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Harder than i thought it would be

Danfire

Well-known member
Messages
702
Location
Petersfield
Had a neighbour ask me if I would clean all the moss off his roof (large 4 bed detached plus an extension).

Did a lot of research, bought a harness, fungicide and borrowed a rope. Been up there scraping for three days now and almost half way finished, I thought the job would only take two days.

Wasn't much fun when the hailstones came down Wednesday. Passer by asked if I would do his, I told him I'm not doing any more until winters over. Starting to get behind on my round now, I need to learn to say no.

 
Very brave taking on that job how are you doing it ? I've done it before but hired a cherry picker and jetwash ed the roof

 
Wire brush, garden trowel and stiff broom

Job done

Not long at all

How are you doing it?

 
I'm using a trowel and a hand brush, I estimated I would take about ten seconds on each tile, reality is I'm taking closer to thirty so my two day estimate is going to turn into six days. The research I did steered me away from jet washing. Think the job will be more enjoyable when it warms up a bit.

 
I'm using a trowel and a hand brush, I estimated I would take about ten seconds on each tile, reality is I'm taking closer to thirty so my two day estimate is going to turn into six days. The research I did steered me away from jet washing. Think the job will be more enjoyable when it warms up a bit.
Sounds to me like you are trying to get it too perfect. Remember that they will be looking from a distance whereas you are right up to it.

 
whhy do folk ask you to do these hard jobs in winter

do find the window cleaning easy no hasle and totally safe this time of year

#hope your getting a gd bit of coin mate

 
I have learned, when I researched what the going rate was I thought the prices were a **** take, I was wrong, the going rate is spot on and that's what I will be quoting the passer by.

Fortunately, my neighbour allowed me to more than double his original price so I will do ok but the price should have been treble what I quoted. You live and learn.

 
I had a customer ask me to clear their garage roof and over hang over the porch. I posted a few pics of it on here a couple of months back. They asked me if I'd had a chance to price it last time I did the windows. I said I didn't think I could do it, but said I would think that it would take a couple of days and they would be looking at about £500. I haven't got a clue how you would price a roof clean, but she was very shocked at what I thought they might have to pay.

 
I did one about two years ago. I quoted £150 and they agreed. I had it done in a day (albeit a very long day). The tiles were cement flat style. I used a flat piece of ply screwed to a batten, like a large flat shovel and sat on the ridge. I just kept working myself along the roof clearing as I went. I vowed never to do one again, but did quote a smaller job at £300 last week. I will wait and see if that comes back.

 
I've been stood on roofs sweeping with a stiff broom

But harnessed to the roof just in case though

 
For me there are easier, safer & more profitable jobs to do than messing about on roofs trying to clean them.

 
For me there are easier, safer & more profitable jobs to do than messing about on roofs trying to clean them.
Agreed. Unless I had my own cherry picker, used my pressure washer, and had a written agreement that anything that gets washed to the floor is there responsibility, along with any water that leaks through there roof... then I wouldnt do it again. Thats not to say I wouldnt quote the job, just next time I do it, it will be at a very high premium rate with a view to getting lucky.

 
I can do moss removal but it has to be paid premium for risk, equipment and risk of damage and so on.it is not 15 pounds per hour job,that is for sure.

 
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