Celeste

I guess working outside at the mercy of the elements doesn't count - or contaminating pets - or killing plants - or dealing with not bright employees that might maim themselves with a chemical - or any of the other things that exterior wood restoration pro's have to keep in mind.

I don't think anyone here is "whining" - nor is everyone as "established" as everyone else in this conversation. This is also an age old topic that a number have been retouching on every few years. The current power washing company is getting smarter by the year, realizing that we are an industry, not a sideline and by trying to protect our investment in our companies as best we can doesn't mean that we're trying to put small guys out of business. We (our company) is as small as you can get!! Don't want to be any bigger either. Licensing or certification is not a hoop - it's another investment in your business. We have dozens of licenses to work across two states, not because it was a hoop, but because it's what we do to legally perform our services. We have certifications on different levels because we feel like any education is just a way of bettering ourselves. Out of curiosity, have you learned anything from this or any other pressure washing bbs? If the only way you could have logged onto any of them was to pay to learn, would you have done it? Would you have even gotten in to the pressure washing business if it had required a license or some form of certification or education? I am of the same frame of mind that developing regulations is going to be difficult - implementing even more of a challenge and then finally, yes, enforcement is really going to be hard but can it be any harder than struggling against the mindset that prevents an industry from growing stronger? Celeste

Network.

Exactly. I am beyond sick of reading - I got me a machine from the Home Depot and I did my driveway. My neighbor wants me to do his? What do I charge and what do I use? I think licensing to perform power washing of any sort should be required - and if we don't want the gov't to regulate it then we, as an industry need to self-police a helluva lot better than we do. Beyond that, I also think certification in varying degrees is something that can separate the old contractors from the new. That was something that the PWNA did wrong IMO - guys in business for YEARS that weren't PWNA certified but far more qualified were considered "less" because Joe Newbie took a certification course. Bad balance there. Celeste

let's try to avoid the "thing" about how the government will benefit and try to focus on whether or not our industry would benefit from stricter entry in to the business.

Just for the record, in our state, it's ILLEGAL to throw our wash water just anywhere. Frankly, I wasn't looking at just some housewash mix - I just used that picture. I'm talking about acid restoration more than just " bleach water"...... Glad I don't live where you are. I prefer to know the professionals are compliant for my SAFETY

Here is a perfect example of where the subject of reclaim / recycling should be discussed. If a building is surrounded by sidewalks or concrete, is an old facility that wasn't built with any type of "system" or drains, I'd like to hear how the contaminated water would be handled on these jobs. Although we'd all like to think that diversion is the answer to reclaiming & transportation.....I don't think it would apply to this type of cleaning. Any takers on the subject?

Hey Folks!! We've only got a couple of days left in March - we've held the #1 spot ALL month but we've got another site hot on our heels....... Visit the PWNC site - find the Carolina Top Sites button and click to vote! Only one click per day will count but let's keep the votes up for the rest of March!! Thanks

Sorry to hijack - but Kevin - your wood page is a mess!

RJ42 - We have plenty on hand if you need to get some quickly :) We're only a couple hours from you. Celeste 336-261-3051

Does it matter, really?

Jon - that work is STUNNING! If you can snatch a couple of those chairs up for me please :) Is that someone's personal home????? Celeste

When I spoke to Russell last week, his house had 3 feet of water in the yard....but I can't imagine the record flooding in the midwest causing any delays. Mississippi is only up about 40 feet.

Try to find Bob Port at Restoration Direct in Pittsburg - he can get you what you need and is highly experienced in bricks & restoration. Celeste

Well that seems to make sense Russell. You could also look at that as a water conservation effort as well. Celeste

Great link Rick - thanks :)

Geez......do you see the sponsor at the top of this page?

Charlie - let us know when you're ready to order......there are a number of us in the Carolinas that use WT. We're also partial to the Brown Sugar! Celeste

Thanks!

You are correct - only one vote per IP per day, you can click until your finger falls off but it will only count once per day. The numbers are already climbing so clearly we're getting support! Thank you all!

And the Mountain Dew man :) Thanks!

Those of you who have known about this (David, John, Beth, etc...) and have been clicking - thank you very much! Keep it up!

Bitten :) Note, I did the obligatory coughing & yacking before I used the word!!

March 9th!!!!!! WooHoo!!!

What about building the top from ..... (ack, choke, cough) composite.....You can do the posts from a beautiful wood. Celeste