Duane Case

Ken, I just gave you a call on your cell phone. I have some deck stripper from Sunbrite if you need it. Call me back at the number(s) I left you. I teach during the day, but I am usually available before 10:00 a.m. Duane Mr. Case's Pressure Washing West Chester, PA 19382

I can't seem to get my order (60 gallons) placed with Russell back on March 15. Has anyone received an order of the Wood Tux Wet product or has everyone been waiting as have I? Duane Case Mr. Case's Pressure Washing

Can anyone give me information about Ready Seal? Duane

I would love to see the look on a customers face if I claimed that I could stain their fence in a few minutes, with no prep work, and using their GARDEN HOSE. Realistically speaking, I would like to know how the product mixes adequate enough solids at less than 40 psi and is still capable of creating a penetrating, lasting, sprayable, protective barrier upon the wood. Duane

I wear a pair of old, comfortable, brown leather slip on shoes ($20-$30 @ a discount shoe store if you buy new) and a pair of over-shoe rubber boots when I am washing. I find that, even with the bronzing effect on the shoes they don't look to terrible and they breathe well inside the boot. As far as the "bronzing" effect of sealer, I find that is a great waterproofer for my old shoes. Permeable, rich color... what more could you want? :) Duane

Just a quick note, I know I'm a newbie here, but just for a little background, I've been doing some form of powerwashing every year since 1992 and in business for myself since 1997. Celeste, I don't want you to read my last post wrong. I put that up as an afterthought of my previous message not realizing you were going to post so quickly. I had misunderstood (missed) the Cabot's part. I am not a big fan of bleach when I can avoid it, but if you can dillute it to the minimum necessary to effectively remove the mildew/mold, go for it. run a test pattern to make sure that the wood does not brighten to a renewed appearance with the bleach. Oh yeah... rinse, rinse, rinse... Duane

In my experience, bleach is great on mildew and molds, but they are ineffective at removing UV degredation. Your pictures seem to indicate that much of the graying is on UV degredation. I would personally use a percarbonate and oxalic acid to clean and brighten without requiring excessive pressure. I have done only a few redwood swing sets and a couple of redwood decks (no a lot of it up in the Norhteast), but it is more challenging to brighten. Do a test section and see if the owner is satisfied with the results. Also, go for the bleach treatment on the roof. you will still need to rinse the deck below, but you are a lot less likely to ruin (and substantially darken) the redwood deck below. Redwood has enough tanins to challenge you, you don't need sodium hydroxide or sodium metascilate to darken the wood even further. Duane

When I was in college, I worked for a housepainter doing exterior prep back in Washington State. When I graduated in 1994 and needed income prior to starting in my profession (school teacher), so I answered an add in the paper for a "pressure washer". I worked a few summers for him and then went out on my own in 1997. As an aside, Toney, for whom I used to pressure wash, is now a full time realator. He sold my wife and me our first house, then our second, and then my mother-in-law's house. He is also the Godfather of my 2 1/2 year old son. Duane

Oops! I meant "visibly" above. Duane

I am up in the air between Wood Tux (regular and wet), Ready Seal, and Cabot's (once again, both dry and wet). Is there anyone who can give me a comparison about: Coverage, Finished Appearance, Mildew Resistance, UV Protection/Color Retention, and ease of application? I would appreciate any success or explanations why you do or don't use any of these products. Michael, I have not had luck with the Deckscapes (formerly Cuprinol). It IS food for Mildew. My own deck had mildew vissably forming at about 6 months (of course, it has a northern exposure and this has been the wetest year on record in the Northeast) Duane

Thanks for all your help... and support. I will check out these leads. I want to get a better grasp on pricing because I generally get every deck job I bid and all the work has been by repeat or referal for the last two years without advertising anywhere. I'm not an economics major, but I suspect I am not charging a competitive price (too low), so I would like to get a grasp on pricing for new customers while gradually bringing up prices to reflect closer market value for repeat customers. I gathered that this is a top-notch site. Kudos to Beth - must be a lot of time and care to organize such a well structured site. Also, I am interested in many of the products you cary in your store. Duane

I'm new here to TGS, but this will be my 8th year in business - all part time as I a am a teacher year round. I would love to see these pricing spread sheets that everyone is talking about. Would someone be so kind as to send one my way? My emai is caseclean@yahoo.com If anyone is apprehensive sharing this with an unkown, I understand. Please feel free to test me. Ask me a question that I should know the answer to and if I respond adquately, and if you so choose, you could share this information with me. Thank You! Duane