Beth n Rod

Have a great time John. You and the family deserve it. Beth :cup:

This was sent in for posting. :) Enjoy! --------------------------------------------------------------------- News Release For Immediate Release Learn Stone Restoration Without Leaving Your Home. Orlando, FL, Fred Hueston announced today that he will be again offering an online course for stone restoration. Fred Hueston has taught thousands on how to restore stone surfaces. Many have paid thousand of dollars to attend Fred's popular classes. The classes are well worth every penny but it does take time away from your business not to mention the extra cost of travel, etc. With the magic of modern technology Fred is offering an 8 week teleseminar/online class. This means you can learn from the master, everything you wanted to know about stone restoration. Here is how it works and what is covered. Once a week for eight weeks you will call into to special conference line and log on to our conference website. Fred will give you a one hour lecture where you will learn all about the various aspects of stone restoration. There will then be a question and answer period. Our Special online software will allow you to see pictures and graphs as well as see live video demonstrations. If you can’t attend the class , not to worry, the class will be available to you as a download to view on your own time. You will receive a special email address to ask Fred all the questions you need to for the eight week program. "Some things can’t be explained or demonstrated over the telephone, the special program I will be using will allow student to see my power point presentation as well as video and live demonstration from my studio, as if you were sitting in front of me" says, Fred Hueston, Director of Stone University. At the end of the class you will receive a certificate of completion and a special discount for the hands on class and some of our other online classes we will be offering. Sign up today, class size is limited . First class starts in August 7, 2007. Here is what will be covered in the web seminar: Stone Flooring Restoration and Polishing Geology of stone Production Quarrying Fabrication Polishing Identification of stone Physical & Chemical testing Troubleshooting Cleaning & restoration problems Stain removal Marketing-selling stone services Cleaning methods Grinding & polishing Diamonds, bricks & screens Recrystallization Powder polishing Restoration principles Maintenance programs Cost cutting Sealers, waxes & penetrating sealers Chemicals available Equipment overview Safety Slip/ fall prevention OSHA HAZCOM Field repairs Polishing Recrystallization procedure Sealer application Stain removal Equipment operation Removing etching & water rings Blending edges Time saving tips Polishing methods Lippage removal Granite Restoration & polishing Quick Polishing techniques Field repairs Fixing cracks and holes Much more. Class is only $297.00. Sign up today, class size is limited and I already have several signed up. Passed classes are also available If you have any questions call Fred at 828-301-9796 or visit Flash Intro Page

Let us know how you like it Craig :) Beth

Interesting thought.... Beth

I would let the customer know about the landscapers so they can contact their office. I'm pretty sure a good company would address the issue. The owner needs to know they will soon have a dirty house again after spending good money if they do not call and report a problem. Beth

Deck and pergola work, and some privacy fence work. Deck also needs sanding. Call, email or PM us if you want the lead. It's out of our area. Beth

Is one of the nozzles clogged? This would cause an imbalance too. Turn it over and pull the trigger and see how the spray comes out of each nozzle. This will give you and indication. Otherwise, if the spray bar is bent, the best fix is to replace it. Rod!~

In the past we have used Cabot's ATO on teak. Since the VOC changes it doesn't hold up as well from what we have found. We began using Wood Tux on teak, and have found it to be very durable. Beth

I must say I like Rick's idea... Beth :cup:

My concern/question is how the customer views the use of their property and water to clean your tarps? Not saying it isn't a feasible idea though. It makes sense in it's own way. I've never been that bold to take advantage of a client that way. Inquiring minds... Rod!~

Are these decks coated with Behr that you are stripping by chance? Beth

That stinks. My suggestions is simple: Trademarks Register it. Once you do and someone uses it, it is actionable and has more teeth. You can clearly show you had it in use in commerce first, etc. Beth

Very nice! It stripped well! Great job! Beth

We like to use large cardboard boxes (spliced open) for lattice to contain the spray and then wipe it off with a pad to catch the excess. Reusable too. I hear you on the plastic in the landfills part. We use plastic (4mil) for the majority of our barrier needs and it gets used throughout about a dozen jobs or so before it no longer is suitable for use. At the end of each job, we fold all our plastic and roll it to contain the over-spray and use the inability to completely open it up as a gauge that it is ready for disposal. Tarps perform a function of a backdrop when doing fence work or ground cover to gam out the area for protection from the spray to land upon. Rod!~

I hesitate to think of where one might accomplish such a task. My thoughts are a driveway which logic brings to mind first as an area large enough to accommodate most tarp sizes commonly used and commonly available to many of us who are home based. Some who have business locations may have other options but based upon the former, my questions are: 1.) If on asphalt, what would be the result be to the driveway? After repeated occurrences? Most contractors have multiple tarps, as many as 10+ I have heard. 2.) If on concrete, would it stain it? 3.) What about the residue of the stain? In the past where we have had to strip off newly applied stain, the amount of debris was significant and readily stuck anything it landed on. 4.) What about the runoff? What would that effect be on the curbing as it goes towards the nearest storm drain? Or, what about if it just puddles up and perhaps being a neighborhood, what if children (who like to play in puddles), pets or automobiles navigating the street were to become exposed to it? 5.) What about time? Who has the time to do this in the height of their busy season? Soaking them in a caustic may sound like a good idea but what are the hazards of doing so? Think about it. Trying to pull a heavily weighted tarp out of a large container of caustic without it getting on yourself and anything adjacent to it and making a mess. What about the exhausted caustic? Where to dispose of such a huge amount. Think a 5 gallon pail will do? Think again you say? Ok, a 55gal drum with the top cut off. Now, where does one keep that when not in use? How does one transfer the spent liquid, the scum residue and dispose of it properly? Questions that need to be asked in order to decide whether it is feasible, reasonable or precarious. I know how absurd or obvious some of these questions may sound but as a responsible business owner taking into account the impact our business can have on the environment if not employing B.M.P.'s (Best Management Practices) the results could be hazardous and if caught or turned in by someone observing the incidences could result in fines, penalties and loss of the ability to conduct business. I personally have tried laundering them in a local laundromat only to find that the larger machines were inadequate to the task of cleaning these tarps (12 X 15) and mostly got them wet and left a significant amount of residue inside the machine as well as still remaining on the tarps themselves. Keeping the tarp wet is a good idea if you want to avoid spontaneous combustion but then at that point we face carrying a tarp that now weighs up to 3xs its dry weight and no longer performs the function of protection. The residue can flow with the wet technology, oils, resins etc and become deposited on the very surface we are trying to protect. Wet it down yes, then dispose of the darn thing and buy new ones and in the meantime, learn to control your over-spray and spills to avoid having to replace them so often is my advice. Sorry for the distraction of the original topic which was concerning two products and preferences. This one admittedly needed addressing. Rod!~

The thing that makes me reluctant is the near drought stages we endure here and how much slower the grass grows during these times which can be unpredictable and lengthy. We went on the diversify tangent a while back and decided our service was becoming diluted to the point of detriment in quality so we backed off and regained our focus and now we are doing much better as a result. There is some wisdom in being a specialist instead of a jack of all trades mastering none. Not saying it can't work either way, but for some like us, it helps to have a field of specialty. In our case: Wood Rod!~

I always have that feeling when someone can't pony up for the whole service. A 15 yo deck for example that is badly splintering, cracking and warping and they only want the wash and seal and mostly a clear to keep it as inexpensive as possible. I know what the deck could look like if they had taken care of it all along, but to not do anything but the minimal service and complain it doesn't look like brand new is what gets me. I have fine tuned our services to offer the best detailed product available, including expanding our services to giving a thorough rinse on the underside of raised decks to go the extra mile leaving the area cleaner than it was before we arrived. I want them to be happy with what they bought and we strive to give the best in our service for what they are paying for. The best way I can put it is this: A number jobs do not go into our gallery because "the works" wasn't in their budget. In the beginning, I used to go away with the feeling I could have done something else or something better but as your knowledge grows, so does your product quality. The only thing left is if something was forgotten and that really nags at me so I become a bit anal in that respect looking things over numerous times before I am satisfied that the job is complete per the contract. I am lazy and don't like getting sent back to do something again...so I endeavor to get it right the first time. Does my temperament a bit of good there. :taz: Rod!~

How about this: Wood Rich or Ready Seal if you want to compare apples to apples? Rod!~

It was probably her dominant hand too. Very sad. Beth :cup:

The Clean Across America campaign was kicked off yesterday at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. The Washington Post carried a photo of the work being performed and recognized JR Merrill of Under Pressure in MD. Great work guys! Beth

I looked at the 2nd pic and made my determination. The handrails are showing pt, the floors are showing cedar. Rod!~

By George I think he's got it! ;) Beth

We ordered our Wood Tux "classic" from Scott today. It will be good to have the "classic" Wood Tux back. :) Beth

Doh! So you did.... Beth

You will laugh...but there is one other way to tell cedar for sure....smell. You will be able to smell the aroma of the wood, especially when wet. Beth