WASH RITE - GIVING BACK - BUY SANITISING PLAYGROUNDS FOR FREE

Over the past 5 years, Wash Rite has grown to become New Zealand's largest house washing company, Wash Rite has grown to a company that turns over $5 million per year. We have only been able to grow to this size by having great community support which has turned into great customer loyalty.

When the Covid-19 virus started to affect the New Zealand population a state of concern swept over its people. This caused great concern to the elderly and the parents of the young kids within our community.
The Wash Rite franchise network noticed this and wanted to try and give back to the same community that has the support and allowed our business to grow over the past 5 years and come up with the idea that we can wash and sanitize playgrounds at pre-schools and schools within our area free of charge, as we have a large stockpile of the necessary chemicals and equipment to sanitize large public area's very quickly.

Wash Rite started to promote the free sanitizing service and it did not take long until we were flooded with childcare centers wanting to take us up on the free offer and within 24hrs we have 40 trucks deployed nationwide providing this service free of charge. The community really got behind Wash Rite and within a few short days, we have thousands and thousands of people making contact with us thanking us for what we were doing. The show of appreciation that was shown to us over this time really was heartwarming and meant a lot to the Wash Rite franchise owners.

I have had other house washing business owners make contact asking "why would you give your products and services away for free?" My answer to this is very simple. I am a firm believer in business you can not just keep on asking for stuff "Money" from the community, you have to give value above and beyond what you take in the form of money. So I operate my business with a Give, Give, Give, Take mentality and I find this works extremely well.

To give you an idea why it works in business, The unintended result of our give away was that we ended up being asked to come on 5 different radio stations, 4 newspapers did stories on us and we were on the highest-rated prime time news program. This is the type of advertising you cant buy and if you could buy it it would cost a lot more than the chemicals used doing the services.

In the wrap up giving back to your local community is a smart way to get goodwill and equity with your clients. This means your business brand is worth more and means when it comes down to clients picking your quote over another contractor's quote you have more room to charge more and still be the chosen contractor as you have more preserved value to the client. So get out there and start giving back it will come back to many time what you give back.

Environmental Responsibility in the house wash industry.

Environmental Responsibility

At present there is a hot topic in the house wash industry and it revolves around the environmental impacted that our industry is having in the local community and how we are effecting the environment. 

As most company's us a sodium hypochlorite based cleaning soap, commonly known as bleach we would have to assume there would be some negative impact on the environment!  A lot of house wash company's advertise the fact that there soaps are bio-degradable, Which they are, Bleach brakes down into its natural elements mainly salt.

The issue arises when two much salt at one time is released into the environment at any given time it can cause the PH level in the soil or water ways to change dramatically and can cause a very caustic environment.

This convocation in our local area arose of late due to one of our competition being charged and prosecuted for releasing a large amount of SH into a local feeder stream to a major water way, This caused a large amount of fish, and eel death very very fast.

For more information on this case please read the news article linked http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/89739404/Chemwash-Hamilton-fronts-up-over-fish-kill-spill

Talking to the owner of this company it seems they actually had the equipment to suck the chemicals from the storm water drain and remove it from site before it could actually go into the stream but an employee placed the recovery equipment at the wrong drain and the chemicals coming off a roof they where cleaning made it way into the drain system and into a water way at the rear of the property. Now giving full credit to the owner of the house wash company as soon as he was made aware of the issue and the subsequent investigation he stepped up, admitted fault, co-operated fully with the investigation. In my personal opinion i do not believe there was any intention by this company to discharge the chemical into the waterway. The company in question has learnt from this mistake and have implemented policy's and procedures to never have this happen again.

In your business what policy's and procedure do you have in place so not to be the one in court over major environmental breaches. I know at Wash Rite House Wash we have robust chemical handling policy's and procedure in place and constant training for our staff. We also have a full environmental policy in place which is aligned with the company policy of ZERO HARM, That's zero harm to staff's health and safety, zero harm to the environment and zero harm to the company reputation.

I Highly recommend you take a minute and have a look at your business and how your business looks at its environmental impact and see if there is anywhere you can improve.

Troy Hillard

Director

Wash Rite

www.washrite.co.nz

HOW TO ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOUSE.

HOW TO ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOUSE.

A question that gets asked often by home owner's is how can i ad to the value of my house? This is an important question as to most people there home is there largest asset so by adding value to it your increasing your net-worth.

Here are a few things you should do to ad thousands or even tens of thousands to your houses value.

House Washing

First you need to wash the exterior of your home, weather you do it yourself or you hire a professional house washing company either way you must wash your house, As first impressions is key. Most people in the market don't want a list of jobs they have to do after they purchase a new home and they will pay a premium for a house that's clean and tidy and has great street appeal. So washing your siding and the windows would be the first recommendation.

Roof Wash

As your roof is visible from the street frontage this is a key item that must be washed and looking good, As we all know roof repairs are always expensive so having a nice clean roof free from moss, mould, algae and lichen will put prospective home buyers fears to rest. This is one job i highly recommend getting a professional roof washing company in to do due to the safety risks of falling from the roof. An average roof wash will cost you from $350 to $650 depending on the size of the roof and if its multi level or single level.

Gutter Cleaning

Cleaning out your gutters is a simple job that can be done by any home owner with a ladder, No one wants to buy a house with grass and plants growing out of the gutters so by cleaning them out you will not have buyers double guessing the houses condition. And you also run the risk of flooding the house if the gutters back up and over flow back into the roof cavity. 

Driveway Cleaning

Cleaning your driveway will make an instant impression to people interested in buying you house, A nice clean driveway with no mould, or oil stains on it will give a great first impression, This is one job you will have to hire a professional for as they will have the right equipment and the right soaps to clean away all the old oil stains and to brighten the concrete. But it is well worth spending $200 to get the driveway looking like new again.

A local Hamilton real estate agent Cathy O'Shea is a firm believer in a house looking its best before going on the market to ensure the best possible sale price for the vendors, She enlists the services of Wash Rite Hamilton to bring these property's back to the very best prior to listing the property on the market for sale.

How to clean weatherboard siding on your house

Think your wood siding needs a fresh coat of paint? Maybe. Or it could be that your wood weatherboards simply needs a thorough cleaning. Homeowners have always prized wood for its unparalleled appearance, but like any siding material, it requires periodic maintenance. With wood in particular, the challenge is to avoid doing more harm than good. For instance, you might be tempted to clean weatherboards with a broom and scrubbing brush, thinking it would make quick work of things. Do so at your own risk. Using such a harsh abrasive tool can actually cause several types of damage, including stripped paint, gouged boards, and loosened caulk, besides, if you really want to give new life to your wood siding, it’s likely that water alone won’t do the trick—you’ll need a good soap to remove the dirt and kill the moss,mould and mildew on the weatherboards. 

If you are not familiar with the use of soaps and chemicals i would recommend hiring a professional house washing contractor. "Mr Troy Hillard from Wash Rite in New Zealand said in most cases most houses can be washed for under $300 so its worth while talking to a local house washing contractor if your unsure what soaps to use".

STEP 1 MATERIALS AND TOOLS
- Low Pressure High Volume Pressure washer
- Garden Hose
- House wash soaps
- Ladder

Shut all the windows. As you go about your preparations, keep an eye out for mold. Dirt can be unsightly, but mold can be truly problematic. Left unchecked, it often causes wood rot, particularly in wet, humid climates. Note any location where you discover mold, so you return to and concentrate on those spots later in the cleaning process.

STEP 2
Apply the house wash soaps through the chemical injection value in your Low pressure high volume pressure washer, Apply the soap from the bottom of the house and work your way upwards, Mr Hillard from Wash Rite recommends washing small sections of the house at a time as you don't want the soap to dry on the house. Let the soap dwell for 10 minutes and keep on apply light layers of soap just so the soap does not dry on the house in that 10 minute period.

STEP 3
Rinse of the house starting at the highest point and working your way down to the ground level, This will ensure no soap is left on the house.

Take extra time to rinse of the windows to prevent soap drying on the windows and leveling residue marks on the glass.

STEP 4

Finish up by walking around the house and making sure all sections of the house are clean, If there are any stubborn bits you may have to go back and do step 2 and 3 again on that section.

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.