RCBill

I used the Restora product recently. It did a nice job. I plan to offer "Restora" shutter something as an add-on. Flood is training people to go after this market as a niche. Bill

I'm using Powerhouse to great results. But I don't know why it works and I would like to. While I do not need the know-how of a Chemical Eng., I would like to know what each component is bringing to the dance. I understand that the 2-Buto is a degreaser, but if the Sod. Hydroxide degreases, why is the Buto a component? I see Sod. Metasilicate in Powerhouse and in EFC-38. What does it do? There are many similar questions that I would ask knowing that I had a receptive and informed source. If you're out there, raise your hand. From the label; 2-Butoxyethanol, Sod. Hydroxide, Sod. Metasilicate, Sod. Ethylinediamina Tetraacetate, and Nonylphenol Poly(oxyethelene). muchas gracias Bill PS, I did do a search in the Chem thread. It was not exhaustive. My eyes glaze over when I read the chemical reactivity stuff. And I went to the Sunbrite site to no gain. So, doing this on my own will be very difficult. PSS, I think there are strong positioning possibilities using this complex cleaning solution. I will be writing ad copy to build this position and would be happy to share.

When I was building machine controls, I would look to this company for parts. But many times I would just take ideas. http://www.omega.com/vh/homePC.html Bill

JBenson, I didn't realize my box was full. I cleaned it out. I had a medical proceedure earlier and I'm not feeling too positive. I will give you what I have. But you need to understand a couple of things. If you want me to give you a list of stuff to generate leads, it's already here, you just need to do some reading. Though, details of an advertising initiative are seldom posted. For instance, a guy writes that his mailing got a 3% response. So, you do a mailing and it gets zip. Well, the guy didn't post that he included essential elements of good advertising copy that you are not aware of. If you want business now, make up fliers and walk them. Maybe someone here will send you a flyer that has worked for them. I use a different kind of document that would not work for you. Save the money you want to spend on a mailing. You are going to need it. Again, read Jeff's posts. If you want to sell to property managers, he has written all that you need to know. Between these two efforts you'll begin to get work. Do not spend money on branding. In fact, don't spend a nickel that you do not need to spend. Cash is your blood. Ask one of the posters if you can trade labor for learning. Knowing what you are doing, what you would like to do, and very importantly, what you do not want to do is marketing too. Buy a marketing plan building book. As long as you are in business you will need to consider your marketing plan. The book will require that you write a document that describes who you are, who your competition is, what your strengths and weaknesses are, and what your business will look like. Email that document to me and we'll go from there. Bill

Well, I would look to offer a service that can be performed inside. As you are already in the cleaning business, you may want to do something related. I find cleaning resturant floors attractive. If cleaning floors can be attractive. You may need to make some decisions about your market re; res/comm. I think you are right on going into biz at 27 with your wife's support. You gotta know though that there some knocks to be had. If it was easy there wouldn't be any money in it. If you would like my input on marketing, PM me. But I must write that a mailing for its own sake could be a waste of money. Successful direct marketing has a few basics. You may want to search for Jeff from Myrtle Beach's marketing approach. Not only will you get the most from your money, you'll learn salemanship. Bill

Michael, All good advice here. Being a fiscal conservative, and an old guy, I would not go with anything other than a basic 20% loan. However, friends are buying using creative financing and doing very well. As you recognize the importance of purchasing your home, you will soon recognize that you can make good money investing in real estate. So, as the previous posters pretty much covered purchasing this house, let me take another position. This is called, "Begining with the end in mind." If you were to become a real estate investor, the type of investor that buys and holds, you may think of your first purchase as the begining of a portfolio of properties that you will someday own. Being a buyer and holder, you will want to put renters in to pay the bills. This is called, "Other peoples money". Unless you have money, you must use Other peoples money to pay for your investments. So, this first house must be rentable, maintainable, and appreciable. Sorry, but I need to go lower my handicap. If you have interest in what I've written about, PM me. Bill

New to wood, but contracting for many years. Once you get involved you'll own all the problems. Not for nothing Aaron, but Rod's been doing this for quite a while. You may want to take his advice. No business is better than bad business. Bill

Here is Tom Vogels site. http://www.acrproducts.com/

Thanks Rod. I'm using Powerhouse on your say-so. Someone from Sunbrite wrote me also. Adding that info to yours gives me what I need for my sales letter. Bill

You are lucky he complained. Many people will not complain to you but tell everyone else. And make it worse than it really was.

8'0" to 13'0" = 1.3 13'1" to 17'0" = 1.6 17'1" to 19'0" = 1.9 19'1" to 21'0" = 2.2 Multiply your normal labor rate by the factor above to estimate labor on ladders.These are standards that an architect would use to budget a job. Now, the other guy won't do this and will come in cheaper. But the jobs you get you'll make money on. Or at least as far as high time goes.

Rick, You articulate your love for the craft well. Just a complement.

Rick, It's a pleasure to read your posts. You have the chops to write a book. Bill

What is unreasonable about requiring that the PW inspect the interior of a building for existing water damage?

I am a coffee person too. One last thing (probably not). I will be using the Pumptec system to apply it. Any problem with the viscosity? Bill

Beth, If you could help me get my mind around thinning WTW I would enjoy putting it in my portfolio. The 'thing' the stops me is that I figure smart people put this together in exact proportions to act in a specific manner. If I add something to it I would be defeating their efforts. And I don't see how I could be smarter about WTW then they are. Thanks, Bill

Several months ago I wrote about constructing a budget for PM. It was in a thread that Jeff started. I would go through Jeff's threads to find it, but I am already old. A reader expressed interest in the budget and asked me for information. I went away for a few days and did not respond. Later I wrote the poster but did not get a response. This is unfinished business for me. If that reader/poster would like to follow-up on the budget matter please contact me. Bill

I've written a lot over the years. A couple of times my humor did not transmit well. This board has become important to me and I don't want to screw it up. Now I'll go punish myself on the golf course. Bill

Sorry Jeff, I certainly didn't want to offend you. Sometimes my attempts at humor leaves me with an opening for my foot. Jon, I do not market to PM. But a friend described to me how he got a lot of maintainance work by supplying PMs, and these were local government PMs, data that they could use to develop their budgets. Basically, he identified the work that needed to be done on a property, put a price on the work, and spread the work through a year. He would use a spreadsheet that the PM could manipulate and called his or her own. He had the credibility with the PM, that he knew what needed to be done and that he wouldn't pad the proposal. The importance of this whole effort was that the PM could submit their budgets to upper management or owners and be able to stick with them. Now as to what budgets can be to management and how to construct them, well I don't even know if you want that from me. Or, if I have the chops to give that. I certainly enjoy business management and have a little extra study in cost management. But, I am hamstringed by the thought that I may have offended one of my genuine heros. Sorry Jeff. I've read all of your posts and sitting at this CRT I've felt something that I do not have the words for about you, your enthusiasm, your success, and personal growth. I can be a clumsy guy and I apologise for stepping on your toes. Bill Lightner

I like Rod's approach in that he washes with HD-80 first thing everytime. Then you know you got it good. But I'm also liking the SH. How does a good Bleachboy get to zero every time? Got my new Pumptec system today. Looking forward to posting some trophy pictures. Peirce says that I need to start it wide open to get it primed. OK, got a little deck on Friday. Can't wait to plug it in.

I am told of a failed finish that I may be called on to repair. The description was small areas of mill glaze. I don't know what kind of prep was done. The stain was an alkyd. Can failures like this be repaired? TIA, Bill

Well, hate to turn it down. But I'd be pretty ignorant to turn a deaf ear to you guys. SO I'M OUTTA THERE!! :lgkick: Muchas Gracias

I would be solving a problem for a stain manufacturer and it's distributor. Solving problems for people is great network building. I'd like to be able to help them. I may stick my neck out in spite of the good advice I'm getting here. I was getting a chuckle out the 'wouldn't touch it with a 10', no 50' pole. Oh yeh? Well, I wouldn't wash it with YOOOUURRR pitch witch! If I was standing on a ladder in the yard next door, and had a 5000# machine, with an x-jet that sprayed 100% SH, I wouldn't wash it!!!!

One of the pleasures of working in the trades is the pride in a great job.

I built a system on a hand truck also. I moved the battery box up to have more room to manuver the fiver and the suction hose. The thing that isn't making sense to me is that the hand truck sits there looking pretty while I'm humping fivers back and forth. Gotta wall-mounting Decker system coming my way. I'll figure out some other way to do this. I see a plastic crate in my future.