BUFFALO POWER WASHING BUFFALO, DECK RESTORATION BUFFALO, CONCRETE SEALING BUFFALO, BUFFALO, NY

Choosing a power washing contractor or a wood stainer is not easy. Why? Because you are bombarded with misleading advertising, confusing claims, and bad information. From super-low prices and high pressure sales, to unqualified contractors and near worthless methods. How do you ever find a qualified, competent professional power washing contractor?

You start by reading this free report. In this fact filled section, you will discover how to avoid the power washing rip-offs, misconceptions of power washing and mistakes to avoid when choosing a contractor.

We have dedicated our business to consumer education and service. We welcome your inquiries and we will gladly answer your questions over the telephone or through e-mail. We wrote this guide to help you better understand the power washing and wood restoration industry. After reading this report, you will be able to make an informed, intelligent decision when hiring a contractor.

How to avoid power washing rip-offs

Rip-off #1: Unbelievably low price: To some degree, all of us are attracted to low price because we want to work within a budget. But some power washers use price as a bait in order to land a job. They are hoping you are basing your buying decision on price alone and if they are cheapest, they will get the job. Unfortunately, once they get the job, they have to take shortcuts in order to make a profit. Professional power washing is not as cheap as some unethical power washers would like you to believe. Make sure you are paying for the level of quality you expect.

Rip-Off #2: Crafty claims like: We use hot water or high pressure. You may read this in ads, or hear this from contractors. High temperature and high pressure should not be used in every situation. Both can cause damage when not used properly. Hot water is not necessary on residential jobs and many contractors use way too much pressure when cleaning. Too much pressure forces water behind the siding and damages wood. We rely on our cleaners to do the work, use the right amount of pressure and hot water if necessary. The result is your property is thoroughly clean and undamaged.

Rip-off #3: Offering to wash anything and everything. Contractors wash many different things, from houses to tractors and from decks to parking lots. A company offering to wash anything and everything may look impressive, but that’s a sign of not being established. There are a lot of fly by night companies that come and go and will offer to wash anything for a dollar. However, they never really get good at one thing. Make sure you hire a contractor that specializes in just a handful of the services you are interested in.

Rip-Off #4: “We will beat any written estimate” Contractors often use these types of slogans to lure the customer. Once they get to your home to start the work, they will have to cut corners to make up for the lost revenue. Sometimes they will talk you into services you don’t need. These contractors are a sure sign of a fly by night.

Rip-Off #5: Be careful of the contractors that do not have names for their business or the contractors that won’t put their company name on there estimate sheets. Every legitimate contractor will have a name for their business. Their estimate sheets will contain their company name, address and phone number. If you hire contractors with no names for their business, you run the risk of being ripped off.

Rip-Off #6: Be careful of crafty advertising. Sometimes, fly-by-nights will lure you into hiring them by crafty and misleading advertising. Often you will see them advertise a low price in the paper such as,

"all decks stained for $70.00 up to 200 sq ft." or "houses power washed for $80.00". This would be great if it was true. The material for a deck 200 sq ft with stain and cleaner is about $60.00 or more. That does not include the labor. To properly power wash a house, the cleaning material alone is about $40.00 or more. If it sounds to good too be true, it probably is. Read the fine print and ask questions. Check with the BBB before signing a contract and demand insurance certificates.

Costly misconceptions about power washing

Misconception #1: It’s easy enough that we can do it ourselves. This may be true to some extent, but you can easily cause damage to the home or harm yourself if you are not careful. I don’t recommend to anyone to pressure wash from a ladder, as this is very dangerous and should left to a professional. Washing vinyl siding from the ground at an upward angle will force water behind the siding causing potential water damage. Getting up in the air and away from the house will allow you to rinse the siding at a better angle after the siding has been scrubbed with brushes. This can only be done with the proper equipment. Even small consumer grade power washers can put out too much pressure to wash vinyl. Having the right equipment allows you to turn down the pressure so you are not causing damage. Contractors that claim they can clean your vinyl siding with high pressure are a sure sign of a fly by night.

Misconception #2: High pressure is the only way to get it clean. Not true at all. Only contractors that use inferior cleaners have to depend on high pressure to do the job. High pressure can do a lot of damage to your home. It can crack the vinyl; it can tear it away from the house as well. Using too much pressure on vinyl siding can destroy it in seconds.

Misconception #3. You should hire a company that offers the lowest price. Maybe, but not always true. Here are some points to consider:

Misconception #4: Any honest power washing company should be able to give an estimate over the phone. It would be easier if this where true, but it's not. Honest, reputable power washing companies almost never give a cleaning estimate over the phone. Most companies charge by the square foot or linear foot. But there are too many variables that can change the price from one home to another. For instance, different types of terrain or landscaping can affect the price. What type of siding is on your home? Has it been washed previously? Is water accessible at the job site? Maybe your house is not extremely dirty and could be done for less than a dirty house the same size. The good news is, once an estimate is given by a quality contractor, you know that that’s the price you will pay. (No last minute surprises) Over the phone estimates are a sure sign that the contractor is a fly by night.

Mistakes to avoid when choosing a power washing company

Mistake #1: Choosing a company without testimonials. Any reputable company, with a good customer base, should have testimonials or references. If their clients are not saying good things about them, how can you expect good results? Avoid companies with "drive by references" or the ones who don't provide names and phone numbers of past customers. Why don't they want you to speak to the customer?

Mistake #2: Choosing a contractor based on a single phone call. Instead, invite the contractor to your home for a free estimate; most quality contractors offer them. Free estimates are a great way to test the contractor’s knowledge and to see his appearance and professionalism first hand, with no obligations. You will also have a written estimate, so there will not be any overcharges or surprise add-ons.

Mistake #3: Choosing a contractor whom does not offer a guarantee. Why should you have to pay for a job that you are not satisfied with? Not all power washing companies offer a guarantee. If they do, the guarantee may be limited. Ask the contractor if he offers a money back guarantee, and then make sure he includes his guarantee on the written estimate.

Mistake #4: Choosing a contractor without getting comments from his other clients. Any contractor can say anything about his past jobs, and what he says may not be true. Make sure that you ask for references or read comments from past customers, so you know you can depend on the contractor and his work.

Mistake #5: Choosing a contractor who uses consumer grade equipment and cleaners. Cheap equipment may be a sign of a “fly by night” company. Big, high-dollar, skid-mounted pressure washers are not necessary to do a quality job. If the contractor uses the same little 2.2 gallon per minute pressure washer that you saw on sale at the home improvement store, you might want to reconsider hiring him. Most quality contractors use 3.5 to 5.5 gallons per minute cold water units for residential use. If a contractor is using consumer grade equipment, he is probably using consumer grade cleaners, also. House, deck, and concrete cleaners that are sold to consumers have to be safe to handle, therefore, they are not very concentrated or very effective. Contractor grade cleaners sold through distributors are still environmentally safe, but are more concentrated and must be handled with care. Contractor grade cleaners are necessary in order to achieve quality results, without using high pressure which could lead to damage.

Why Do you want the damaging effect of dirt, mold and debris cleaned from your

You are proud of your home because it’s a reflection of you and your family, not to mention, it’s a large investment. Having your home and other parts of your property properly cleaned on a regular basis is the easiest way to maintain its beauty and value. Dirt, mold and mildew not only damage your image but can cause costly repairs, renovations, or replacements. By doing a little research you can hire a professional power washer, and be sure you are getting a damage-free, quality cleaning, that increases curb appeal, and protects your investment.

4 Steps to protecting your investment

If you are thinking of having something cleaned, we encourage you to follow these four steps.

Step#1: Make a commitment to yourself to get your home or property cleaned. The longer it remains dirty, the more damage is being done to your image and your investment.

Step#2: List Your objectives. Do you want a real simple wash, something you could do yourself with a rented machine, or do you want a complete, quality job? Do you want to work with an honest, reputable company, or are you willing to risk working with the company that offers the lowest price, even knowing that they may not be in business tomorrow?

Step#3: Ask the correct questions of a power washer before you hire him. The way that you learn about a contractor is to ask specific questions and listen carefully to the answers. Here are some tough questions to ask a contractor before you decide to hire him.

What is your cleaning process?

What type of cleaning equipment do you use?

How much do you use? Answer should be no more than about 1500 psi on vinyl, 2000 on wood and only garden hose pressure on roofs.

What type of cleaners do you use?

How often should I have my house, gutters, etc cleaned?

Do you have any before and after pictures I can see?

Do you have any customer testimonials?

Do you have any references?

Are you insured in case you get hurt or in case you damage our property?

Step#4: Once you are satisfied that you are working with an honest, competent professional, invite him to your home and ask for a detailed written estimate. A written estimate gives you the assurance that you know exactly what your job will cost (no surprises).

Staining decks and fences

Your deck or fence is a big investment and they are not cheap! Contractors that claim they can restore your deck in as little as 2 days or sooner tend to forget about weather conditions that are needed for deck and fence restorations. Your deck was power washed and the wood needs to dry completely before the staining process can begin. If moisture is trapped in the wood when the stain is applied, the stain will peel within the first 6 months to a year. It might take 3 or 4 good warm days before it can be properly stained. Contractors often rush the job so they can get to the next job.

Cleaning the deck with environmentally safe products is a must

Often contractors will not use a cleaner. This forces them to use way too much pressure, which will damage the wood, even hard pressure treated wood. You should always question the contractor in relation to wood cleaners.

J.K. Schwartz, Inc.