big mike
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Posts posted by big mike
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You can get mortar off at 4 months - it's just going to take more product and more patience. We use NMD80 from EacoChem exclusively for construction cleaningAbsolutely. Also a good bit of elbow grease with a scraping tool on the thicker globs.
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Bleach does not belong on a pt deck.Well I wouldn't go that far.... We do a LOT of PT pine with bleach, and it works fine. The best method when using bleach is multiple rinses (then rinse some more). I believe there was some discussion about something that neutralizes bleach (copper sulfide?? or something like that), but just plain rinsing works well.
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Oxalic to kill the chlorine!Just an FYI, Ox does not neutralize hypochlorite. It will brighten beyond what the bleach does, but it doesn't counteract the bleach.
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Rush Limbaugh....
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Doug, just sell them on a nice solid re-coat. EZ money, and it'll look great.
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Glycol will definitely help. Worst case scenario, you may need a gel type stripper like Jasco, or similar. If the finish is pretty much gone, apply your regular stripper full strength with some glycol (10:1 works well for me), and a long dwell. Sanding / buffing / defelting will be necessary.
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Joe,
Most times we do all deck work with pads and spray the rails. Call me or PM for more detailed info
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Pete, wait on the fence for sure. I've had many redo's on new construction cedar, and a fence redo is expensive. If the customer can wait, I'd hold off.
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Trust me, all of the folks who get a $25 -$50 gift card from me this fall will remember who they got it from. Also, they then feel obligated to return the favor. Many great leads this way, and well worth the $$$. I laugh at the idea of the "warm fuzzy" you guys think you get because of a job well done, but that's your EGO talking. If you think folks are going out of their way to refer you because you were "such a special contractor" you're nuts. You're expected to do quality work, so actually doing it, isn't going to make them go out of their way for you. Money talks, plain and simple. I'm sure I'll get roasted for this, but it's the truth.. Go the extra mile to retain good customers, that's the bottom line.
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Remember Shane from Texas?Blast from the past. I learned a lot of stuff from him and Reed, remember him??
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Is NMD80 weaker than OX?NMD80 is a hydrochloric based I believe (not positive on that, so check the MSDS). It's definitely stronger than Ox. I rarely use a respirator with Ox, but it's a must with most EacoChem stuff.
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Is NMD 80 safe to use on dryvit?Should be. I would try it in an inconspicuous spot first, to test colorfastness. It says be careful of dyed substrates, but NMD80 is a pretty weak solution. As always, low pressure on EIFS.
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Check your governor spring
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but there is more people in need of it than decksI'll respectfully disagree with that. In MN & WI just about every home has a deck, and they get beat up pretty bad by the weather. Mold isn't as much of a problem up here as it is in warmer climates, so homes don't get as bad. We do at least 3:1 decks to housewashes, and that's a steady number for at least the last 7 years.
Joe, I thought you were going to focus on wood restoration, no? If so, advertise what you want to focus on, and pick up the other stuff when you can. Just my 2 cents...
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I would market the deck work first. Decks pay a much higher ROI than house washing. 2-3 decks from that mailing and it paid for itself.
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We regularly wash into the mid 30's, but it takes a lot longer for the Hypochlorite to work.
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I believe it was SW Deckscapes semi-solid on the front porch, and a failed redwood colored solid acrylic on the back. The front porch was a tough strip because of the 40 degree temps (long dwell time, and second application). The back deck required a good housewash mix, then stripper application. I washed the house as well.
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Here's some more pics of the rear deck.
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Here's two we just finished using SW deckscapes solid acrylic white on the railings, and Ready Seal dark red on the cedar floors. Probably the last decks of the year.
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Ususlly an RFP is given out, and many hoops are jumped through before getting this type of work. I just recieved an RFP for MN State Universities, and quickly decided that it was too much BS to consider submitting.
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We offer $50 Visa gift cards for any deck / fence referral, and $25 Visa gift cards for House or roof wash referrals. No limit. It's added into my costs, so I don't really notice the money. Plus, they're only paid when we actually book a job, so it's much more cost effective than a referral service such as Service Magic, where you pay for a lead that you may, or may not get, the job. Referrals are THE BEST way to get a job.
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The way i have my business model setup is to asume they want convience for the original estimate, then give them the sell (beautiful deck to barbaque on, safe for kids, hot spot for the summer) on the followup call after they recieved the estimate via email.Joe, it's easier to have them be acceptable to a higher price if you do just the opposite. Besides, it will give you a feel for what type of customer they are ie; price shopper vs. quality and service
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Let me tell you how people operate. Skip page one of how great this company is. Skip page two and three that talks about insurance and superior technique and go right to page 4 last line where that price is listed.That's why you should only give them a one page estimate. The rest of the selling should be done prior to giving them your price.
Joe, Ken is good at what he does, and has carved out a good business in wood restoration. His methods have a proven track record. He's generally regarded as "an expert" is the sales department. I would advise you to really listen to what he's telling you. Cutting corners isn't something new business should be looking at.
If they want to meet in person, i clearly give them that option, but way force the issue if it isn't a big deal to them?I agree, but..... Only time will tell if you have the sales skills to sell your services to someone without meeting. It can be done successfully, as I am proof. Understand though, I have a strong customer base in place, and do LOTS of repeat business. I worked hard to get, and keep these customers. The real key to success in this field is retaining customers, not finding new ones.
Shurflo Question
in Wood Cleaning & Restoration - Decks, Fences, etc.
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Hi Steve,
I would go with the basic 1.6 gallon per minute pump, as it is inexpensive, and a workhorse. I think Northern Tool carries their own brand for about $20 cheaper than Shurflo. We use a simple sprayer wand that you'd use for lawn care. It is poly and aluminum, and has an adjustable tip (cone pattern), and a hose barb connection at the handle. Cheap, around $7-$10. 3/8"Poly braid hose, and you're good to go. The only thing about spraying sodium percarbonate (oxegen bleach), is that is tends to lose prime at the pump because it is so active after mixing. Make sure to mix with warm water, and try to dissolve as much product as possible before pumping.