One factor most of the 5.9 million commercial buildings in the United States have in common is that they will need a pressure washing service in their lifetime. The high need for this service is inspiring professional contractors to start their own pressure washing companies.
As a professional pressure washer, I know that new blood in our industry is excellent for both customers and professionals. However, more people entering the industry means more mistakes are being made.
I see professionals consistently making the same pressure washing mistakes. Fixing the common mistakes described below can greatly improve our industry’s reputation and expand our customer base.
Leaving streaks on the building
If you are pressure washing a building with powder-coated aluminum frames or glass, it is important that you remove the streaks left by the bleach in your pressure washer. These streaks seem like minor problems, but they take away from the professional look of the building you just cleaned. An abundance of streaks is often the reason why facility managers hire another pressure washing company to fix the old company’s work.
The technique for removing these streaks is a simple fix that goes a long way in making the building you wash look beautiful. Simply rinse the streaks and rub some lubricant on them, and they will go away. You can also use a secondary rinse product designed to neutralize bleach crystals to remove the streaks.
Applying too much pressure
Many professionals don’t realize the power capacity of their pressure washers. Applying too much pressure or standing too close to the building when operating a pressure washer can ruin the facility’s paint job or break a window. Improper pressure washing can also damage other objects, such as cars, plants, and other fixtures around the building.
The best way to avoid using too much pressure is to follow the soft wash method. This method uses a low-pressure nozzle on the end of the pressure washing wand and biodegradable chemicals such as bleach to remove stains, mold, pollen, dirt, and moss while maintaining the integrity of the building surface.
The soft washing method cleans surfaces just as well as higher-pressure methods, but without the risk of damaging the building’s masonry or paint. I recommend using the soft wash method on all commercial buildings and structures, with the exception of aged concrete or older fences. These surfaces usually require a higher water pressure to remove marks and stains on them.
Not owning up to mistakes
Even the most experienced pressure washer professionals make mistakes from time to time. Most customers can forgive a mistake, but they cannot forgive a contractor who won’t admit to damaging property.
Never make the customer pay for your mistakes. This seems like an obvious statement, but far too often contractors don’t heed this advice.
As a professional, you want to overcommunicate with your customers and set expectations that the safety and security of their property is your priority. If water leaks into the interior of the building while you are pressure washing it, stop what you are doing until you can find a way to stop the leakage. If you can’t stop the leakage, let the client know and give them a refund.
Ethical work practice requires that you be willing to stop a job when things go wrong, even if you lose money. If you make a mistake or break something on the property, let the client know what happened and commit to fixing it as soon as possible.
It is essential in our industry to build relationships and goodwill with our customers. Doing so will ensure your power washing company receives referrals, making your business more successful and profitable.
