newlook

That is a sharp looking deck. I know this is about 2-tone but if I can sneak a question in..:). As mentioned in other posts, we do not get involved a whole lot with wood. I have a client that has a deck with no rails or spindles. They old stain is dark and they want it totally removed. What chemicals do I use to obtain this? Anybody?

Even though the season never really officially closes for us, we do find our "down time" around the holidays and just before tax season ~ this relates to residential. Our commercial contracts are ongoing throughout the year. Most on a monthly basis but some on quarterly schedule. During the down time, we spend alot of energy strategizing on how to improve the business, marketing, and etc.

Just took delivery of a GMC Sierra 2500. This will be used for estimates and probably personal use as my wife says it is too clean to get dirty but yet her car is filthy all the time...go figure. I have the decals on order already...when the truck is outfitted with them I will post a pic.

And along with the skid mount you can have a 275 galloon poly tank mounted.

Welcome aboard Duane...if you can't find the answer here...someone here will find the answer for you :)

Thanks for the information Tim

Zapp - great marketing approach to your gutter cleaning.

Just a quick question to all you snowplowers out there ~ since we do not get any snow where I live, I am just curious about how much money one makes in snow plowing?

he might have a picture up on his website also www.pwscleaning.com

oneness, doesn't affect us either. I unknowingly may have lost a few residential contracts due to a person that went under my bid.

I wonder how people feel as to whether or not a lowballer, no matter what the definition is, effects their bottom line and also feel that their business has suffered because of a lowballers bid. Just curious

Douglas, Looks like you got yourself a nice looking fleet of vehicles.

Tim, Another way to look at this is this way. You say the average rate where you are at is $150.00 for a single story. Start you number and work the equation backwards...meaning $150.00 minus chemicals and etc. You may have a general idea of how long it will take you to finish the job but I would recommend doing a few homes ~ track the time it takes to do them and then average the time out. This average will help you with your equation. If you go below what you want to make...then you need to make adjustments. Those adjustments are usually done with your hourly rate. You don't want to adjust cost for chemicals because you are now comprimising the quality of work that you will be doing. As henry said, there are so many variable that play into scenarios such as yours. Get a handle on what you will be comfortable with and work it from there.

That is interesting that some people would be testy to hear that some of our collegues in the industry have college degrees. The knowledge to know how to market your company is very important with this industry. People go to college and earn a degree to obtain the knowledge for this. Others learn and apply it by experience.

Good advice all the way around. One may not have enough capital to get all the "bells and whistles" at the begining. I suggest map out a 1-3 years plan as it relates to equipment upgrades and etc. Please be sure to get insured if not already.

Stay healthy is a big one for me. I guess no matter which direction our business goes, we always manage to make enough money to pay the bills.

Has anyone heard who was elected to the PWNA Board? Since I don't get over there much ~ PWNA BBS ~ I thought maybe someone knew.

I think my last post on the PWNA BBS was directed towards you John. My tone could have been a little bit more lighter and professional. The fact of the matter is that you are the only board member that consistently visited the boards and dived into conversation ~ whether good or bad. Now that Henry is on the Board of Directors, I guess the two of you will be open game :) ~ just kidding. After my last post to you, I purposely pulled away from commenting on the affairs of the PWNA but I have been reading the threads. It does sound like the PWNA is migrating in a direction that all of you on the board feel it will better position the organization within our industry. For me, I am interested in seeing and hearing where you guys are taking this. It is unfortunate ~ really ~ that you and other people from the PWNA have found yourselfs in a position where you cant say one thing without it taking on a sour note. I for one want to thank you John for at least diving into this thread and making your presence known as a bod.

Good topic ~ h.s. diploma and some college. I guess the best education that I received was OJT and in the military. Some things you just can't learn from sitting in the classroom.

Daryl...we use an airless. You want to make sure the pressure is adjusted down to the low position.

This thread is a "spinoff" from Celeste's recent thread entitled Caustic Safety. After reading the information provided by her, I started wondering where everybody stores their chemicals? As for me, me garage is starting to look the way my chemistry class looked like in high school. So the question is, where do you keep the home brew at :)?

I heard that the Echo is a good sprayer. With us on our concrete business, we use the pump-ups to apply the sealer. What we have found out is that the sealer will "gum up" during application and really mess things up for us.

Good link Celeste...I like the emphasis on storage procedures and the safety that needs to go into that to properly store the chemicals.

Celeste, Would I join today...yes. The opportunities are unlimited. Gov't provides everything ~ education, learning a trade, travel and etc...I wish I would have stayed in for the full hitch (20 yrs).

Hey Rod...I know that you carry the Wood Tux but do you also stock the other sealers also?