beastud
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Posts posted by beastud
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You can tell them the only good Finish out there is in Scandinavia. Ready for the my cup of Jo and a Danish. When I have candy treats, got to go with a Swedish. Love Swedishes !!Lol! You are killing me and making me hungry. I am a kringle fan myself!
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Hey Russ, I recently had the same prob but mine happened with A/C semi. I was lucky because it was on my parents deck. I'm just wondering why this is happening. I had 1 guy tell me the bleach is too strong for these stains that are being produced nowadays. I don't know. Sounds like you are probably gonna have to fix it for them. Hate that it happen to you.Thanks for the thoughts. I have some of this stain. I did some samples and properly applied.....chlorine is not a problem. One of the problems with this is I am sure they stained unseasoned cedar and as we know that means short term success then quick failure!
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No doubt it sucks but you said you already did the cedar siding, don't risk losing a customer by arguing over the deck. If the stain was visibly that thick then maybe washing it wasn't the best idea.They are already badmouthing us to the neighbors before we can get together and work this out as I lost a small job next door. This may be a no win situation!
As for washing it or not....it was already soft from the rain. This was not noticed until after we had done most of the house....bad deal.
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You should have known it was time for a re-do at the two year mark on the floors. Should they pay? Well, did you have any discussion with them about the last time the deck was done, it's history, etc? You may end up eating this if you didn't have the discussion about the stain being at the end of its life. If you told them you could wash it and not hurt the finish, man up and redo it.Beth
Actually, from my initial conversations, they told me it was Cabotts and it sounded like they did it right. I never saw Cabotts do this. Olympic? Several times. They said all the right things. But then I always said, I can walk anyone thru the deck refinish process step by step and very few would get it done right.
Put yourself in their shoes, whether it was 2 years and ready for a redo.....they think it looked great before I arrived. How do you convince someone it was on borrowed time.
I pointed out about how this stain is very waxy when too thick and will retain water and soften. Her response was "you are reaching!" I will keep you apprised of how this turns out. If they will supply the stain...I will prep and install. Problem is, the manufacturer does not have any of this stain in any of their US warehouses and they will not mix more this year....complicates this as I do not want to strip off their mess and start over....may have to anyways!
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You are a professional (as implied by you signature) so do the professional thing.I hear you but I have the feeling I am being played by these people.
I know...so what! This started out as a house strip and restain of cedar siding. I suggested I would clean it 1st as the mold and mildew were thick....now this crops up. I thought I was taking care of them by saving them $$$.
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I washed a cedar deck that had Olympic WaterRepellant stain on it. Strictly light cleaning to kill mold and mildew. Used 12% cut down to 2%, with Dawn soap like we always have. I have done hundreds of these on decks that we put the stain on as part of our maintenance programs. We did not stain this deck. It was pouring rain when we did this. As we applied the cleaner...the deck stain appeared soft...I was leaving footprints in the stain. I gently flushed with a chem nozzle and half the stain washed off the decking...the spindles were ok. Customer is pissed! They stained it 2 years ago, shady area, and they think it looked good until I washed it and it is now all my fault. Stain is so thick on this cedar that you can hardly see the grain. I know that stain too thick will absorb water and get soft. What do I tell these people....I do not want to give them a freebie as I suspect they will want. I want to edjucate them and make them realize I did nothing wrong.....or did I? I am meeting with them tomorrow so....HEEEELP, PLEASE!
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When it comes to the deck, it depends how complex it is. If it has a bunch of railing...that costs more. 8 steps can have 20 feet of railing.
Love the pics now use them to make some door hangers and promote your good work around the neighborhood!
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I will take some. Who is the supplier?
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I want to take things to the next level. If I could get a fire hose to work to spray chems.....I would!
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I want to spray buildings, roofs and decks. I love the input but I am done with 12V pumps. The Fat Boy would be my choice if I went back to 12V.
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That is true but I think that may be max pressure. I am hoping to regulate that down.
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If someone already posted on this, I apologize ahead of time but I didn't see any matches.
Has anyone tried these pumps for pumping sodium hypochloride or sodium hydroxide (basically chlorine or caustic solutions)? It looks like a reasonably priced alternative to 12V electric pumps or the other more expensive diaphram pumps.
Or this one?
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200329877_200329877?xsell=true
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We always do a test area. That way we always know what we are getting into. Quite often you will find a different and tougher finish underneath. You are right that it can be a great selling tool. Spray or squeeze bottles work well. I mix up my strongest mix for demos. My record is when my test mix loosened 12 coats of Sickens the homeowner had self applied over a 10 year span. They never thought that deck could look like new again..........nailed that one down the same visit.
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I think I am going to be sick.......
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i've done qite a few solid stains (acrylic latex) when needed. They look really good. Ive prepped & solid stains composites before, makes 'em look like new. Behr has a seperate color chart of all the factory colors of the major brand brand composites. The behr solid acylic latex is a good product, been using it for 15 years, 2 or 3 years ago they come out with a nano technology formula solid that is very durable. Did a job 2 years ago with the nano solid , looked at it about a month ago, looks like the day i put it on. Behr has great quality paints & solid stains, but we all know their other stains are crappp!!that deck must be 100% shade.....
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I haven't done it personally, but I came across a customers deck that was under warranty work - whereby the company paid a contractor to stain it - to give it back color. I have to admit - it looked beautiful, was like 2 years old - and not one hint of peeling. It didn't even look like a surface coating, it looked like it had become the composite - if that makes any sense?Was this a sunny site? I cleaned some trex decks..clean only. I would offer this service to one of them at a discount to get my feet wet but they are very sunny sites and we know what sun does to solid deck stains.
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Beth,
Ship some of that snow, you must have, my way......I am not ready for spring.
Russ
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All right, what has been happening? WOW THIS SITE HAS CHANGED!! I like it! I have been away enjoyng the snow but time to get back to work.....time to get my mind right again! I see somebody wants to sell me hoses. Anybody see any good preseason deals on deck sealer or hardware or is the preseason over? Man I have been having TOO MUCH FUN!!!!!!
I am in the review process to upgrade our business methods in the areas of advertising and work regions. Considering hiring, Man there are a bunch of people looking for work......gotta watch for new low-ballers. My plan is to make as much money as I can this year and position myself properly for next year because next year looks bad, very bad. The worst I have seen since 1980.......watch your debt levels people! :cool:
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Daniel,
Am I reading you right? You are putting SW solids on Trex. Please elaborate.
Thanks.
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I had one deck that dried slow but I blame conditions. This was a deck that we fought to get dry enough to Ready Seal. When we did, it rained the next day...normally not a problem but this one seemed to push the stain off as if the wood drew moisture up from the bottom like a wick and pushed some sealer off the surface. I know it is not supposed to and maybe those areas were not dry enough (cannot test everywhere). This was an old cedar deck that had started to rot from the underside. We spent a full day replacing wood. Not going to be a big deal. We got this job as a referral so they saw what we could normally do. We will touch this up next month during spring maintenance.
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Now Jim, THAT was funny...My last response in this thread:
3 gal Chlorox Bleach, 2 gal H2O, big squirt of Dawn in a five gallon bucket. Mix. Apply to surface. Let sit for 5-10 minutes. Agitate (brush) if necessary. Rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse. Done.
That is my basic homeowner "how do I clean this deck" procedure.
Was that simple enough??
Ditto! Simple, safe and effective.
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I can only speak for my field. Parking Garage Cleaning.Back in 1989, there was unlimited amount of pressure washers. Those washers did everything. Prices for Garage Cleaning was just over 2 cents a foot. I know, that's what we did them for in 1989.
In 1991, EPA got involved. Slowly they started to require this and that. I fought like many on these BBS do today. I went to meetings almost monthly and sometimes twice a week to no avail. I use to say, " What happens when it rains, where is all that oil runoff from the roadways going?" Still landed on death ears.
In 1992, since it was evident that I was not making any headway, I had to purchase a filtration system at a cost of $72,000 with no guarantees that this would meet the new requirements of the day.
Those next few years was the toughest for us. We almost went bankrupt.
Now we are at 24 cent a ft. Competition is down from 100's to only 20 or so. Those that you see having a Home Depot pressure washing special are gone. Prices and profits have gone up because of the involvement of the Environmental Agencies that got involved in enforcing these new requirements for a " Greener" environment.
They also make you get discharge permits as well, as to monitor your discharge. This, along with the hefty fines and possible jail time that they can impose makes those low ballers leave the area.
So based on 21 years of history and being on both sides of the fence, I believe it would be in everyones best interest to have some sort of permit process for the type of work they are doing. This would raise the profit margin and your bottom line....... IF IT IS ENFORCED...... by the local authorities.
Another area that now needs special permits as of July 1st 2009....
Lead paint wash and removal. You must be certified.
Asbestos removal and discharge is another... was required to be certified Before 2009. Date ... not sure.
These fields are making BANK. Did everyone complain......... YA they did....... Was there this and that going on ... SURE....... Did some get out of the business because they did not like what was being asked of them... most definitely..... The ones who got certs. and got lic...... Then went and bought the right equipment are now netting 10's of thousands of dollars per location, where before it was in the 100's of dollars, are they complaining as they go to the bank...... NA. But they would be the first ones to complain to other contractors how hard it is. I wonder why?
Good intentions that will lead to unintended consequences. So you really want the government regulations determining who the winners are? You like it because you are one of the winners. Well good for you! I am a firm believer that I might not care what the rules are as long as I know what they are. You made the rules work for you, been there! You will sing a different tune when they change the rules and raise the liscense restrictions to the point that no one can comply, been there also. The problem with your experience is you and the rest of us have never experienced the type of political climate that is in Washington today........beware what you wish for! ANYONE asking our current government to regulate their business is acting idiotically and naively.
Do not think that your local government will be any different than the feds. With all the money from the Feds going to bail out the states...the feds will call the shots or pull their money from the states meaning...the feds will call the shots.
It is a brave new world! A liberal, progressive world and we are all in deep sh#t!!
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He never came back with an update or thanks.
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Absolutely not!! Listen to yourselves...almost every explanation for liscensing refers to some other restriction on our businesses ( I gotta do this or that so you should have to also or We have to have this or that liscense so powerwashing should have to also. OMG, we are using chems! We need a liscense now even though any homeowner can get and use the same chems without a liscense.......). Everywhere we turn nowadays, Americans are willingly giving up their freedoms under the guise of "the greater good"! The liberals in government just love this stuff that enables them to control us and take our money and then all of a sudden......"Hey what happened! As a business, I can't walk across the street without a liscense! This foolishness has got to stop! I for one will oppose such actions!
Heeeeeeelp!!
in Wood Cleaning & Restoration - Decks, Fences, etc.
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I agree with you Rod. If not requiring a sealing afterwards, at least forewarn of the likely need for a reseal. Being stupid (and trusting) should hurt. I always test the finish to make sure what I am getting in to. But I could not and cannot recreate the wet conditions we had. Even soaking test pieces in water, stained with the same stuff, does not do anything but then why would it until it weathers for 2 years...... I went back to try to get the remainder of this deck's stain to lift again. My 12% deck wash does not touch it. Heck straight 12% does not touch it. We had an extended period of humid/wet weather prior to the deck wash with .21" of rain the day before and 1.15" the day of. Looks like it was a classic case of some of the stain was about to fail and where it was not failing....you cannot easily get it off. So even if I tested but did not pick the right area, I would not have caught this beforehand. I should have stopped before applying the wash, the second I saw footprints in the stain and brought out the homeowner to see.
Live and learn. In the future,if I have not installed the stain, I will handle this differently before quoting.