Beth n Rod

I would try Jim's suggestion, then come back to check it after it dries. Beth

I'll report it and get back to you. Beth

We know of a person in our area who does pressure washing part time and works full time with a major corporation. From what I have heard from a couple of his customers, they feel he is a professional. To me that says that full or part time whereas this person is concerned has no bearing on his professionalism. From what Scott and John have posted, I would say that they are on to something considering the individual persons attitude towards their business. Could one perceive that a personal code of conduct is what separates the professional from the rest? And would you call it Ethics? or Business Etiquette? Interesting.... Rod~

Bingo! Well put. Beth

Shane, You're right it is hard to choose. And they are all important. To me, I think it is important to be able to understand them and speak about them if needed. Beth

Looks like a great vacation. :)

Robert, I would be interested in hearing more about the ratios of F-18 you are using and the dwell times, to remove which products. We have been working with it for a few months, but as you know it takes some time to get to know how best to mix and use something. I would like to make sure we are mixing it optimally. Beth

Towson? I thought you didn't travel? (just kidding) Seriously, feel better. And I thought you had plans to go to Florida? If you do bring the warmth back to Maryland. Ohio will be colder than it is here in March I'll bet.

Hope you feel better Henry. Being sick during the Holidays is the pits. The reson I started this thread is that there are some wood geeks out there who are really into this type of conversation, and also because the dialog is helpful to those who are learning and are newer. There is no solid answer to which ingredient is the most important, but there are good reasons why the components are there. These should be kept in mind when working on different species of wood, etc. How about longer oils vs. shorter oils? Different types of resin systems? Solid stains vs. semi-transparents? What grit sandpaper to use in which type of scenario? I love wood care. So to me, this is very interesting stuff. Beth

Jim, Whatever input you are able to share is very much appreciated. You have been and will continue to be in our prayers. Beth

There have been alot of viewers, but only one voter so far... Please vote. :) Rod~

What oil do you like best in a sealer, and why? There are alot of choices, and some are used more with certain wood types than others. Thoughts? (again no product names please, we are talking content in product) Beth :groovy:

We could debate oils themselves. That might be fun too. Personally, I feel the longer the oil the better. I like different oils for different things, but my favorite is a combination blend of oils. We like greater than 80% solids. You are right, the majority here are not chemists (I did speak to someone the other day with that background so some are), but shouldn't we know what is in these products, and be aware of the effects and how these things work? We are the professionals. In my opinion we need to be able to explain how various things work and why they are important. Beth

Heres an inexpensive way to do it. We always leave a flyer at the neighboring houses of the job we are working on. The rule is 1-2 houses on each side and 4-6 across the street. We dont put out flyers on homes with a 'no soliciting' sign. And we dont blanket flyer a neighborhood. Takes 5 minutes to do this and makes the most out of the costs it took to get you into the neighborhood to do the work you have been contracted to do. You are there for legitimate reasons to begin with. BUT...If you are aware of any ordinances disallowing flyer distribution, or neighborhoods that have this type of solicitation forbidden, dont do it. It just adds to the stigma that many of us are tying to change about contractors. Rod~

I agree that the oils are extremely important for moisturizing and the pigment for the UV protection. But if we are talking about all things being equal and the "ideal" sealer here, mildewcide (biocide) has my vote. I have seen too many cases where the oil and pigment were fine, but the mildewcide was poor or failed and the result is that the deck turns black on you prematurely as it is overrun with mildew. Depending onthe oils present, the mildew may feed on the oils, which can cause a widespread groth. To help the sealer remain intact for a longer period of time, I feel it is important to have a solid system in the product to inhibit the growth or regrowth of biological agents like mold, mildwe or algae. I have seen two different products, applied in the same season, in the same month, under the same conditions and less than a year later one is free of growth and the other has regrowth issues. To me, if all else in the product is working, the oils are good, plenty of pigment, etc., then the mildewcide has just become the most important factor in the equation. The homeowner will blame you if a regrowth occurs prematurely. Food for thought. I vote Mildewcide (biocides, antifungals). Beth :groovy3: :cool:

Excellent Robert! Nice strip job! The only two strippers we use are HD-80 and F-18. We have found in some situations that HD-80 is faster and takes less product. However, we have also found that F-18 is gentler on the contractor to use, and given a longer dwell and more product will perform as well as HD-80 many cases. We will continue to test them side by side this coming year. We hope to develop a list of various applications we have done for folks to use as a guide (strippers that you can remove - field results). We believe that both products have a place in our wood care arsenal for use. What are you sealing the logs with? You sure do have a beautiful clean 'canvas' to work on there! Beth

Henry, we are talking about a theoretical sealer. What's the most important ingredient and why. Not talking about anything that has to do with the manufacturer or distribution or our own need for ease of use. We're talking about raw materials in the product here.

Don't forget to vote ....please... ;)

Do your homework - research the topic to avoid wasting time. What are your top priorities and needs, and how to they impact your bottom line? Be prepared – all paperwork is ready. Be on time. Respect and maintain the formality or informality set by the host or chairperson for the event you are attending. Meet and greet with courtesy and respect for all. Be open minded. Listen actively. Maintain objectivity. Respect all thoughts, ideas and suggestions. Avoid negativity. Never attack. Don't insist that the opinions and positions of others are wrong. Everyone should attempt to view things from multiple perspectives. Never be threatening or condescending. Maintain respect. Cooperate with others. Work toward a positive win-win end for all. Avoid beating the proverbial dead horse. As Ask open ended questions that promote discussion rather than closed ended questions that defeat the problem solving initiative. Remember to paraphrase to ensure a thorough understanding by all parties. If you ask “why”, explain why you are asking to avoid being thought of as confrontational. Do you have others? Share them here. :) Beth

I'm sure it's a lucrative business. Lots of people love dogs, and have the debris they produce. But it's hysterical. I never expected to see one, much less one so well marketed. Beth

I did some searching and I have to wonder.... Pickles - the brine is vinegar. Vinegar is commonly used to remove pet urine and fecal odor. I have to wonder if the residual odor is due to removal of that kind of odor. Potentially helpful links.... http://www.esdc.us/ESDC/garmentAlert.asp http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/acidbase/glossary.shtml http://www.mobent.com/Odors.htm Hope they help. Beth

Vinegar is acidic... I would think you should neutralize based upon that, but I'm not certain. Let me do some searching and see what I can come up with to help you out. Alan, are you reading this? I think Alan has carpet care expereince. Can you add to this? Beth :groovy:

If you think of it hand have a digital camera with you, please snap a pic. This is a great example of marketing to a very specific niche, it is well targeted (no pun intended) and it must be working. Amazing...I'm sure some of the success is due to the humor. Tony, they have an association for them too... APAWS....Association of Pet Waste Removal Specialists. Beth

Here's a pic of the chem spider. Beth

Exactly. Lack of experience is a factor in it for sure. Beth