Rookie here, needs help again

AllCleanPW

AllCleanPW

New member
Hey Everyone! I just got a call from a perspective client, she has an old building/warehouse that needs to be cleaned inside, building it's all empty, it has aprox. 2400 SQFT. They exposed all the rafters. She wants everything to be cleaned from top to bottom (Rafters, ceiling, walls and concrete floor), they have an scissor lift available. Building is about 20 ft high. (I don't have pictures available yet. I will be meeting her in a couple of hours and I will try to get some pictures). So at this point I have no idea in how really dirty it is. So here some of my questions. For a 1 guy operation, I got a trailer with a 3500PSI x 5 GL unit cold/hot. - For those experts out there, how long would take for you to do this job? and How much you would charge? I haven't a lot of experience, I have done most flat work and some houses. Ok, I think that's all ... for now.

Thanks guys,


Gus
 
AllCleanPW said:
Hey Everyone! I just got a call from a perspective client, she has an old building/warehouse that needs to be cleaned inside, building it's all empty, it has aprox. 2400 SQFT. They exposed all the rafters. She wants everything to be cleaned from top to bottom (Rafters, ceiling, walls and concrete floor), they have an scissor lift available. Building is about 20 ft high. (I don't have pictures available yet. I will be meeting her in a couple of hours and I will try to get some pictures). So at this point I have no idea in how really dirty it is. So here some of my questions. For a 1 guy operation, I got a trailer with a 3500PSI x 5 GL unit cold/hot. - For those experts out there, how long would take for you to do this job? and How much you would charge? I haven't a lot of experience, I have done most flat work and some houses. Ok, I think that's all ... for now.

Thanks guys,


Gus
Click to expand...

That equals out to about 9000sqft to be cleand. At .15 per square, that's $1350, but I would tell her you will drop it to .10 per square for the use of her lift making it $900.


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There is no way we would clean inside a warehouse/building for less than 4 grand I don't care how small it is. You have to deal with electricity and water at the least your going to need to tape all the outlets and lockout out the electric. Your going to need some way to recover all the water be it a reclaim system or just squeege's and air movers. If you don't even know how to price the job you probably shouldn't attempt it. Washing inside a building is not a job for someone new to the business sometimes its better to pass on a job that's out of your scope or bring someone in who knows what they are doing. just my 2 cents please don't get offended.
 
greg/sd said:
There is no way we would clean inside a warehouse/building for less than 4 grand I don't care how small it is. You have to deal with electricity and water at the least your going to need to tape all the outlets and lockout out the electric. Your going to need some way to recover all the water be it a reclaim system or just squeege's and air movers. If you don't even know how to price the job you probably shouldn't attempt it. Washing inside a building is not a job for someone new to the business sometimes its better to pass on a job that's out of your scope or bring someone in who knows what they are doing. just my 2 cents please don't get offended.
Click to expand...

+1000 I couldn't have said it better myself Greg.
 
Something to think about is since it is old and empty, there could be a bird/pigeon infestation which changes the game to a totally different situation as you are now dealing with over 120 known diseases in bird droppings, I would look into this before you do anything else as this changes everything if birds are in there/have been in there.

Very seldom is an empty warehouse a simple wash job, there are always things that are not known or talked about that arise.
 
Vince a couple of months back we received a frantic called to clean a winery that some dumb a** had bid at less than 1000 dollars. The plant manager had shut down for the week then the pressure washer didn't show up the first day and the second day worked about an hour then informed the manager he couldn't finish the job. The plant manager didn't like my price and chose not to get use us. They lost a whole week of production and 12 2000 gallon vats of wine. I would be willing to bet the manager doesn't work there anymore. All because they called a one man show and not a professional pressure washing company.
 
Be careful washing with a scissors lift the water will run down and short them out sometimes when you wash directly above them. Your pricing will depend on the job and what is all involved. 900-1000 is ok if there are not a lot of electrical issues, or no pigeons, etc.... but if its an warehouse with a ton of electrical and an active winery then maybe 4000 is correct. I would say go look first and get back to them later after you figure out all that you have to do to complete the job. I know I have had it in my bids that all power to the building is off and must be inspected by a lic. electrician before being turned back on, now its on them to make sure nothing is damaged by any potential water infiltration.
 
Hey Gus,

Good on you for asking before you bid it. Here's how I'd look at it.

Don't price it over the phone. You won't know how dirty it is until you're standing in it. When you meet her, take pictures of the rafters up close, and do a small test spot on the wall and the floor. That one spot tells you more than anything we can guess from here.

Price it by time, not just square feet. That 2,400 sq ft is just the floor. With 20 ft walls and open rafters, you're cleaning a lot more surface than that, and most of it is overhead from a lift. Figure out how many days it'll really take you working solo, then multiply by your daily rate plus chemical, fuel and lift time. Add a cushion, because overhead work always takes longer than you think.

Ask her these before you quote:
  • Is there power and water on site, and where do the drains go? Indoor water has to go somewhere.
  • Is anything electrical live: lights, panels, outlets? Those get covered and shut off.
  • What's on the rafters? Dust and cobwebs are easy. Grease, bird droppings or old insulation is a different job and a different price.
  • Is she painting afterward? Then she needs it clean enough to paint, not showroom clean.

Work top to bottom. Rafters and ceiling first, then walls, then the floor last, so you're not cleaning the floor twice.

Protect yourself. Make sure your insurance covers interior work and lift use, and get a written scope that says exactly what "clean" means before you start.

Your 3500 PSI hot/cold rig can do it. It just won't be fast as a one-man show. If you get the pictures, post them here and the guys will help you dial in the number. Or text me at (480) 522-5227.

— Ron Musgraves
 
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