Here’s why Pristine Clean won’t take your credit card info until after you’ve inspected the job
By Mitch Allen
If you explore the online reviews for power washing companies, you may notice a new trend: homeowners are being asked to give their credit card information upfront. This means the contractor can charge your card when the job is complete, but before you’ve had a chance to inspect it.
‘That’s just wrong,” says Pristine Clean co-owner Ken Wilson, who founded the customer-focused company along with business partner Anthony Alberino.
“If you’re not pleased with the outcome of the job, then you have no recourse. Home improvement isn’t like Amazon where you can simply return an item. If the contractor already has your money, you may have difficulty getting them to come back to fix your problem.”
Ken says his team won’t take your payment until you’ve inspected the job and are completely satisfied.
“We have highly trained, experienced teams so we really don’t get many complaints,” Ken adds. “But sometimes our customers will call us back out because of house weeping.”
Say what? The house is crying?
“Something like that,” Ken explains.
“Power washing a warm house with cold water can cause condensation. That’s why siding manufactures include ‘weep holes’ in your siding. It lets this moisture out. Sometimes—if the installer didn’t use galvanized nails to attached the siding—the nails can rust, and the weeping brings that rust out onto your siding after we’ve cleaned it. Typically, the rust will disappear after the first rainfall, but sometimes we go back out and rinse it off. For us, it’s all about educating the homeowner and doing what’s right.”
When it comes to online reviews, Ken has some advice: Don’t rely on a single source.
“It’s highly frustrating, but the reviews on some sites can be manipulated, including Google,” he explains. “It’s okay to look at Google reviews, but confirm what you are seeing by looking at reviews on places like Angie’s List, the BBB, and Facebook. Overall, you’ll get a better picture of how a company is performing.”
Roof Algae is Thriving
Surprise, we’re having one of wettest springs on record which means gloeocapsa magma is thriving and growing. That’s what those black streaks are on your roof—an ancient algae that breaks down your roof by feeding off of the limestone granules embedded in the shingles.
“We’ve never seen it this bad,” Ken says.
“That’s because we’ve had more rainfall already this year than in all of last year. We don’t like it, but gloeocapsa magma does. It can dramatically reduce the life of your roof—so if you see black streaks on your roof, give us a call. We offer a 100% guarantee to remove all of the algae. We use a soft wash here to avoid damage to your roof. And when that algae comes off, people say, ‘Wow, it looks like a new roof.’”
Protect Your Siding and Concrete, Too.
Vinyl siding features a UV coating that prevents it from fading and cracking, but grime—that is, dirt, algae and bacteria—break down this coating causing your siding to fade and look chalky. It’s designed to be maintained, not with high-pressure blasting, but with soft pressure.
“We perform a soft-pressure wash using a mildewcide, which helps remove the grime and kill the algae and bacteria,” Ken says.
Pristine’s Concrete Clean and Seal—which protects concrete, brick, and paver surfaces from Northeast Ohio’s harsh winters—includes a pressure wash of your concrete with a walk-behind surface cleaner and the application of a biodegradable cleanser to gently lift and remove surface marks and contaminants.
Then comes an application of a deep-penetrating, siloxane-based concrete sealant, which is absorbed into the concrete to protect the driveway and preserve its longevity. The side benefit is that the process leaves your surfaces free of ugly mildew and moss, particularly in shady areas.
Headquartered in Berea, Pristine Clean beautifies homes throughout Northeast Ohio. They are consistent winners of the Angie’s List Super Service Award and are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau. Call 440-454-7041 to arrange for a free estimate, or visit PristineClean.com. All technicians are bonded, insured and certified by the Power Washers of North America.