MeiersEnterprises

I think I have a surgical degree in Uganda! haha (just a little joke - not meant to offend).

Had 2 hurricanes hit just north of us last year. It was fun. Knowone could work so we fired up the grill, stocked up on the essentials (alcohol, ice, steaks - in that order) and had a party. I even cooked pasta on the grill in 45 mph winds. It was NOT fun being without power for 9 days during the first and 11 during the second (*%#$ FP&L). 3/4 inch plywood on all the windows sure made a difference. My house was quiet as can be but my friends house w/ the 1/2 inch was scarry as hell. During the second cane, I woke up at 3AM and opened the front door almost lost the door AND my arm. The wind must've been 100mph. It's amazing how many homes still have shingles missing and tarps on their roofs. I should've been a roofer!

Wow Bill - that's a pretty cool job! Do you fish from that thing? If so, what do you catch? How deep is the water under your rig?

I'm about to paint the exterior of a clients home with an airless sprayer. The house is two colors - the wall color and the eaves/trim. Do any of you have any advice for me how to do this with a sprayer. I'm thinking of spraying the walls first (painted stucco) then taping and covering the walls to paint the eaves and over hangs (which the underside has to be done as well). These overhangs are too time consuming to do by hand since they have exposed wooden beams. They would also be diffucult to cover if i did them first. I've used an airless once but only on a simple fence. ANY suggestions would be very much appreciated! David

Side note about this job: I passed out pressure washing flyers with a doorhanger inside a plastic bag. They were instructed to fill out the doorhanger with their info and place on their front door. Since we were in the neighborhood, we would stop in and give them a quick quote. This customer wrote that she wanted the house pressure washed because she was going to be painting. I gave a quote on the house wash and driveway cleaning. I never spoke to this woman because she never answered her phone or returned my message. When i dropped off the quote, I included a cover letter telling about how i would clean her house and drive, and also that i would be interested in bidding on the painting of her exterior. I didn't speak to her at all and 3 weeks later she called about the painting - we hit it off on the phone and spoke for 40 minutes! Went out to see her, gave her a price and got the job. She tried to get me to throw in the driveway with the painting but i stood my ground. I almost threw it in - sure glad i didn't... She said she'll have to get me to do that another day. This is my first paid painting job although I've painted quite a few for free (my own, brothers twice, helped friends, etc.). It should be quite profitable if i can finish in 2 days with one helper. It's only a 3 bdrm one story so i'm shooting for a day plus a couple hours house prep work. My point to this novel is that she said she called because I took the time to write that letter to her instead of just dropping off a page with a price. Seemed very personal to her and told her that i cared about getting the job and therefore would do better work. Good stuff.

Thanks guys for all the suggestions. My intentions were to paint the whole house with the airless but Dale brings up a great point. Now I'm thinking of painting all the trim and soffits/beams with the sprayer and rolling the rest. It's flat stucco so I could roll the whole house in probably 2-3 hours. Ryan, the whole overhang, underneith the overhang (exposed beams), and about 6 inches down the wall needs the trim color so if i did that first, i'd have to tape those off before spraying the body of the house. That looks very difficult - i dont think i can go that route... There is one area on the body of the house that has a million wires around the power meter. It looks like painted spaghetti. It would take 3 days to paint this by hand but with a sprayer, it would go rather quickly. HMMM It's been raining here for 2 weeks so i guess i still have some time to think about this. Any other suggestions are appreciated.

Man that grass looks like carpet! Be careful not to burn it...

You haven't lived until you've had a Mocha Frapuchino from Starbucks! If it's cold out, try the Mocha Latte or the Vanilla Latte with Extra Vanilla! Tell them David sent you, they probably know me if you're in the southeast... :)

I purchased a little giant 'type' ladder from home depot (not the same brand). It was $200 bucks but was extremely heavy! I saw that LG infomercial and it looks like there's is much lighter ( since i saw a 75 yr old grandma lifting it ). I used it once and returned it. Too Darn Heavy but was quite effective in use. Unfortunately I dont know the name brand... If the LG was lighter, i'd buy it.

Originally Posted by MeiersEnterprises We should go back (read the original constitution) to an all cash based system with a flat tax on personal goods and NO taxes on business expenditures. Article One is the longest of the seven Articles forming the original United States Constitution. Amendments to Article One, unlike amendments to other articles, have been restricted by the Constitution. No amendment made prior to 1808 could affect the first and fourth clauses of Section Nine. The first clause prevented Congress from prohibiting the slave trade until 1808; the fourth (which was superseded by the Sixteenth Amendment) barred any direct taxes that were not apportioned among the States according to population. Furthermore, the Constitution precludes Congress from depriving a state of equal representation in the Senate without the state's consent. Some Background: All taxes are either direct or indirect. A tax on property is direct. A tax on the happening of an event is indirect. Direct taxes are FORBIDDEN by Article I of the Constitution unless apportioned by population. Such apportioned direct taxes were imposed for the years 1861 and 1862 (to pay for the Civil War). Indirect taxes must be geographically uniform (like a sales tax). Amendments XVI - Ratified 2/3/1913 The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration. Sixteenth Amendment - History and Purpose of the Amendment The Income Tax Act of 1894 attempted to impose a federal tax of 2% on incomes over $4,000. Derided by its opponents as "communistic", it was challenged in federal court. (Robinhood Scenario)... The ratification of this Amendment was the direct consequence of the Court's decision in 1895 in Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co., whereby the attempt of Congress the previous year to tax incomes uniformly throughout the United States was held by a divided court to be UNCONSTITUTIONAL. A tax on incomes derived from property, the Court declared, was a ''direct tax'' which Congress under the terms of Article I, Sec. 2, and Sec. 9, could impose only by the rule of apportionment according to population, although scarcely fifteen years prior the Justices had unanimously sustained the collection of a similar tax during the Civil War, the only other occasion preceding the Sixteenth Amendment in which Congress had ventured to utilize this method of raising revenue. In response to this development, and a growing concern among many elements of society that the wealthiest Americans had consolidated too much economic power, this amendment was passed by Congress and sent to the states. In 1913, Secretary of State Philander Knox proclaimed that the amendment had been ratified by the necessary three-quarters of the states in 1913 (a few additional states ratified the amendment later), making federal income taxes constitutional. The federal tax rate has climbed from 3% of income in 1948 to 34% in 2005. Not including the additional 10-15% that most of us pay in untrackable state and miscellaneous federal taxes like those imposed on fuel, communications, vehicles, property, etc. It won't be long before we're working half a year just to pay taxes. At some point taxpayers have to draw a line in the sand and tell the government, "you can't have more than this." The only way to reverse this trend is to impose the FairTax and eliminate the 16th Amendment and follow that with a constitutional Amendment establishing a maximum Taxable Rate (%). Right now - 16 hours of every 50 hour work week goes to pay taxes so every Thursday afternoon and ALL DAY Friday, you are working for the US Govt. and that's a FACT! Work 250 days per year = 84 Days of taxes. sigh... Sorry so long but I knew you guys wouldn't mind a little history. Most people don't know this... The only answer: http://www.fairtax.org

I don't think this is too far off topic because it goes directly to the reason we have lowballers who get paid in cash and undercut us as legit businesses. Ok - 1 more link Porker of the month - unbelievable... http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=news_porkerofthemonth_hallofshame

I respectfully disagree whole heartedly. I believe that our tax structure is setup completely without representation. That's why it's out of control... Knowone could possibly figure out where our money is going. It's too complicated and the govt (through our worthless congress) has included social programs which have nothing to do with my freedom to live and work as an American. This worthless congressman slid in some pork. YOUR TAXES went to pay $1.5 Million for a friggin bus stop in Alaska!!! http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,157053,00.html People think this is acceptable and THANK him for bringing revenue to their town! This IS taxation without representation!!! Read this: http://www.fairtax.org/ When people start paying directly out of their pockets with a flat tax, they will realize how much the govt is taking and this will inspire people to demand lower taxes. Currently, the govt is "taking" my money. With a flat tax, I decide when I want to contribute by what I purchase. Additionally, this will increase natural resources because there will not be a tax on used goods. The poor will be more likely to buy used items and pay no taxes at all. More markets for used products = less natural resource consumption. Stepping off Soapbox...

Sarcasm Mike??? I don't want to start a big tax debate but paying 34% of my earned income is unfair to me as an American. Then 48% of fuel goes to taxes, then 7% sales tax on everything I buy, not to mention my $128 cell phone bill where $26 is taxes, or my home phone where 22% goes to taxes. Don't forget about the property taxes (after i've already paid 34% on that money)! Our tax system here sucks and thoroughly damages my ability to run and grow a business. I don't care if "everyone" has to pay it. It's unfair and wrong and UnAmerican to the core!!! We should go back (read the original constitution) to an all cash based system with a flat tax on personal goods and NO taxes on business expenditures. Read this quote: "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. —Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain [George III] is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. " The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776 I unhappily pay all my taxes but give me a break on the morality sarcasm. Get it where you can get it cause if you don't, the govt will take it. If you have some lowballers around you, talk to them. THEY are in the wrong! You don't have to conspire and price fix, just educate them on their "real" expenses.

It's called Price Fixing and it's illegal. You probably wont get caught though. I say go for it, you gotta make money in this world somehow. If your company was publicly traded that would be one thing and its not like you will be able to speak with every lowballer in your area either. http://business-law.freeadvice.com/trade_regulation/price_fixing.htm

Any calls from that Paul???

Is this a true statement??? I was never sure but they told me this in an landscape irrigation class years ago. From what I've understood, there is only so much water that can go through a certain size orifice. So knowmatter what the pressure, a certain size hole can only expell a certain amount of water. Not to say its not greater with more pressure, just that it's not infinite. They said the water flowing through a pipe has a certain friction, and this friction increases exponentially with pressure, therefore having a limit to the final output. Anyone know the answer to this?

Has anyone thought about applying chlorine or oxalic to concrete utilizing a roller? I resurfaced asphault once and used this foam roller from home depot that was 2 ft wide (PITA BTW). I was thinking that if you used a shurflow that sprayed directly onto a 2FT foam roller (maybe 3 nozzles or a drip bar), you wouldnt have to worry about any overspray getting onto lawns. With a big roller and a shield over the top (like a ceiling paint roller), you could really fly through the application on a driveway or sidewalk. I bet I could roll a whole driveway in under 1 minute with no pre/post watering of the grass. To clean, you just plug a hose into it and roll it for a minute with fresh water running through it. With an extension, you could probably do a roof from the ground with no overspray... (maybe). What do you all think? Would this be effective? David

Venicen probably tastes BETTER decomposed! LOL

As far as catching the water, why dont you just screw 4 (4-5ft) 2X4's to those posts angled up and out. then just drape tarpes so the water comes to the ground. You can pull up a line of those pavers and direct the water under them if youre worried about them. Just a thought... That'll be a cool deck when you're finished! Good luck!

In this image, it looks like there is a fire hydrant meter on the back of this truck. Although, it could be just a backflow... http://www.thegrimescene.com//gallery/showimage.php?i=106&c=5

Yeah, we didn't use pump sprayers for liquid fert because we would use probably 50 gallons on a 5X10 flower bed. We used a 300 gallon truck mounted chem sprayer. First, contact the Georgia Extension Service and tell them you need a soil sample tested. They'll tell you how to take a sample for roses. You send it to them for something like $5-$15 and they will tell you whats wrong with the soil and what you need to do to correct it. If we couldn't get a lawn in shape or green up some plants, there was usually some strange imbalance in the soil and they'll find it and tell you EXACTLY how to fix it and what to use. I think the mailing address was at GA Tech but this was 8 yrs ago so it may have changed. If you can't find the soil testers, call Malta (metro atlanta landscape and turf association) http://www.malta-inc.org/ they'll point you in the right direction. For everyone else not in Georgia, most states have an Extension Service provided by the state for soil testing or you can call a local 4H for direction. They are always helpful. Tell the homeowner that you're on top of this and you're overnighting a soil sample to the GA Extension Service to correct the issue properly since you're not a Horticulturist. They'll love you for that... Dead/Burnt foliage is useless. It will not green up again and only draws water and nutrients from the roots. Carefully prune off all the dead parts at the base of the intersections trying to leave a Y at the end of the branches (if it's still alive). Scissors work great on roses. Leave as many green Y's as possible. Roses are fickle. They react to ANYTHING out of the ordinary. People are attached to them like kids too which really stinks for you... The sod portion is simple just cut out the dead sod, dig the contaminated soil out down to about 3 inches, replace the soil with a couple bags from home depot. Stop and ask to buy a few pieces of sod from a landscaper who's laying Fescue. Slap it down tight, compact it with your feet, and water the hell out of it. (should be watered everyday for 1-2 weeks). Let me know if you need any other info...

I used to own a landscape co. in atlanta - In the spring, we would spray the annuals and perinials with liquid fertilizer (in addition to slow release granules). The liquid fert had a super high nitrogen and iron content. We could 'force' plants to take on beautiful green foliage in a matter of days. Great for new customers to make a high impact when we first started a job. On occasion, if the shrubs or plantlife looked like they needed a boost, we would shoot them as well. Our company only did commercial and high end residential and this is an expensive application so i'd assume Philips home was pretty well maintained. I'm sure I've sprayed walls before without knowing it... As a matter of fact, I seem to recall actually washing some dirt off a wall once behind a flower bed when after planting. lol

Here in south florida, most homes use well water for plant irrigation. Ive noticed how often i see sidewalks and driveways that are a red color either from rust or sulfur in the well water. Additionally, these stains are prevelant on stucco and brick siding where the sprinklers hit. As a newbie, im not sure how to tackle these areas. Will 12% chlorine work to remove these stains? Can anyone in florida help me with this? Many Thanks - Such a great board!!! David

Thanks Scott! Do you know anyone that sends free samples so i can try it out?

I had a landscape company for years and we used backpack sprayers daily. We ONLY sprayed roundup (weed killer), which i dont believe is a caustic, and STILL had the backpack graveyard in our shop. They only lasted about 9 months or so - lot of daily use though. Im not so sure it's the caustics that cause problems. I think these companies just make them good enough to get by. The best backpack we used (in a landscape app) was the Echo. Food for thought... Love this forum - Ive learned so much.