Beth n Rod

EPA Releases Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey Tool Tool designed to help beach managers identify sources of bacterial contamination at their beaches June 2, 2008 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made a new tool available that will help keep more Great Lakes beaches open for swimming. The Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey Tool is designed to help beach managers identify sources of bacterial contamination at their beaches so they can address them. It was developed and piloted at beaches around the Great Lakes but can be effective at any beach. Many Great Lakes beach managers have said they will use the survey at their beaches this summer. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and this new national clean water tool will help beach managers be pollution detectives upstream to prevent beach closures downstream," said Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. This tool was developed as a result of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration's efforts to identify sources of contamination at Great Lakes beaches. EPA provided a grant of $525,000 to test the effectiveness of the tool at 61 beaches around the Great Lakes during the summer of 2007. A beach sanitary survey is an evaluation of the beach area and surrounding watershed for existing and potential sources of pollution. Information collected may include the number of birds at a beach, slope of the beach, location and condition of bathrooms, amount of algae present, location of storm water outfalls and soundness of residential septic tanks. EPA also announced a $222,240 grant to Wisconsin to monitor its Great Lakes beaches and provide information to the public. Beach water monitoring enables beach managers to better protect public health. When bacteria concentrations reach unsafe levels, beaches are closed or advisories are issued. The grant is part of $9.5 million awarded to 35 coastal states, tribes and territories nationwide in 2008. This is the eighth year grants are being made available since Congress passed the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health BEACH Act in October 2000. EPA estimates Americans make 910 million trips to coastal areas each year, spending about $44 billion. A decade ago, state and local monitoring and notification programs differed across the country. These grants are designed to consistently protect and inform the public before swimming. The Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey Tool can be found online at Beach Sanitary Surveys | Beach Monitoring & Notification | US EPA. Source: EPA June 2, 2008

WARNING: This post may ramble. It contains the frustration of a contractor who strives to be a professional and charges accordingly. Elevated blood pressure due to missed spots, stop start marks, high pressure cleaning with no chems and water only may drive you too, to tears. So today, I was out doing estimates and came across a deck that had just been done this week - it was one of my stops (never mind that they didn't call to say they no longer needed the estimate). So, I'm on the deck, and it didn't really look done. I sort of didn't believe them....then the young lady produced the paperwork. Seems a local air duct cleaning company (unlicensed) also does decks. YIKES! it cost this poor lady $200.00 to have a lousy job done to her deck, by an unlicensed hack with no wood experience. She is now the proud owner of lots of stop start marks, gouging, and her deck still has mildew and algae on it. Some things just blow my mind. Beth

I used to see all sorts of benefits to doing this, but anymore I don't. This whole thing of "just brush off the puddles" and seal it, don't care for it. We have seen decks applied dry and decks applied wet, the finish looks different, the longevity is not there - at least with one particular one we have tried. I would rather the finish last, than shorten the life to save myself time. Customers pay good money and trust us as professionals to give them the best result we can. Just my .02... Beth

TheProSealerStore carries Wood Tux. Personally, I would rather apply to dry wood than wet wood. Just my .02... Beth :cup:

Hang Time is a thickener - and keeps on thickening. Can clog a sprayer fast. Used to help keep product on a vertical surface. It doesn't boost. If you want to make something cling, try a foamer. Beth

Thanks Kevin! Beth

It will not last. The stain beneath the Thompsons will become soft and erode easily, much more so than is normal for cedar. Rod!~

We had more trouble with hang time than it was worth. Personally, don't suggest it. Beth

Same here. But given the time it takes to consult, I have also taken to telling them to hire a pro, or call someone local to them. it can take up hours of time (they call about washing, they call when they are stuck, they call about prep work, they call about sealing, they call about cleanup...) to talk to them. Time is money. I used to spend huge amounts of time on the phone with DIY'ers out of state. Not so much these days. Beth

http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/chemicals-safety/6547-hd-80-mixing-instructions.html Read this thread. :) Beth

Sweet! Nice work! :) Beth

Looking good Dan! Beth :cup: :sunshine:

It's a pet peeve. It will never change. There will always be consumers who do not do research, and hacks that don't learn a skill before attempting a trade. Beth :cup:

...anytime :) Beth

Nope....they are sub-forums... Click the forum names and you will see some list threads, and others list more forums. All the extra services and construction forums are in sub-forums now. Beth

The money back is not a damage thing, in Maryland, an unlicensed contractor is not obligated to be paid for a service. The duct cleaning company performed a service they were not licensed to perform. The owner is under no obligation to pay for that service, damage or no damage. That's life in Maryland. This was a nice lady, young, who could not afford much more than she got. If she gets her money back it will only pay a part of just the wash, not including sealing, if she wants us to do it. Right now, contacting Maryland is her best recourse. Beth p.s. I would have made a comment to her about not calling to cancel her estimate with us, but I could barely believe it was done. That's how badly it was done. Rather than turning on my heel and leaving, I simply had to learn more about this fiasco....

Thing is, I don't think she understood what she was getting into. She had them do it while they were there to clean the ducts. She was a nice young lady and I hope she gets her money back. I'm sure she can't afford the quote I left her. Beth

I bet you will now.... ;) Beth

I'm waiting for samples myself. Don't have anything to report, but when we do we'll be glad to share it. Beth

That's exactly what we tell people! Beth :cup:

You can't even get Redwood in Maryland anymore. We care for a number of Redwood decks, it's a beautiful wood to work with. Matt's in the middle of Redwood country out there. Beth :cup:

Defelting pads are lighter weight than Osborne's to work with. Beth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Mark McIntyre 916 638-0828 Free Seminar Focuses on Water Conservation ‘Wash, Capture & Recycle Symposium’ Features Equipment & Techniques To Maximize Efficiency, Economy & Conservation RANCHO CORDOVA, May 30, 2008 -- Easy Clean Systems, regional distributor of pressure wash and related equipment, will host a free seminar for power wash contractors from California and Nevada at 9:30 a.m. Friday at headquarters facilities at 11337 Trade Center Drive, in Rancho Cordova. There is no charge for admission to the event, which includes lunch prepared by Sacramento’s famed Texas West Barbecue (RSVP is required prior to the event) The half-day symposium will feature Stormwater 101, a concise review of stormwater compliance regulations and Best Management Practices for the pressure washing industry, conducted by John Lewis of the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department. Aimee Norman of BERC, the Business Environmental Resource Center, will be on hand to discuss and respond to questions of complying with environmental regulations and how such regulations pertain to businesses and contractors. Carlos Gonzales of New Look Power Washing, representing the *****, will provide an update on the transition of the organization, and Alan Greer of Hydro Tek will showcase the new Hydro Loop wash capture and recycle equipment, which enables contractors to comply with Clean Water Act regulations and conserve water in their operations. Mark McIntyre and the crew from Easy Clean Systems will also demonstrate new products and make them available to seminar attendees at special discount prices. “This is an important event, because of the need to conserve water at every opportunity,” McIntyre said, noting that the recent lack of winter rains makes increased conservation even more critical. “We want to do our part, and this is just one step in the process.” ####