Friday, June 17, 2011

Exterior House Washing / Vinyl Siding Cleaning - Westfield, Fishers, Carmel, Giest

     Pressure cleaning or pressure washing has come a long way since the "good ole days".  Today, it's much easier to clean the vinyl siding on today's houses than it was "back in the day".  If you have the right equipment, knowledge and solvents, cleaning a house only takes a few hours.  Vinyl siding, stucco or cinder block is really very easy to clean.  Much easier than brick or wood.  Vinyl siding is prone to green algae which is most prevalent on the North side of a home just like moss on a tree.  Sometimes, you'll also see mold or mildew which can be harmful if it gets under the vinyl siding and invades the vapor barrier of your home.   Cleaning that off is very important.
   
     The difference between renting a machine and doing it yourself and hiring AquaPro to clean your house is huge.  Doing it yourself will probably take a whole day not to mention the fact you'll have to deal with sore muscles in your body the next day.  AquaPro Pressure Cleaning, LLC uses environmentally friendly solvents.  We can also clean your entire house within a few hours.  If the customer requests, we can also apply a wax coating to help repel algae, dirt or any other foreign substance.  Another thing to remember about vinyl is the pressure you'll have to use.  You don't want high pressure on vinyl siding because you'll damage the siding panels.  You want to let the solvents do most of the work for you.  As my father always told me, "Work smarter, not harder." which I'm sure he heard from his father.  When we clean a house, our process is as follows:


  1. Spray down plants and flowers with cold water.
  2. Spray house with warm water to prep the dirt for solvents.
  3. Spray house with our special house cleaning solution.
  4. Let solvent sit for 5 minutes so that it has a chance to break down the dirt, algae, mold and/or mildew.
  5. Rinse with warm water.
  6. Repeat if necessary.
  7. Spray on wax if customer requests this step.
  8. Spray plants and flowers again with cold water.
     Always weigh the pros and cons of a large project such as exterior house washing.  It's a big job and a professional company such as AquaPro can definitely help cut time and sore muscles out of the equation.  If you've ever used a power washer from Lowe's or Home Depot, there's a difference between our equipment and those that you buy at your local home improvement store.  Try to wash your house yourself and then decide if you need help.  AquaPro can really make it a simple decision.

http://www.aquaproclean.com

Monday, June 13, 2011

Today's Pressure Cleaning or Pressure Washing

     Pressure washing is more than renting a machine. Most people call it pressure washing.  You say potato, I say po-ta-to.  Today’s pressure cleaning industry requires knowledge in pressure and the cleaning solutions used to make sure the job is done right. We know that your home is a big investment. We also know curb appeal is important. There's a big difference between our pressure cleaning equipment and the machine you rent from your local equipment rental store.  Our equipment pushes 5 GPM or gallons of water per minute.  The equipment you rent or buy only pushes anywhere from 2 to 4 gallons a minute.  What does this mean?  This means you'll spend a whole day cleaning your driveway versus about 45 minutes if we do it on an average size driveway not to mention you're going to be sore and tired after a few hours.  Using AquaPro just makes more sense.  We can come in and tackle your project and get in and out within a reasonable amount of time and save you the hassle and save your body the pain.  Give our fully trained, locally owned and fully insured company an email or call. We will come out and give you a review of our procedures to let you know your home is in good hands. We also understand your time is limited, so if an estimate is all you require, you can just go over to our website and fill out an estimate form. We know you have other companies you can choose from, but the professional service from our employees exceeds the industry standards. This is why AquaPro is the company for you.  Because, that's what we do.


http://www.aquaproclean.com
jdickey3@aquaproclean.com
317-863-2850

Monday, June 6, 2011

Black Streaks on Your Roof is Gloeocapsa Magma

     Let's clear up the truth about those ugly "black streaks" on your roof.  That's not dirt.  It's actually an algae called gloeocapsa magma.  I know, that's a mouthful.  But they are also damaging your shingles as I write this.  I'm going to list some truths about this algae and some myths.

Myths:

  1. The "black streaks" on your roof is just dirt
  2. This is a do-it-yourself project
  3. The algae just makes your roof look bad.  There's really no harm being done by the algae.
  4. You need to replace your roof.  (One of the costliest mistakes a homeowner can make)
  5. You can power wash your roof to clean those "streaks" off.
Truths:

  1. The "black streaks" are a type of algae or bacteria. (Cyanobacteria to be exact)
  2. The algae spreads over time through rain water creating "streaks" on your roof.  The "streaks" will become worse if left untreated.
  3. Fiberglass shingles are made with limestone as a filler to make them heavier and the algae feed off the limestone.
  4. You'll see the "streaks" more prominently on the North side of your roof.
  5. Most "experts" within the industry conclude the algae to be harmful if left un-treated, as the growth holds moisture within the shingles causing premature aging, rotting, and/or granule loss.
  6. You can clean your roof for about 1/10 the cost of a new roof.
  7. Annual preventative maintenance can keep the algae from returning for a 1/3 the cost of a soft wash roof cleaning.
  8. You should NEVER power wash your roof.  Doing this will cause excessive granule loss which destroys your shingles.
     In conclusion, we always tell our customers to do their homework.  There is plenty of information on the internet about this algae.  It explains what it is and what kind of damage it can do to your roof.  The technical name for this algae is Gloeocapsa Magma.  The link for the Wikipedia article is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloeocapsa_magma.  So, always be prepared and research before you have someone un-qualified clean your roof.  We have cleaned hundreds of roofs and know what to look for.  We always do an inspection of your to make sure it does not need to be replaced or repaired.  If you have dry, cracking shingles or you have missing shingles we will let you know that your roof either needs to be replaced or repaired.  We will not clean a roof that's in bad shape.  Hopefully, this article has helped you become more informed about this growing epidemic.

AquaPro Pressure Cleaning, LLC in Fishers, IN / Hydroblast, Hydroblaster

AquaPro Pressure Cleaning, LLC is owned and operated by Jack W Dickey III and his father Jack W Dickey, Jr.  We have worked hard to build this company with a solid foundation which is keep it simple and make your customers happy.  My father and I decided to invest in starting this business after we saw a friend having success with his own pressure washing company. This friend was having trouble with his business partner and tried to get out of the business. When AquaPro acquired one of their non-contract clients we were sued by this man for doing what we feel is just honest business. We settled the lawsuit out of court so we could get our business going. We are aware of several blog postings discrediting our hard work. If you have any questions regarding this matter please contact me directly at 317-863-2850.  We appreciate every one of our customers and we will continue to do honest business.  Because, that's what we do.

http://www.aquaproclean.com

Friday, February 18, 2011

Website

Check out our website at http://www.aquaproclean.com

Our Customers

     As the season is quickly among us, I wanted to reflect on the past year in which AquaPro quickly became a player in the pressure cleaning industry.  I also wanted to say that we are extremely grateful to all the new customers that we gained in this past twelve months.  Our main goal is to build our relationships with our customers and earn repeat business.  AquaPro strives to do the best job we can and offer a stress free experience.  I often get asked the question, "Can you pressure clean in all types of weather?"  Let's clear up that question.  As long as the temperature is above 32 degrees fahrenheit, pressure cleaning can be done.  If you have "black streaks" on your roof, this is not dirt.  It's algae.  And, it's eating your shingles.  The algae feeds on the limestone in your shingles and eventually, it will eat all the way down to the rubber.  If this happens, you will have hot and cold spots in your house because your shingles can no longer do their job.  Whenever we go out to a customers house that wants us to clean their roof, we always inspect the roof to make sure the shingles are in good shape.  We also check for any unusual wear and tear on the roof itself.  Usually, cleaning roofs is a tricky thing when it comes to weather.  Wind is a major factor to consider when cleaning roofs.  AquaPro doesn't clean roofs like most companies.  Most pressure cleaning companies spray a solution on the roof and then wait for it to start working, approx. 15 - 30 min.  Then, they rinse off the solution along with the algae.  When we clean a roof, our solution is sprayed on and then we wait.  For our "Ultimate" roof wash, there is no need to rinse.  We wait.  Rinsing off the solution can damage the granules on your shingles.  After waiting approximately 45 - 60 minutes, if the roof still looks like it still has some algae on it, we spray another coating of solution on and then we wait again.  Sometimes, we repeat this process 3 - 4 times.  The way we clean a roof has a few advantages over our competition.  First, we don't have to climb up on the roof which is safer.  Second, it's never a good idea to climb on the roof shingles.  This will harm the shingles and decrease the life of your roof.  We use a product called an X-Jet.  This is a pressure cleaning wand attachment that allows us to spray our solution approximately 30 feet into the air.  We do have to use ladders to reach some high pitched roof lines, but most of our work is done from the ground.  But, we can work on multiple areas of the roof at the same time.  Let me elaborate.  We can spray our "Ultimate" roof wash on one area of the roof, then while we're waiting for that to dry, we can spray another section of the roof.  Then, we go back to the first section we sprayed to see it the area needs to be sprayed again.  If so, we'll spray it again.  And we can "jump" around from one section to the other until the whole roof is clean.  Also, on areas where there is no algae present, we still spray the area, because sometimes there are algae spores that are not visible.  Spraying that area kills the algae spores and prevents them from spreading.  All in all, most roofs take less time than the traditional way of cleaning a roof, which allows us to get in and get out.  Plus, we can pass on those savings to our customers.  In conclusion, always do your homework.  Research before you decide who you are going to hire to clean your roof. 

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Spring Cleaning with AquaPro Pressure Cleaning, LLC

     Right now is the perfect time to start thinking about getting your home in order.  Spring is right around the corner and the weather is starting to take a turn for the better.  With temperatures in the 50's today and pushing 60 tomorrow, Spring cleaning is almost here.  It's time to think about that fence or deck that needs to be taken care of.  Pressure cleaning your fence or deck and then sealing it is the best way to maintain and protect your investment.  Regular maintenance enhances and prolongs the life.  It also increases the appearance and shows off the beauty so your neighbors can see.  This is also true with driveway and walkway cleaning and sealing.  Curb appeal is an undervalued commodity and is something that can make your house stand out among others.  Cleaning and sealing your concrete is one of the most important steps to taking care of your property.  Have you ever seen a driveway that's literally crumbling?  It could have been prevented by sealing it properly.  Plus, who wants to shell out thousands of dollars for a new driveway?  Get it cleaned and sealed every 4-6 years.  Protect your investment!