TNRoofCleaner

Here is a deck we cleaned and brightened on Tuesday. Hopefully it will be ready to stain on Monday after the thunderstorms the last 2 days and one more probably this afternoon and tomorrow. This will be stained with AC Semi Transparent Cedar. Homeowner wanted a clear sealer at first but changed his mind after showing him some pics and samples.

Just moved them to the other side of the deck, Stained and let soak in and moved back. I'm mot taking the BBQ down those stairs. There are also no 2 spindles spaced the same on the entire deck. Some you could get a 4" brush exactly in between and others you could not. Some were even wider. I guess they can't read a tape measure.

Ok I got it stained today. I can see a few mistakes I made now to correct them for the next time. Customer loved the color.

HEY I'm under 50 and I know about both of those. Yep things are a changing. Just hope I can survive it.

I like the AC and also Bakers. Most customers are choosing the AC mainly because of the color they want.

You do realize that this thread was started back in 03?

Keeps you from kicking the ankle biters between the spindles.

Home is only about 10 months old but the boards have already started to cup. Need to sand in a few places. Wood had just started to grey. I do have one question that just came to mind. On the spindles the lumber is more of a rough cut type of wood on some sides. Do you sand these also or do you leave them? I did not notice it until I went to clean. Guess I will learn to look closer next time.

The other thing I have seen is they may only have it a short time but want nearly what they paid for it. Not from me. I don't know you or how you maintained it. They need to think of it like a car. Value drops like a rock. the worst thing is that there are not as many buyers of this type of equipment.

I know that I have under estimated the amount of time it takes. But that is my learning curve. I have not killed myself doing it either. My take on it is this. 1. As I learn I will get faster. (at least I better) 2. As I learn I will find out that I am fast and need to adjust the time I charge. What I think the main problem is, is that they are borrowing money to start and buying the biggest and the best right from the start. I am using rental machines until I can pay for one with cash. I am going to grow with cash or I will not grow. I am still working part time to fill in the blank weeks but things are starting to pick up and may have to go full time cleaning. Not a bad thing. Told my wife I was going to find a dirty, nasty job and get paid for it. Well I am on my way. This is my first year by the way.

Reliability and dependability for me. If I order something it is because I have a job scheduled and need the product. If you can't get me the product in a timely manner then I can't do the job and maybe lose the customer and I am stuck shelling out for the product. Now I gotta sell it again.

I had someone ask me about giving a military discount. My response was "If I gave a military discount then that means that I am over charging everyone else." Did the work that week. Don't get me wrong I appreciate their service and have family in the military but I will NOT charge everyone else more as they are working and helping the community also. The price is the price.

Yea I agree about the chips. On the AC web site the Sequoia looks brown not red. I got some 4 oz samples of all colors and will be making a sample chain. Maybe mixing some colors to get other choices. Anyone feel free to use the close up pic I posted for a better sample. PM me your email and I can send a file without the lettering or just crop out the cleaning doctor.

Thanks for the idea. Maybe I will make up some shrunken decks for home shows etc. Ok we finally got 1/2 of the front porch done and I have attached the close up of the AC Semi-Solid Sequoia from the back deck.

Thanks Tony that is exactly what I am using. Beth it may be a while before this is finished. We are brushing it all as this belongs to my son inlaw and is a freebie. Besides I don't feel like spraying with all that concrete and block. It is taking a couple of coats to get it the way I like the looks. Told him paying customers take precedence over family. LOL I am still debating on if I should make the stair stringers white also or do it all in Sequoia. I am leaning towards the white and just doing the treads in AC but would like any suggestions. I have some samples of all colors so I need to get to work on the sample chains and then play with the mixes to come up with more.

Very Nice

Looks great Tony. What did you use on the handrails? I am currently using Deckscapes ultra white on the front of this house and will be doing the steps in Sequoia. Even on this house any other color on the wood would not look good as I feel that it would not match the house. That's why we chose to go with the white on the handrails. Rear deck will be all Sequoia.

I am currently doing a Sequoia and will have pics later.

Nice. I am doing my first AC deck with Sequoia will finish up today just in time for the 4th.

Here's a thought. When you start out schedule all your jobs on Saturday and rent a pressure washer with enough GPM to get the jobs done. You will make a little less profit but since this is part time and you have a JOB then you should be able to sock the cash away for an upgrade and in very short time. That is what I am doing except that I don't have a JOB and can schedule on different days of the week. Making less money for now but I am building with CASH.

BBQ of course and spoiling the grandchildren. Loading them up with candy and watching fireworks.

That deck looks good.

Anyone have any experience with this? I was talking with another restoration company about 80 miles from me and they came across this and told me that if you run into this the best thing is a can of gas and a match. Said the finish turned into a gum like substance and took them forever to get it off. PSI no good either. He said it was like getting gum on the bottom of your shoe.

Sorry Ken I did see your post. I was answering the post above yours. I think the hot water would be the solution. I believe this is what they were trying to strip Thompson's® WaterSeal® Advanced Tinted Wood Protector - ThompsonsWaterSeal.com Thanks all I will pass this on.

That looks like Lichen to me and after sprayed it will turn white almost immediately and can take a while to fall off naturally. Rain and wind will eventually remove it after you have killed it.