Beth n Rod

Thank you all, It was fun. Got to spend half a day at the beach (Ocean City) and watch the sunset at Mackey's for dinner. Rod!~

Are they poisonous? Beth

The Grime Scene | Facebook See you there! Beth

Geeks rule. Beth

What is Oxidation? I love a good link. Beth

Update from his wife, on facebook. You can paypal donations to: jonathan@kleencrete.com Beth

Rick, you would like it if you tried it. The cool thing for me was reconnecting with friends. Beth

BUMP!!! Join us on Facebook! Beth

I'm sure it's great, but how about sharing some of that content here..... ;) It would be a great help to the thread. Thanks! Beth

Upper Right....SETTINGS. Beth

Thanks! Beth

It's the chems that should be doing the work, not the pressure itself. Beth :cup:

You seem to pay well. Lots of folks would like that wage. We have a bonus system too, but it is not tied to go backs at all. I would re-structure yours so go backs are not connected to it. Good luck! Beth

We had this problem when we first started out and I like the rest do not like to back peddle when it comes to making forward progress in business. Go backs delay revenue and is lost productivity. Our solution was one of many policies put into place to cover these issues and provide they never happen. -An employee handbook was developed with a signature agreement page at the end to attest the employee has read and understood the contents and agrees to abide by the policies and regulations therein. -Warnings were issued on the basis of 3 strikes and your out. I don't care how long an employee has been with the company, if they are no longer being a positive contributor...gone! 1st time, verbal warning issued in a document stating the incident, 2nd time the warning becomes a written warning with the ultimatum of a 3rd instance resulting in termination. -Frequent retrainings are often required as employees can sink into an undisciplined habit(s) and create a series of self perpetuating mistakes. I will often accompany my employees just to supervise and make corrections any time I see them. This is my responsibility as an employer to maintain a business that stays on track. Like a car, you can't just start the engine and let it go by itself, you have to steer, push on the gas and step on the brakes when necessary. We had a set of employees that thought the same as yours and by enabling them as you have to allow their mindset to evolve into thinking they can suggest charging the customer extra is plain BS. You have the reigns ... pull on them. I have a stack of applications filled out from others who want to work for this company and all I have to do is hold them up in front of any one employee and let them know not to become complacent and eliminate their confidence that they can't be replaced. This is business not a social club. If the work does not get completed or the results are lied about to me, Bang, warnings begin! They must learn to appreciate that the work must be completed according to the customers set expectations. These were determined the day the customer was met and the job was discussed and all questions pertaining to the job are answered. These form the expectations. Teach your employees this. Now, for the positive reinforcement. My guys have learned to work for the fruit at the end of the job. Their hard work has paid them in the manner of tips, softdrinks and other customer offered gratuities as well as praise for their efforts and they thrive on it. Every time they get a positive feedback form from a client, I let them know about it. I also let them know when things didn't go well, and discuss it with them and look for ways to avoid the issue in the future. Not always are the conditions the same at a job site and unforeseen complications can lead to errors or oversights which only an invested owner can spot. Get involved when your employees have call backs as well and see if there is a pattern. Often times, there is one to be found and you can make the corrections before it gets worse. Believe it or not, some of the bad habits are created by the customers who make suggestions or give direction without you present. Make them understand that they are to adhere to the contracted services and any alterations, deviations or omissions must be referred to the office and an addendum issued for any changes. Techniques and methodology withstanding, the customer hired you and your skills are what they are receiving. If they begin to direct your employees, the quality changes and creates complications or issues. We had a customer that directed our employees to use 120 grit sand paper on his deck and apply 2 coats of a one coat product. See my point? I don't mind answering the phone these days cause I know the complaints are minor and the regular business is flowing. Communication with the employees is encouraged and they actually watch out for the companies best interests now. On some level, they have become invested in it. It makes for a better mindset all around when you are in control of your employees results and the customer is happy, rather than handling multiple complaints and pissed off customers. That is back peddling and it is avoidable...and by that I don't mean not answering the phone either. Reign in your employees and control your quality. Rod!~

Dreaming about your next rig is like being in a candy store....it's just a matter of some things you can't live without, and others you really want to try....and then, you have your allowance. Beth

I would rather pay a decent wage and hold them accountable to standards that are higher. I feel that by paying a lower wage and having to incent (bribe) then to do a job that is to your standards, you are compromising quality. Gee maybe the client won't complain this time, and we will get the bonus and not have to go back, or whatever. For us it is never ok to lower standards so that you risk the call back. The first time you finish, that client will determine IF they will use you again. I guarantee you that if you have to go back, you lessen that chance. Beth :cup:

POOL? Give me a break. How about this..... they have to apologize to the client every time the first occurrence is a verbal warning the second occurrence is a written warning the third occurrence and they lose their job There are LOTS of people looking for work these days! Remind them of it! This is assuming a rash of instances close together. Also I would suggest that if you have the equipment to do it, rotate the crewmen and partner then with others. Take them under your wing one at a time are retrain them if you get to the written warning stage and document everything. Show them you are investing in them, and want them to succeed, but let them know it has to stop NOW. I don't like go backs. Sometimes it is a process issue, sometimes a training issue, but you always have to address it - ALWAYS. NEVER reward it. It will bite you in the butt and tarnish your reputation. Beth p.s. sometimes it is a "burn out" issue and in that case, it is better they go before they cost you a bundle.....

Tom at ACR has the Decker, which is made by Pumptek, who makes the deckster. Beth

While we do not use Ready seal, we do use a blended oil (Armstrong Clark) and are also fans of the HVLP. Additionally, we back brush every inch. The brush will work in the product, and of course you can apply as much as you need to apply and work it into the substrate. We have a couple of deckers that we use for other things these days, but not for sealing. Beth

I thought it would be fun to hold a virtual election here on TGS. Cast your vote anywhere between now and Nov 4th. After that, the poll will close and we will see if out results match the Nation or not. Make your vote count! Beth

So start a new thread. This was for the election in ....08! Beth

Let it go Tony.... Beth

The election is over. It's time to work on all the issues we face as a nation. Beth

Here are a few pics of the deck we completed today. The deck had to be stripped, it was a nasty peeling mess. Yuck. After we prepped it, we two toned it. Client chose Nantucket White, and Armstrong Clark's Woodland Brown. Enjoy! Beth

Believe it or not, the only places we had blue tape was on the deck next to the rail support 4X4's. The rest was tarped until the rails were finished. Rod!~