reed

I agree with Everette, I think your prices are way too low also. A deck of this size should have brought in a bid closer 1100.00 plus. Especially if you plan on stripping it. If not strip, somewhere in the 900.00 range is not unrealistic. But the bottom line is, what does your market let you charge? Sometimes I wonder if those who charge by the linear foot for railings aren't in some way short changing themselves. I have often wondered how you determine how much sealer will be used if you don't figure entire sf'd? I am not bringing this up to be argumentative, but just to understand better. I charge by the total sf'd. My bid calculator is set up to determin sf'd based on lengths of 2x6's, 6x6 posts, and dimensions of spindles, band boards, deck surface area, stringers, risers and steps. Reed

I wish I could take full credit for that, but someone mentioned that to me a few years back and wow, what a godsend. Cut spindle time down like crazy. One point of interest, you may have to clean the strainer screen from time to time on the bottom of the uptake tube if your sealer has a high concentration of undispersed solids. Another benefit, you can swirl or shake the bottle to keep it mixed. Sometime the simplest of things are the best ways of doing things. I think sometimes as professionals we make things too complicated and fail to step back a step or two and reevaluate processes. Damn did I just sound like my old military management role coming through? I guess it never goes away. Have great season everyone, and pray the economy comes around Reed

ONe of my best purchases this year, was a 20.00 full face shield picked up from a tool shop. Reed

The second one looks like a few of my competitors who use water only, I think thier favorite statement is "I don't need no stinking chemicals", or Water is my only chemical. Good humor Reed

Ron P, I got it, the green leafy stuff was not returned to him:) Need to talk to that boy about his quality, he needs help. The white powdered stuff, I have sworn off for good. At one stage of my life I liked it too much. Lost a brother to it, won't loose me. I will post in the pc section. I want some good input. Reed

I hear ya Tony, I took it from my stepson's room and already put it back. I had to clean it first:) Hey how do you feel about the e-machines computers? Towers are bare bones for 849 with a pent IV. Reed

For those using hd80, I got a triple beam balance scale and measured out the recommended weight for full strength. It came out to be just at 4 cups to equal 2 pounds. 2lbs per 5 gallons is maximum rec. mix. Just to add my findings. Reed

As per a conversation, one of many, with Russ, the EFC38 was originally designed as a stripper for TWP. Reed

I have started my add in the local paper, Sent out all reminder letters for the two year deep wash and reseal, cleaned equipment, changed oil in the pump and in the pw motor. All bucket are ready to go cleaned, and all materials are inventoried and replacements purchased as needed. Plus the pump ups are inspected and new tips put on as needed. Reed

If the product you are applying is thin enough, ie ReadySeal, WoodTux, get a few of the contractors pack of "windex" type spray bottles. These are great for spot spraying under handrails where the spindles attach. Also around the base of the posts on the deck surface. Most of the spray bottles one can adjust the spray, mist or stream. IF the product has alot of solids in it you may have to clean the screen on the uptake tube a few time. But the bottle makes real quick work of getting those hard to apply areas around spindles attachment areas. Reed

Have you noticed anything fishy about the inspection teams who have arrived in Iraq? They're all men! How in the name of the United Nations does anyone expect men to find Saddam's stash? We all know that men have a blind spot when it comes to finding things. For crying' out loud! Men can't find the dirty clothes hamper. Men can't find the jar of jelly until it falls out of the cupboard and splatters on the floor - and these are the people we have sent into Iraq to search for hidden weapons of mass destruction? I keep wondering why groups of mothers weren't sent in. Mothers can sniff out secrets quicker than a drug dog can find a gram of dope. Mothers can find gin bottles that dads have stashed in the attic beneath the rafters. They can sniff out a diary two rooms and one floor away. They can tell when the lid of a cookie jar has been disturbed and notice when a quarter inch slice has been shaved off a chocolate cake. A mother can smell alcohol on your breath before you get your key in the front door and can smell cigarette smoke from a block away. By examining laundry, a mother knows more about their kids than Sherlock Holmes. And if a mother wants an answer to question, she can read an offender’s eyes quicker than a homicide detective. So, considering the value a mother could bring to an inspection team, why are we sending a bunch of old men who will rely on electronic equipment to scout out hidden threats? My mother would walk in with a wooden soup spoon in one hand, grab Saddam by the ear, give it a good twist and snap, "Young man, do you have any weapons of mass destruction?" And God help him if he tried to lie to her. She'd march him down the street to some secret bunker and shove his nose into a nuclear bomb and say, "Uh, huh, and what do you call this, mister?" Whap! Thump! Whap! Whap! Whap! And she'd lay some stripes across his bare bottom with that soup spoon, then march him home in front of the whole of Baghdad. He'd not only come clean and apologize for lying about it but he'd cut every lawn in Baghdad for free for the whole damn summer. Inspectors my ass - You want the job done? Call my mother reed

Absolutely share it, I have a few other things I could post. Everything I post is for all to use as they see best. Reed here is a link that will brighten your day. http://www.flowgo.com/flowgo2_view.cfm?page_id=50354 here's one more that you will like, there are many on this site. http://www.flowgo.com/flowgo2_view.cfm?page_id=19491

Also a great weed and grass edger when you use it on a fence. Reed

when they don't remove everything from the deck, keep the bird feeders attached to the deck, I take them down, the next day they are back up. Don't keep their pets away from a newly stained deck and call me back to fix it. I could go on, but I will let others chime in:) Reed

Correct on the RS. It really likes the wood on the acidic side. I would not do a thorough rinse, if you feel the need to rinse. But having all the brighner dissolved in solution and not really "drowning the wood" keeps the application from showing crystals. You will still see some "white shinny spots" on the knots, just inherent to the knots. Reed

Just a word about the hd80, I used another brand several years back and won't use anything but hd80 now. It works, flat out works and just about on anything. Can be diluted easily, though the best way is mix full strength and dilute down from there. Just like any Na hydroxide base, use caution around your skin, and stay away from the fumes. But as professional PW's we all know this, right? Seriously, Hd80 is a great product and so is the efc38. Efc38 is probably the most versitile cleaner, concrete, roofs, etc. Reed

Rich, You just came up with the best bye line for Wood Tux. "For the Best Dressed Wood". What ya think Beth, sounds like a winner. Try to get it to Russ before the brochure is printed. Reed ps looking forward to trying the Wood Tux, I have a fence ready for it. My own!

I have on open 4x10 trailer and have out grown it, but I don't cart water. Up front is all my chems, buckets, and supplies. I mounted a lift top truck box sideways on one side of the trailer to hold all my rain/water suits, gloves, tape, boots, extra stuff. on the back I mounted my pw right above the axel with two hose reels aft of that. I have a drop down gate, so I lower it and unwind the hoses. Mounted ladder racks on the side of the trailer that holds my ladders and they are "inside" the wheel wells so they don't protrude outside the trailers side profile. Works for me, though I sometimes wish I had a tandem trailer to hold more "stuff". Reed

Primary wood used in this area is Western Red Cedar from Canada. Very little PT wood. I think the biggest hassle with Cedar is its ability to Fur under just the slightest of pressure. It's just going to happen or I feel you are not getting it clean. Don't get me wrong here, I don't mean when it furs it's a giant fur ball, but will fur to a slight degree. The older the cedar the more it will fur up. It's a given some sanding and defurring will take place with every deck. Reed

Guess I will break the ice and post first. My primary is wood, mostly western red cedar from Cananda here. Will also do cedar sided homes on special occasions Patios are always cleaned around the decks if they have one and will clean mold and mildew on their flagstone. Reed

Hey Beth, Glad to see that this board is up. I am glad to be a part of this one.