Nightmare Job - Bidding

[WelchPwrCln]

I am bidding on walkways around the outside of a 4 story building. The total square footage is 17,920, littered with gum, spread equally over the 4 sides of the 4 stories. We charge anywhere from .05 - .10 $ square foot for flat work but the gum and the logistic nightmare of having to work a huge space spread out so annoyingly has got to cost something. I am looking at 0.15$ sq ft total, which should cover gas, diesel, extension hose to reach up and around the building as well as paying my help. If it was all flat work and the surface was right in front of me as in not spread out over 16 sides of a multi story building it would be a lot cheaper right? Does .15$ sq ft seem like a reasonable rate for such a pain in my behind? If it makes a difference the building is part of a University but its summer so we can work on our own schedule but I am having a hard time deciding how long it will take just because of all the non sense associated with hooking up 50 feet high and working our way down. We can only reach 2 sides of the building at a time so we will have to move the truck to do the opposite side as well...this is our first large job and any input will be appreciated.

 

[jetstream1]

Is 2,688 what you want to make of this job well then again you have helper gas chem and tax ..so by time you get done oh plus the man hours...

How fast can you get this job done any pic??

 

[WelchPwrCln]

I am thinking it might take most of two days it might be an all day affair one day, but I was wrong on my Sq. Ft before it's 15,360

 

[Cat Powerwash]

I would charge around .25-.35 per square foot. Gas prices are high, you need to remove each piece of gum with the wand which takes time, apply a cleaner to the concrete, run a surface cleaner over everything then apply oxcilic or citrilic acid to brighten.

 

[WelchPwrCln]

I put it in at just under $.25 a sq ft. we give discounts to schools although not much of one

 

[AmeriProClean]

Always keep in mind what your expenses are such as;
1) Equipment needed to get the job done, you should already know what % needed to go toward your equipment per job for repairs and new equipment.
2) Liability Insurance %per job
3) Workman Comp %
4) Employee wages, taxes and etc. what %?
5) Chemicals % per job
6) Vehicle cost of wear and tare (mileage) including fuel. %
7) What you want to make on the job personally
8) After all the expenses above you should have at least a 15% profit to put back into your business. This 15% will go toward advertisment, phones, or any other hiden cost.

This is just the basics for a successfull business practice.

 

[PRO WINDOW]

Have you seen the vap-steamer yet?? For the gum !! This would help speed things up!! Drop me a quick reply !! Thanks, stan, pro window kleening

 

[WelchPwrCln]

Does it really take steam to get gum up or will my surface cleaner at 180-240 get it in the first pass? I assume I will be doing at least a little scraping but the plan is to have two guys work together one getting gum specifically with the wand and scraper the other running the surface cleaner, if the gum comes up it shouldn't be that much trouble as that we have access the an elevator so we'e not hiking equipment up stairs and once we get to each floor its flat work with mild the medium gum. I feel a lot better about the deal now that we have the bid in and got positive feedback. I will be sure to post when I hear back from him.

 

[Henry Bockman]

congrads on getting the job! I'm glad to see that your charging more for it instead of the regular going rates for concrete cleaning. I've been saying for a while that prices need to go up.

 

[TLC Sweeping]

I think your going to be doing gum removal with a wand and just use a little heat and it should come right up. I have never had much luck getting gum to come up from a surface cleaner, but a wand will do the trick for you

 

[A-PLUS]

I agree with Terry on the gum removal. A wand and hot water will do the trick.
Your surface will soften it a bit due the heat, but to much.
Good luck and take some before and afters.

 

[WelchPwrCln]

If we land the contract I will be sure to post pictures. It is the arts and humanities building at UAB where I took Business 101 last year. We got positive feedback from the head of the maintenance department who submits the bid to whomever is in charge of the budget. If everything goes as it should we will get word early next week. Thanks again to everyone on the pwn board not just on this thread, there is no chance we could have gotten all this together without your help.

 

[DAFF]

I don't get the idea of the surface cleaners. yes they seem like a great investment but the results are 50/50. What about the expansion joints and the areas which need the extra care for cleaning. To me a 6' long lance with an arch and the right equipment will beat the surface cleaner hands down. For gum heat is the key, the hotter the better.

DAFF

 

[TLC Sweeping]

I have been using a surface cleaner now for about 13 years and would never look back, it is the best tool out there for doing flat work. I f you know how to use them they will save not only water and time but get the surface way cleaner. Yes I do gum with a wand but I allways clean first with a surface clean and go back and do a rinse with a wand to get the gum and cut in what I need too. Now if I'm doing a monthly and I have cleaned it with a surface cleaner the next time or two I can use a wand on it and make good time. But I allways use the surface cleaner the first time and then about ever third time and they stay real clean and nice. Joints are not a problem with them either they don't do any harm that I have seen in all the years I have used them, I see more damage done from wands and people not knowing how to use them the right way as in gum removal and burning holes in the surface from pressure and not using heat.

Trust me if you have never use them before and try one out, you will say WOW why did I not use them before now , they are that good

 

[Mark]

[whatup]
Over the years I can recall many power wash contractors that told me they can outclean any surface cleaner, using the wand. They have all eventually bought surface cleaners which they use almost daily.

 

[WelchPwrCln]

Surface cleaners are what makes us money anyone who hasn't tried one is missing out and if you can't afford one you need to start saving. That is just my opinion based on my limited experience, and we plan to use a 24'' Twister on the job in question. My question is will the surface cleaner at high heat take the gum up? The plan is to surface clean each area and then use the wand to rinse and take care of the tight spots the surface cleaner cant reach then switch on the burner and wipe out the gum.

 

[DAFF]

I have seen other companies use them in the past and wasn't really wowed with the results. Has anyone tried running 14-20GPM through one @2500psi??? While cleaning concrete we run a 2525tip which will clean a 4"-5" band in a single swipe. Perhaps it is time to at least try one. I guess you can play with the tips to achieve the proper rate of flow.

DAFF

 

[TLC Sweeping]

For gum even with Heat your not going to get it up unless you have an attactment on the front that blasts water and is made for gum. Wand is the best thing for gum and fastest way of getting it up. As far as surface cleaners go and leaving stripes it seems to be all in learning how fast to walk and the surface your cleaning, if they are real smooth and not porus they can go faster but if they are porus you better walk slower or it won't work as well but it is still faster and does a better job then a wand for real dirty concrete.
It is all in learning the surface being cleaned and you will learn fast too LOL But they are very good at saving time and water and they clean like crazy. My system puts out 8GPM at 3000 PSI and the twister is what I'm using and it does a great job on leaving no striping, but it is all in how fast you walk so remember that if you use one and it will make life much easier

 

[WelchPwrCln]

My surface cleaner has a 3 sprayer jet on the front that acts like a water broom, will that take the gum up? I suppose I could try it and find out but since the job is not mine and I am still in the planning phase that is not really an option. I hate to be redundant but I feel like these are questions worth considering.

 

[TLC Sweeping]

I think that will only wash or rinse and not remove gum, they have a jet attactment for taking gum up you can mount on your twister, I think they are around 100 bucks to add. Mark will know more about that as he sells them.