Pet Wash

[Bubbles Galore]

Original plan shot down due to ridiculous high construction costs which ended up in a loooonnnngggg ROI.

New revamped plans are now in effect and hope to start construction after the first of the year.

-aluminum storefront with doors, both ends
-sherwin williams paint on the walls (brand specified for car washes)
-hi-efficiency lights with LED bulbs
-tube heater (gas or electric, you tell me)
-stainless steel medical tub w/ ramp retrofit
-Etowah Valley meterbox
-misc. mechanicals for switching between options.
-my own custom built pet vac/dryer.

Can you guys think of any other ways that I could save $$$$$ on the construction costs? For those of you that have petwashes, am I missing anything?

I went from an original cost analysis of 45k+ down to around 17.5k! Talk about sweet! Let's hear what you guys think.

 

[MEP001]

Look carefully at the energy savings vs. the initial cost of LED lighting. I did, and it is a minor money saver, but you simply can't get a bright light output from an LED. There are two local C-stores that light their gas pumps with LEDs and it looks pretty good, in fact I'd be happy with it for lighting a SS bay, but it looks like it would take six fixtures per bay to come even close to two 320w metal halide. That's well over $3000 just for fixtures, and a savings of only 200w, or about $70 a year in electric. It would take the entire life expectancy of the LEDs to barely pass the break-even point, at which time you'd be replacing the LED fixtures again (They don't as of yet have replaceable internal components and it's unlikely that any such fixture would continue in production for 20 years). I would recommend instead minimal area lighting with extra lights that come on either with money deposited (with an off-delay so customers can finish with enough light) or on motion sensors. Fluorescents are cheap and there are fixtures that produce the same light per watt as the best metal halides.

I assume your plans still include building the pet wash in an existing SS bay - have you considered a gate instead of a solid wall? Lots of restaurants have open-air sections which in the winter are sealed off from the elements with heavy vinyl tarps with PVC windows in them. I know it sounds a little hokey, but you would only need the area totally enclosed for a few months a year. Building a full store front for such a short-term need doesn't seem justified.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

MEP - agreed on the lighting. I needed to do some more research, but it appears as though you have done it for me. Thanks

The storefront is definitely one of the more expensive aspects, but one that I feel is needed for two reasons.

1. I don't want people to have access to it 24 hours a day. I have a lot of apartment complexes and the like that I wouldn't want kids messing around in there 'after hours'. My reason for saying that is...

2. I am going to sub-lease part of the space out to a local dog groomer that will offer extra services such as teeth cleaning, toenail clipping, etc. They won't be there the entire time we are open each day, but they will have a schedule that will make them available to add to the convenience.

Thoughts?

 

[bigleo48]

1. I don't want people to have access to it 24 hours a day. I have a lot of apartment complexes and the like that I wouldn't want kids messing around in there 'after hours'.

Thoughts?

Be sure to install a electric door strike controlled by a timer. The door would need a release from the inside too so you don't inadvertently lock somebody in.

Big

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Big - I have that on the list also, just forgot to post it. I also got your message, just haven't had the time to sit and type out an e-mail. If you want, shoot me something over to bubblesgalore@charter.net

Any one else have any ideas/suggestions?

 

[pitzerwm]

Use Craig's list or somewhere else to get used materials. You could save a bunch if you can find the door and glass used. Same with a heater.