| The industry of pressure washing or power washing | | | | process. All this boils down to giving the pressure |
| has never been considered, by most, to be a serious | | | | washing industry a bad image, which breeds more fly |
| profession. With typically low start up costs, many fly | | | | by night companies with the misconception that |
| by night companies come and go leaving a bad taste | | | | pressure washing is easy and that anybody can start |
| in the mouth of many unsatisfied customers. It happens | | | | up with a few dollars and do it. It also forces a lot of |
| in all industries, but the pressure washing industry | | | | homeowners to result to doing their own pressure |
| seems to attract almost anybody out of a job or sick | | | | washing which can be dangerous and definitely |
| of working for the man. | | | | painstaking. |
| A couple hundred dollars and a trip to the local home | | | | The pressure washing industry, in my opinion, is in need |
| improvement store to purchase a pressure washer, | | | | of an organization or association that could require |
| and they are in business. They hit the road running with | | | | contractors to become licensed. Such an organization |
| the attitude that they are going to be the next | | | | could set in place rules and guidelines and offer testing |
| millionaire. On a shoestring budget, they print up their | | | | and membership opportunities. This would help |
| own fliers to hang on telephone poles and go knocking | | | | homeowners in choosing only a reputable company |
| door to door asking for work only to be let down by | | | | that would meet these guidelines or that were licensed. |
| an enormous wave of no's. | | | | There have been attempts by organizations in this |
| To combat their lack of marketing and sales | | | | industry in the past, but their focus has gone off |
| knowledge, many of these companies fall into the trap | | | | course and contractors have turned their backs on |
| of offering a lower price than the competition, or low | | | | them. |
| balling in a desperate attempt to get work. They offer | | | | There is a ban of reputable pressure washing |
| ridiculously low prices and then have to take short cuts | | | | contractors, spread out all over the country that I |
| in order to make a profit. Many of them can't afford | | | | believe are the future and possibly only hope of this |
| general liability insurance or workman's compensation | | | | industry. They network by internet, phone, informal |
| insurance so they operate without it. | | | | meetings, conventions, and round tables during all times |
| With their less than mediocre equipment and | | | | of the year. They provide free information to each |
| knowledge, they damage your property and give you | | | | other and to new contractors interested in pursuing a |
| a horrible service. Some of the horror stories my | | | | career in pressure washing. |
| customers have told me about their past experiences | | | | Many have participated in what they call "labor for |
| with one of these types of companies are disturbing to | | | | learning" where they invite a new, inexperienced |
| say the least. From blowing out people's window | | | | contractor to come and work with them, and |
| screens to leaving wand marks all over their vinyl | | | | unselfishly show them the ropes in trade for some |
| siding or scarring up their expensive decks to putting | | | | labor. This is a great concept because there is no |
| an inferior sealer on it. | | | | better way to learn something than by hands on |
| I've heard it all and the scarier part is; what have these | | | | experience. Others have also given away free |
| kinds of companies done to their property that they | | | | valuable information through formal and informal |
| didn't see? Things like forcing water in behind the vinyl | | | | presentations at round table meetings, helping to shave |
| siding by using too much water pressure or using only | | | | years off of the learning curve of newer contractors. |
| water to clean the home, meaning the mold and | | | | Many also give away their knowledge by participating |
| mildew would return in a few months because it was | | | | on message boards on the internet, helping others on a |
| never killed and because they did not apply a | | | | daily basis. They network together to hone their own |
| protective wax to prevent re-growth. I've heard of | | | | skills and to teach others the correct methods and |
| some unethical contractors cutting their customers | | | | techniques that are involved in providing a quality |
| deck stain 50% with mineral spirits to cut down own | | | | pressure washing service. This is all in an attempt, by |
| their costs. | | | | people who are passionate about what they do, to |
| Some even skip the important step of wood | | | | solidify the professionalism of the pressure washing |
| brightening or neutralizing during the wood restoration | | | | industry in the eye of the public. |