Freshlook

Look bad? I thought I should update the situation and state that for all last year I suffered (ZERO) burns or chem exposure. I took great effort to ensure seals were effective, and leaks were prevented. I did appreciate the concerns and althou seeming brutal and off the cuff statements, they were at least sincere. I since did need the capacity for a greater volume so I went with a 30 gallon system with a piggy back 5er and a split valve to enable me to change chems at the wand without mixing. I now still keep the backpack for off the wall chems like when I did a carwash for a fundraising event for local kids. 3.5 gallons of 100% detergent, mixed down to 16:1 went quite some ways.. fun times ahead.. I think half the fun when doing a task I have is.. Can I make this easier to do... and HOW??? a little creative ingenuity pays off in the long run.

all you people having problems with fungal infections of your feet, you might find it beneficial to keep salicylic acid + benzoic acid cream on hand at home.. once a week or so has prooven beneficial to keep down fungal infections from the """yucky boots""". I also on my down days soak my foot attire in pericarb for a few hrs.. keeps em from really getting out of hand smell wise, and it's sanitary at the very least.. As far as burns are considered.. the only burn I've gotten was when I was walking back to my washer, tripped over a curb, and "YEAH" i caught myself.. too bad it was with my hand on the exhaust!.. wasn't "too" bad thou.. some silver sulfadiazine cream and it was good in bout 7 days. I suggest everybody keep SOME ON HAND it's not really all that expensive, good anti-microbial to keep from getting infected, and REALLY aids in the healing process.

well.. this thread is around A LOT longer then i thought it would be

20-30 degrees is what i call making a nice slippery driveway, hmm.. thinking of that I wonder how effective saltwater out of the ol' x-jet would be at de-icing a driveway!!!.. deff would need the 1:1..

If you were only around last year!!! :lgmoneyey I hope your really serious, because there is an increasing number of $25 house wash companies popping up around here, I keep my work under wraps. I found out really quick what can happen when i advertised too aggressivly. Too much work. not enough time to do it when i already have a full time job.. If you need any help getting going, give me a shout.

Get yourelf a good 6-8 MP camera (to allow you to zoom VERY close up on a picture that has already been taken clearly) and make sure you take 8-10 pictures of each house you do (with their permission). If they deny me permission I REALLY hesistate to take the job. A couple hundred dollar house wash isn't worth the hassle when they accuse you of something you didn't do. Also it provides you with the nice portfolio that will ultimatly lead you in closing more sales in the future. I usually dillute my SH down to around 0.5%-1.5% depending on the severity of the job. Haven't had a problem yet. Just wet.. rewet. and keep rinsing, and if your still in doubt.. Cover it.

I'd suggest walking away, OR go get yourself a power hand planer and a 13" surface planer. Get ready to spend about a solid week pulling boards off and planing them down, then sanding, and reattaching. For the posts, your looking at making the beltsander your wife for a good 1/2 day. ALWAYS wear a respiratory mask. and I would charge starting at 7$ Sq/Ft and factor up from there for the PIA factor. If you don't get the job, OH WELL, it wasn't worth your time anyhow to do it for anything less.

I have to say with my past experiences, I've been let down by a few vendors, and also VERY pleased by others. The deciding factors I go with are kinda hard, as each vendor has specific products that if I"m used to and familiar with, I tend to be in a bind with the specific supplier does not come thru. However, I must agree with all of the traits Scott has mentioned, however would like to add a few. 1st. Product availibility - Don't sell a product if you don't have it, many of us don't keep $1,000's of $$$ in inventory and when we are running slightly low I reorder, However if it takes 3 weeks to a month to get a product in, WHO plans for that??? 2nd. Honesty - If you say your going to do something, DO IT!! 3rd. ANSWER THE PHONE!!!! - Need I say more 4th. Correct mistakes in a timely manor - If you shipped a product I didn't order, YOU SHOULD PAY FOR THE RETURN SHIPPING! and not 2 weeks later I get a x-mas gift at my front door. And lastly 5th. - Give me materials to enhance being able to sell the product (Stains) that I can present to customers, that will both give the supplier more buisness, and leave me with information to make an easier sell. It's better to show someone what color they are choosing as opposed to going and getting a box of 64 crayola crayons and picking the closest one. Other than that, they take my money, give me stuff, and I go make more money.. it's really a win win situation.. I just wonder why some just can't get it right.

looks good, I also use gutter grenade, works well. I hate paying the price for shipping thou. Unless you buy it in bulk, shipping is nearly the cost of the product in small quantities

About 2 brief passes with the 1st 60 grit and 2nd 80 grit would take that off, You want to see fuzzies, I should show you what I encountered 3 weeks ago where I came to quote a deck that looked like it had a fur coat. between the squirrels that tore up the corner posts, and the mildew that had grown from the overhanging treeline, lol. it was perdy!!!! Didn't get the job, but I bid it about $300 higher just for the sanding necessary. Not sure how the color will look on your 'puter, but it's not to orange, once it dries in a bit. Just as advertized, "warm honey gold". I like that color, maybe I'll try a new line of products in the near future I've always wanted to give WTW a go but I like the ease of parafinic stains. especially with helpers that I can't stand over at every minute. I guess I'll have to work on it.

it's just a sign of the times man, money get's tight and people get cranky, and look to get something for nothing, or try to heckle you down as far as possible, and then may not even pay you.. The sad part is when you finish a job to said specs, and know there is really no reason not to be happy, and then to have to hassle about a price already negotiated, I feel like throwing these people into a street in china with 1 million rickshaw's plowing them over time and time again.. MY point is, if you can't pay, don't even call me. Heck this isn't habitat for humanity. Instances just as such will make you have a bad taste in your mouth, the sad part is if you can't shake it off, it will affect your future attitude, and it will be apparent to the "GOOD" customers out there. Hope you get your $$$ man..

Personally, I feel like you are getting involved in a much larger issue that you may not be realizing. Ever hear of buyers remorse? ok. so he goes and agrees to pay your "x" ammount of dollars for work to be done, and then husband goes rediculious on finished product, due to feeling guilty about spending amt. of money, and feels that he can get you to go down on your price by giving you a difficult time, hoping you will settle for whatever he gives you. These people are EVERYWHERE!! Even with a signed contract and all corners rounded and all i's dotted and t's crossed you will still run into them. those which still give you a hard time, regardless of what you do, they are just unhappy people. In my opinion their marriage is a little disfunctional if the wife approves something, and then the husband has the nerve to cross her judgement and demand otherwise. It sounds to me like that marriage isn't 50/50. Heck what does she do, run to him to wipe his arse when he demands it. I've actually walked away from jobs because of a feeling I get in my gut. you know like when something just "ISN'T" right. And doing a job for a mutual friend isn't one I'd take on. The only thing I'm going to do for my friends is get them a beer when they come over. Anything more than that leads to complications. Sure I'll "HELP" them do their deck, but I keep $$$ out of the equasion if I actually value the friendship. $$$ ruins a lot of things, friendships included, heck it's the #1 reason for divorce in america today. My advice - Trust your gut, do a good job for a fair price, and get your act together when it comes to customers expectations. I would also go along with Ken's methodology to collect payment, however remember you share a mutual friend and there is going to be bad feelings regardless of the outcome on either behalf. I had one instance where I delt with a customer much like the one you are describing. After job completed I knew I wasn't going to collect payment, by a conversation overheard the family was having financial problems. Something about a credit card, and he was yelling at his wife. Well.. he then tried to tell me he couldn't pay me for the job because it "WASN'T WHAT HE WANTED" heh. No hard feelings I said, I'll come back tomorrow,for "x/$" more, just sign this statement stating that the work performed was what was agreed on, and I'll attach the labels and invoices to send along with a claim to the court house. If I really wanted to be a jerk I would have came back the next day stripped the stain I applied and left him a message stating" Here's a blank canvas, have at it picasso"

pay off what little debt I have and invest the rest in mutual funds beings I'm 26 at 12-16%, with $200 extra a month I'd have $66,331,144.00. at the age of retirement, and just sit back and relax...:lgmoneyey

so the stain is comming from the leeking oil tank? I would suggest a 130 degree hot water bath and some mild detergent first see what comes off, if that dosen't take it all off I'd suggest a mild degreaser. With the sodium Hydroxide I'd say mix to general cleaning strength do a test patch in a small area to check for compatability, You may even be able to try some graffitti removal chems as a 1st option. I've been able to get pretty good results from them when cleaning oil from the sides of siding that was next to a garage.

Yes, go search the thread "Making the x-jet easier to use" I rigged it up due to the annoyance of a 5er and lugging it around the worksite.