Don M.

I did a search on this but could not find the info I needed. How is everyone tinting WTW? Does ESI carry a tinting kit yet? I have been doing decks for about a year and a half now. I want to be able to offer to my customers a one day solution instead of a 2 day project. I feel that my closing rate will go way up in the areas that I am trying to get into. Also, how does wtw work with spraying and back padding? Thanks for your input. Don

Everything I have seen from ESI looks very good. I was just scared of the mixing.

Doug, I remember seeing your post when I was doing research. Could you PM me the cost on the tint kit? I have only been using deckscapes, but I am looking for something that I can do it all in one day, plus Russel is very near by so I thought I would give it a try. Is it hard to be consistent with the color Doug. My biggest fear is running out on a job and having to mix again. Thanks for your input

I personally think this is a bad idea. I own storage units, and if someone is telling me they are storing "household goods" in it that fine, but when I do an inspection and find 20 items that are very flammable or unsafe, we have issues.

I think it is a good idea. Back when I was in college I started a mortgage reduction business. I joined my local chamber and about 3 days later I saw a story in our local paper with my picture on it about my business. I got a few calls from it.

Today was the first wash I had done in almost three weeks. I've been totally dead. But I am gearing up with some 1/2 page newspaper advertising the first part of Sept. Thats when things really kicked up for me last year. I am going to take the couple of weeks coming up trying to gear up the commercial side of my business. Its time to get over being shy. I've got to eat, bills to pay, and a baby on the way! When I get some funds coming in I need to get some WTW from Russel and give that a try. I am thinking if one can market a "new deck in day" type of idea that could be very successful.

I also dont know where I would be if it wasnt for great people like everyone here. I just wish I didnt have the time to be on here so much. :) I will be glad when the next four weeks are over. I am tired of being super slow. All my marketing I did got me zilch. Kind of frustrated. I did get one call from my yellow pages ad today and got a job. So there is most of my weekly money I need in that one job. Thanks for such a great board. I really appreciate everyones help.

Paul, congrats on taking the leap. I did it myself a couple of weeks ago. Yes, it is slow right now do to the time of year. Hang in there and when the kids go back to school things will roll right along. It is a very scary thing when the phone is not ringing. But I have been spending time mailing letters to property managers, banks, dentist office, etc. What ever I can do. I look at it like this, yes I might keep striking out, but one day I will hit the grand slam! Hang in there and call if you would like to chat.

Thank you Ken!!! I really appreciate it. I am looking forward to it.

Ken, yes I do. I'm about 30-45 min from downtown.

Here is a deck that I did using RM and ox. I rolled two coats of SW cedar bark oil on it.

Larry, that looks really good. Did you put two coats on the horizontals?

Larry, its going good. I just thought for a small deck I would not break it out of the trailer. I did a massive job with it about a month ago. It was a life saver. Good to hear from you.

It makes it very difficult, but my wife has been very supportive since I took the jump a couple of weeks ago. Just as long as I keep the $$$ coming in.

I have been steady. I got caught up today, was sitting at home for 15 mins and the phone rang. Went and did the estimate, going to do the job tomorrow. I dont know about you guys, but one thing I did this week was get call forwarding put on my phone. Now I never miss a call, and it has paid for itself. I love doing this full-time now. I cant wait until Sept. Thats when it really got busy last year, I think this year will be great!

Hey Mike, how did you get the fax number to the cracker barrels? I just bought a fax machine and I have heard of several people doing this. Thanks

I did a search on this but could not find anything. I am going to wash a customers house and he saw a portfolio of the decks I have done. He talked to me about his deck and asked if I can find out what to do with it. He said it was "uv wood" that was supposed to last 40 years and you could not seal it because sealer would not adhere to it. He said the wood is treated all the way through. The bracing underneath is the natural color he said, and it looks like a caramel color. Could I just wash this deck with a bleach mix and bring it back, or is something else going to be involved. This customer was impressed I came out on the fourth of July to give him a estimate. :) Thanks for your help.

Beth, He swore up and down it was not PT wood. He said it was "UV wood". I think the salesperson told him about ultra-violet rays graying out wood and its has him all confused.

It kind of scares me too. I have my first one coming in 2 months and I just went fulltime doing this last week. When I get caught up I am going to hit some business for commercial work. All I know is God will take care of everything.

Does anybody use propay to take cards? It looks like it would be fairly reasonable.

I have a few jobs going on here. Just sent out 400 postcards to a neighborhood that I was in, sent letters to all my customers, and I am keeping up with my newspaper ads. I am swinging for the fences and entering the St. Louis yellowbook to see what happens for next year.

Got my tanks and hot box installed on my trailer today. Problem is when I go to ignite it nothing. I am pressing the button down for a few seconds then hitting the ignitor and still nothing. I cant even tell exactly where the pilot light would be. I got it from water cannon. Any help would be appreciated.

Don, I forgot to mention. I appreciate the offer on allowing me to call you. Guys like you have made me succesful. Thank you.

Both. I am pretty sure I am not letting enough time to go by before striking the ignitor. I will work on it this weekend. It does aggravate me though that I called Watercannon over the weekend and left them a message and no one returns my call after I dropped about 3 Gs with them.

I thought seal maxx was supposed to be a product that you didnt have to touch for many years? I dont know much about it Kennedy, but you could use the search function and type in seal maxx and see what you get.