Celeste

Sounds like a terrific idea to me - especially since free is especially good when you're starting out. An added suggestion......contact a local fence builder (who only builds, not finishes) then explain that you will be coming behind his work to "finish". They could possibly offer a few of their new boards to stain as samples which makes a very accurate sample for those folks with new fences they want to protect :) Thanks for the idea Mark! Celeste

I thought paraffinic oils were non organic - they're the same as petroleum distillates, which is a crude oil thing as opposed to something from a seed. Celeste

Tony, other than the fumes, did you have any other pointers for us that are going to be trying out the Boost? Is this stuff something that you should be wearing full body protection with? We don't want to scare the homeowner to death :) Celeste

We were pleased with this product - the homeowner is loving it! Arbor gets stained this weekend then we get the check - yippee! Celeste

It is the Wood Tux wet, the wood can be dry to apply also. He is going to put the planter back in the same spot. I told him it would rough to remove all of it. He was fine with that. Roger

Last I heard the end of the month was no problem :) Thanks for the compliment - my hubby does good work :) Celeste

Yes the color will last longer - the maintenance time frame is supposed to be longer than Ready Seal - I don't see that as a bad thing. I'm sure a homeowner would love to only see us every two years instead of every year.

Here is one more.

No, this is a Standard Paint product....www.wooddefender.com

I was under the impression that the penetrating oils were what was good for the wood. This is also a parafinic product, not tung or linseed?

The biggest downside I saw (MSDS) is the raw linseed and tung oils. Must read more :) Celeste

Compared to the 7% that our previous stain has, the color will last much longer I've been told.

We won't be paid by the painter - they refer the washes to us......which, uh, we haven't gotten one yet but we're so busy anyway I 've not been too worried about it either :) Celeste

We've been "invited" to join multiple BNI (Business Networking somethings) - boils down to a "good ole boys network" There's only one of each trade in the group and each refers to each other. We're deciding if it's worth the $395/year to join one, not to mention the 6:30 AM meetings once a week or so! On another side, we have teamed up with a deck builder (that's all he does) as well as two fencing companies. This seems to be working nicely. Got a deck ($1500+ and a fence just in the past week) At Henry's suggestion, we also hooked up with a paint company who wastes their painters time trying to prep - they'll call us now to do the pressure washing and free up their painters to do what makes them the money (and reduces their liability as well <---- nice sell point to the paint company) Celeste

I spoke to a guy that has Xenon tested this stuff in extreme conditions - lasts really well according to his reports. We're feeling rather positive about the 23% transoxides in this product. Celeste

Easy as Ready Seal to apply since they have similar qualities - 200 sq ft of coverage per gallon (and this deck was thirsty). We are very pleased with this product. Celeste

Now that you're on a website that we can give you real chemical mixtures without the fear of having a post deleted....if you want a bang up job, call Steve Rowlett or go to www.rowlettpressure.com Steve's citracleen with some 15% bleach will clean your house NO PROBLEM. Lowe's or Home Depot cleaners are for homeowners to learn to aggravate themselves :) Pros use commercial grade products that allow us to use the low pressure you are looking to use. As far as the Jomax & bleach mixture, it will work - you either need to mix it stronger or let it dwell longer. Something else to keep in mind, the bleach you buy at the store starts at 6%...by the time it rides on the truck, sits in the warehouse, gets on the store shelf, sits another couple weeks or months, you might have 3% bleach. We use 15-18% fresh sodium hypochlorite - makes a huge difference. Celeste

Downsides to a temp service (although I'm not discouraging it). I spoke at length to one in our area and here's their deal. You hire one of their folks - they want 30-40 hours guaranteed because they're all looking to be a full time worker. You must pay them (the agency) weekly because that's how they pay. It's going to cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $12-$15 / hour for your employee to see about $8.00 - $10.00 gross pay, which is what they will encourage you to pay for the work you want. My temp agency actually pretty much turned us down as clients because we couldn't guarantee the need for workers everyday (and that's a weather thing in this line of work). As far as new construction - vinyl houses don't necessarily need pressure washing - more just a rinse unless the workers have walked all over the vinyl before it gets on the house (and this does happen). New construction brick is a whole different story - unless someone has really good masons or their masons have their own washers, these usually need to be pressure washed with acid. There is good money to be made there but you have to get your foot in the door and your name out there. When we first started out, we also offered interior new construction clean up so we were a "full service" company. (We got out of those interiors this year though! Roger established himself well enough with the bricks that the builders still call him for the outsides anyway) Good luck! Celeste

This is how it was explained to me: 1) If you do not have workers compensation, if something happens, the liability falls to the homeowner and possibly to your pocket. 2) Unless he provides you with his certificate of insurance, even as a subcontractor, he falls under you. Kind of like when a homeowner hires you as a sub. 3) If you do any work for a contractor/builder, the liability falls under their WC and they really don't like that at all - most require proof that you have your own. We signed a million dollar contract that we could not have gotten without our $851.00 "ghost policy". Not a bad return on our investment. We now clean new construction brick for over half a dozen custom home builders who's invoices exceed the premium at least a couple times a month. You get audited annually and the premium is based on your payroll after that. I would strongly advise spending the money......but then again, we practice erring on the side of caution on just about everything. Celeste

You are correct about the Ready Seal; I think I read somewhere where Pierce had indicated they were compliant. Celeste

In response to VOC compliance question, Wood Tux, Ready Seal, Wood Defender to name a few have already re-formulated to be in compliance with the new laws. Celeste

New brick construction is not dirt/mold/mildew removal. There are mortar smears and tags which require acid and scraping for removal. The product we use for new construction will not harm glass (as far as etching) so precautions are with ppe more than with surrounding parts of the house. Regular housewash will not touch anything on new construction except for maybe airborne dirt and dust. Phillip, we do new construction brick weekly and would be more than happy to fill you in on any questions you might have - Feel free to call :) Celeste

If this is not new construction brick, your regular housewash mix should be fine for general dirt, mold, mildew, etc... Someone that worries with windows, give up some info please :) We just use our housewash & squeegee if we need to. Celeste

Ooooo, don't you love the clients with the big wallets!!!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Celeste

Hey Deck1, Look in the regional forums - there are some folks in Iowa who may be able to give you some area specific information. Celeste PS - You'll do great - there's lots of moral support and assistance here!