Jump to content

Beth n Rod

Administrators
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content count

    17,333

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    162

Posts posted by Beth n Rod

  2. Posted · Report reply

    Welcome to TGS. Please add your signature, house rules.

     

    There is no single response that can fully prepare you and tell you everything you need to know. If you could narrow down your questions, and be specific, you could get them answered. Also there is a lot to be found here with searching.

     

    Do you know what kind of service you want to offer specifically?

    Do you know if your market supports it?

    Do you have the funds you  need to support yourself while you are learning and growing?

    Do you know what tools and equipment you need?

    Do you have a work truck?

    Do you have a business plan?

    Do you have a marketing plan?

    Do you know how to estimate?

    Do you have an office set up?

     

    Beth

  3. Posted · Report reply

    We do have before and some during shots....or at least before shots. Story about this deck, I quoted it last summer, and it was late enough in the season that I suggested a wash only, since they would not get the best use of all the sealer. So we washed it, and all the patio area beneath, and the patio up in the yard you can't see, and the walk you can't see. This spring we gave it another bath, and this time we sealed it. It had not been sealed in years. They are thrilled.

    We only did the ipe. Rod and a helper had to be VERY careful around all of the white. This deck was done by hand. We always plastic and tarp.

     

    Beth

  12. Posted · Report reply

    I'm posting a link here. http://www.matweb.com/search/datasheettext.aspx?matguid=60b72a5c075c44659d624a2e346ee048

    A home owner called us, just sick over what a contractor had done to her home. It was burned with bleach, then coated with the above oil. It was done by a company that also does cheap driveway sealing from what she could tell after the fact....

     

    Some of what I see here give me great concern. Has anyone here run into this or ...used it?

     

    Beth

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Do the replacement after you have done your cleaning/stripping.

     

    Reason is, you want to be able to apply and end grain sealer to the ends of not only the boards you are replacing but the ones that will remain.

    Rot starts at these points on cedar decks and is the point where all the problems begin including cracking due to moitsure loss in the form of extractives cedar needs

    to retain in order to last longer.

     

    Unfortunately, as decking cedar doesn't have as good of a life expectancy as Pt. pine or or redwood.

    Before installing them, scuff the new boards up with 80 grit buffers or sanders to help the new stain take better.

    They will NOT match the old and that is one thing that should be educated the customer first off. Otherwise, they try the 'You didn't tell me...." excuse as if it is a

    leverage mechanism to get you to do something that was never agreed upon before hand.

     

    Rod

    seymore reacted to this

  17. Posted · Report reply

    Jim,

     

    Do you even realize the number of coats you would have to apply to form a film to begin with, and the amount of drying oil you would need in the product to create a film that would truly crack and peel? Sorry, I'm calling BS. An over application of AC would stay tacky and would attract dirt and turn black but I still say it can't peel. Sikkens, I would have agreed, since the amount of alkyd oil in the product is so high. The cure for Sikkens is harder, and yes, that one can.

     

    Beth

  21. Posted · Report reply

    When we first were getting set up back in 1998 before our launch in '99 we scoured the net for any information we could find on process,

    chemicals and anything that would help us to the job better without going through the mistakes and errors the hard way and having to fix them.

     

    There was no one sharing anything.

    Everyone was tight lipped about their chems, their methods all of it.

    Wasn't until we found the PWNA and joined that we started to find some people willing to help and that happened at our first convention we went

    to in Baltimore MD.

     

    I learned a great deal in the classes and round tables and met some great people.

     

    They helped me and I benefitted.

     

    My attitude is to return the favor in kind to those who are serious about building a solid business and are looking for advice and information.

    Beth lead the way with wanting to create a BBS where we could provide that networking and archival platform for others to use for their business.

     

    We chose to give back to the industry. To help it grow and become filled with better educated people in the field they chose to pursue.

     

    Rod

    John T and Beth n Rod reacted to this

  25. Posted · Report reply

    I don't rant often, most of you know me, when I DO rant, it is for a damn good reason. Also, we have been caring for wood for 15 years, and are very well versed in applying multiple kinds of finishes.

     

    We recently installed a product made by Saver Systems for a high end long time client of ours. They have a busy back yard, lots going on, and the landscapers tracked something on to the deck that the home owner can't remove. At the suggestion of the Dealer we bought it from I called them for support. So far I can't get past the customer service person who keeps giving me the same tired line.....clean it with dawn dish soap.

     

    Oh for crying out loud, I understand a few things, I know quite a bit, let me just talk to the damn chemist!!!!!!!

     

    GGRRRRRRR!!!!!

     

    Beth

×