seymore

Yes, May and April was cold ,very windy and rainy . I just stopped 4 ipe jobs not worth the trouble . Now in August ,I already had jobs not drying more because of the condensation forming in the morning . I ran heaters and fans to increase drying which did help but not worth the extra time and expense .
It takes a certain personality to stay in the wood business. In April I had enough wood work for 5 employes by May I was down to 3 includes me and stayed there . Good thing I do a lot of washing . I have a load of wood work to do and it keeps coming but I have never had an august where you have to wait till 10/ 11:00 to oil . I have a garappa sunroom floor to do and yesterday after 3 days it was still damp( ran heaters to dry).
Enough complaining ......sometimes it's not worth being an expert though ?

HD-80 + 633ADD will take it off.
 
You can get the HD-80 from The Sealer Store
and the 633-ADD from ACR Products
 
Mix HD-80 at 6-8oz/gal + 4-6oz/gal of 633ADD
Apply and allow to dwell. Keep it wet and re-apply as needed to keep the product working.
 
Rod

Va is actually very fair about the issue. On contracting work when they pull a permit for a job they put your contractors licence number in the system and if it pops as inactive,completely fraudulent, or registered to someone else they make the contractor obtain a valid licence before they will sign off on the work.

Having a license actually puts contractors in a better position over the others in this region.
 
People are actively looking for credibility.
 
Rod

Im saving so much money now that we escaped the people's communist Republic of NY, that I don't mind paying for a license. Just another selling point for me anyway.
 
I'm sure it also helps weed out SOME hacks as well.

It's great to hear from everyone again, thanks.
It this monent I'm relaxing on the little island of Dominican Republic with my wife and son.
Staying at a beautiful hotel that never changed the default passwords from the wifi routers.  :)

I would seal it now and re seal the deck next year as the stain won't soak in a whole lot. I see the same thing with rough sawn cedar pickets, When new cedar is sealed  the stain tends to hold up only 2 yrs  not 3 like if the wood gets to age.
 
I'm glad I don't see cedar decks here much it sounds to be a PITA  almost as bad as PT pine decking!

I'm with Shane.
 
Beth

Looking at the area the steps are installed on and the algae around them, made me think the climate is better for the acrylic. If you are a painting contractor, you understand the why of that. You would also get why the oil might be less favorable. As for brand, well, do you have a professional preference? Go with what you know.
 
Beth
 
p.s. stringers are a pin in the butt. if you have to replace a step there is a good likelihood they crack and break if they are older......

Thought Jake might enjoy these photos of a  recent job. Thrilled owner!
 
Beth

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

Have you been drinking.......

Looks like fun! :onthego:

The big 4-0 was this past September.   I spent the morning of my 40th birthday in the Emergency Room with a kidney stone.      That went away after some convincing, and all is well.    My boys are 14 and 9 now........which is hard to believe.
 
I stopped pressure washing in 2005 and switched to the HVAC business.   I am in sales of residential HVAC and doing very well.   For a couple of years I was a technician as well, but I enjoy sales more.
 
Jim, I recognize your photo.......I hope all is well with you.

Phosphoric acid is what is in Naval Jelly that attacks rust.
 
Problem is, it could also cause a problem with the composite in removing the stains at high concentrations.
 
Let the customer know this is possible and have them sign off on it.
If YOU void the warranty by doing this, YOU are liable for replacement.
 
Another possibility, replace the peices affected if the product isn't too old.
 
Rod

Shane, I really have to thank you. I have added butyl based degreasers to my mix, but its always a premixed product. Thanks a million times for posting that. I have it bookmarked and will be ordering next week. I have to say that your advice, both in forums and on the phone, have made me money. I truly appreciate your help.

 
 
Thanks Ted!!
 
I was very lucky to have a calm day being around the pool! 

Here was a fence that bleached rinsed and stained with Gray Away Honey Brown.
 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 
 
My phone never stops ringing here in Texas unless it's raining. It was a cooler Winter and somewhat slower than usual but it was a rare Winter.

 
I'm here ready for a busy Spring and summer and getting a back log like you wouldn't believe!! :cool:

Shane always rocks.
 
Beth

 
I'm not done yet, Shane but I will leave some if I have any left. I'm going to be cutting it real close because I didn't realize how much stain a shadow box fence would eat up!
 
Thanks all!

If the coating is not permeable.....RUN.
 
Beth

Those are nightmare jobs right there.
 
Hat's off to you for courage and the concrete. :biggrin:
 
We had some similar but done with 5/4X6 Ipe boards on a slant.
 
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151326416470808&set=a.10151310315905808.427060.172572320807&type=3&theater
 
Rod

Some great, no , awesome projects as always Shane.