Dedicated washing aircraft
Alternatives and More Options
HoverWash 150 prioritizes height and production on large open surfaces. HoverWash 3 prioritizes sensing, software control and access around complicated architecture. Neither is the universal answer—the site decides.
Viewing nowChoose height and production capacity.
Tall, broad and comparatively open surfaces where reach, flow and area-per-hour matter most.
Choose intelligence and geometric access.
Irregular facades, setbacks, courtyards and mixed cleaning passes where sensing and controller integration matter most.
The elevation is tall and repetitive, the operating area is relatively open, and maximizing reach or cleaning output is the primary constraint.
The architecture is irregular, GNSS may be challenged, the crew already flies M400, or foam/rinse control and repeatable sweep matter more than maximum height.
HoverWash 3 needs an integrated ground pump, detergent mixer, remote controls and organized hose management.
Planning ranges are configuration targets, not guaranteed legal or performance limits. HoverWash 150’s 400–450 ft and HoverWash 3’s 300–350 ft ranges require a validated hose, pump, weather, water, payload and site plan. DJI rates Matrice 400 for up to 6 kg at the third connector with screw-lock fastening under sea-level conditions, while its quick-release port is rated to 3 kg; payload capacity decreases with altitude. The HoverWash 3 airborne module is approximately 1.4 kg before suspended hose forces are considered. DJI also cautions that vision and obstacle sensing depend on light, texture, reflectivity and obstacle material; transparent glass and low-texture surfaces require additional care. Platform references: DJI Matrice 400 specifications and DJI Matrice 400 user manual.
Commercial planning · HoverWash 150
Model the wall, crew and selling rate before choosing a dedicated cleaning aircraft. The calculator separates equipment price from the assumptions that actually drive payback.
21,528–43,056 ft²/day. Supplier planning range for HoverWash 3; validate with a representative test panel.
5,382 ft²/day, supplied as a comparison baseline—not a Canadian industry universal.
The often-quoted 7–8× result only occurs near 3,500–4,000 m²/day. Geometry, finishing, weather and hose handling can materially reduce output.
Live commercial model
Change every important assumption. The model uses contribution margin after direct job costs—not gross sales—to estimate production-day payback.
Quote × contribution margin ÷ estimated production days.
Production days at the modeled contribution—not calendar days or guaranteed recovery.
Canada benchmark
Job Bank wage medians help estimate labour—not the selling price of high-rise work. The daily equivalent below is eight hours and excludes payroll burden, training, high-rise premiums, access gear, supervision, insurance, overhead and profit.
| Province | Median / hour | 8-hour wage equivalent | Use in a quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia BC | $20 | $160 | Starting wage input only |
| Alberta AB | $20 | $160 | Starting wage input only |
| Saskatchewan SK | $16 | $128 | Starting wage input only |
| Manitoba MB | $17 | $136 | Starting wage input only |
| Ontario ON | $19 | $154 | Starting wage input only |
| Quebec QC | $21 | $168 | Starting wage input only |
| New Brunswick NB | $18 | $140 | Starting wage input only |
| Nova Scotia NS | $18 | $144 | Starting wage input only |
| Prince Edward Island PE | $18 | $144 | Starting wage input only |
| Newfoundland and Labrador NL | $17 | $136 | Starting wage input only |
CAD $0.20/ft² appears as a lower-end high-rise discussion benchmark; published local projects are more often priced by pane, access and mobilization.
Best use: Use $0.20/ft² only as a conservative model input, then validate the actual elevation and access plan.
Toronto contractor discussionA local 2026 guide publishes CAD $0.50–$2.50/ft² for broad commercial window-cleaning work; a rope-access guide publishes $2–$4 per pane.
Best use: Treat the spread as evidence that glass type and access dominate the rate—not as a drone-cleaning tariff.
Vancouver market guideA local commercial cleaner publishes CAD $15–$25 per window for commercial glass cleaning.
Best use: Convert panes to measured cleanable area before comparing against an area-based drone quote.
Montréal commercial rate cardCredible public area rates are sparse; providers emphasize height, barriers, timing, surface and written site review.
Best use: Build from production cost and target margin, then compare the finished quote with two local contractor bids.
Calgary quoting guidanceHow to quote a wall-cleaning job
A defensible quote begins with the building, not a copied price per square foot.
Use drawings, a laser measure or a scaled orthomosaic. Record width × height for each façade zone and separate glass, metal, masonry, signage and excluded openings.
Record dust, salt, algae, grease, mineral staining and construction residue. Define whether the result is a rinse, soft wash, pressure wash or streak-controlled glass finish.
Map setbacks, recesses, overheads, airspace, people, traffic, water, drainage, anchoring, hose path and emergency landing areas before choosing the aircraft.
For HoverWash 3, model 2,000–4,000 m²/day only after a representative test panel. Use the low end for first cleans, complex geometry, frequent repositioning or detailed glass finishing.
Include flight and ground crew, mobilization, travel, water, power, chemistry, filtration, runoff control, batteries, maintenance, insurance allocation and any permit or airspace coordination.
Multiply the area rate for soil, geometry and access, add a mobilization minimum, then apply overhead and profit. Keep optional lift, rope-access or manual-detailing allowances separate.
Attach the surface test, weather limits, completion standard, water and power responsibilities, access window, public-control plan, tax and change-order conditions to the quote.
Competitive context
The relevant comparison is not “drone versus drone.” It is working height, wash method, building geometry, deployment model and the operating system around the aircraft.
Up to 150 ft, up to 4,500 psi, soft wash and pressure wash; public starting price USD $45,750.
Best comparison question: A mature North American contractor package when 150 ft covers the target building.
Up to 190 ft with included soft-wash hose, up to 4,000 psi at the pump and 8–10 GPM.
Best comparison question: Heavy industrial spraying and washing where payload and pump output matter more than compact logistics.
Filtered water, heat and moderate pressure with proprietary chemistry and a roof safety system.
Best comparison question: A managed façade-maintenance method rather than an equipment-only purchase.
Pliabot flexible-arm systems positioned for complex curtain-wall geometry and enterprise cleaning projects.
Best comparison question: Specialized contact or non-contact cleaning where a flexible aerial work arm is central to the method.
LiDAR, force sensing and AI path planning; the company positions it at roughly three times human cleaning speed.
Best comparison question: Dedicated high-rise glass programs where roof deployment and contact cleaning fit the building.
Questions buyers actually ask
These questions recur in contractor and drone-operator discussions. The answers separate physical limits, regulatory duties and commercial assumptions.
The supplier planning range is 2,000–4,000 m² per production day, equal to about 21,528–43,056 ft². Actual output depends on soil, geometry, hose lift, water delivery, flight interruptions, finishing standard and the approved operating area. Validate the rate on a representative test panel before quoting it as production capacity.
Against the supplied 500 m²/day manual baseline, 2,000–4,000 m²/day is mathematically 4–8×. The 7–8× claim applies only near 3,500–4,000 m²/day. It should not be presented as a universal result.
It can produce a strong exterior rinse, but streak-free glass depends on water purity, detergent residue, mineral load, soil, temperature, pass pattern and edge detailing. Use deionized or reverse-osmosis water where appropriate and approve a test panel before promising a finish standard.
It can if pressure, nozzle, standoff, angle or chemistry are mismatched. Every quote should identify the surface and seal condition, begin with the least aggressive effective method and require a test patch. Pressure at the pump is not the same as pressure delivered at the surface.
Matrice 400 vision positioning can assist when GNSS is weak or unavailable within DJI's published limits. Glass, repetitive textures, low light and operation above the effective vision-positioning range can reduce performance, so GNSS-challenged work still requires a validated site and abort plan.
No. A parachute can be one risk-control layer, but it does not make risk zero and does not by itself authorize flight over people. The aircraft configuration, safety assurance, pilot privileges, airspace permission, exclusion zone and operating procedures must all match the mission.
Discuss aviation-specific third-party liability and hull or equipment coverage with a qualified broker, and confirm whether the commercial general liability policy excludes aviation work. Client contracts may require limits beyond the regulatory minimum. Coverage transfers financial exposure; it does not remove operational risk.
No. Drones are strongest on accessible exterior planes where a controlled spray can reach the finish. Deep soffits, balconies, screens, bonded debris, interior glass, hand detailing, containment constraints and some public or airspace environments may still require another access method.
Aircraft payload, hose mass, water column, fitting losses, pump curve, wind, geometry and the safety plan all matter. A hose length is not a guaranteed working height. HoverWash ranges are configuration targets that require system and site validation.
Measure cleanable area, classify surface and soil, select a validated production rate, calculate direct daily cost, apply geometry and access factors, add mobilization, overhead and profit, then publish assumptions and exclusions. Do not copy a city rate without reconciling it to the actual building.
Manufacturer specifications and public pricing can change. Forum and local-provider figures are market signals, not independently audited performance or a recommended tariff. Transport Canada requirements depend on the aircraft, configuration, location and operation.
