Beth n Rod

You were most likely finding Calcium hypochlorite. Sodium Hypochlorite is what you will find in liquid bleach. 12% bleach people refer to is Sodium instead of Calcium although either works from what I have heard but most prefer the Sodium version. Rod!~

+1! Beth :cup:

Booya! It's a beautiful thing! Beth

Daniel, It may be your area and the economy. It may also be that referrals increase as the economy turns around. We have had several this year already, one within a family that uses us, two from deck builders, a landscaper, and another from a friend of the person who had work done...those are just the ones I know of. If you do not actively give out a few extra card and ask for referrals, try it and see if it helps. Beth

How many of then have you said thank you to, shook their hand, given them a couple extra business cards and ASKED them to please refer you business? People will....but asking helps! We are VERY well entrenched in this one specific neighborhood because one of the homeowners we asked, has made it a point to refer us every season. We have gotten at least a dozen jobs in that neighborhood due to his kind words, and his continued satisfaction with our services. Beth

Yeah, last year we had a homeowner that referred us to a job that was a $15,000.00 job. I'll take that "cheap" any day. Referrals are golden. Typically a good referral is sold because of the job you did for their friend, family, co-worker, neighbor or whatever. Many don't get other quotes, some do, but not all. Saying it is only possible if you are cheap, is a crock. Referrals hire because you are excellent too you know, not just because you are cheap. Beth p.s. you should also be asking for referrals....

Quite a bit of our work is from referrals, but we will never give up the advertising entirely, although we have cut back quite a bit over the years. Beth

Pressure Washing and Contractor Cleaning Forums - The Grime Scene - FAQ: FAQ’s on Wood Restoration Beth

Pressure Washing and Contractor Cleaning Forums - The Grime Scene - FAQ: FAQ’s on Wood Restoration Beth

Pressure Washing and Contractor Cleaning Forums - The Grime Scene - FAQ: FAQ’s on Wood Restoration Beth

Pressure Washing and Contractor Cleaning Forums - The Grime Scene - FAQ: FAQ’s on Wood Restoration Read this, it will be a huge help. Beth

Got a match? We did a strip last year of Wolman Extreme that we applied two times before the company quit distributing it here. We used 760, 633ADD to get it off but used a lot of chems to do it with. Plus we had to sand as well afterwards. My suggestion, Dorado strip. Rod!~

http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/wood-siding-log-home-care/11934-summer-strip-job-guess-what-we-used.html See thread... Beth

Rick, Dorado Strip 3031. Spray on, leave for hours, do not let dry, wash off. Environmentally friendly, but costs and arm and a leg. Have used it to strip multiple layers of brown paint from a vertical surface. Beth

Patience, for the jedi it is time to work as well. You remind me of my customers of late calling to ask when we will be out to stain their deck. My office manager just said " look out the window". It was raining all over the area and yet this customer hadn't a clue as to why we had not been back out to seal her deck. Your post happened just around the time most of us got some sunshine for the first time in weeks to work with to get a modicum of caught up with backlogged work. My advice, go read the label of the can of stain he will be applying. For maintenance coating, it will give directions on what to do to prepare the surface. If not, go online and find the products data sheet and read up on it. This is for others who are last minute advice searchers: give a bit more lead time if possible to get a better response rate from our members. They have businesses to run and weather can effect their availability here online to answer questions. Also, keep in mind that answering questions is voluntary and no one is obligated here. The views you have gotten were possibly from others like you who had the same question but no answer. Was any of this helpful? Rod!~

Another birthday? Didn't you just have one of those last year? Oh well, Have a great one this year too! Are ya old enough to join our old farts club yet? :lol: Rod!~

Jordan, Going into business in itself is a huge risk as you may have considered. I for one will never go back to being employed again. Your first step here in asking questions is a good step in the right direction although it sounds by your post that you don't possess a natural inclination towards cleaning in general but that can be learned if you apply yourself. I would start by focusing on the individual surfaces you would like to clean and learn about them from the point of not just knowing what it is but how it came to be. I know this sounds like a lot to do but you don't have to learn how to construct it but understand that process. Concrete for instance; you need to understand what it is comprised of, the chemical reactive spectrum both positive and negative and what forms the substrate. The reason for this is learning what type of beast you are working on and how to deal with the pollutants that are commonly found on it that you will be asked to try and remove and give an expectation of how it will look once you are done. Can you use an acid? Depends on the type of acid. Certain acids will react violently with the lime in the concrete and break down the top layer called the cream and reveal the aggregate beneath creating a condition called spaulding. This is hard to repair and can create a cost for replacement as it is officially damaged at this point. Other acids meanwhile will work on concrete and only cause an etching of the surface cream allowing a sealer to effectively be applied and have a decent duration. These certain acids found in proprietary formulations are designed to clean a variety of surfaces and remove certain pollutants in their chemically reactive range. ie out of that range, they have little or no effect on them thus requiring another chemical possibly alkaline to handle the pollutants present. Pressure PSI and gallons per minute GPM come into play as well in order to get the best results without causing damage on newer or otherwise susceptible surfaces, you will need to know how to manipulate your pressure according to the substrate. This is all just to give you an insight into why you need to know about the surface as well as what it takes to clean it. There are some manufacturers that have sites whose information on their products provides a great deal of insight to help you understand their products uses and what they work best on. I would suggest EacoChem as one, V'Seal as another as these two specifically deal with cementatious surfaces in addition to brick. Take some time to do a search and park yourself on a site that has a bunch of information like this to get an overview that will help you on your way towards learning about what you are trying to focus on. Sorry for the long post but in this case particularly, you have some research to do still. Rod!~

Has anyone else tried it? Beth :cup:

Wow....everyone here had the same beginning you did, and everyone here had to learn from point zero. If you are not getting the answers you think you should be in a timely fashion may I suggest you use the search tool...there are years and years worth of excellent data on here. The seasoned pro's you speak of are in the height of the spring busy season, and time is a commodity. Fill in your signature, tell us about yourself, and post a photo of the job you are undertaking. It will help us all help you better. Beth :cup: p.s. I hope you have liability insurance

Happy Birthday John!!!! Have a great day and many more! Beth

:lol: Now that's just funny... Beth

Hi Steve, It's great to see you online again!!!!! YAY!!!!! Beth

Check the oil pressure switch if it is equipped. Sometimes they get gunked up and need to be changed. Also, check your fuel tank to make sure there is no water in it. This can cause a stall similar to what you have described. Rod!~