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AAPaint

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Posts posted by AAPaint

  2. Posted · Report reply

    The only thing I know to do is wait it out. Here in FL you can get away with one good full day of hot sun to dry out the wood, especially on vertical surfaces. If you're doing something in the shade where it stays moist, I would double check with a moisture meter to make sure you are good to go.

    This year has been the worst for rain though. It's put us back on a lot of work, meaning you don't get paid for a while, so hopefully you are doing other stuff while you wait. Usually FL has 300 days a year of sunny weather (Jax does anyway), but we've had record rainfalls, record floods, and all kinds of stuff this year. We broke 100 year flood levels in some areas, so it's been tough, but it's finally drying out now. The good thing is, although we lost a lot of summer to rain, we can stain all year round here.

  4. Posted · Report reply

    Yeah, I've beat this old body to death, but it still runs! It has a slight knock and may need a couple new gaskets, but it still has spark, lol.

    You'd think with all the damage I did it would be worse, but I really only feel it when kneeling, it feels like my knees will split in two. After blowing a few discs in my back (again no surgery) the knees were bad, but not as bad. Only real bad days are when my spine dislocates and I get stuck.

    Chris, I have heard the meniscus thing isn't too bad. Usually all they do is shave it down a little where it's torn. The damage is still permanent, but you won't have as much pain. I'm sure John can tell you, you still have to take it easier than before with your knees. It's not the tear that hurts, it's when the meniscus folds over where it's torn. At least this is what they told me when I tore both of mine.

  5. Posted · Report reply

    You don't HAVE to have a facebook page, but it helps if you're into residential work. It's a good place to publicly show off work you do, and to attract people who might not see your company otherwise. It's really the networking that makes it any good. As more people like your pages, posts, photos, etc. they spread naturally to other people with no effort of your own. Links from facebook users to your website also help improve your rankings in search engines as well, because google is seeing social networking as a valid gauge of how relevant your website is to certain topics and keywords.

    I'll add in that using paid advertising on facebook is not worth it. The return is very minimal, and most users have admitted an aversion to clicking on advertising links there. To top that off, facebook is very shady about the number of clicks they charge for. I know from first hand experience.

    I had a number of ads running, and was being charged for clicks I positively was not receiving. I use numerous types of software to monitor website traffic and it's origins, NONE were showing all the clicks I was charged for. Facebook will completely ignore your requests for proof of the clicks they are charging for, even if you send them copies of logs from multiple sources proving you are paying for clicks not received.

    So, use it for free network marketing, it will provide some good branding and new customers, but don't bother with paid advertisements.

  10. Posted · Report reply

    I would just be honest with them that the design of the deck is going to cause serious problems for maintenance. Explain the problems that no drainage and standing water will cause. Inform them that what they have is something very unconventional in the way of exposed decking. Let them know you don't want to be responsible when it goes the way you think it will, and explain to them what that is. Then add a clause to your contract about it and have them initial it.

    The problem is that even after all of that, they might blame YOU for not getting it right! They'll never think the wonderful guy who built this mess was responsible for it. I've seen this before where the homeowner blames the guy tasked with caring for their mess, rather than the guy who made the mess. In their eyes the structure "looks" just "fine", so it must be the fault of the guy who couldn't help maintain it right.

  14. Posted · Report reply

    Yeah, I don't want to say don't go. There are times you HAVE to go, and you know down inside when that is. I would certainly do like Jason said. Take their advice with a grain of salt, and don't be afraid to argue the diagnosis or get a second opinion, and don't ever be afraid to refuse their solution. They are quick to talk you into expensive and invasive procedures. They're selling jobs to make money too, but most people don't see a doctor that way. It's the oddest thing!

    I have some rough health issues, but if I had taken their advice on some things, I would probably be in a wheel chair. Instead, I am out washing houses and staining wood, and managing what issues I do have with NUTRITION! That's the best way to go if your issues can be solved in that manner, and most can. Infections and things of that nature, you might not be able to if you let them get too far.

  20. Posted · Edited by AAPaint · Report reply

    I never thought about using a pump up sprayer. May have to do that next time.

    That is indeed two coats of the light brown with an airless sprayer no less, so the wood was saturated with the RS. Some photos I have are much darker, that were in the sun, and these in the shade looked really light. Also looks a little blotchy in some of the photos, but not in person. I'm guessing it's the way the pigments reflect, because I see this every time I use RS.

    Btw, I feel for you working alone. That's a lot of work to push through by yourself. I might use your trick of wetting down plastic, just scares me with any stain that might run off though.

    (Note: that is over 20 gallons of stain on 100' of fence).

  22. Posted · Report reply

    No, we usually just cover everything with plastic where we're working, then put butyl backed drop cloths out beyond that so we're not stepping off of plastic onto concrete with oil on our shoes.

    The wet concrete above is where we ran our surface cleaner for the customer at the end of the job. They park vehicles on the concrete there under the house.

    One thing I do in case of mishaps is keep a squirt bottle of spirits, rags, and a wire brush handy. If you hit concrete, a quick squirt and scrub will save the day. Or if you hit vinyl, etc. a squirt and wipe will fix it.

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