John T

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

Hey Ryan nice truck!! I bought some vehicles off of Ebay over the years that were excellent trucks. Both my trucks now I bought from Ebay. The pickup came from Florida & the flatbed came from Texas.
If you want to search Craigslist nationwide there are sights for that such as this one http://www.dailylister.com/
Good luck.

I know why I do because I enjoy helping contractors and I'm forever indebted to the ones who did the same thing for me when I first started. One of those guys who since passed on was David Olson.

Ultimately before the good in anything gets tainted, it's mankinds inert drive that propels us through history to do better and advance ourselves to a more comfortable "survival setting".
Many of us share to help newbs avoid the learning curve and mistakes.
Many of us share different techniques from pro to pro.
Many of us don't care, many of us do.
 
It's a lot the same on many of the forums out there that I am members of.
Ultra lite aircraft forums....... man those dudes will fly to you and land in your back yard to help out with your build.
On the guitar forums.... there are secrets shared that can make a washed up rocker that would make one come out of retirement.
The product and invention forums are similar but very guarded.
 
I think it all comes back around full circle for everyone at some point...
 
You ask the question "Why do we help with info".....
I say why not........ we know who needs help and who doesn't..... but for the folks that stumble on these forums looking for info,
I prefer that none of my info be incorrect...... so I bite my tongue sometimes too, until I'm sure of myself. But hey, after 12 yrs now, I'm in it, with what I know.

you got it, John. It's really about having the right equipment/knowledge to do the jobs quickly and successfully.

You need to Max out in busy months to get the most your company can and lay off guys for 3 months. Let them make you and them more money when you can get it.

This can also go into the residential. Set your machinery up where you can do commercial/residential work with high volume soap/rinsing!! To make max money in most cases is do you have the proper machinery to do the job and then do you have the will/gumption to do what it takes to get it done if your doing it or you employees are.
Also build your setup to have heat in it. I learned this from my good pal David Olson who since passed away and was a previous org treasurer as I was, set yourself up to handle almost any job that comes your way.
So are you setup for that?

Yes , we are now set up to do anything .

This can also go into the residential. Set your machinery up where you can do commercial/residential work with high volume soap/rinsing!! To make max money in most cases is do you have the proper machinery to do the job and then do you have the will/gumption to do what it takes to get it done if your doing it or you employees are.
Also build your setup to have heat in it. I learned this from my good pal David Olson who since passed away and was a previous org treasurer as I was, set yourself up to handle almost any job that comes your way.
So are you setup for that?

  Dwell time is critical in many situations and certain strippers are only good for removing likewise formulated products ie; stippers for oil based stains, acrylics, latex etc. Some strippers can do a lot, others need help by adding a booster or additive.   Since you have not listed what you are using to strip with, I can only suggest you look into more than one. We have had great success with HD-80 and boosting it with 633-ADD for most of our stripping purposes.   I cannot speak for others but our company does remove the fuzzing created by stripping. You may want to consider several options for this. We use Osborn brushes on Makita 7" grinders (variable speed) to deal with the fuzzing on spindles but also use 3m pads (black coarse stripper pads) used with the grinder and a back plate to get into areas under rails.   For the floor, you will have to consider either renting a buffing machine and buying a large brush for it or buying both for use on the floors. This will help getting rid of the fuzzies.   If you need to grind/sand the floor, look into a square buff sander. It is approx. 18"X30" and utilizes a combination of a pad for holding the sand paper and the sand paper itself. It comes in varying grits. We use 36 for most heavy sanding and finish off with 60 - 80 grit once the desired result has been acheived.   Sanding is a necessary step in order to get the best results and not have splotchy looking stain so your efforts are not in vain. You have a good idea of what to do so far and just need the right 'tools' for the jobs, and I meant that plurally because no two decks are going to be alike.   Having had to strip numerous coats off any one deck alone finding out as the stripper removed each layer, you never know exactly what you are getting in to. If you are going to test spot an area....don't do the floor. THAT is the easiest. Try under the rail cap where the sun never shines and it is always the most intact.   There lies the true test of your stripper.   Rod

We will be caught up tomorrow. Like Jim, wind was beating us up. We've had a nice few days though and have been banging them out. Sun up to sun down. I will take a day off on Sunday, but this season is off to an incredible start! I wish you all the best. May you all have a profitable and safe season!

The problem I have with workers comp was on the audits. We clean commercial buildings such as a few movie theaters.. Because of this I have to pay 31.4% of payroll. I hate it but chalk it up as the cost of doing business. Also god forbid if one of my guys get hurt, they'll be compensated accordingly.

Hey John-- we use Paychex and because of my PWRA discount we get I believe up to 10 employees for $39/month for all. Paychex figures everything out and then sends us the paystubs via email. All my wife has to do is sign the checks-- Done;)

NY & the closest we come to doing KEC is eating at restaurants; )

Where so backed up with work that I still need to do this. Being busy is never a good excuse to slack on the marketing end.

I'm super excited about it. Thanks :-) I have thoroughly enjoyed writing the marketing book that I have just finished. With luck, it will be for sale at the event. I have to say I am truly blessed to be able to work with such an amazing group at Cleaner Times. My editors are wonderful, supportive, and give me the professional latitude I want when I feel I need it. I'm excited about the NEXT project they have asked me to work on!
 
John I think CETA/ISSA is after PWNA. Pairing up with ISSA, Ceta expects about 16k attendees. CETA and  PWNA are smaller events by themselves but ISSA is HUGE. So......my one class is expected to pull 125+ people.
 
I'll  have fun this summer creating my seminars and the presentation materials for them.
 
Beth

Congrats Beth. You have always been a respected Individual and a valuable commodity to this Industry. I remember it well when you spoke in Dallas at the PWNA Convention around 2004 about marketing during that session when they were judging who had the best presentation contest....... Which of course you won:) You pretty much swept the awards that year.
You know that CETA/Issa event might be right before or after the PWNA Convention in Orlando... Very cool. Maybe I'll treck it out there and catch both events again like I did in 2012.

A couple of years ago I got a message from a FM in Michigan.  He wanted to know how to contact Dave. He wanted Dave to add his jurisdiction to Dave's service area.  That is an indication of the high regard others had of
Dave.

I met him at Celeste’s RT way back when.  2006?
Awesome guy.

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.

Dave O. was one of the best people this industry  has ever seen.
 
Beth

That's cool, John.    Dave Olson was a tresure, not just a Treasurer.   I had the pleasure of meeting him at a PWNA convention..........and we spoke on the phone once or twice.

Doing it for nothing is something I won't do.
You are performing on someone else's property and if you aren't charging for it and it is not disclosed in a proposal, bid or estimate, you are liable for any and all damages that result.
 
Hourly rates are for employee's and lawyers. Even plumbers and electricians don't give hourly anymore. They charge by the service.
We don't give out an 'hourly' rate either. Due to the varying factors many projects will have, there is no way to really put an hourly rate on it considering there is so much more that go into costs.
 
Rod

Yes it sure has Rick. The money many of us made from the knowledge we learned here, has kept guys like me gainfully employed in the Powerwashing industry.

Good thread John.
 
Kudos to Beth & Rod for starting The Grime Scene.  Back in those days, there were few internet resources focused on pressure washing, especially information on exterior wood care.  This site has educated and helped an entire generation of contractors.