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RPETRY combine the network marketing of referrals and customers who keep comming back every 1-2-3 or so years and YOUR an established business !!! Toss in a few who call and" ASK " if they can give your number to a friend,neighbor, family member, and they feel like part of an exclusive club. It keeps me small time but low headaches at max profit with no advertising overhead. Finding your niche is key ! volume dealer vs high end customer service or something in between.

my business model is simple . Get in and out and get paid. I have been doing wash and stain in a day jobs for many years . I use water based stains and have good success [except deckscapes last year] with 2-3 yr repeat customers. my customers are aware of the finish that water based stains give. These stains simply fade over the years but don't turn gray. I make NO claims of warranty on the stains. I simply tell them my experince. This yr I am using olympic maximum. 2-3 yrs from now I will be able to tell them how it does. I can however, tell them of some of the experiences pros have had with this product and why I am using it. It fits my model that they were used to in the past. My performance is in the actual work, thats mainly how I am evaluated. Their decks looks great and no stain on their house. SIMPLE! Customers whose decks I used Deckscapes on were dissapointed in the STAIN not me. I'm prompt, professional, return all calls, and dependable. Thats what I sell. I don't pretend to be a "woodie" or expert of any kind but my repeat customers tell me their glad I'm still in business when they call. "me too !!!!"

I can buy any sprayer I want but I use a campbel hausefield $300 sprayer with an upgraded crayco gun[$100]. I started using them 11 yrs ago and am only on my second sprayer. That puts their cost at a minimum on each job. They can be rebuilt simply by unbolting the head and refilling the hydraulic fluid . I bought a highrer $$ sprayer before but the pressure was too high. I figured why mess with a good thing and stuck with my old one. I look for profit not just buying fancy toys.

here is another one

I noticed thAt the first time I did this deck [this is #3] . I used to build decks before I power washed. I would have angled the deck boards to give it a better appearance and keep it from racking

pressure treated - yes olympic cedar natural tone I was looking at the pictures of the same deck on my website I did before and they look simular . The problem is the camera doesn't get color just right. I liked the way it looked and it had a rich look to it

wE finished the job today . the left side is bright sunshine and to the right is a shade line in the darker part. the true color is not as bright as the camera makes it. I will try the honey gold next .

Tell me about it! a good natural tone stain can turn out a lot of decks. Stain choices just eat time thats hard to price into the deal. I've found over 16 yrs that each deck sucks up different amounts of stain and the final color never looks like a sample . I started a olympic cedar deck[too windy mon. to spray ] and will finish today. I hope to remember to take a final picture. I would like to try the honey gold too before I decide on the final color I push. Custom mixed colors just cause problems buying too much or too little.

the wind put me out of business spraying mon. but rescheduled for thurs hope to get pixs for website

I put a test sample of olympic max natural cedartone on a long time customers deck and she loved it. She is a 3 yr repeat customer and great for referrals. She did not like the cwf uv5 cedar[ too red] and honey gold[ too yellow] . My business model calls for a soap and water cleanup product that has a 2-3 yr turnaround on repeat customers. Most call from a referral and just say " i want my deck to look like so and so's deck". Color has never been a option with the uv sunblock cedar stock color everyone loved it. I think I have a winner with this olympic product because this customer is very pickey. Time is money and I have wasted too much time this spring letting customers decide on their color . I'm back on track to just get these decks done. I have read all the posts on ready seal and wtw but my price structure would have to go up considerably for a hand stain and mineral spirits cleanup product. Just what works for me!!!

sit on your deck and wait for the new buyer to pay the $1200 or ask the sellers if they want to earn some sweat equity off the price and help you. Other wise sit on your deck because waiting for your money after the sale sounds like another post on collecting from them. You did the right thing!!

I had a rain storm hit a seal job thurs. and I'm waiting on the homeowners decision to re seal after this nor-easter moves through. The picture you posted looks great. Is wtw available at sun brite? I have to try this product . Slow start for me due to weather but I'm booked into 3rd week of may.

thanks for the heads up!! it just won't link off this site anymore I guess

thanks for the replys!nice site Rpety & Beth n Rod nice site as well!! I can't make it to the Acr but thanks for the invite. I must tell you all I have been doing power washing for 16 yrs as well as holding down a full time job so I am not a big opperation. My wife and I started doing this type of work as a side business so she could be a stay at home Mom. I have used many products over the years in searching for something good for my schedule and my customers satisfaction and as I said this year is up in the air . Many of my customers are loyal repeat jobs every 2-3 years and they sell for me. The phone just starts ringing and we handle our small niche market. When I retire is a few years from the full time gig I want to go big but I still like to keep up with the new products and innovative methods. DECK DOCTOR PRESSURE WASHING

very interesting thread!! This is a pivital year for me as I am in search of a new stain to market. RPety , what stain do you use? My business thrived on Sherwin Williams UV Sunblock Cedar for 10 years. The new Deckscapes is a severe dissapointment. My business model found success in providing a 2-3 year repeat customer that totally thrived on referrals. We also have a landscape business for diversification. I have been at the deck business for 16 years and have tried many products over the years but this year is a toss up.

Hello fellow power washers!!! my name is Jeff and I have been power washing for 16 yrs now. I see where the power wash network has bit the dust so I found this site. I live in Eldersburg Md and work Baltimore, Carroll, Howard, Montgomery, and Anne Arundel counties. My wife Judy and I are owner/opperators . We also have a lawn business that we have added 13 yrs ago. I have had great success networking with people in business for themselves and have found there is plenty of work to go around. I look forward to posting with people on this site. Jeff DECK DOCTOR PRESSURE WASHING