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John T

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  1. Like
    John T got a reaction from Beth n Rod in Kath & I pay our respects back to Beth/Rod for all the've done for our business:)   
    If Beth and Rod have impacted your busines in a positive way then post it here.
    In my case I believe I was Powerwashing a couple of yrs longer then Beth/Rod but I was not a fan to use chemicals(soaps). My customers never complained but they also didn't know any better. Beth kept after me in around 2000 to try HD-80 and use a brightener afterwords. I thought she was nuts.
    Low and behold to this day the most fascinating thing I ever seen short of cleaning Babe Ruth's monument(resting place) was watching the brightener turn the stripped wood to magic while it brightened right before my eyes. You wont get much wood to clean any nicer then this.
    To Beth/ Rod I am forever great full to you both for allowing me to come to TGS from the very beginning and to just soak up all the info on this very professional site.
    I love you both and you two will always hold a piece in my heart.....always:)
    So who"s next? Bear your soul and Tell us a compelling story on now this very professional couple of Beth/Rod have helped your business over the years.
  2. Like
    John T got a reaction from Beth n Rod in Kath & I pay our respects back to Beth/Rod for all the've done for our business:)   
    Where still doing wood restoration type work and I always think back when you told me to use HD-80 on wood along with a brightener and how nice it comes out. You were right on and I'm forever grateful for that:)
  3. Like
    John T reacted to Jim Gamble in PWNA Another First for the Industry...FREE WEB PAGE for its members   
    These are custom made web pages that you, the members can edit, change, add photo's, add video's on their own. Our members will have control of their web page on the PWNA.org.

    This service I am told could cost as much as 50 to 100 dollars a month for a premium service, higher than normal bandwidth and is completely searchable with Google, Bing, Yahoo and all other search engines.


    Here is a sample:


    CLEAN IMAGE LIMITED !


    FACILITEC WEST


    Again these Web Pages are all FREE to every paid PWNA member ...yes I said ALL MEMBERS at NO additional costs. We are the First ORG in our industry that will offer to our members...
     
    Discounted Health Insurance A Absolutely FREE Searchable Web Page
  4. Like
    John T got a reaction from AmyVollmer in Who's is insured by the Joe Walters Agency?   
    I'll see if I can get Amy Vollmer from JW agency to respond here for Alexy since he's asking about hood insurance.
  5. Like
    John T got a reaction from Jason Reider in What is the lowest temperature will you stain   
    Hey Jason-- a little tip.... If your using an oil base stain make sure it's nowhere near freezing at night or you may have problems. Like Jim says, in our area you want to get to May for staining. The horrid call backs you can get because the stain didn't cure correctly do to freezing is not worth the headache.
  6. Like
    John T reacted to Beth n Rod in What is the lowest temperature will you stain   
    Jim's points are exactly what anyone should be considering.
     
    Wood at 50* or lower begins to tighten up as a response to the temperatures and won't absorb well.
    Also, oils are like bacon grease, they begin to congeal at that temp and don't penetrate.
     
    Combining these two factors makes it a difficult assessment for when to start.
    Getting temps during the day is fine but remember overnight temps can literally squeeze out the sealer that hasn't dried/cured by then.
    This leads to tacky finishes which will never set right and leads to a premature failing of the product.
     
    Acrylics have a little better performance ability but again need to have consistent temps above their application range to ensure proper curing.
    Some can be applied as low as 40* but keep in mind the substrate. If it is a hardwood. Forget it. Wait for warmer temps.
     
    I acknowledge Jim's predicament over the years and that he has had it very difficult where temps AND rain have been concerned.  He and other in the northeast corridor have been hit with some unfortunate weather which has impacted their businesses and complicated their ability to do quality work without having to resort to alternate measures to get the job done.
     
    Here's to hoping all have a decent weather year.
     
    Rod
  7. Like
    John T reacted to James in What is the lowest temperature will you stain   
    The issue with low temps ,moisture and getting a sealer to absorb and dry . Low temps slows the process down tremendously. If it's in direct sunlight all day helps a lot . Just pray for no rain for a week and for temps to rise?
    I run a heater sometimes . I ran it last year late November to finish a mahogany porch . Worked very well but took away 25 bucks in fuel and about 3 hours in more time for the job . I stayed there longer running the heat to dry the sealer. You also can heat up the sealer which helps and I did for this job. it's a super high end area and was well worth it.
    Did I say wood care blows! In reality wood is from May to October .
  8. Like
    John T got a reaction from cleanhoods in Who's is insured by the Joe Walters Agency?   
    I wonder if you have a fire cleaning a hood God forbid, if your insurance would cover you? Just because ones have liability insurance you have to read the fine writing to see what they cover. This is why I like JW insurance because they clearly spell out what your covered for.
  9. Like
    John T reacted to Thad in Who's is insured by the Joe Walters Agency?   
    Somebody asked me this past weekend at the event in PA if I just used Joseph D. Walters Agency because they gave the Pressure Washing Resource Association a deep discount.

    I have been with JDW for several years- since way before the PWRA ever existed and there was no such thing as an insurance discount.  I went with them because after I had been in business a few years I realized that the insurance I had was like most- just a piece of paper that allowed me to work.
     
    I went with Joe Walters because I wanted actual protection and an insurance company that knew what I needed better than I knew myself.  The additional coverages and their lightning fast service when I needed additional insureds to land a contract were the cherry on top.
  10. Like
    John T reacted to al9226 in Who's is insured by the Joe Walters Agency?   
    We've been with them for a little over a year. Had two other agencies in this area. No service whatsoever. And that was with no claims. Made me think "what if I had a problem?" Joe Walters has been very attentive so far. At least that makes me feel more secure. A guy told me one time "If your customers are bothering you, ignore them. They'll go away!"
    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    ANR Cleaning Services LLC
    www.anrcleanteam.com
    www.anrcleanteam.com
  11. Like
    John T got a reaction from cleanhoods in hose reels: hand crank or electric?   
    Hey Neal I would look for a hand crank stainless steel hose reel because they won't rust. The electric hose reals which I never owned one so I'm only guessing here but if there always out in the weather I would be leery of them always working right and there pretty expensive.
    I would look to go to one of the distributors here and see what type of non rusting hose real they sell.
    Good luck.
  12. Like
    John T reacted to Apple Roof Cleaning in hose reels: hand crank or electric?   
    I have tried 3 electric hose reels for roof cleaning, and every one of them failed soon.
    In fact, hose reels themselves soon fail, when faced with the roof cleaning chemicals.
    We eliminated hose reels nearly 5 years ago, and never looked back.
    But then, we are roof cleaners, not pressure washers.
    We don't pull and reel up our hoses 10 times a day!
     
    Hose Reels restrict flow, unless they have large internal manifolds, and they rob pressure.
    Not a big deal with a PW, but it can be a big deal with a low pressure roof cleaning pump.
     
    SH is both a liquid and a Gas, and the fumes are very corrosive. Once these fumes find their way into your electric motor, bye bye electric hose reel.
     
    In a SH delivery system, the LESS connections you have, the better!
    Less to fail, less chance of leaks.
  13. Like
    John T reacted to Beth n Rod in I was asked to speak at CETA & ISSA convention!   
    I'm excited! I have been asked to speak at the Ceta/Issa joint convention in Orlando in November! The planner has been following my marketing book chapter by chapter in Cleaner Times. I am over the moon!
     
     
    Beth
  14. Like
    John T got a reaction from Ryan556 in Tired of winter and ready for spring   
     
     
    I could see you 2 snowbirding down the road. Especially you Ryan. 173.5" of snow so far--Thats sick.
    When I get my FLA house down the road I may make it party central for guys like yourself to come sit in the sun in the smack of winter....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh:)
  15. Like
    John T got a reaction from Josh_Cronin in The Mole and Jersey Show Ep14...We interview Wagga from the UK and beg the question how much is to much.   
    I seen all the Mole & Jersey shows except for the last 2. Hope to watch those this week. There a bit cutting edge which I always liked and there by far the most entertaining "Industry related" show I ever seen.
    There also open to discuss most anything that's Industry related which is very cool but like anything else, "You can please some of the people some of the time but you can never please all of the people all of the time".
    They Rock:)
  16. Like
    John T got a reaction from buckeyetd in Ideas for finishing rough cut Cypress furniture.   
    Beautiful work Tim!! I bet those chairs are going to look unbelievable after their stained. If you think about it post the finish pics of those chairs after you stain them.
  17. Like
    John T reacted to James in Ideas for finishing rough cut Cypress furniture.   
    Tim , I take care of a lot of furniture . Teak , cedar , pt, redwood, something that begins with a J. All furniture that ends up with people like us has gotten out of control and sticky . Over application of product is the biggest issue. So knowing what you put on and how to care for the finish is the biggest issue with outdoor furniture and when to start over again.
    Last year I did about 20 pieces of teak at the end of the year as a trial for he next 20 pieces in spring ( I think more). The tables could not be extended and the chairs couldn't be sat on when the temps hit 90. What a freaking mess but they new it . It went beyond there painter, local hardware store , paint store, handy man, advice from the product they put on,. The estate manager went to a dinner at one of my clients and ate / sat on the furniture I have cared for the last ten years. What a great new client I have and estate to work on . All because of something that couldn't be sat on ! Who wood of thunk ?
    With furniture less is best....
    What ever is used don't over apply . Wipe off anything that doesn't sink in in 30 minutes . Don't allow much on the undersides at all . Just enhance the wood. With furniture the first finish and when to do the second finish is the trickiest . You cannot treat outside furniture like inside furniture.
  18. Like
    John T reacted to Beth n Rod in Ideas for finishing rough cut Cypress furniture.   
    Those chairs...I just keep looking at them. Beautiful.
     
     
    Beth
  19. Like
    John T reacted to buckeyetd in Ideas for finishing rough cut Cypress furniture.   
    I build adirondacks part time on the weekends out of rough cut 4/4 cypress. I buy from local sawmills in and around the Tampa Fl area. The lumber is partially air dried and I simply plane it and assemble the wood into outdoor furniture. I've been researching and working on developing a way to treat and finish the wood so I can offer it to customers in a finished form. I've looked into a company by the name of petriwood and penofin. I'm a newbie as far as finishing wood for outdoor use and I know using rough cut air dried lumber is not the norm and is much cheaper than buying kiln dried lumber, having said that, my purpose is to offer an affordable alternative that will perform as well as kiln dried products. If you have used either one of these products or have finished rough cut cypress I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter.
     
    Tim Davis, gulf coast chairs
     
  20. Like
    John T got a reaction from Beth n Rod in Tired of winter and ready for spring   
    Hey Beth-- I'm hating snow so much that when my kids are out I'm definitely going to snowbird. Hello FLA!
  21. Like
    John T got a reaction from Beth n Rod in What do you do to get ready for spring?   
    We work on marketing in the dead of the winter such as now and we set goals for this upcoming year. I also tweak some of the equipment to get everything ready to roll once it's warm enough and the phone takes off.
  22. Like
    John T got a reaction from cleanhoods in Can anyone help?   
    Hey Tom-- in 2007 I just finished my term as the PWNA treasurer. I was in Memphis if thats the Convention your referring to. The above names you mentioned are all excellent people who inmost part I learned a ton from as well.
    My question to you and I'm being honest and hopefully you don't take this the wrong way, but what's holding you back to get to that next level? Why is it you want to have a mentor at this stage of the game to work with them? Are you sure you want to be your own boss and not just work for someone else like most of the population does? Nothing wrong with that of course.
    What I would suggest for you is to redo your business plan. Try to join some groups such as the www.PWNA.org and re introduce yourself and look to network network network.
    Answer this because I really want to know more about your determination. What's holding you back the most to be Successful on your own?
    Sorry in advance if you think I'm being to blunt but it's the way I roll to help if I can.
  23. Like
    John T reacted to James in Can anyone help?   
    Start going to the gym today and work out , wash the truck and start working on those machines. There is enough fat pressure cleaners and softbellywashers out there. Start lissening to motivation tapes to get going. Go after your old customers and customers who need wood maintenance.
    If your in great shape forget what I said.
  24. Like
    John T reacted to Beth n Rod in Words of wisdom for any morning.   
    One day closer to spring?
     
    Beth
  25. Like
    John T got a reaction from Ryan556 in Today I start back at the gym-- How about you?   
    Today will be my first real day back at the gym in over 7yrs. I'm going to try and slow down my aging process or die trying lol. Hardest part to me is always just getting there. I took a 7 yr break so now my body is saying "Hey you lazy SOB get your azz to the gym"..lol
    Who's been working out and who's going to start like me?
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