Saturday 31 December 2016

DONT LET BLOCKED GUTTER DAMAGE YOUR HOUSE

Wash Rite Gutter Cleaning hamilton new zealand
I'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.

Is your home KILLING you ??

Is your home KILLING you ??

A lot of people don't know and or understand the dangerous circumstances they are living in on a daily basis just by the fact that they have not washed there house in a few years.
Take a few seconds and go out side and have a look at the shaded side of your house and have a look to see if you can see mold grown on your house?? If you have not washed your house in a past two years there is a very good chance not only can you see mold but a large portion of your house will be contaminated with mold. 

Image result for black mold on exterior house

Molds are organisms which are neither plant nor animal. They are part of the fungi kingdom.
Unlike plants, molds do not get their energy from the sun through photosynthesis. In fact the sun's ultraviolet light inhibits mold growth.
Molds also digest or "eat" the material they are growing on. Yes that's right mold is eating your house and your roof away, The role of mold is to break down decaying organic matter such as dead plants, leaves or dead animals.

Conditions for Mold Growth on your House

Besides oxygen and organic materials "Dirt" containing carbon to provide nutrients, the other main requirement mold needs to grow is moisture. You can find mold growing almost anywhere provided there is enough of a moisture source for it. 

Mold problems cannot develop on houses unless there is a moisture problem. The moisture accumulation might be caused through humidity, condensation, or water intrusion from leaks, spills, floods, etc. Most molds only require suitable materials to be wet for 24-48 hours before they can grow.

Molds that can survive using only humidity as their moisture source are called Xerophilic, whereas other molds require an accumulation of moisture to grow. outside the house the best way to prevent mold growing is to limit moisture by limiting shade. 

Besides moisture, mold also needs the temperature to be right before it can begin to grow. Mold grows best in temperatures that we would consider warm, however there are some mold species that can even grow in temperatures as low as 2 degrees Celsius. If a mold colony's environmental conditions become unfavorable, instead of dying it can lay dormant until conditions become right again when it can continue to grow.

What is Toxic Mold?

Out of the several hundred thousand species of molds, there are about 16 different species which are known as toxic molds because they can release mycotoxins which are toxic to humans and animals. Some of the most common toxic molds are:

  • Aspergillus
  • Fusarium 
  • Paecilomyces 
  • Penicillium 
  • Stachybotrys
  • Trichoderma
All of these molds can be found on the exterior of your house or on your roof

Toxic Black Mold Symptoms


On this page you will find symptoms caused by the 
Stachybotrys chartarum species of mold, which is also called black mold or toxic black mold.

However not all mold that looks black is Stachybotrys and in fact most dark mold isn't even toxic. For a list of symptoms that other molds can cause visit the Mold Symptoms page.

Types of Toxic Black Mold Symptoms

Toxic black mold causes serious symptoms and health problems such as mental impairment, breathing problems, damage to internal organs and sometimes even death. The main groups of symptoms toxic black mold causes are:

  • Mental and neurological symptoms
  • Respiratory symptoms
  • Circulatory symptoms
  • Vision and eye problems
  • Skin problems
  • Immune system problems
  • Reproductive system problems
  • Tiredness and discomfort
  • Other illnesses and health effects

Mental and Neurological Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

The trichothecene mycotoxins produced by toxic black mold are neurotoxic. This means they can kill neurons in the brain and impair a person's mental ability. They also cause nervous disorders such as tremors and can cause personality changes such as mood swings and irritability.

Symptoms:

  • Confusion
  • Brain fog
  • Shortened attention span
  • Difficulty concentrating and paying attention
  • Slowed reflexes
  • Disorientation
  • Dizziness
  • Memory loss and memory problems
  • Impaired learning ability
  • Hallucinations
  • Shock
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Aggression and other personality changes
  • Tingling
  • Trembling
  • Shaking
  • Seizure
  • Numbness

Respiratory Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold


People living in homes with toxic black mold are exposed mainly through breathing in toxic black mold spores and mycotoxins. Toxic black mold mycotoxins create irritation and a burning feeling in a person's air passages such as the nasal cavity, mouth and throat.


The mycotoxins can even become lodged in the mucus membranes, sinuses and the lungs which then causes a burning feeling, breathing problems and bleeding in the lungs.


Image result for black mold on exterior house

Symptoms:

  • Difficulty breathing - breathlessness or shortness of breath
  • Wheezing
  • Coughing
  • Pulmonary edema - swelling of the lungs
  • Pulmonary hemorrhage - bleeding in the lungs
  • Sore throat
  • Burning sensation of the mouth
  • Bleeding gums
  • Runny nose
  • Itchy nose
  • Stuffy, blocked nose
  • Nose bleeds

Circulatory Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

Toxic black mold mycotoxins can be breathed in, ingested, or absorbed through a person's skin or eyes. Eventually the mycotoxins then find their way into the person's blood. This leads to heart damage, problems with blood clotting and internal or external hemorrhaging.

Symptoms:

  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Heart inflammation
  • Damage to heart
  • Low blood pressure
  • Bone marrow disruption
  • Bleeding tendency
  • Blood not clotting properly
  • Hemorrhage - internal bleeding
  • Vomiting up blood
  • Bleeding in the brain and in other organs

Vision and Eye Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

Toxic black mold mycotoxins that are in the air can enter a person's eyes. The mycotoxins are cytotoxic (toxic to cells) and when they come into contact with eye cells they cause inflamed and injured eyes and create vision problems.

Symptoms:

  • Eye inflammation and soreness
  • Red or bloodshot eyes
  • Eye damage
  • Blurry vision and vision worsening
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes)

Skin Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

Through the skin is one of the three main ways that toxic black mold mycotoxins enter the human body. There have been cases in the past where people have handled hay contaminated with toxic black mold and developed severe rashes and skin problems on their body where they touched the hay, as well as on sweaty areas like the armpits.

Symptoms:

  • Crawling skin
  • Dermatitis - skin inflammation, rash, blisters, itchiness
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)

Immune System Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

Toxic black mold puts out chemicals which suppress the immune system. In fact many immunosuppressive drugs are actually created from toxic molds. A person who is immunocompromised from being around toxic black mold will more easily get infections and sicknesses.

Symptoms:

  • Immunosuppression - immune system not functioning properly
  • Infections reoccurring

Reproductive System Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

Mycotoxins from toxic black mold are teratogenic. This means they can cause problems in the fetus during pregnancy which then leads to birth defects. Toxic black mold mycotoxins are also cytoxotic and mutagenic (cause cell mutations) and inhibit protein synthesis including DNA and RNA.

Symptoms:

  • Infertility
  • Miscarriage
  • Impotence
  • Fetal development problems

Tiredness and Discomfort Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

When a person is around toxic black mold the immune system may release a sedative called Chloral Hydrate. This is used as a defense to try to slow down the effects of toxic black mold. But this also makes a person tired and causes fatigue. Toxic black mold can also cause soreness of the muscles and joints.

Symptoms:

  • Chronic fatigue
  • Drowsiness
  • Weakness
  • Aches and pains
  • Muscle pain
  • Chest pain
  • Abdominal pain
  • Joint pain
  • Malaise - general discomfort
  • Headaches
  • Cold or flu type symptoms or recurring colds
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Image result for black mold on exterior house

Other Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

Symptoms:

  • Hair loss
  • Weight loss, anorexia
  • Hearing loss
  • Liver disease
  • Coma
  • Death
All of this can be prevented by a simple house wash once a year, We also recommend you ask your house wash contractor to use a sodium hypochloride solution to wash down the house. 

We would like to Thank Mr Troy Hillard from Wash Rite House Washing for his expert opinion on how to clean a house to safely remove the mold.

If you believe you have medical issues relating to mold exposure please seek medical advise instantly.


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

Exterior home improvement ideas for any budget

A home’s curb appeal can make or break a possible sale, but not all landscape and outdoor projects are worth investing in. “Steer clear of renovation projects that appeal to a small number of buyers, as this could substantially lower the resale value of your home. For instance, an in-ground swimming pool might be an attractive feature for some, but many home buyers see it as a hassle, at best, or even a possible money-pit. Instead, focus on updating the exterior rather than adding expensive features.
The projects you choose can also vary dramatically when it comes to a return on your investment. For instance, adding a deck can provide a 75% return, while a patio offers only a 30% to 60% return.

Roof

The roof is arguably the most important component of your home. So spending $11,000 to re-roof a 200-square meter roof every two or three decades is acceptable. Which is why Kevin Barwin or Hamilton New Zealand was very unhappy when he had to replace his home’s roof after just 12 years. Barwin had initially paid to install organic asphalt roofing shingles manufactured by an New Zealand company Metalcraft that came with a 20-year warranty. But just over a decade after installation Barwin thought he was forced to replace his roof as it had discolored and had black streaks running down the roof. The shingles had begun to change color and it really started to effect the way his house looked from the street.To prevent further damage, Barwin was refereed by a friend to call Wash Rite to get a professional opinion on whether the roof can be cleaned and or restored or would have to be replaced with a new roof. Once Wash Rite inspected the roof Barwin was surprised that not only can Wash Rite clean the roof but they can get the roof to look like new again and at only 9% of the replacement cost. Barwin was even more impressed by the warranty that Wash Rite gave that the roof would stay clean for 2 years. To avoid Barwin’s experience,  Contact you local Wash Rite franchise and take them up on there offer of a free inspection to see if your roof can be protected by a Zero pressure roof wash. This process will remove all the corrosive algi , mould, lichen and will return your roof back to a like new state and will extend the life of your roof by years and at only a fraction of the replacement cost.
Pro tip: Want a cost-effective roof with a 50-year warranty? Go with metal. Metal does not absorb moister, it reflects the suns rays, It has a hard smooth surface so harder for moss,mould and lichen to get a grip on and start growing.

Siding

Siding can be a quick, cost-efficient and durable way to update your home’s curb appeal and, on average, offers a 77% return on your investment. If your sidding is just dirty you can get your house washed for under $300 in most cases by Wash Rite or if there is damage replacing a few boards will make the world of difference
Pro tip: Many fibre cement board manufacturers offer a pre-finished board, so painting is unnecessary. Plus these products come with a 20- or 25-year warranty and require little more than an annual washing for maintenance.

[ Splurge! ] Solar panels

Elon Musk’s Solar City just launched a tempered glass roofing shingle that doubles as a solar panel. These panels are stronger and more durable than clay or slate (or just about any other roofing material), but no solid pricing has been released for the solar panel roof tiles, as yet.

[ Splurge! ] Front door

Entry doors are the punch to your appeal. Fiber glass doors offer an 82% return on investment and are usually cheaper but more expensive to install. Expect to pay at least $1,000 for installation of a basic steel door and about $2,000 for a fiberglass or standard wood door. Prices on custom wood doors vary considerably, but expect to pay $5,000, installed.

Thursday 29 December 2016

Washing your house before & after you move

Two of the best times to give your home a thorough cleaning, inside and out, is before and after a move.
If you are moving out of a rental, hiring Wash Rite House Washing for the exterior of your house can help you get more of your bond back if your in a rental, and also help you get a good rental reference from your landlord.
If you are moving into a new home, scheduling a house wash before you move belongings in is a great way to make it feel pristine.

Complete house washing will involve several different procedures. For the exterior, including the driveway, deck, and garage walls, Low pressure washing will remove the dirt. Window washing and gutter cleaning require gentler low pressure washing to avoid damage. 

Saturday 24 December 2016

Why Choose The Non-Pressure Roof Cleaning Method?

Why Choose The Non-Pressure Roof Cleaning Method?
A customer recently asked me why we clean roofs with the Non-Pressure Roof Cleaning method.  The answer is fairly simple, it allows us to be thorough.   
If you have an older style clay tile or new style asphalt roof, it’s the only safe way to clean your roof without damaging the tiles or shingles.  It’s also the only method approved and recommended by Monier roofing ARMA (the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association).  Pressure Washing your asphalt roof will remove granules from the shingle and clay tiles will crack and you will destroy the concrete pointing holding the tiles down and making it weather tight and it will shorten the life of the roof.  Your roof might look better after it’s pressure washed, but it will come at the expense of a roof replacement sooner than it should.  Cleaning your roof with the Non-Pressure method can actually extend the life of your roof by removing the living organism that’s turning your green or black.  This living organism is actually feeding off the minerals in your roof, causing it to lose it’s structure.  By cleaning your roof the right way, you’re not only making your property look better, you’re saving yourself the added expense of premature replacement. 

If you have a Tile Roof, Non-Pressure Roof Cleaning is your best option because it’s the only way to remove all of the roof algae.  Pressure Washing your roof can clean the surface of the roof, but it can reach the thousands of crevasses your roof has and it won’t remove the roof algae that’s growing in those crevasses.  After Pressure Washing your roof, it will look beautiful, but it will have thousands of small colonies of roof algae that will grow and spread to the surface of your roof.  The Non-Pressure method uses chemicals to kill the roof algae.  It’s effective everywhere the solution reaches because it doesn’t rely on pressure to kill the roof algae.  A good, professional roof cleaner can safely apply the roof cleaning mix to the surface of your roof and it’s thousands of crevasses and insure your roof will stay clean for a longer period of time because it won’t have the thousands of roof algae colonies left behind, spreading to the visible areas of your roof.   In the past, pressure cleaning was the only way to clean your roof, but it’s outdated and inferior compared to today's Non-Pressure Roof Cleaning method.

For more information about Non-Pressure Roof Cleaning and Pressure Washing, visit our website – Wash Rite House & Roof washing

Saturday 17 December 2016

DO WHAT YOUR COMPETITORS ARE DOING THAN DOUBLE IT!!

In the 16 months Wash Rite has been open for business we have had rapid rise from just humble begins. The birth of Wash Rite come when i was in the process of selling another business and a mate of mine was around at my office everyday as he was in between property developments and we both realized in a few short weeks we would be jobless but cashed up and had nothing to do. We throw some idea's for businesses around and industry's around and we realized sitting in my shed i had most of the equipment needed to start a house washing business.

We started to research the industry and who the players where in the house wash and roof cleaning sector in the Waikato and we even went as far as to get the main company's around to Wash our house's and rental property's. While these company's went to work washing our house's it become very clear to us that not only could we do this we could do it better in every aspect. Most of the company's doing house washing fall in to the category of "Just Playing " at it. And by just playing at it i mean they work from home, have no uniform, basic signage on there vehicles or drive people movers, use cheap diaphragm pumps that come off quad bike weed sprayers, It was clear to us that no one company has corporatised  the industry yet. And by corporatised i mean having a company set up and running with set system's and process in place.

This gave us what we needed to begin Wash Rite, Now easily the largest house wash company in the Waikato. In the Waikato we have built up to 3 full time rigs on the road 5 days a week washing on average 13 houses per week each and growing. We have also recently grown into a new city Wellington New Zealand's capital city. We where lucky to come across Tim and Baylee who wanted to join the Wash Rite team and they have purchased a franchise in the Wellington region and as of 18th December 2016 they have been operating for 7 weeks and by all matrix they have blown us away with how fast they have build a great customer base and they are always booked out 2 to 3 weeks in advance and are blowing away there competition in Wellington.

Now in regards to the heading of the post "do what your competitors are doing and than double it" This means always keep an eye on what your competitors are doing in regards to pricing, marketing, advertising, equipment used and if you see anything that you believe is a good idea or a benefit in any way don't be afraid to copy there idea and implement into your business.

Now the thing you have to keep in mind that if you just copy them you will never pass them you will always be one step behind always playing catch up. At Wash Rite we pride our self's on being not just one step ahead but 50 steps ahead of all our competition. To give you a few examples, we had our Facebook page open and doing Facebook ads 4 months before one of our competitors Chem Wash Waikato even had a page and now they are doing the same thing. Which i cant blame them i would do the same if i was them. But by the time they even thought of doing it our page was so far ahead they will always be playing catch up and that's shown by Wash Rite having 750 page likes and chem wash having 140 page like's

Another example is that Wash Rite had made a animated video about our services which i had NEVER seen in any service industry in New Zealand before and within 6 weeks another company Wonder Wash had one very close to ours. Again i cant blame them from doing it as it worked well for us, Our video can be seen at WATCH WASH RITE ANIMATED VIDEO NOW

At Wash Rite we try and bring out new marketing idea's or pick up on idea's used around the world that has not made it to New Zealand yet or is just not common and we try them all to see what works for us. This has given us a huge advantage in our market place.

In saying this we at Wash Rite are not so confident we wont see what a competitor is doing and if we think it works we will do the same. A great example is that two of our competitors have a stand at a large home and garden expo each year. We looked at it and said that's a good idea so we now have a stand at the same expo each year. But to give you a good example about not just copying the idea but doing it better we made sure our stand is at the beginning of the expo hall which means we get first chance at getting the customer and it worked great for us, So great we pre booked and paid for next year.

Even as Wash Rite continues to grow and continues to take market share we will always keep an eye on the other company's in our market place just to ensure that we stay ahead of them and keep innovating our company's position in the market place.

Wash Rite Limited
www.washrite.co.nz