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jnoden

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Posts posted by jnoden

  2. Posted · Report reply

    so based on the last post, parafin wax is used for waterproofing. Doe that mean that it is parafin wax and not parafinic oil that is found in deck sealers? Not that it really matters either way to me.

    I was originally wondering what wood sealer companies use as their waterproofing chemical and which is the best, meaning which last longest. So linseed, tungs oil and parafin are the waterproffing agents in most deck stains. Also it is safe to say that these agents are all oils that have dual purposes and the other is to condition the wood and replenish natural oils that can be leeched out during the cleaning/ stripping process.

    Lets start a new thread on mildecides. haha...just kidding.

    or am I?

  4. Posted · Report reply

    Good information Rod. Im going to start calling you Britanica.

    So it is the parifin that shields moisture. I thought that Parafin was the oil although I have heard of Parafin wax if that is what it is. I was curious because customers really seem to like the water beading properties that some stains have yet other sealers claim to sheet off water. Water repellency is a sealer property that i do not hear much about even when manufacturers explain their sealers composition.

    This past year when I would do the splash test on various decks it seemed like most absorbed water even though the stain was still intact. I guess the pigment always lasts longer than the water repellent in the sealer.

  5. Posted · Report reply

    Since i have a fair amount of time on my hands until spring I figured i would post another question I have been curious about.

    I always hear about the different types of oils that various sealer companies utilize in their stains. I also hear about the benefits of finely grounded transoxide pigments found in good stains. I never hear anything about the ingredient in a stain that actually seals moisture out. Is it the oil that repels moisture or is there something else? (speaking of oil based stains only). Does every company use the same ingredient/ chemical. Is it found more in some stains than others? If it is just the oil in the stain well than i guess water bourne stains use something else that generally last longer.

  6. Posted · Report reply

    The outlets on your van must come in handy, I would like to hook something like that up. Rod I hear what you are saying about carrying around buckets and hoses. It doesnt take long before that gets old.

    If you have a chance, here is an inverter I was looking at Motor Trend Power Inverter 3000 Watt, Model# MPTI-1/4156 |Inverters | Northern Tool + Equipment

    if i do get it Im going to wire and mount it under my truck near the trailer wire hook up. Seems like it would work but I dont feel like always having my truck running while using a sander or something. I wonder if A beefier battery in my truck would do the trick.

    Then again you got me reconsidering just getting a generator. Decision decisions.

  7. Posted · Report reply

    I have a battery on my deckster that always needs charged, one on my pw and I will probably soon have one on a new hot box. A side from that, it happens often enough that an electrical outlet isnt working at a customers house when you really need it.

    I was looking at generators when I stumbled on to inverters and imediately began wondering why I dont hear about its use more than I do about generators on this forum. Even if I had to keep my truck running the whole time i think it would be more worth it if they work well. It cost less, quieter, no moving parts, no gas. What is the negative of using an inverter over a generator on a work site?

    I think I would like to convert my deckster to AC and get an AC hot box and hook my pw up to a inverter so I never need to worry about batteries. Has anyone else done this? I saw that there are cheap inverters (probably junk) and some that have 3-4 outlets and cost several hundred dollars.

    While on this topic, I also want to ask if it hurts to hook up a battery charger to your deckster when the battery is dead and use it as the power source. I had to do it several times and it works.

  8. Posted · Report reply

    Chicken Catcher (age 14-16)

    many jobs through high school (dropped out of HS for year)

    Votech (electrical program)

    Electrician (1 yr at manufactured housing plant)

    Community College

    Penn State

    Couselor 2 yrs

    Probation Officer (past 5 years)

    Started PWing PT three years ago and hired a FT employee for this spring.

    Pwing has been good to me so far and if I double my sales again this year I may quit my day job for the following season.

    This past season has been completely insane with me basically working two FT jobs while my wife was preagnant with our first and also working FT. I had a few panic attacks and thought there was something wrong with my heart. Looking forward to the spring though!

  10. Posted · Report reply

    I started out with the best pressure washer Lowes carried. 13hp honda was good but because it was direct drive and had a cheap pump on it (they all do from Depot and lowes) it crapped out on me. Got a new one with the warranty but it also crapped out before the season was over. I do mostly decks now and It was defiantely worth the money to get a 3500psi 5.5gpm with electric start that is mounted on the trailer. It is a pain in the butt taking a washer on and off the trailer. I think I paid like $2400 with a general pump. It will last a long time.

  13. Posted · Report reply

    I used emulsifier plus all year with good results. I am currently experimenting with Citrus Cleaner to see if the results are better. There is not a wash out there that I am aware of that loosens the oxidation from siding. I personally dont think that you can provide a satisfactory job by just removing dirt and mildew from a highly oxidized home. On the other side of that though, if the client is not willing to spend more money for the service than what do you do?

  15. Posted · Report reply

    This has become more of a headache for me this year than I had expected. Any siding that is 20 or so years old around heare is oxidized and depending on the color and type of vinyl siding, it is either not noticible or very noticible after my house wash. I am working on a way to reome this without brushing but it will still be more time consuming than a regular house wash. I am interested in seeing how people charge for this if they are willing to share and what process they use to remove the oxidation.

    I would like to post a poll as to what people do about oxidized vinyl siding however I do not know how. I was thinking options as:

    Do not notice oxidized siding or do not test for oxidation or do not provide additional treatment

    Test for oxidized siding at the estimate and add the service as an additional option on the estimate/proposal with an added price.

    Test for oxidized siding and price accordingly but do not offer it as an option.

    Remove oxidation but does not affect pricing

  16. Posted · Report reply

    I need to buy a new leaf blower for blowing off decks and cleaning some gutters. I cant decide if I should go with gas or electric. Electric blowers are lighter, more dependable and cost less but you need to use a lot of extension cord for gutters (which I do not really mind). It seems that 90% of the houses I work on have working outside recepts.

    Is it still better to have a gas blower?

  18. Posted · Report reply

    I think it is best to quote the job that the reipient wants done the way you normally would. Then find out what it cost to receive the product or service from the other party. In my case both the deck and the web site cost about $1,000.00 so it all worked out. Customer paid for the sealer. I like the idea of finding someone in the signs business for trading services.

  20. Posted · Report reply

    Last winter I had limited funds for marketing so I opened up the yellow pages and called some wed site designers to get an idea of the cost and see if they were interested in exchange of services. Struck up a deal and had a great web site up and running by spring time in return for cleaning and sealing a deck.

  22. Posted · Report reply

    This is all good to hear. As a sole proprietor everything has been simple. No WC needed, taxes are simple and I am at every job site making sure it is done right. I am in the same boat as you Anthony, I am turning myself in to a helper and letting my guy do most of the laboring. I will probably just help stain larger deck jobs. If everything is working out I will try to hire a PT helper and next season have another rig. I am thinking that three people can operate two rigs. One person is a floater and will probably just be assisting in staining and larger jobs. Having two rigs out there FT must be sweet.

  23. Posted · Report reply

    I currently have a very cushiony FT job but started my power washing business on the side 4 years ago to supplement my income. My day job is super flexible meaning that I can come and go as i please and I can carry comp hrs from one week to the next along with a lot of time off. I will keep this job because I like the work and the benefits are great (county job) but not quite the income I wanted. I have been working about 60-70 hrs a week with both jobs and have had a helper who has been doing good work and understands the business fairly well. I by no means have acted like a fly by night company. I have ins, a nice web site, embroidered shirts and hats, business account,business phone,brochers,flyers,professional proposal forms,yard signs,trailer signs, good equipment etc etc.

    I will be speaking to an accountant about growing my business. I would like to be responsible for estimates and logistics of my company and my helper would like to become a FT employee. With the marketing I have in place for next year I am fairly confident that I can provide him with FT work. I know it is going to cost me a lot (no longer a sole proprietor) however I think that I can make atleast the same amount of profit and labor a little less. Has anyone tried anything like this or does anyone have any thoughts about this who currently has employees? Im not sure if it is worth it or not. It is a bit of a scary step although not as scary as quitting my day job (which may become an option down the road if I am succesful).

  24. Posted · Report reply

    Do not remember the source but was told 12% will lose between 1 and 1.5% per month of storage. I think you are suppose to keep it in a cool place and tightly capped. What puzzles me is how do you know you're getting 12% from the supplier? Unless they turn over their inventory quickly or have some way of storing to prevent loss of potency, it may not be 12% when you purchase it.

    Dan,

    Your right and I often wondered that as well. My suppier told me that it is actually 15% but who really knows. If I had a tester I would test it when I bough it and later if needed. Sometimes it seems like my mix is too strong and other times too weak. I know it has to do with the potency of the Chlorine.

    I was googling for a short time and found nothing except something that tests pools. I might look in to it a little more to see if it is feasible.

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