Mike

Some of these links might help. They are conversations about this in the past. Trucks http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2412 http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2555 Equipment Whats should I buy? http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1724 Residential equpiment http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2198 X-jet / shur-flo http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1956 Ladders http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2617 Sprayers http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2615 Surface Cleaners http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2577

Beth it's been doing this again for the last week. I've deleted my cookies, temp files, logged out and in and nothing seems to fix the problem, It says: "New Post (32)" and when I click on it to read the new post, it says sorry no matches found and goes back to New Post (0) ....the weird thing about it, is if I post a message, and then it says New Post (1) .. I can click on that and see my post listed. Is anyone else experiencing this problem? I go to the many other bb's and the new post link works fine.

I asked this question on another BBS and enjoyed reading the great and sometimes humorous responses! Every good story has a beginning... Whats yours? What I am asking is, What made you decide to get into the PW Business? How did you go about doing it? What equipment did you first start out with? What was the most important thing to you. If you could go back and do anything different, what would that be? And finally, if you could pass one word of advice to newcomers to the industry, what would you tell them?

The problem could also be in the padding, depends on how much was spilt and how far down it soaked. If the enzyme deodorizer doesnt work it may need to be extracted, or the pad may need to be replaced.

The problem with febreeze and others is that they just cover up or mask the odor, they dont eliminate the odor. It's kind of like spraying perfume on a bag of garbage. Eventually the garbage will win the battle. You'll need an enzyme type deodorizer (the kind the pro's use) that eats the food source of the odor and eliminates it, not just covering it up. Stanley Steemer has a great product for this, I think it cost $12.00 for a bottle (give or take a few dollars) and they'll even drop it off for free.

I guess to me it just looks like all these gutter guards / covers apear to really block the flow of water from going into the gutters, causing alot of runoff problems. But then again I[m not experienced with them so thats why I'm asking. Also, how would you become certified in installing them? If you cant post it here, you can always email me with your comments as well. Thanks. Mike hoosiermike@hotmail.com

About Wal-mart.. They must be making money as we have supercenters popping up all over the place because the ones that are currently open you can even find a parking space in. I can speak on a personal note for a second about them, I can go and buy the same amount of groceries that I get from other grocery stores and always spend at least $40.00 less. They price match every other competitier of theirs, but most of the time thier cheaper anyways. Does a box of corn flakes from wal-mart taste different then a box of corn flakes from kroger? NOPE! They are not lowballers, they are pricing competitively. So whats a lowballer then? A lowballer to me is someone that cuts corners every single place they can. No liability insurance, no chemicals, poor eqiupment and education, cutting cost everywhere so they can charge $50.00 to wash a house. But..... if a guy has insurance, has the correct chemicals, has the right equipment and education, operates his business legally and can afford to charge $75.00-$100.00 for washing a house and pay his bills, he;s not a lowballer, he's your competiter and a little competition is healthy for business. This BB has members from all over the country participating.. a gallon of milk cost more in California then it does here in Indiana, does that mean Indiana grocery stores are lowballing milk?

The question is... What do you do with all the "doody" you collect at the end of the day?

FAQ's on "How Much Should I Charge" Just click on a link to view the various discussions on this topic. IF you have a question, please do it in one of these threads and not in the FAQ section. Polls & Pricing Discussions (Poll) Estimates - How do you handle them? http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2450&highlight=pricing Pricing Discussions Bidding a Job http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=444&highlight=pricing Residential Pricing Questions http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2135&highlight=pricing Pricing, Numbers can be deceiving http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=992&highlight=pricing House wash Pricing http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2667&highlight=pricing House wash Pricing http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2033&highlight=pricing Sidewalks http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1806&highlight=pricing Wood Pricing Discussions Price per Sq Foot? http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2057&highlight=pricing Question on Wood Pricing http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2563&highlight=pricing Other Areas - Pricing Discussions Diesel Fueling Area Pricing http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1996&highlight=pricing Shopping Carts http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1226&highlight=pricing You can find more informtion on pricing and other topics by using the SEARCH function here at The Grime Scene.

How about the opposite? They need to be cleaned but dont look like they want it or can afford it? I pass by a house a few times every week that is just turning greener and greener every day. The original house color is white. I even saw a PW company doing the house next door to her and never saw her getting hers done. It looks like she doesnt have much money as she is an elderly lady lady living in a small house. The house definately needs to be cleaned. What would you do then?

I am having to add a down spout to my own gutter system here at the house as I have a problem corner in my "L" shapped gutter. Looking to take the "most affordable" way out, I will be cutting a hole in the gutter, placing an adapter to connect the down spout to, and running it off into the grass. I have not done this before but it seems pretty easy enough, (knocking on wood) Any advice or suggestions would be great! Mike

Thanks Scott, for some reason I didnt think about that. I guess the frustration of trying to get this done the last 2 days and the constant rain was taking a toll. Round 3 tommorrow..

I am in the process of doing this now but having a little trouble cutting the hole. Can someone offer some advice on this subject. I've tried scouring it, but I seem to be getting no where, also tried with my "little" 7.2 volt drill, but not getting anywhere quick. I need new tools! Also can someone turn the rain off here in Indiana?

Thats a nice idea also. you could just make the JPG and attach it to a thread and it not even worry about something being compatible. Another idea and maybe a more simple one for the time being would be to make this a poll, but I guess that would take alot of "choices" to vote on. Funny thing is I have yet to find someone in my general area, the whole reason I started this thread. Well, I'm off to fix my gutter before it rains again!

I'm sure everyone has seen the "Mr Clean Car Wash kit" .. I've actually used one of these and it works great, no spots at all. I was wondering if there is any kind of commercial type adapter with interchangeable filters that would work the same way that product does, which softens the hard water to help give you a spot free rinse. I know thet have expensive DI rigs that you can get this result with, but if this cheap little $20 "Mr Clean kit" can soften water, there's got to be something like that somewhere, where I could change filters and get soft water??? Thanks for any advice. Mike

hey Scott, you found what I was looking for. well as close to it as I think Im gonna get. thanks for the info.

Nice Idea. I thought of this thread while trying to find someone close by that I might be able to get together with sometime and talk shop or have a cup of coffee, but the only way I saw to see where someone was from was to open all the threads and look in each window which was very time consuming. I thought this "roll call" idea might help myself and others find someone nearby. BTW, I am just south of Indianapolis.

Actually you get alot more then 1 - 2 washes with the "Mr Clean" filter. This is not something that would be used all the time, maybe for windows and fleet washes? I was just wondering if Mr Clean can do it why cant I find one that I can use with my PW :) no big deal... I just know that a DI system can run you more then a good PW machine, so I thought someone might have a filter you could attach to the water hose beofre it goes into the machine.

Thanks for the info Ryan and Tony :cheers:

Thanks for the advice.

I am aware of being able to see where someones from in the post, but some members dont post very often, so I thought a little "roll call" type of thread might be nice so guys could possibly meet someone close by and get together to talk shop sometime. Who knows you might have someone close by that doesnt post that often? :D Just trying to make it easy on everyone. I've been trying to meet someone in my neck of the woods for a while, but no luck. Mike

Let me know if this ever gets started. hoosiermike@hotmail.com

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/01/17/Hillsborough/Worker_severely_burne.shtml

Not sure, but I remember reading an article where a guy had put bleach in a container that had acid it it before and blew a 2 ft hole in the roof of the house when he was on his way up the ladder. What a lethal combination they can be fore sure. Be careful.

SCORE: Deers 1 - Hunters 0 From the Indianapolis Star: Hoosier hunter injured in deer attack Associated Press November 11, 2004 NORTH VERNON, Ind. -- A 69-year-old bowhunter was treated for injuries he said he suffered during a wrestling match with an angry deer. Jim Mick, of North Vernon, said the deer attacked him Monday while he was hunting alone in rural Decatur County in south-central Indiana. "He came out of the tall grass and briars," Mick, assessor of Center Township in Jennings County, told The Republic of Columbus. "When I realized it, he was on me already." Mick said the animal that he estimated to weigh about 150 pounds struck him in the chest and knocked him to the ground, goring him in the thigh. "All I had time to do was throw my hands up and grab his antlers," said Mick. After about a 10-minute struggle, Mick said he managed to put a tree between himself and the deer, and the animal retreated. Mick put a makeshift bandage on his leg and returned to his vehicle to call family members for help, he said. His son-in-law took him to a hospital in Greensburg, where he was treated for the gash and other minor injuries and released. "It was probably a draw, but I think I got the worst of it," Mick said. "I don't think he had any gouge marks on him." As I was posting this story, another news flash on the morning news and another hunter was attaked by a deer again here in Indiana. Updated Score: Deers 2 - Hunters 0 Anyone want to come out to the Hoosier state and do a little hunting?