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[rholt9]

I am new to the pressure washing business. I have a few customers that are interested in having their homes pressure washed. I would like to have a starting point for estimating as I don't have any job costing history for this type of work. Do you guys chargeby the square foot and if so, what is the average. The first house I am looking to do is a 2 story home, roughly 2000 square feet of vinyl siding. Thanks all for your help.

[CCPC]

I base my prices on how much I need to charge to run my business successfully while drawing the salary that I'd like to make.

[gabomatias]

i charge 200 a day peer machine without any chemicals
with chemicals i charge the normal rate plus 2times what ever i spent on chemicals

[CCPC]

$200 a day is real low. Also, if your not using chemicals on certain jobs than you ain't cleanin'.

[rholt9]

ccpc....I know all about pricing my other jobs. It sounds like you are scared or against sharing your pricing and that is fine. Your post was completely unhelpful. I know after we do 3-5 we will have a good idea on our pricing. I just needed a starting point. Don't really understand your post and what you were trying to achieve.

[CCPC]

ccpc....I know all about pricing my other jobs. It sounds like you are scared or against sharing your pricing and that is fine. Your post was completely unhelpful. I know after we do 3-5 we will have a good idea on our pricing. I just needed a starting point. Don't really understand your post and what you were trying to achieve.

Running a business isn't easy, and understanding your expenses, market, target demographic, salary requirements for you and your employees, and many other areas that would dictate how much YOU need to charge for YOUR business to be successful is a necessity.
Don't worry about what other people are charging, as my business, or someone else's business model can be completely different than yours. Also, geography can greatly impact the pricing structure of a pressure washing business. I'm a Florida pressure washing company (http://www.ccpressureclean.com), my market is completely different than yours up in MD. Which means that my pricing structure wouldn't help you understand what you need to charge for your area, or to meet your businesses individual needs.

[drz400sm]

ok fellas, i'm new to lawn care but pressure washing is my forte.
Here is a little hint charge 10 cents a square foot and you should do fine.
For gutters go for $1 a linear foot .

I love pressure washing but you need the right equipment to make the money. Get atleast 13hp 4000psi with 4gallon per minute.
The galllon per minut is a big deal. You dont always need to use high psi.

Chlorine is your best friend.
hope that helps

pricing example....2000 sq ft home $200 and takes about 1hr to 1 1/2

[rholt9]

ccpc...I understand, I just needed a roundabout starting point.

drz400...thanks for you advice. We have a 3800 psi/4.5 gpm unit. $200 seems cheap to me. We bid it at $300 and the person didn't even flinch. One other question...it's a two story house, would you still say it should only take 1.5 hours? Thanks all.

[CCPC]

ccpc...I understand, I just needed a roundabout starting point.

drz400...thanks for you advice. We have a 3800 psi/4.5 gpm unit. $200 seems cheap to me. We bid it at $300 and the person didn't even flinch. One other question...it's a two story house, would you still say it should only take 1.5 hours? Thanks all.

Again, he gave you an estimated time of 1.5 hours, which is very subject to the company who's doing the cleaning. He could be running an 8gpm machine, and have been PW for 15 years. The point I' making is that your asking questions that have so many variables it really won't do you much good.

Hence the price thing, I told you that geography can play a large role in what you should charge, and how much you may need to charge. Florida is a cut throat market, full of low ballers. Your area may not be that way, hence you can charge more for you r services.

The only questions that are somewhat universal no matter what part of the country you live in are some of the marketing stuff, equipment, cleaning methods, etc.

[drz400sm]

Again, he gave you an estimated time of 1.5 hours, which is very subject to the company who's doing the cleaning. He could be running an 8gpm machine, and have been PW for 15 years. The point I' making is that your asking questions that have so many variables it really won't do you much good.

Hence the price thing, I told you that geography can play a large role in what you should charge, and how much you may need to charge. Florida is a cut throat market, full of low ballers. Your area may not be that way, hence you can charge more for you r services.

The only questions that are somewhat universal no matter what part of the country you live in are some of the marketing stuff, equipment, cleaning methods, etc.

ccpc is correct. It may take me that time but it all depends on the equipment. Personally I think you can do it in that time frame with a 4000 psi 4gpm machine. You need to have the right tip. It shoots a stream about 25 ft. I would also get familiar with the term xjet. It shoots chemical onto the house making it easier to clean. You just rinse off after the application.

hope that helps.
By the way I very rarely get on ladders using this method.

[brbhan]

drz400sm is quoted:
"ccpc is correct. It may take me that time but it all depends on the equipment. Personally I think you can do it in that time frame with a 4000 psi 4gpm machine. You need to have the right tip. It shoots a stream about 25 ft. I would also get familiar with the term xjet. It shoots chemical onto the house making it easier to clean. You just rinse off after the application."

*****************
Academic question only: Is it not true of PW equipment that chemical suction only occurs using a LOW pressure tip? How, then, could a 25ft 'chemical' stream be achieved? I am not a pro but own 3,000psi equipment for diy purposes and that is my limited experience. Thanks

[CCPC]

0030 nozzle

[FCPWLLC]

drz400sm is quoted:
"ccpc is correct. It may take me that time but it all depends on the equipment. Personally I think you can do it in that time frame with a 4000 psi 4gpm machine. You need to have the right tip. It shoots a stream about 25 ft. I would also get familiar with the term xjet. It shoots chemical onto the house making it easier to clean. You just rinse off after the application."

*****************
Academic question only: Is it not true of PW equipment that chemical suction only occurs using a LOW pressure tip? How, then, could a 25ft 'chemical' stream be achieved? I am not a pro but own 3,000psi equipment for diy purposes and that is my limited experience. Thanks

Low pressure is needed to draw chems through injector. We do this with zero degree, large oriffice tips such as the one Lance stated. In the case of the 4gpm machine, 0030 tip works well to reach 25 feet at a low pressure. Just like the black tip you have that sprays a wide pattern but instead sprays a straight pattern.

Here is a 0040 tip shooting to the heights needed to wash most houses. The higher the flow, the better. This one was a 5.6 gpm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NoU_t1p4Qs

[brbhan]

That clears up the fog:confused:. Thanks.
Seems 4000psi/4gpm is what separates the men from the boys.
[My toy is only 3gpm/2800psi:laugh:]

Low pressure is needed to draw chems through injector. We do this with zero degree, large oriffice tips such as the one Lance stated. In the case of the 4gpm machine, 0030 tip works well to reach 25 feet at a low pressure. Just like the black tip you have that sprays a wide pattern but instead sprays a straight pattern.

Here is a 0040 tip shooting to the heights needed to wash most houses. The higher the flow, the better. This one was a 5.6 gpm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NoU_t1p4Qs