Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

Welcome to the National Soft Wash Alliance, America's Number One Networking and Training Forum. Join Today, Donations to keep the forum going are accepted, Bottom of the Home Page
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: City work, Paint prep pressure washing


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 64
Date:
City work, Paint prep pressure washing
Permalink  
 


The city I live in Naples FL is hiring me to do some pressure washing on a water plant building to get it ready to be painted. This will be my first job for the city. It should lead to more work in the future. With this being paint prep work I cant just softwash it, I have to pressure wash everything with 4000 psi to remove all of the peeling paint. I am looking for some suggestions on how to accomplish this. A ladder and 4200 psi does not  seem like my safest option. I was considering an extension pole but not sure. I could rent a lift but im not sure is I need to or not. I have not sent my bid to the city yet. The gutters at the top of the building are peeling pretty bad. Any suggestions would help thanks. 



Attachments
__________________

Steve Reed

PowerShine Property Services

Naples, Bonita Springs FL

 

239-826-3344

Visit us on Facebook



Approved Exterior Cleaner

Status: Offline
Posts: 3107
Date:
Permalink  
 

A lift is a must from a safety standpoint. Doing this from a ladder is dangerous and extremely time consuming.  We use a turbo nozzle when it comes to painted brick, block and steel. It does a good job of cleaning up the chipped and peeling paint. 4200 psi is a pit much.



__________________

 

 

Brett Thompson

Blue Ridge Exterior Cleaning

BlueRidgeExteriorCleaning.com

434-466-1324    540-949-6277

brett@BlueRidgeExteriorCleaning.com



Approved Exterior Cleaner

Status: Offline
Posts: 760
Date:
Permalink  
 

I was thinking turbo nozzle also. We've never done any paint prep.

__________________

Affordable and Safe Soft Washing,

Roof Cleaning Service in Maryland,

PG county Maryland | Southern Maryland

 



Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 64
Date:
Permalink  
 

I agree, I think a lift is my best option and turbo nozzle. I will turn the pressure washet down a bit to around 3500. Im working with the painter to make sure it is done how he wants it. They are doing one section at a time. Thanks for your input.

__________________

Steve Reed

PowerShine Property Services

Naples, Bonita Springs FL

 

239-826-3344

Visit us on Facebook



Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 64
Date:
Permalink  
 

BlueRidge wrote:

A lift is a must from a safety standpoint. Doing this from a ladder is dangerous and extremely time consuming.  We use a turbo nozzle when it comes to painted brick, block and steel. It does a good job of cleaning up the chipped and peeling paint. 4200 psi is a pit much.


 Hey Brett, I am doing this job in a couple weeks. I was thinking it would be smart to use a TSP and light SH. The TSP will clean and etch the paint for better adhesion. I have never used a Downstream injector and was considering getting one for this job and future jobs. If I use a DS will it work from up on the lift? I am concerned about back pressure causing it to not draw, because of the height. 



__________________

Steve Reed

PowerShine Property Services

Naples, Bonita Springs FL

 

239-826-3344

Visit us on Facebook



Approved Exterior Cleaner

Status: Offline
Posts: 3107
Date:
Permalink  
 

I would only say check out the laws concerning TSP in Naples. Some areas it is outlawed. SP can etch glass. Look at Red Raider and Power Bolt instead. Also make sure you can control the run off. The run off could get you into trouble. The building is not high enough for you to worry about draw with an injector. If you had the time and money, add a booster pump to your system for jobs this big. You can always add a proportioner later but for now you will get a lot of juice at whatever strength you want. With the DS you are limited due to the GPM's as to what strength you end up with.



__________________

 

 

Brett Thompson

Blue Ridge Exterior Cleaning

BlueRidgeExteriorCleaning.com

434-466-1324    540-949-6277

brett@BlueRidgeExteriorCleaning.com



RIP

Status: Offline
Posts: 142
Date:
Permalink  
 

We decided to leave the paint prep to painters. Some of them will nit pick everything you do. Here in Savannah it seems like all painters are also pressure washers.

__________________

 

 

 



Approved Exterior Cleaner

Status: Offline
Posts: 3107
Date:
Permalink  
 

Philip McCullough wrote:

We decided to leave the paint prep to painters. Some of them will nit pick everything you do. Here in Savannah it seems like all painters are also pressure washers.


 Oh... you mean they are experts in pressure washing but we aren't experts in painting? Strange!



__________________

 

 

Brett Thompson

Blue Ridge Exterior Cleaning

BlueRidgeExteriorCleaning.com

434-466-1324    540-949-6277

brett@BlueRidgeExteriorCleaning.com



Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 64
Date:
Permalink  
 

lol, I probably would have passed on the job but it is for the city. Once I do one job for the city I will be in their system. Which means more work in the future from them. Plus I am only cleaning one side of the building right now. there is 3 more sides plus water tanks that need to be done. All of it will be done within the next 18 months, one section at a time. I bid the job to deal with picky, so im not worried.

This job is a water processing facility so I talked to the guy today about chemicals. All I can use is SH. I am just going to use my 12v system and mix up some light SH, Spray and then turbo nozzle it to rinse and remove old paint.

__________________

Steve Reed

PowerShine Property Services

Naples, Bonita Springs FL

 

239-826-3344

Visit us on Facebook



RIP

Status: Offline
Posts: 142
Date:
Permalink  
 

BlueRidge wrote:
Philip McCullough wrote:

We decided to leave the paint prep to painters. Some of them will nit pick everything you do. Here in Savannah it seems like all painters are also pressure washers.


 Oh... you mean they are experts in pressure washing but we aren't experts in painting? Strange!


Not to hi-jack Powershine's post but for "those guys" paint prep means that all they are doing is putting on paint. No scraping, sanding, or cleaning anything because afterall they didn't do the prep work.....The last one I did was the probably the last I'll ever do no more "paint prep" jobs...



__________________

 

 

 



Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 64
Date:
Permalink  
 

Philip, thanks for your input on your experience. I hope i dont have the same experience. Painter is going to come in after me and repair any areas needed. If i have to scrape some i will, no big deal, the building is not really pealing. Knowing myself i will probably be more picky then him. I have set it up for a whole day. So if it takes 10 hours im fine with that. I dont think it will tho. Im charging accordingly.

__________________

Steve Reed

PowerShine Property Services

Naples, Bonita Springs FL

 

239-826-3344

Visit us on Facebook



RIP

Status: Offline
Posts: 142
Date:
Permalink  
 

Good luck Steve, sounds like you've done your homework and you are working with a good paint contractor.

I hope this job gets your foot in the door and you can grow your business and see great success with the city/govt contracts!



__________________

 

 

 

Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
Chatbox
Please log in to join the chat!