Dirty job: O'Fallon man has the house-cleaning solution

Mike Manno likes being his own boss. He is also the lone employee of the house-washing business. He washes siding, decks, fences and more for metro-east home owners. He recently talked to business reporter Will Buss about his service:

What can you tell me about your business?

"I clean mold off siding of houses. House washing is what I specialize in. I do window washing and clean decks and wood fencing. I can power wash concrete and also wash sidewalks and driveways. I try to focus on house washing."

What do you use for cleaning?

"Basically what I use is a chemical mix that is recommended by vinyl manufacturers. It's really bleach water and detergent, but it's something they approve. If you dilute it enough, it becomes biodegradable."

How long have you been at it?

"I am in my sixth year. I started in 2006."

How much competition do you have?

"I would say there are others, but there are only a handful compared to landscapers who do it. I've been doing it longer than most anybody. I've been around a while."

And you do it all on your own?

"Just myself. Only when I need help with a deck of a fence do I get someone else to help, but 95 percent of the time I do it all by myself."

What does your service cost?

"It's really hard to say. I am small and local but have low overhead and am pretty competitive with my pricing."

How did you get into this line of work?

"There so many homes around here with vinyl siding. Every three, four years, those houses need to be cleaned. It needs to be done. You need to clean vinyl siding as well as the gutters, the soffit and fascia. Before, I was working for a food company. I was a driver and salesman. But I wanted to have more flexibility that goes with self-employment."

Are you looking to expand your business?

"That's a good question. This business usually goes pretty well for about eight to nine months of the year. December, January and February are the main months when I have kind of tried a few ideas. One business idea I tried last winter was grocery delivery. I didn't really promote it a lot or put too much effort into it. I also tried garage cleaning and organizing. Sometimes, you see these two-car garages and there are no cars in there because there is no room because there is so much stuff stored in there. I advertised it and got a few calls. I also work for IDOT plowing snow. That's not something to count on, and I wanted some regular income during those three months, so I've tried other little businesses.

Minnesota Soffit and Fascia | Soffit and fascia Installation MN

Proper installation of Soffit and Fascia help to complete the appearance of your home. That’s why professional installation is highly recommended. When looking for a quality Fascia and Soffit installation company in MN, look no further than Master 1 Exteriors Inc, MN based Master 1 Exteriors Inc, has specialized in the installations and repair of Soffits & fascia boards throughout Minnesota with over 25 years experience. Technically, a soffit is the underside of any element of a building. The most common soffit is found in the area under the eaves on the exterior of the house. The soffit extends from the side of the house to the edge of the eave and closes the space beneath the eave.

The soffit is more vulnerable to weather damage than any other part of the house. Wet material rots, and a soffit can be repeatedly soaked by water from torn shingles, damaged or rusted flashing, ice dams, or poorly functioning gutters.

Squirrels and birds can also damage a soffit, since they like to nest in the space in the space behind soffits if they can find a point of entry. Bees, hornets, and wasps do not actually damage a soffit, but when they build a nest behind a soffit, they present a problem for the homeowners.

Fascia

Fascia installation is a vital aspect of proper roof construction. The fascia is found underneath the roof line just behind the gutters. It extends around the entire building. Wood is the most commonly used material for fascia although plastic and aluminum are also used.

Fascia board is a type of roof trim which is commonly used on houses. It is mounted on the exposed ends of rafters or the top of exterior walls to create a layer between the edge of the roof and the outside. In addition to serving an aesthetic function by creating a smooth, even appearance on the edge of the roof, fascia board also protects the roof and the interior of the house from weather damage. Not all styles of home design feature fascia board, but many do.

In cases where the edge of the roof is flush with the edge of the walls, the fascia board may include soffits for venting, while in other instances, soffits may be hidden under the eave, invisible behind the fascia board. The fascia board also provides a point of attachment for the gutters of the house, along with the drain pipes, facilitating drainage from the roof and ensuring that water does not pool around the house during the rainy season.

Roof & siding essentials

Residential Construction Academy, Carpentry

Black & Decker the Complete Guide to Roofing Siding & Trim

Do-it-yourself roofing and siding

Habitat for Humanity, how to build a house