Part 2: Tips for planning—avoiding the pitfalls

by Andy Pazz (Pazeotopoulos)

Last month, we discussed how to get started in the car wash business. In this issue we continue the discussion including topics that will help you avoid some of the pitfalls while planning.

Prior to Applying For Permit

Select Your Architect

Be sure that the architect you hire has previous experience designing a car wash! My experience has been that you should be able to hire an experienced car wash architect between $10,000 and $15,000 for a complete set of drawings. This does not include the engineering costs for the site, this cost can vary widely. Prices will vary considerably depending on the amount of time the architect spends on your project. Many architects may also ask for a percentage of the project as their fee, all this can be negotiated as to the final price.

Plan Review

When the preliminary drawings have been completed by the architect you will meet with the architect and the car wash equipment supplier to go over the plans. This meeting is to eliminate any mistakes that may have been made in the conversations between you, the supplier and the architect. Here are a few typical questions to ask, mistakes that can be avoided during this phase: “Do you have water line stub-ups on either side of the conveyor for prep tanks or pressure guns?”, “Is there a water stub-up somewhere in the bay to hook-up the water hose used when hosing out the bay each night?” These are the small things that make a big difference if alterations need to be made after the building is up. When the final plans are completed and presented to you, be sure that they are ok’d and signed by the distributor!

Contractor Selection

Remember this! Hire only a contractor that has previous experience of building a car wash! Do not hire your friend “THE Contractor”, or a friend of a friend that is a contractor, even if they tell you that they can save you a bundle of money. There are exceptions, but I have never seen an acceptable job completed by a contractor with no previous car wash experience. Before you select the contractor, be sure to talk to and inspect several car washes he/she has built, talk to the owner and the manager as well, would they change anything, would they lengthen the building or would they install more vacuums. Most car wash owners are more than happy to help a new operator, as long as they are not in direct competition.

On Site Inspection Of Conveyor Concrete Forms “Prior To Pour”

The conveyor is the heart of your car wash. If the conveyor is the slightest bit off it will throw the car wash into complete disarray! If the conveyor is not poured to the car wash equipment manufacturer specifications the following can happen! Vehicles jumping the rail and damaging equipment and vehicles, vehicles running away and not staying with the roller, vehicles jumping rollers. You must inspect the forms with your car wash equipment supplier prior to pouring concrete. He/she should be happy to do this simply because it will make the installation of equipment much smoother. Also stub ups need to be checked to be sure of the downhill slant to the reclaim vaults.

The slope of the conveyor floor is very, very important, I cannot stress enough how important this is! If the equipment supplier requires that the angle of the slope is

to be from the entrance end to the exit end, OR the slope is to be from BOTH the entrance end and the exit end toward a place in the center (where there should be TWO 6 inch pipes returning the water to the reclaim vault) and the slope should be sufficient so that the flow is constant and NO water is laying on the conveyor floor. Always check the equipment manufacturers specifications!

Note: The bottom of the two 6 inch pipes must be flush with the concrete floor of the conveyor! The reason for this is that IF the pipes are 1” or 2”s above the floor, the sludge and water will lay in the conveyor trench. The sludge and water need to empty into the reclaim vaults!

Training The Owner & Personnel

There are two ways to learn the car wash business, the first and best way is to have a tutor such as an owner operator or consultant help you, walk you through the procedures. The second way is to read trade magazines, talk to operators, work in a car wash and ask a lot of questions.

Operating Proceedure

There are primarily three ways to prepare a vehicle to be washed. The first is to not touch the vehicle at all, the second is to prep using a prep gun (which covers the vehicle with soapy suds) and the third way is to prep the vehicle with a prep brush. Using a prep brush has been the most common way to prepare a vehicle prior to entering the car wash. The reason for this is that there are many different configurations of vehicles and there are hard to clean areas that must be prepped prior to washing the vehicle. I believe that recently great strides have been made in the chemical area that in many parts of the country using a prep gun instead of a prep brush has proven just as if not more efficient, faster with equal or even better results. Here in the Northwest the prep gun is beginning to be the instrument of choice. Many existing car washes simply are not equipped (they do not have enough brushes, etc.) to wash a vehicle properly without using a prep brush. The car wash I personally use has sufficient equipment to use only a prep gun and the finished product is very clean and dry. This car wash has four sets of rocker brushes, one set of high side brushes, one set of wraps and two mitters plus an efficient dryer, etc. Not prepping at all is not an option here in the Northwest and I doubt that it is an option in most parts of the country. In the following segment I have tried to break down the various steps in prepping vehicles using a prep brush, I hope this gives you a better idea of how to prep a vehicle.

The following example is used by one of the most successful multiple car wash operations in the country! And it works!

Operating with a Drive on Attendant/Cash Attendant

• Crew Leader & Attendant

This person sets the tone for the customers first impression of the car wash. Everything he or she does, in large measure determines the quality of the customers buying experience.

• Two Person Crew (Crew leader and one attendant)

When only two people are working a shift the following

procedure is to be followed.

A.Crew Leader

When the customer is about one car length away from the correlator the Crew Leader acknowledges the customer and guides him/her with hand signals to stop just before the correlator. The Crew Leader greets the customer and asks if he/she would like a premium wash or a deluxe wash. After receiving the money/credit card, the Crew Leader rings

up the sale and returns the receipt or/and change to the customer. While the Crew Leader is making the transaction the Attendant faces the vehicle standing to the right of the conveyor and with both hands at his side, bends the arms motioning the vehicle to come forward onto the conveyor to a point where the rear wheel is six to 10 inches past the trap door onto the conveyor.

B. Attendant

The Attendant now starts to prep the left front end of the vehicle, preps at least 3/4 of the front glass, catches the mirror and passenger side windows and rear vertical surfaces. As soon as the Crew Leader returns the change and receipt to the customer, he will then punch in the desired wash and will activate the roller call up button to start the through the wash. The Crew Leader then finishes the prep work on the drivers’ side window and mirror and also the rear vertical areas if the Attendant has not completed this section. The Crew Leader and Attendant are ready to greet the next customer and repeat the procedure.

Note: The prepping procedure needs to consume no more time than 30 seconds or less. By doing so they can process 90 to 100 cars per hour on busy days and still produce clean, dry vehicles.

• Three Person Crew

(Crew Leader and Attendants 1 & 2)

A.Crew Leader

When the customer is about a car length away from the correlator, the Crew Leader acknowledges the customer and guides him/her to a position onto the conveyor to a point where the rear wheel is six to 10 inches past the trap door on the conveyor. The Crew Leader greets the customer and asks them if they would like to purchase the premium or deluxe wash. The Crew Leader receives the money or credit card, puts the money into the cash register and returns a receipt to the customer, he then calls up the roller and punches the correct wash. The Crew Leader is now ready to guide on the next customer.

B. Attendant 1

Once the Crew Leader has positioned the vehicle, he preps the left front end, the drivers side mirror and glass, moves to the back of the vehicle and preps the back windows and rear vertical surfaces.

C. Attendant 2

Once the Crew Leader has positioned the vehicle, he duplicates the procedure of Attendant 1 on the right side of the vehicle, when finished returns to the front of the prep area ready for the next vehicle.

Note: On very busy days a third Attendant may be required. This attendant usually will collect the money and process credit cards from vehicles in the stacking lane/s, marking the windows with the wash selected. This allows the other Attendants to concentrate on processing vehicles without needing to take time collecting proceeds, make change and give receipts.

Note: When not engaged in prepping a vehicle Attendants will stand at parade rest, unless performing duties assigned by the Crew Leader or Manager.

Employee Policies & Procedures

(General Overview)

Appearance Standards

1. Employee must be on site and ready for work 15 minutes prior to shift beginning.

2. Employee must be well groomed, clean, dressed in the official uniform and will be refused work until these standards are met.

3. Suitable work boots that are water resistant or water proof are required.

Performance & Action Standards

A. NO tobacco products, alcohol or drugs of ANY kind will be tolerated. Violation means TERMINATION!

B. NO free services to anyone other than the following:

1. Customer re-run (must complete standard form).

2. Free car wash coupons (account in daily car count).

3. If owner or Crew Leader elects to offer a free wash the Crew Leader must fill out the standard re-do sheet.

4. If an employee is entitled to a free wash, they must sign a re-do form and initial.

Note: If a customer complains about the quality of the wash or service, gladly offer to re-run the vehicle. When not working at prepping or waiting on a customer, the Attendant will stand in his/her designated area at parade rest. This shows everyone that the attendant is ready to perform the next required service. The Attendant may also be required to tidy up the washing area during business lulls or performing duties required by the Crew Leader.

Prepping Tips!

1. Avoid banging the prep brush against any surface of the vehicle even the rubber cushion makes noise.

2. Vehicles with bug guards need to be prepped with a wash mitt or sponge as the brush will not get behind the screen.

3. Try to prep the areas being prepped in as few strokes as possible. The front end, mirror area, driver side glass, passenger side glass and vertical surfaces on the rear of the vehicle are the only areas that should be prepped.

“Let the car wash equipment do the job it was intended to do!!!!!”

4. Use fluid and smooth movements with as few as possible.

5. When the front of the vehicle is finished, dip the brush and walk to the back of the vehicle and finish prepping the rear. This way there will always be plenty of good detergent available on the prepping brush.

6. When the shift is over, prep brushes should be rinsed and placed in the hanger provided. Also empty the prep tanks into the conveyor pit, rinse out the tank and refill with detergent.

7. The prep area should be left as found.

Next month we will continue the discussion on topics including a checklist for daily operations, marketing, fleet accounts, chemicals and water reclaim.

<I>Andy Pazz (Pazeotopoulos) began his career in the car wash industry in 1969 and is currently the owner of Laguna Ltd., a manufacturer of reclaim and odor control equipment. He has written an e-book: Building a Successful Exterior Tunnel Carwash. The book can be reviewed at www.carwash-business-pro.com. For more information visit the Laguna Ltd. Web site at www.laguna-ltd.com.<$>