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John T

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Posts posted by John T

  2. Posted · Report reply

    Best of Luck to you Joel.

    I think about it all the time on doing the same thing that you just did. I can retire from my one job next year and just do Powerwashing as my sole job. I just may do that because I don't know how much longer I can do these two jobs fulltime like I'm doing now.

    Of course If you ever need any help from us where here for you.

  4. Posted · Report reply

    I have a deck to do in the near future that has about 4 old coats of Benjamin Moore Clear(Actually has a tint of Cedar color to it) that needs to be stripped off.

    Can EFC-38 work for this or should I go with HD-80??

    Also If I go with EFC-38 does it need to be Neutralized/Brightend afterwords like HD-80 needs to be??

    Thanks

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Hey Morgan,

    I have always enjoyed reading your posts over the years. I remember when you showed that Sweeper that you purchased. After reading your post about that I became interested in possibly adding that to my business. I still may down the road and if I do you would be the first person that comes to mind when someone asks me as to why I got into that end of the business.

    As of late I did noticed that you seemed to be uptight in some of your posts. We all get like that at times. Since you explained how things have been for you lately who could blame you.

    You have a beautiful family and I hope that all goes well for you and your three beautiful girls. I have 2 girls myself ages 8 and soon to be 3 and they are everything to me as I'm sure yours are to you.

    I wish you nothing but the best of luck and if there is something I can do to help let me know.

    Your fellow Powerwasher.

  7. Posted · Report reply

    Why would you have to Strip off the old solid stain when your just going to recoat the Deck again with a solid stain???

    Most solid stains are made to be able to go over previous stains. Why waste the time and MONEY to strip the old stain off when it sounds like all you have to do is Powerwash the Deck Clean then put the new stain on it.

    Solid stain not only covers the wood grain(Why most people don't like solids) but also covers other stains(The beauty of solid stain).

    Strip when you have to but no need to when you are putting down a solid stain.

  8. Posted · Report reply

    Hands down that I would rather have a stripper and other chemicals in a powder form. Reason is very simple. You can store alot more of the chemical in powder form in your trailer. ALOT more!!! Also you can mix what you need at the jobsite and not worry about lugging around the Liquid form out of your trailer all the time.

    Liquid form chemicals take up a TON of space and most of the Liquid in all chemicals is water anyway.. Why waste space carrying around water for these chemicals when you can just get the water at the jobsite.

    To me it makes perfect sense to have chemicals in a powder form.

    One more thing, when you buy most chemicals in a liquid form you are over paying big time because you are paying for the water that they put into the mix and its dollars to cents when you have your chemical in Powder form. THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT.

    But as they say....Whatever Floats your Boat.

  9. Posted · Report reply

    When posting a picture why is the size not allowed to be bigger then 100,000 bytes?? Is this so not to bog down this site causing it to work slowly??

    Also how was I able to post a picture that was much larger(And clearer) before I was stopped when posting another picture of same size??

  10. Posted · Report reply

    I could be wrong on my assumption about this but its what I've been hearing over the last year or so that insurances will go up all across the board due to this tradegy. Also some insurance companies along with raising there rates bigtime are also re-thinking about what they will and won't insure in the future.

    Its like a ripple effect that is going on here. Powerwashing insurance was probably effected by this due to its considered risky in the first place(I never agreed with this) and now with a major tradegy Insurance companies are dropping what they consider risky insurance or at least raising there rates alot.

    I also heard this from others. Its Ironic how Insurance in general has gone up so much after 9-11 and how some companies won't even insure things that they use to insure.

    What do you suppose is the reason why our insurance has been dropped??

  12. Posted · Report reply

    1-Most important thing I learned from the bb's is:Let the Chemicals do the work as others have stated.

    2-If I had to start from scratch I would've bought a Hot water PW in the beginning instead of the 2 cold water ones and yes I would still get into Powerwashing because its what I like to do.

    3- In five years from now I plan on having alot more commercial work(Contracts) and myself along with other employees doing the cleaning. I say I because I love doing Flat work and I like to do physical labor along with Mental labor.

  13. Posted · Report reply

    I got the exact same notice a few weeks ago stating that when my Insurance expires on May 16th(My birthday) I no longer will have Insurance thru Nationwide. Some Birthday present. :mad:

    I Don't know what I'm going to do about this yet. I have a guy looking into this and hopefully I will have new insurance soon.

  16. Posted · Report reply

    I have no reason to fight the EPA. At least not at this time because the restrictions they have been putting on the Powerwashers are not as stringent here...yet.

    Cutting grass impacts everyone just from the lawn mower engine's alone(A counter point to above post).

    I can see how distributors would LOVE to see the EPA require us to invest in very expensive equipment. Why should they fight for us when they stand to make money.

    I personally don't like unfair rule changes and that is whats starting to happened.(Kendra where is your story??)

    When you give in without a fight to groups like the EPA then you give them way to much power which they, like anyone else would take advantage of. An example of this would be to pass certain regulations such as forcing us to reclaim the water and failure to do so would be a $10,000 fine etc etc.

    In a perfect world thats fine but since this is not a perfect world then maybe they should go after more important Pollutants then just us "NO POWER" small time powerwashers.

  17. Posted · Report reply

    Yes I'm sure at times water recovery isn't that complicated or expensive but for Commercial flat work cleaning it could get pretty expensive and that is money that I wouldn't want to spend.

    Just think the cost alone to run to Surface Cleaners where the water has to be reclaimed. Something like the Fury comes to mind here and that piece of equipment is not cheap and you would need 2 of them.

    IF I had the time and the expertise I would try to fight the EPA on certain issues but of course I have neither. I hope someone could stand up for us small guys and make a stand.

  18. Posted · Report reply

    Obviously I'm not an expert when it comes to what the laws are when it comes to dealing with the EPA. I'm just like most here who would like to get a better understanding on what is going on with this topic of Reclaiming ones water.

    I can see that the EPA would want one to Reclaim there water if they are using Chemicals with there COMMERCIAL cleaning. Fair enough. As to the part about loosening up the dirt and grime and then having to reclaim it that seems to be asking a bit much from us. The reason I say this is because for example, people fertilize there lawns on average 4 times a year and there is no problem as far as I know about that being illegal even though everyone knows that most Fertilizer is bad for the enviroment as in drinking water if it goes deep enough. Automobiles pollute a gazillion times more a week then all the powerwashers can ever do probably in a thousand years.

    Since most of my Commercial work at this time is Flat work, I hardly ever use chemicals. 5GPM Hot water at 3000psi is all I need and if the day comes that I will have to reclaim it then I think we got railroad!!!!!!!!!!!

  19. Posted · Report reply

    Everett,

    How come we can't get the PWNA convention to meet in Atlantic City?? Whats in Dallas besides the Cowboys??(Just Joking)

    Maybe I'll go to Dallas.

    I have to agree with You about Robert Hindeliter"s Passion concerning this Industry and I never even met the man and only spoke to him once via phone while placing an order from Delco. I was impressed that he would even take shipping orders himself considering who he is. That tells you something about the man.

    I hope none of you guys that represent the PWNA feel like I think that Robert is doing a diservice to the industry. That could not be further from the truth.

    I'm sure Robert is doing alot of positive things as far as helping out States with there regulations rules(EPA) to our advantage(Powerwashers).

    Te only thing that irks me is that he is also in the business to make money off these reclemation set-ups which of course is no fault to him. ITs actually extremely smart of him to get involved.

    Considering that I have NO way to reclaim my water with the equipment that I have and invested alot of Money in why would I ever want to reclaim anything if don't have to?? Thats my point. Thats it.

    Of course when the day comes that I have to reclaim my water then I will have to either comply or move on to other business opportunities if it just isn't worth the expense and headache to change.

    I'd be willing to bet rain water on average(Especially in big cities) is more polluted then the water coming out of my powerwasher when I'm cleaning commercial establishments. Does the EPA expect to have the Rain water reclaimed?(Just making a point)

    I think were getting a bad rap from the EPA which of course is no fault at all from Robert H.

  20. Posted · Report reply

    Ron P,

    Your amazing. Your like a talking book. You sure seem to retain alot. I on the other hand must have what they now call A.D.D. I have to go over and over something to retain it. This is the reason why I never got thru College. When I was reading the homework assignments all that was going thru my head was"Blah,Blah,Blah" just like Homer Simpson.

    Here's a thought for you Ron P.....Did you ever think about going to college and getting a degree in something that takes alot of retention such as LAW or something along those lines. I bet you would be good at it.

  22. Posted · Report reply

    I have to think about this long and hard before I post.

    Also I am somewhat suspicious about Roberts involvement with the enviromental end of powerwashing. Don't get me wrong I like Robert and he has been probably the number one supporter of the Powerwashing Industry.

    The problem I'm having with Roberts involvement is that Roberts top priority for the last bunch of years is to sell his products such as Powerwashers, Chemicals, RECLAIMING EQUIPMENT etc.etc.etc.

    I get the feeling that he is pushing for the powerwashers to reclaim there water. This I don't like. Its right up there with you out there powerwashing and someone watching you calls the EPA just to make things difficult for you. Then the end result is you have to spend another $10,000 just to be compliant and guess who will be selling this equipment.

    Its just a theory and it could be way off base but when I feel uncomfortable about something my instincts kick in.....which means I smell a rat somewhere. I just can't put my finger on where this rat is coming from.

  24. Posted · Report reply

    HD80 is great stuff.

    On that board that you show one coat of stain, then two coats etc. down the board when you went to strip them with the HD80 did you use the same strengths of it?? Also did you let the Hd80 stay on the wood around the same amount of time for each thickness of stain??

    Thanks

    P/S- Wish I could be there on the 22nd but my in-laws are coming over that weekend. Maybe next time.

  25. Posted · Report reply

    A couple of different size Squeegee's(18" 12"etc.) the clothy applicator to wipe on the window washing Liquid, a Bucket long enough to fit in the clothy Applicator so it can soak up the washing liquid. Of Course Window washing Liquid. Window wiping clothes for the squeegee and also in case you have to wipe the windows in some area's. These window wiping clothes work much better then towels because they don't leave behind lint on the windows. Also an extension pole to put the Squeegee on if the windows are to high up. I have a couple of different height poles that I carry around in my trailer.

    Also make sure you have your work order or whatever it is that says your are to clean these windows. When you complete them have someone in the bank sign,date and print there name where it says the work is completed so you don't get screwed out of money owed. Preferably a bank manager signature if you can get it.

    I Have a question for you. How much is a bank willing to pay for your services?? is it a once a month account or once a week??

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