Estimate Factors

When compiling an estimate or quote for a customer who is looking for roof cleaning, three factors will play a major role in your calculations; Surface Material, Square Footage, Difficulty, and Surface Contaminate.

SURFACE MATERIAL

Before beginning an estimate, you need to understand what type of surface you are being requested to clean. Different surfaces have different cleaning needs. Curtain surfaces require the proper equipment and experience to clean properly. If the wrong equipment, chemical or pressure is used, the surface can become permanently scarred and the company can be held financially liable for repairs. Make sure that you are thoroughly proficient in the cleaning techniques and have all the proper equipment for the requested surface before proceeding with an estimate.
  • What type of surface am I cleaning? (aggregate, hardwood, soft wood)
  • Do I have a proficient understanding as to how to clean this surface without damaging it?
  • Are there any special considerations I need to make when cleaning? (i.e., freshly poured concrete)

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    SURFACE CONTAMINANTS

    Next, the estimator needs to understand what dirt, grim, organics, or stains need to be removed. The estimator also needs to be aware of the proper removal techniques. This will help the estimator properly set expectations based on the skills and equipment the company possesses. 

    Typical surface contaminants include but are not limited to:

    • Dirt or Grime
    • Organic Stains
    • Moss and Algae
    • Oil & Grease
    • Calcium Deposits & Efflorescence
    • Rust Stains 

    DIFFICULTY

    Determining the difficulty of a pressure washing project will take experience and will change as you progress. The difficulty of the project will have a direct correlation to the base price that you will need to charge per square foot. If a project presents a lot of obstacles, your time to complete the project will increase, and therefore your base price should increase. There are many factors to consider when determining the difficulty of a roof cleaning project, but here are a few starter questions to help.

    • Is the worksite difficult to get to? 
    • Is there access to all the resources I need to do my job (i.e., water supply)
    • Will I need to rent special equipment to perform my work? (i.e., hot water pressure washer)
    • Is there foot traffic that needs to be considered?

    SQUARE FOOTAGE

    Square footage will be the last step in calculating a pressure washing cost. Once you’ve determined your base price as affected by the difficulty and surface contaminants, you can use that as a multiplier against the square footage. There are a few methods for determining a rough approximation of the square footage. Here are a few:

    1. Break the surface up into squares. Multiply the length and width of each square to get an area measurement. Add the total of each measurement to get the total square footage.
    2. Purchase software that performs the approximate measurements for you.
    3. Use Google Maps’ measuring tool to approximate the flat square footage.
    4. Approximate the square footage visually. “Eyeball it”

    However you come to the square footage approximation of the roof, you can then multiply that number by your base price number to get your final estimate number to present to the customer.

    Base Price x Approximate Square Footage = Estimate

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