | | | dollar. Being present also allows you to head |
| limitations.Educate Yourself -Talk to the | | | | off any problems and catch any areas that may |
| Pros. Refer to your Yellow pages (Deck | | | | be missed or improved upon. A contractor is |
| Cleaning, Pressure Washing, Power Washing, | | | | much happier to improve such areas (ensuring |
| Water Pressure Cleaning, etc.) and any other | | | | satisfaction) during the job, than to return |
| advertisements you may encounter. From these, | | | | later in the future. Returning consumes |
| contact several pressure washing contractors, | | | | enormous time and effort for which the |
| inquiring about service, consultation, and | | | | contractor is probably not getting paid. |
| estimates. Even if you receive a beautiful | | | | Again another benefit for both |
| flier on your doorstep, be sure to call other | | | | parties.Summary.A quality power washing |
| contractors. This is your greatest | | | | specialist will have several key |
| protection. Talk to multiple contractors, | | | | characteristics. First, they know what they |
| asking them specific questions on service, | | | | are doing. They are familiar with their |
| procedures, expected outcomes, and | | | | service, the industry, and what's involved in |
| possibilities for damage. Together you will | | | | each. Second, they have the resources in |
| receive a more complete picture of the | | | | equipment, skill, knowledge, and talent to do |
| service, weeding out obvious inconsistencies | | | | the job you desire. They perform their job |
| in service.Meet the Contractor During the | | | | with quality workmanship and professionalism. |
| Estimate. Meet the contractor face-to-face | | | | They are responsible for the work they |
| during the estimate. By doing this, you and | | | | provide and are committed in following |
| the contractor will take the time to evaluate | | | | through on quality and satisfaction. They |
| the site together. This betters the channels | | | | take great care and pride in the service they |
| of communication between the two parties, and | | | | provide. In all, the quality power washing |
| reduces errors in the estimating process. | | | | specialist looks to develop long term |
| Besides improved communication, this is | | | | relationships with their clients. They are |
| perhaps the best way to judge the character | | | | present both now and in the future for |
| and overall presentation of the pressure | | | | follow-up and continued service. They will |
| washing contractor.Risks and Expected | | | | not abandon their clients, never to be heard |
| Outcomes. A qualified contractor will take | | | | of or seen again. Basically, in pride, they |
| the time to review your site, ask questions | | | | stand behind the work they do.Our company |
| and seek out areas of concern. They will | | | | wishes the best in finding a professional |
| listen to your every word and interpret the | | | | power washing service. We welcome the input |
| service you desire and expect. In turn, they | | | | of those who seek to improve our industry and |
| will also review with you, the strengths and | | | | help the fellow consumer. Thank you.Power |
| limitations of their service.Get Written | | | | Washing is an excellent method of of removing |
| Estimates. Having a detailed written estimate | | | | dirt, mold and mildew which causes the |
| protects both you (the consumer) and the | | | | deterioration of your homes exterior |
| pressure washing contractor. It should | | | | surfaces. Whether your home is wood frame, |
| explicitly state the desired service, | | | | brick, siding or stucco power washing will |
| expected outcome and complete costing in time | | | | clean and restore its original beauty and |
| and material. Keep in mind, less cost can | | | | remove unsightly stains.Deck wood on patios |
| mean (and probably does mean) less quality | | | | turns a greyish color after being exposed to |
| and service. Basically, you get what you pay | | | | a harsh Chicago winter for a couple of years. |
| for.Procedures Listing. For popular and | | | | Power washing will expose the beauty of the |
| frequently demanded cleaning jobs (i.e., deck | | | | natural wood grain which is being masked by |
| cleaning/refinishing), a pressure washing | | | | dirt, tree sap etc.This cleaning will also |
| contractor may supply a procedures listing. | | | | curtail premature wood rot and decay which |
| This brief listing outlines the steps that | | | | would be much more expensive to remedy. Power |
| will be taken during your particular job. It | | | | washing is also effective for cleaning |
| may be a separate sheet or part of the | | | | concrete. Whether you are trying to clean |
| estimate. In either case, this can be a very | | | | your patio stairs or walkway its appearance |
| helpful tool in comparing one service to | | | | will greatly improve after power |
| another, understanding the entire process, | | | | washing.Aluminum and vinyl siding can also |
| analyzing cost comparisons, and weeding out | | | | retain its new look by regularly power |
| possible low quality service providers.Ask | | | | washing it with a mild detergent. Siding is |
| for a Demonstration. This is not always | | | | meant to be a lifetime improvement to the |
| required, but if you are not sure about job | | | | exterior of your home (low maintenance) so |
| outcome or expectations, a demonstration of a | | | | why not take care as such with a regular |
| service may settle your mind. Make a | | | | cleaning schedule (once or twice every couple |
| demonstration mandatory if you can not be | | | | of years).Power washing can be very effective |
| present at job start-up or if the service has | | | | in removing deposits prior to a painting job |
| few job satisfaction policies. As a note, | | | | on the exterior of your home.The longevity of |
| demonstrations take an enormous amount of | | | | your new paint job will be greatly enhanced |
| time from the contractor. Often they will try | | | | because the sub surface was properly cleaned |
| to forgo demonstrations, asking the client to | | | | and prepared. A mild cleaning in the years to |
| be on-site during the estimate and/or job | | | | come of your new paint job will also lengthen |
| startup in order for you to evaluate work | | | | the life span of that new paint work. A-1 |
| performance. This is not uncommon. Quality | | | | Window Cleaning & Power Washing CO. We are |
| pressure washing contractors are in high | | | | located in Moberly, MO. serving Mid-Missouri |
| demand and are very busy. They are just | | | | and Central Missouri area. |
| trying to make the whole process more | | | | |