How Often Should You Wash Your House?

How Often Should You Wash Your House?

How often should you wash your house?

Most people clean the interior of their homes daily.  If you have small children or pets like us, you probably clean your home several times throughout the day! We clean the interior of our home so often that we often think of hiring a maid service. Some of you may already do that. But why? It’s simple really. A clean house is safer, more comfortable to live in, and definitely more appealing to the senses! It just makes us feel more at home when we live in an organized and clean environment.

So why would we want to clean the exterior of our home? Doesn’t rain and wind wash away the things that make our house dirty? Not by a long shot.

The number one reason we keep the exterior of our home cleaned is for appearance. We are simply more proud of our home when it is clean and well-kept. Curb appeal is very important for most home owners. The visual appearance of your home also plays a large benefit in your home’s perceived value.

How often do we drive by a neighborhood and notice nearly half or more of the homes in that neighborhood are dirty and covered in algae? It’s not often that we see those homes and think, “Those are some nice homes.” Dirty homes drive the property value down!

Did you know that giving your home a good wash once a year is actually beneficial to you and your family’s health?

The eaves, soffits, cracks, crevices, and overhangs on your home are ideal hiding places for insects, spiders, and other nasty creepy-crawlers. These places are also perfect places for mold, mildew, and algae to grow. If your home is left untreated for too long, you could start seeing tiny eco-systems growing all over your home!

So what’s the benefit to your health?

Do you or any members of your family suffer from seasonal allergies? It’s not uncommon for most people to get the sniffles and sneezes during peak allergy season. But what about people who suffer from allergies all year around? Chances are, they are exposed to the very allergens that are making them sick all day long! All those mold and mildew spores that are hiding on your home’s exterior surfaces are migrating into your home, contaminating the air and creating an unhealthy environment for your family.

So how often should your house be washed?

We recommend washing your home once a year whether you can visually see mould, mildew, or algae growth or not. These micro organisms will avoid sunlight by growing in the cracks and crevices of your home’s exterior surfaces. When you finally see the growth on surfaces such as siding, soffits, or gutters, you’ve waited too long.  

What makes our cleaning process different?

It’s 2019. The days of using a high pressure, pressure washer to clean everything are over. We use a much gentler process. It’s call soft-washing. We apply a detergent based solution to your home’s exterior surface using dedicated soft-washing equipment. Our equipment is capable of washing up to four stories high from the ground at only 70 PSI to 150 PSI! That’s about the same as the pressure coming out of your garden hose. After about 10 minutes, our solution will completely eradicate any and all organic growth on your home’s exterior surfaces. We then rinse the solution off your home leaving it clean, bright, and visually appealing again!

If you’re interested in having your windows cleaned up to perfection after having your home washed, we can take care of that for you the same day. Click here for more information. Residential Window Cleaning

End of Summer Cleaning List

End of Summer Cleaning List

In New Zealand Autumn is a time of celebration, Rugby and Rugby League has just started a new season, The leafs are changing color. As summer starts to wind down our homes will need a re-freshening. Spring cleaning is all about clearing away the clutter and brightening up our homes in time for summer but autumn cleaning is all about getting your home ready for those cold wet winter days and nights that New Zealand has. Here are a few things that we recommend you get done before autumn is in full swing.

Gutter Cleaning 

Cleaning out your gutters is probably the single most important thing you can do as part of your autumn cleaning. Gutters that are not cleaned out regularly can block up and overflow and can flood back into the roof and wall cavity. Failing to maintain your gutters can become a very costly repair to your home. It's always a good idea to do a thorough gutter cleaning before the leaves begin to fall and another one once all the leaves on all the tree's around you house has fallen off, This will give you the best outcome and the least possible chance of a gutter blocking up and overflowing.

Clean window's

Having clean windows during the summer is a must, so the majority of homeowners get their windows cleaned in late spring or early summer. But late summer and Autumn might be the last chance to give yourself a clear view for the winter. The days are getting shorter, so to maximize your home’s natural light through the end of the year, give your windows a thorough cleaning. Windows are constantly exposed to the elements of rain, frost, temperature change and wind. Glass is a porous, sponge-like surface that will develop a buildup of dust, dirt and various minerals over time. When these penetrate, it can cause staining and permanent damage. Replacing your windows is extremely expensive and completely avoidable.

Many homeowners are able to tackle the tasks inside their home, but how many are able to get on a ladder and completely clean their own windows, gutters or stain their own deck? How many homeowners are comfortable doing that, and furthermore, have the tools and supplies to do so? Reaching out for help in some areas may be worth considering. Do yourself a favor and research quality local house washing company's.

Roof Cleaning

Autumn is the best time to have your roof treated for moss and mould. A simple and cost effective moss and mould roof treatment might set you back $200 or less but it will save you much much more on roof repairs and replacement cost's. As most roof treatment 's require the wind and the rain to wash away the dead moss and mould on the roof once its been treated the winter rains will help speed up the removal of the dead material. 

Contact your local roof wash contractor and get them out to provide a quote, Always make sure you see there insurance before any work is carried out on your property.

Why is Gutter Cleaning So Important?

A debris-clogged gutter can cause a leaky roof or water damage to the interior or exterior of your home.

Gutters are an integral piece of your home’s well being. They serve to control the flow of rainwater to protect your roof, walls, foundation and landscape.

But when neglected, experts say gutters can turn from a necessity to a nightmare. A gutter clogged with leaves, sticks and other debris can cause a leaky roof or water damage to the interior or exterior of your home. Contractors say gunked-up gutters also make nice homes for pests, rodents, mold and honeycombs from bee infestations.

“If you let gutter cleaning go by the wayside, it can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars," says Troy Hillard, a Director with Wash Rite in Hamilton New Zealand.

“Gutters are a potential bomb above your head full of insects and critters, if you let them stay out of sight, out of mind,” Hillard added.

How often should they be cleaned?

It depends largely on where you live and, most importantly, how many trees are in your yard. Tim Beale, owner of Wash Rite Wellington Frachise in Wellington New Zealand recommends having gutters maintained in the spring and Autumn.

“I recommend people calling me in the Autumn when all of their leaves are down or almost down, Beale says. “In the springtime, maple trees get those little helicopters that go everywhere, including into your gutter.”

Hillard says it’s important to have a professional clean the downspouts as well because a clogged downspout "makes it hard for the rain to go down and that causes them to back up and overflow the gutter, which can cause damage to your home.”

You can judge how often to clean your gutters based on how often leaves in your area fall and the types of leaves, Hillard says.

“It should be on everyone’s to-do list about every four months, depending on the tree climate,” he says. “In a high-yield environment, leaves fall all year-round. You can’t wait until the last leaf falls.”

Guttercleaning.jpg

Cleaning your gutters of leaves and other debris once or twice a year will protect your home from water damage.

Gutter covers reduce debris

Leaf guards significantly decrease the need for gutter maintenance, but they don’t eliminate the need completely, Hillard says.

Instead of every four to six months, you may only need to maintenance gutters with covers or screens every one to two years. The frequency of maintenance will depend on the quality of the cover and the type and quantity of trees in the yard, he says.

Even if you do have gutter covers, it's still a good idea to do a visual check each year, says Troy Hillard, owner of Wash Rite  in Hamilton New Zealand

Hillard says a guard will not keep all the debris out, adding: “Up to 15 to 20 percent can still get in, and you still have to remove the guard. Sometimes you need a professional to do so.”

It’s important to purchase quality covers and screens if you want to effectively limit the need for gutter maintenance, says John Burns, Manager of Wash Rite Hamilton in Hamilton.

“You need to look for one that’s strong enough to hold up and suits your type of trees,” he says.

A gutter cover costs on average between $1,500 to $2,500 depending on the size of the home and length of gutters, John says.

Do the job yourself or hire?

Although cleaning gutters is a task most homeowners can do themselves, it can be dangerous work. According to the Accident compensation corporation , falls from ladders sent more than 24,000 New Zealanders to hospital emergency rooms in 2015 (the most recent year available).

Before climbing a ladder, be sure it's sturdy and all the steps are in good condition. Climb the first two steps to determine if the ground is level. For soft soil, place plywood under the legs of the ladder. You should also make sure not to rest the ladder on the gutters themselves because the additional weight can cause them to collapse.

“I had a customer once that smashed both hips from falling off a ladder and received permanent injuries from it,” Hillard says. “That's one of the biggest things; safety. The second thing is a professional knows what they're looking at and can stop the problem before it gets worse. Gutter prevention is measured in pennies, and repairs are measured in dollars.”

During a cleaning, a professional should remove of all debris from the roof, gutters and downspouts, while checking and repairing any loose gutter spikes. The cost of gutter cleaning ranges from $75 to $225 for an average home, depending on the length of gutters, height of the home and scope of work. Most companies charge a flat fee, but the cost can go up depending on the complexity of the work.

Before hiring someone to clean your gutters, check that they carry liability insurance.

Why Choose Low-Pressure House Washing

The Benefits of Low-Pressure House Washing

House Washing  is one of the easiest ways homeowners can increase their home’s curb appeal. Not only does it make your home look sparkly clean, but also protects your family and is considered preventative home maintenance.

However, not all House Washing  techniques are the same. There are two methods: high pressure washing and low-pressure washing.

High pressure washing uses hard water pressure, while low pressure washing uses a mixture of soft water pressure and chemicals to rid the home of dirt and grime.

Wash Rite House Washing New Zealand

Why Choose Low-Pressure House Washing

Low-pressure house washing provides a variety of benefits to homeowners, including:

• Extends the life of paint: Painted surfaces, such as your home, can suffer damage from high pressure washing techniques. Paint can chip or become dull when too much pressure is used during the house washing process. By using low-pressure washing, you will extend the life your exterior house paint and bring back the luster of your painted finish.
• Prevents damage to siding: High pressure washing can cause gouge marks, dents or even holes in your siding. In some cases, the siding can become unattached from the home if the pressure is too much. High pressure washing on aluminum siding can cause streaks and wand marks, leaving homes and building unprofessional looking.
• Kills mold, mildew, and algae: High pressure washing only uses the water pressure to remove the mold, mildew and algae, which doesn’t prevent it from coming back. Low-pressure washing uses environmentally safe chemicals to ensure that the buildup is effectively removed from the home.

Before hiring a House Washing company to clean your home, make sure you ask if they offer low-pressure house washing! Or you can call the experts for free advise - Wash Rite  0800101216

DONT LET BLOCKED GUTTER DAMAGE YOUR HOUSE

Kirk MontgomeryI'm dealing with piles of leaves in my yard and worrying about all the debris such as acorns, pine needles and small twigs that are hiding in and filling up my gutters. Do I have to clean the gutters, or is this a chore I can put off for a bit longer?

Wind, rain, leaves and tree branches create lots of yard chores for homeowners. Gutter cleaning is one autumn to-do item on the list that shouldn't be ignored or even postponed, whether you're tackling the task or hiring professionals to handle it.

It's important to keep gutters cleared.

"The primary purpose of the gutter is to protect the foundation from the water that is falling down," says Troy Hillard, owner of Wash Rite House Washing. in New Zealand. Clogged gutters prevent rainwater from flowing properly through them. When the water is blocked, it can pour over the gutters' edges and run down the walls or other areas it isn't supposed to, which can lead to bigger problems.

"The biggest problem with leaving debris in the gutter is that the gutter is designed to hold a certain weight of water," says Mr Hillard. When the additional weight of deteriorating leaves is added in, the gutter and the parts of the house it's attached to could be compromised. The gutter could detach from the house, taking the fascia with it.

"Most gutters are plastic or aluminum and most of the trees here in New Zealand are oak or pine," he says, adding that when oak leaves deteriorate they create an acid that can, over time, eat through the clear coat or paint on gutters to eventually deteriorate the metal.

Having the water flow where it's not supposed to could also cause problems with drainage or grading in the yard. Basements or low level rooms could develop leaks. Any of these problems could lead to significant damage to the house, Hillard warns.

"I've cleaned out my own gutters four times in the last three weeks," Mr Hillard says. "If you do it often, it doesn't take very long."

Here are tips for cleaning gutters:

Ladder Safety -- To do the job yourself you need to be comfortable on a ladder. It's also a good idea to have a helper holding the base of the ladder to make sure it remains stable and safe. Choose a ladder that's tall enough to reach the roof and make sure it's safely secured against the side of the house.

Right tools for the job -- Begin the work prepared, wearing heavy duty gloves to protect hands from sharp branches and slimy debris. It's also a good idea to have a scooper to access the gutter's narrow edges and reach all of the gunk that has collected inside.

Choosing a professional -- When hiring someone for the job, ask if they're insured, and work safe compliant Otherwise, the homeowner could be liable if a worker is injured on the job.

Not every homeowner likes to clean up the clogged gutters themselves. Not to worry as there are companies like WASH RITE   that takes the responsibility from the shoulders of the homeowners. Wash Rite offers gutter through all its franchises around New Zealand. Though gutter cleaning might seem to be a troublesome job, it is not possible to overlook it. Thankfully, all that cleaning can be handed over to a professional company like Wash Rite  who handles it professionally.

Clogged gutters obstruct the free flow of water that is pushed back inside the roof, on the ceiling and often down the walls thus not only causing external damage to the property but also to the interiors. All this can be avoided with a timely gutter cleaning job. Experts at Wash Rite points out that unclogged gutters can be the reason of woe later for homeowners. Moreover, accumulated water can make the gutter attachments to tear away from the wood facia. The excess and overflowing water are responsible for causing damage to the wooden beams. Clean gutters are also responsible for channeling the water away from home, and if the gutters are not clean, then this can’t take place.

Cleaning the gutter is, therefore, a crucial task and Wash Rite  Cleaning can handle it very well. They can also be contacted for house washing, roof washing, window washing

Get in touch today.

Wash Rite 

0800101216

www.washrite.co.nz

How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?

It’s dirty work, but every house has to do it or get it done. Your gutters need to be kept clean and free of dead leaves, birds’ nests, and other debris. It’s just a fact of life when it comes to owning a home.

And it’s especially true in New Zealand, where summer is so dry and fall, winter, and spring are so wet. Why? Because we tend to forget about our gutters in New Zealand until it’s too late.

Dry leaves, tree branches, and other material can accumulate in your gutters during the dry summer and you won’t notice until your gutters start overflowing during the first big rain of the season. Or worse, you won’t notice at all.

Today I’ll answer a few questions many homeowners have about cleaning their gutters, including why it’s necessary, how often it’s necessary, and most importantly how to clean your gutters.

What Can Happen if You Don’t Clean Your Gutters?

It sounds like a simple question, but the reality is that unclean gutters can lead to many complex and costly problems. Let’s look at a few of them

Leaky Gutters & Mold

If you don’t clean your gutters, the first problem to crop up will be clogged gutters and downspouts leading to standing water collecting in your gutters and overflowing. As dead leaves decompose, the water in your gutters will become filthy and mold will start growing and will contaminate your roof and house siding.

In our wet climate, mold is common and can cause a host of health problems if it gets inside your house. And it’s tricky (and expensive) to thoroughly clean, so it’s best to stop mold before it starts.

Leaking Roofs & Floods house

Replacing your roof is a major undertaking– even if you put a new roof on top of your existing roof. The best strategy is to get the most out of your current roof by protecting it from the elements.

If you put off cleaning your gutters, your roof can and will leak. Water that doesn’t drain to the ground can accumulate on the roof, soaking through eves and fascia boards and causing significant damage.

The same goes for your basement or lower levels in your house. If your gutter’s downspouts are clogged, don’t drain into a storm water pipe or far enough away from the house (at least 6-10 feet is recommended), or are disconnected from your gutters, water can seep into your houses foundations.

This can cause damage to anything you have stored in the lower level of your house , as well as to your foundation itself. You might also damage your heating units, circuit breakers, and other utilities in the lower parts of your house.

Cracked Foundations

A cracked foundation is a major headache for any homeowner. Repairs can be very costly. But an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By extending your downspouts away from your home (and making sure water is flowing through them), or connecting them up to the stor water piping system you’ll protect your foundation from cracks. Foundation cracks are caused by water damage and by expanding ice during the coldest part of the winter.

Bugs & Other Critters

Gutters are a magnet for insects, birds, mice and other animals. Warm moist decomposing leaves are a rich source of food for many pests and once they’ve settled into your gutters, their next stop will be inside your house.

If you discover birds or other wildlife, call your local animal control center for advice.

Driveway & Yard Damage

When it comes to your lawn and plants, too much water is just as bad as not enough. If your gutters aren’t draining water properly, water can pool up (even underground) killing delicate plants.

Too much water that isn’t draining properly can cause slick mold to grow on your driveway, or freeze into slippery ice during the winter. Both of these problems can lead to falls and potentially serious injuries, especially to kids and older adults.

How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?

Like many other questions, the answer is, “it depends!” Many experts recommend cleaning your gutters at least twice a year– once in the late spring and once in the late summer/early fall. But there are a few factors that might make you reconsider.

If you have pine trees growing above your house, consider inspecting your gutters every 3 months. The reason for this is because pine trees shed needles year-round (and they have a lot of needles to shed).

If you’re at a higher elevation, ice is your biggest worry. Making sure your gutters are clean throughout the winter is a bit of a headache, but damage to your roof caused by ice is a real pain. Better to catch it before it starts.

If you have any questions about gutter cleaning feel free to call Wash Rite on 0800101216 or visit http://washrite.co.nz/contact-us/ and we will be happy to give you a free quote or answer any questions you have on gutter cleaning in New Zealand.

Why you offer gutter cleaning service's

As a house wash, pressure wash or softwash company why should you offer gutter cleaning as part of the service's you offer your client base.
Well its simple its a great value added service that you can upsell when your wash there house or there roof, This means you are already onsite doing a larger job with a larger cost so that means what ever your charge for gutter cleaning is almost pure profit. We at Wash Rite House Wash will charge $90 for a single story gutter clean and $150.00 for a two story gutter clean job and they take around about 1hr to do property, This includes flushing out the down pipes. This means your making up to $150 per hour.

The other main reason you want to ad gutter cleaning to the list of services you offer your clients is that you open the door for a company who does offer it to come in and build a relationship with your clients which is never a smart thing to do in the world of small business.

The decision is yours if your want to market yourself as a gutter cleaning company we at Wash Rite do not do this, We find we get heaps of work just up selling to current clients, plus we will not come out and just clean gutters it has to be an ad on to another service, This just keeps our profit margins where we like them.

The other bonus to offering this service is there is very little investment needed for the equipment to offer this service as you would already have the needed equipment for your house and roof washing duties so your ROI (return on investment) is extremely high and in most cases the first gutter clean you do will pay for all the equipment you will ever need.

The good thing also about the high profit margin is it leaves room in case to secure a good size job you can offer a 50% discount on the gutter clean portion of your quote and still make money and the client believe's they are getting a great deal, Which they are they just don't need to know what your profit margin and cost's are on that job, That's only the information you as a business owner needs to worry about.

Now gutter cleaning is not a glamours service and you will not get rich by offering this service but it will make your company a better option and a better service provider to your current and future client base by offering this service, Plus you can lift the yearly spend of each client by 20% just by offering this service.

Any questions about gutter cleaning just ask

Troy Hillard
Wash Rite
www.washrite.co.nz

How to win BIG commercial contracts ??

One of the big questions i get from new guys to the industry or even guys with years of experience is how do we win the large commercial contracts considering we have only been in business for one year?

The first step is to have a website ours is www.washrite.co.nz and on that website it needs to be all about exterior washing , roof cleaning, gutter cleaning and commercial building washing we have all that listed on our services page http://washrite.co.nz/services/ This will at least get you out there in the market and the property managers can at least find you.

Next step is you have to build a relationship with these big company's and the best way to do that is go in with a dirt cheap rate to get the job and do the most outstanding job they have ever seen, this will make them come back time and time again and you can slowly raise the prices to market rate. This will also help you build a reputation for doing the big jobs and doing them well. 

Now build a personal relationship with the property or building manager as often they will go from building to building or company to company and if you have a relationship with them they will often call you up to come and do work at there new location.

Most important is when you win a contract try and get a signed contract for 2 or 3 or even 5 years, this will stop any other house wash and building wash company from under cutting you for at least that time frame and in that time frame you make yourself so helpful they cant do without you and your company. This is what we always do at Wash Rite.

Next is milk every job for what its worth and what i mean by that is make sure you take before and after pics for use on your website and social media so you can build awareness that your company is the go to company in your city for the big commercial jobs.

Now you have to do the basics, such as google adwords and have keywords for commercial jobs in there such as the following, commercial building wash, body corporate building wash, high rise wash, shopping center wash, commercial window wash, Hamilton building wash, Wash Rite building wash, Waikato building wash, As you will see i listed a few for my local city and area and so should you.

We have also built a reputation for wash multi million dollar mansions, This all started for us when we won the contract for washing New Zealand's largest and most expensive house, known as the Dot Com mansion.

This house was amazing, not only wash it huge but everything was over the top from secret rooms and passage ways to life size sculptures of giraffes and rhinos in the gardens.

Once we started to post on social media that we washed this house and showed before and afters we started to get calls from other home owners who owned massive houses who wanted a professional and private service which we offered. This type of work you will not get from adwords its always referral or word of mouth.

So get out there and start chasing the commercial jobs guys and hope you guys have the success we have had so far.

Troy Hillard

Wash Rite - House Wash Hamilton

www.washrite.co.nz

http://washrite.co.nz/services/

http://washrite.co.nz/request-a-quote/