What moves a school’s number

  • Wall area. At those rates, 10,000 sq ft of wall comes to about $1,500 to $4,000. Ask bidders to state the square footage they priced so the bids compare.
  • Sidewalks and entrances. The same washer prices sidewalks and walkways as a separate line, so ask bidders to do the same. Entrances are what parents see, so they’re a sensible place to spend first.
  • How the bid is split. One Arkansas district let washers bid buses, the stadium and entrances separately, so it could award all of the work or part of it. That keeps a tight budget from sinking the whole job.
  • What the spec asks of the washer. A 2026 South Carolina district bid requires soft washing on roofs, brick and mortar at no more than 300 PSI, at least 200 gallons of water on each rig, damage from excess pressure repaired at no cost, and defects corrected within five business days. Each line is a cost the washer prices in, and each one protects the district.
  • Whether it needs a formal bid. In Texas, district purchases valued at $50,000 or more in the aggregate over 12 months must use a method such as competitive bidding. A 10,000 sq ft campus at the rates above is far below that; a districtwide contract may not be.

The calendar that makes summer work

That Arkansas bid held walk-throughs on May 17 and 18, took proposals until May 23 and wanted the work done before August 7. Write the scope in winter, and ask for each cleaner’s Safety Data Sheet with the bid; the South Carolina district reserves the right to ban any chemical it considers a risk. Whether a soft wash mix needs a pesticide applicator’s license varies by state; see pesticide licenses for soft washers. This is general information, not legal advice; ask your district’s purchasing office how the rules apply.

A daycare or small private school can skip the formal bid: get two or three quotes in spring for a closed week. Our church washing guide covers what a committee should budget, ask and get in writing, and washers bidding this work can start with bidding commercial jobs. How we check figures: methodology.

Sources

Based on 4 sources · How we price