Beth n Rod

Are you sure he's not just a VERY slow wallpaper contractor? LOL

I stained a deck a few weeks ago and the other day the homeowner called me to say he found some over spray on his windows. Well, if I did, it was "my bad" so I told him I would be there as soon as I could to take care of the problem.
When I got there sure enough I found some over spray on his windows, but it did not look as bad as he described. This is a brand new house the owner bought about three months ago, but has not moved into yet. He told me there were a lot of problems in the house he was having the contractor repair before he moves in. A neighbor caught me in the yard and told me that for three months the contractor had been in and out with his work crews constantly and was wondering what was going on in the house.
I didn't think much of it at the time, but when I was there cleaning the windows I went inside to look through the glass to see if I could see the stain better from the inside.
The owner wasn't there when I went in, but when I did go in I could not believe what I saw. There were hundreds and hundreds of pieces of blue tape all over the walls and ceiling. I finally figured out that the owner was marking out what he thought were imperfections that he wanted fixed. I tried to find what he as marking and for the life of me I could not find anything out of the normal. I mean this was in every room, closet, behind doors, on top of doors, and ceiling. It would take someone days just to go around and pull the pieces of tape off the walls.
When the owner got back he got down on the hardwood floor on his knees and elbows with a spray bottle and a rag and started going over the floor inch by inch looking for any kind of mark or blemish no matter how small. By the time I left he had covered about five sf of floor and had little pieces of tape all over the place. He told me it was probably going to take him a week to go over and mark the living and dining room. He told me the house was still was under the warranty period where the contractor was suppose to come in and fix anything he found wrong so he was going to make sure everything was right before he moved in.
I have heard of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and have thought I have run into people with it before, but seeing this guy spending weeks and months in this new home looking for and marking out anything and everything he thinks is not just absolutely perfect like he was doing give me the chills.
I'm sure he will be calling me back for something as soon as he gets through going over the hardwood floor.

The first number of the tip is the spray patter width. You take the number and multiply by two, that is the spray pattern in inches held 12 inches away from the surface as you coat the wood. The second 2 numbers are the orifice size. Most spec sheets for coatings will tell you what orifice to need to spray it.

LOL...I wonder if my orthopedic surgeon will be using any duct tape on my new knee? Or maybe Doc Tape?:lol:

Keep a good balance is possible only if everyone contributes.

Robert was asking for input at the PWNA convention held this past weekend so the more feedback he gets the better it will be.

"I'm thinking about inc. my buisness this week. which is better INC. or LLC?"
Both INC. and LLC offer pretty much the same protection in separating your personal property and what actually belongs to your company. The basic difference is in the tax structure. The link below can give you some information to help you decide which is best for you.
www.bankrate.com/brm/news/biz/Biz_ops/20000831.asp
For more information Google INC. vs LLC

Welcome Don!
We've done a few doors here in the Carolinas - your experience will be very welcome!
Celeste

Rick,
In a conversation with Jake today, specifically about the Rustic Brown, he did indicate to me that two coats of the Rustic Brown would indeed take you to nearly a semi-solid finish, which could be the lack of transparency you achieved with two brushed applications.
Celeste

It's working now :) You did it! :dancing:
Beth

We have law enforcement in place in all of our schools - not the riot looking police that "bad schools" have, just nice Sheriff's Deputies that are called Resource Officers. As shameful as teachers' salaries already are, why on earth would we want to place them in a position of armed security? I'm pretty positive that putting a law enforcement professional on site would be a welcome assignment for a street cop anyday. Let them do what they are trained to do and let the teachers do what they are trained to do.

Rick - these guys refer to their surfactant 'package' which may or may not included detergent builders along with detergents as a 'soap'. Basically it's the base before they decide what to do with it - add sodium hydroxide and voila you have HD-80, or add oxalic acid and voila you have citralic brightener. The only difference being they may adjust the detergent 'builder' to be in the same ph range as the final product so a bucket of citralic won't contain TSP or STPP along with some surfactant, but may contain SAPP or whatever.
I agree with your readyseal and citric acid - you don't need to be concerned with what we're doing. And I like the idea of adding Vitamin C to a deck and not rinsing. Vitamin C will also De-Chlorinate bleach! You can clean a nasty deck with bleach and acid rinse with Citric acid and not have bleach residues! But I would advise applying the citric acid directly to the dwelling bleach prior to rinsing.

Have any of you ever heard of USLBA? Got an email this morning announcing I had been selected for this award.
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Low Pressure Exterior Cleaning Receives 2008 Best of Chesapeake Award
U.S. Local Business Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement
WASHINGTON D.C., July 16, 2008 -- Low Pressure Exterior Cleaning has been selected for the 2008 Best of Chesapeake Award in the Patio & Deck Cleaning category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).
The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Thanks for sharing that Beth. I use cash only because I don't pay attention to receipts like I should. Also, I have been noticing that when I'm pumping gas, the meter jumps from, say for instance, $49.90 straight to $50.00. Somebody got the LAW on it so maybe those roguish gas station managers might try something else to beat us out of our money.
Yolanda

Jim you need insurance for obvious reasons, also in NJ you must be a licensed home improvement contractor, and collect sales tax.

This is the finished look. The stain is still damp in a few places.
Thanks again for the advice Rick Petry!

No it's not. It was an inside joke. Circa winter 2008... Jim left a glove here at the house, he was passing through after a GA round table we all went to, and I need to mail it back.
Beth

looks good Dan.
Hey, I get a chance next to test your mix again. I have a failing solid to look at.

Looks nice. Good job.

Cripes, I own an ipe' deck! Why didn't I think of that?

I agree!!

"His real estate agent told him don't pay over 175.00"
Something is bothering me about the real estate agent telling someone what to pay...or what not pay in this case. What makes them the expert in Pressure Washing?
What if a pressure washing company told the owner not to pay over 3% commission to the agent selling the house?
Just ranting...going to get another cup of coffee now......

I did a job today on a small box ranch near my home and I gave the quote of my basic minimum of 150.00 to clean his home, he was very pleased with the price and I was washing within minutes.
He stay outside and watched my technics and results, we started talking and he told me he had couple of estimates ..... one was 250.00 and one was well over 1,000.00, the guy that quoted well over 1,000. said that 2 facial boards needed to be replaced. After the house was cleaned he saw the boards was not rotted but just needed a fresh coat of paint.
His real estate agent told him don't pay over 175.00 and he said I was the only one under. His next statement was he was going to pay me 175.00 instead of the 150.00 I quoted, I often get customers that tip or pay more than I charge, it happens more when they are watching me work.
I realize that people may charge more and I am by no means a low baller but I don't like to over charge my customers either. I know what I have to charge to make money and in my area I know what is overcharging, Its hard to find a honest contractor in any field and I know whats it like to be overcharge and I like to treat my customers the way I would like to be treated

Well, since you are so footloose and fancy free tonight, did I ever tell you the one about that wood stain manufacturer that ...
Ah, never mind. Someone else may read this....
Anyway, is there any possibility of permanently erasing my 5 point infraction of over a year ago? Geeze, Beth, its a blemish on an otherwise stellar record of service. Kind of think the Judge of Wood may look slant eyed the next time in court. Have mercy, I did try WT twice.

I should be an 8! :)