Its that time of year when the weather is getting chilly and the leaves start to fall.
unfortunately for alot of customers that means the leaves fall into their gutters which can pose a potential risk if not checked yearly.
call douglasville and surrounding areas highest rated pressure washing company to get the job done
gutter cleaning
window cleaning
pressure washing
404-838-3619
CALL 404-838-3619
While rejoicing in the great spring thaw, you might’ve noticed Old Man Winter didn’t leave your home exterior the way you left it last fall.Get quotes from up to
3 pros!
From general grime to bird droppings, many homeowners want to shine up their residences for the warm-weather months. Pressure washing is an option that often comes to mind, but those in the business say to proceed with extreme caution, whether you want to do it yourself or hire out.
“If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can damage your siding. You can blow a hole in it,” says Mike Spiczenski, of highly rated Indiana Roof and Exterior Cleaning in Indianapolis. “Plus, you’re usually shooting up, and because siding has vents, water will get in there and you can get wood rot between the siding and your home, or rot the siding itself.”
J.R. Merrill, of highly rated Under Pressure in Baltimore, has a straight-forward recommendation.
“Hire a licensed, professional pressure washing contractor that cleans with low pressure and detergents to clean the house,” he says. “It’s not worth causing damage to save a buck.”
Merrill and Spiczenski say pressure washing is meant more for concrete surfaces and decks. When it comes to homes, Spiczenski draws comparisons to other basic tasks.
“Do you wash your dishes in the dishwasher with no soap or detergent, or run your car through a car wash without it?” he says. “Why would you use just pressure water to clean your home?
“You don’t get a good clean. If you’re trying to remove algae or grime, just plain water won’t do it. If you aren’t disinfecting, it’ll come right back the next year.”
Dear Angie: What kind of companies can I hire to pressure wash a home and a wood deck? Are there any risks with power washing? — Alan M., River Vale, New Jersey
To clean a home exterior, Spiczenski and Merrill both apply a custom soap solution that also acts as an algaecide and fungicide. While Merrill uses an application gun that can hit from 30 feet, Spiczenski uses stabilized ladders to achieve results. Spiczenski also uses a soft “salt and pepper” brush to scrub prior to rinse.
For that final rinse, both use low-pressure water that effectively cleans without causing damage.
“Pressure washing is an art,” Merrill says. “You have to know about different scenarios, different types of siding, oxidation and how it reacts to pressure, a lot of things.”
While they’re 600 miles apart, Merrill’s and Spiczenski’s prices are virtually identical. Merrill says his average job costs $300 to $350, while Spiczenski puts his range at $275 to $375.
Both provide full pressure washing services for roofs, gutters, decks, driveways, walkways and stone features.
Spiczenski says part of his job is to give homeowners an accurate assessment of whether cleaning is what they need.
“I’m a new set of eyes. I see things because it’s my business, and I see things they don’t see,” he says. “Sometimes I tell them we can’t make an improvement, and that they’re better off spending their money another way.”
articel via angieslist
driveway cleaning CARROLLTON GA
pressure washing prices CARROLLTON GA
pressure wash house CARROLLTON GA
Pressure Washing Powder Springs, GA
Pressure Washing Douglasville, GA
Pressure Washing Lithia Springs, GA
Pressure washing union city ga
Pressure Washing Clarkdale, GA
Pressure Washing Hiram, GA
Pressure washing winston ga
Pressure washing villa rica ga
Pressure washing carrollton ga
A lot of home owners have a similar question at some point in their lives, “Why is my house turning green and how do i fix it?” Chances are the green on your home is green algae, moss or mildew. The good news is it is fairly simple to clean.
If you have a large area that needs to be clean, like your entire home, do the following:
Either rent a pressure washer with an exterior cleaning solution or hire a professional. Hiring a professional could end of saving you in the long run, especially if you have brick exterior. Bricks and especially the mortar between them can be damaged by using a power washer incorrectly and the repairs on that will be far more expensive than the cost of hiring someone to take care of it for you.
Areas with a lot of sun will be more likely to grow the green stuff.
If the area it is growing is constantly damp, there is your problem. Make sure there are not irrigation nozzles facing your home. Check to see if the area holds water. If it holds water, you may want to create a small trench to drain the area or install some drainage. If it is a continuous problem, you may want to invest in gutters for your roof to divert water away during storms.
Believe it or not, dirt can be the culprit even when everything else has been taken care of. Dirt is able to hold enough water to allow your algae infestation to take hold. If this is your problem, you should look into having your home power washed. A good preventative measure for this would be storm gutters for your roof. Another helpful, and cheaper, option would be mulching the beds near the problem area to prevent rain from splashing dirt onto the wall.
Plants can leave sap and living tissue on your home. Algae loves this stuff. Keep your plants properly pruned away from your home. If you are planning a new landscape bed, try and keep a good distance from your home. One mistake a lot of people make is they plant shrubs and trees a good distance from their home at the size the plant is when they put it in the ground. Unless you transplanted the shrub or tree full grown, you will have a problem with it in a few years.
Areas of your home’s exterior without proper airflow usually retain moisture. Keep plants pruned in these areas and try to place structures or decorations where they do not prevent air from moving freely in these problem areas.
Get at least three bids. As with any project, it’s wise to get multiple bids. When you set out to find a contractor, get at least three bids to ensure you’ve done your proper homework. Spend some time researching and don’t just choose from the first five companies that show up on an Internet search. Choose a variety of small and large businesses, take recommendations from family members, neighbors and friends and make sure to get a minimum of three references from each contractor.
Call suppliers to determine material costs. Part of the contractor’s estimate involves the cost of materials. However, most contractors include an outline of the materials cost for a full accounting of the project. Since some contractors can get carried away with marking up prices, you might want to call the suppliers yourself to determine how much the materials cost without the mark-up. This will help you figure out if the contractor’s mark-up is reasonable. Be leery of really low prices. Everyone wants a discount. That can be a good thing, but the price for materials isn’t going to vary wildly enough to make up for a bad job.
Consider the time taken to deliver the estimate. If a contractor tells you that he or she will have the estimate by next Tuesday, but doesn’t actually get it to you until Friday, this is likely a reflection of his or her work on the job as well. If you want to find a contractor who sticks to his or her word, consider whether or not they did everything they said they would in regard to the estimate. Doing so is a good way to evaluate the future of your project and prevent any possible setbacks due to bad work ethic.
Don’t hire a contractor who’ll take the money and run; do your due diligence when hiring. (Photo by Katelin Kinney)
There’s so much to think about in hiring any contractor, especially for a major project. Be sure to follow these tips to find a contractor who fits best with your own thinking:
• Does your contractor have a headquarters? Homeowners should want their contractors to operate from a permanent place of business. If the contractor is not permanently established, how can you be confident that they will complete the work or be in business tomorrow should there be any problems?
• Is this company insured, and is the coverage adequate? When you find a contractor you think you want to hire, make sure that employer has workers’ compensation and general liability insurance in case of accidents on the job. Ask for copies of these policies and keep them on file.
• Is the company in good standing with a trade association?
• How long has the company been in business? You might want to be leery of a contractor promising to be an overnight success. A long-time, well-established contractor is likely to be a safer bet. Considering the length of time a contractor has been in business is a good indicator of their ability; however, there are many contractors who claim years of experience. Protect yourself by asking for proof of business length.
• What is the contractor’s record on complaint resolution? Make sure to get references, and review past work.
• Does the company provide sufficient details for the project being performed?
• Make sure everything is in writing. The contract is one of the best ways to prevent problems before you begin. The contract protects you and the contractor by including everything you have both agreed upon. Get all promises in writing, and spell out exactly what the contractor will and will not do. When receiving the contract, make sure all concerns are addressed to avoid a miscommunication. Do not accept vague proposals or prices written down on the back of a business card.
• Do your homework. Whether you are in need of a new roof, repairs, maintenance, gutters or skylights, it is important to do your research.
The best way to prevent a bad experience when you’re trying to find a contractor is to know the warning signs. If you take a proactive approach to hiring and researching all potential candidates, your chances of a negative experience should be reduced significantly. Use the following tips to help you spot problematic contractors and resolve any issues if they should arise:
• Avoid door-to-door solicitors and those who only accept cash payments, offer discounts for finding customers or pressure you to make a quick decision.
• Verify the business is licensed to operate in your area, and check to see whether it has a local address. Besides the fact that it makes it easy to reach the contractor, it also shows that the company has established itself and it provides more legitimacy. You should definitely avoid contractors who only want to give you a telephone number.
• Ask the contractor for multiple references from past customers and check them. Visit the job sites if possible and speak to the homeowners. A contractor who doesn’t want to provide any references should be avoided.
People sign contracts for many services, often without even reading them. Every time you sign a credit card receipt, or check a box agreeing to the terms of service on a website, you are legally binding your name to a contract.
Contracts can be lengthy, especially when it’s a major remodeling job run by a general contractor, and they’re written in legal jargon that is difficult to understand. In most cases, the contract was crafted by a lawyer whose job was to protect the company or person named in the contract, yet most people are quick to sign a contract without even reading it.
After you hire a contractor and sign a contract, it’s important to understand what to expect during the course of a project. Honest contractors depend on satisfied customers, but sometimes, especially during complex projects, homeowners and contractors need to find ways to work together to solve unexpected
CLICK TO CALL
