Celeste

Paul, We haven't had a base line yet and have survived it for over a year. If you're out washing, you won't be home to answer anyway! We are listed (with our Nextel numbers) in the Bell South book - don't know who does your books there so that may be a mute point, but we are also in the Sprint Yellow pages in the next county over. If you are going to advertise in a yellow page arena, I'm pretty sure they don't care if you use their service - they just want your marketing $$. Most folks are not going to look you up in a white page listing if they don't know your name. We put our cell numbers on our truck, our signs, our cards, brochures, etc... and it has worked to our advantage. Like I said, if you're out working and your bus line is in your house - they get voice mail that you may not retrieve for several hours. Our builders like to be able to get us on the first phone call, not have to wait until the next day to speak to us. Residential customers - if they get voice mail, they may well move on to the next number that's available and again, you've possibly lost income. There are faxing facilities opening up all over the place - you can fax from Office Depot. There is also software that will allow you to receive faxes on your computer. Before you stress yourself to death with the local phone company and add an additional expense, check out all of your options. For the record - this is my opinion - I have had REALLY BAD EXPERIENCES with my local phone company and would slit my wrists before having another line so I'm sure my position on your question is maybe a tiny bit biased :) Celeste

What exactly are you cleaning? Are you looking for flatwork - general dirt washing - interior janitorial? Cleaning is kind of a broad term around here :) If you can be specific in your description, the appropriate folks will gladly jump in with lots of tips and advise. Welcome aboard! Celeste

Get in touch with Don Phelps - he's in Orlando and from what we've seen, is known well there. He may be able to assist you. Celeste

We saw the demonstration of the Wood Tux Wet and are looking forward to trying it ourselves. The one day process in our area is going to be a great advantage - we used the Flood product last year because that was what was available in our area. That's not to say we won't use it again, but as someone pointed out somewhere in this thread - Flood is a product that a consumer could potentially use. I still believe that there's something to be said for using a product that John Q. Homeowner cannot readily obtain. Celeste

Not ignoring your question Ken - I'm the mouth, Roger is the one who does the work :) I'll have to get specifics from him so I don't post what I "think" is the premise behind this stuff. I do know that the base coat is an oil based product, the color coat is acrylic. We've scratched on the wood that we've done, deeply even, and it does penetrate. We've had heat, snow & ice on our project with no sign of any problem thusfar. As I understand it - and I would have to confirm with my in-house practical user - It only requires a cleaning after about two years, not a strip. The base itself is supposed to last over 4 years (test subject for them is over 5 years old and still looks great) You may have to recolor coat highly trafficed areas after about two years. It's the wrong time of the year here for us to be stripping anything so our experience on removal will have to wait until spring. Celeste

He got mine TWICE! This is why I have hated math since 8th grade :) Celeste

Matthew, you will find here in NC the increase in premium is teensy-weensy compared to the enormous increase in coverage :) $1M will increase your marketing area as well :) Celeste

Andy, Can you post a pic of what your end looks like - can't picture this :) Thanks - sounds like an interesting concept. Celeste

We will be trying the Cabot's and the Wood Tux one dayers as we have used the Flood one-day product and have had beautiful results. Here in the rainy section of the world, the one day product, while being expensive to get, makes up for it in the long run - no multiple trips, no waiting on weather, no waiting to get your check! Check out our business cards - that's a Flood Spa N Deck picture on it. Celeste

Anyone ever had their backpack sprayer spring a leak all over their back? That would be a concern for me....'specially if you have something caustic in it!

I know that SafeRestore from Eacochem will kill it and keep it away for a couple of years. Give them a call and ask them about it. Roger

Okay guys ...... here are Dale's estimating sheets:

:lgbounces Beth is a great web designer! There are terrific servers out there that are not overly priced and have wonderful customer service. We're doing our own right now due to cold weather slow down but frankly, if I was too busy to do one I know who I'd be calling. Celeste

Carlos, There is a gutter attachment offered for the Coress.....we've never personally tried it, but seems like if you're gonna clean them from the ground, that would do the trick unless you really just want to put your hands in those wet, dirty, nasty things :) Celeste

Hey Guys & Gals, I found this link on another bbs and felt it was definitely worth sharing in case it may apply to some here! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6876176/ Celeste

Also, if you are drawing off of a house that has a well you need to know that the well pump is push more gpm than what you machine is. If your machine is pulling more gpm than what the well pump is putting out you can damage the well pump. Roger

We considered ourselves "Part-Time" when we had other more reliable sources of income and we counted on that other 40/hour a week job to make ends meet. We have no alternative income now, but when it's freezing outside, we clearly do not work a 40-hour week but we don't consider ourselves as Part Time. Our work is seasonal.....we have more employees in the spring/summer/fall than in winter but we are not part-time. We offer other services besides pressure washing - that doesn't make us part time. At no time during our part-time start up through our slow time now has that lessened our quality, ability or professionalism, nor did it reflect badly on the industry as a whole. You project the image that you want your company to have. If we could only do the work in the morning because of a second shift primary occupation, we let the client draw the assumption that we were already booked for the afternoons. Being "Part Time" is not a bad thing. Celeste

Passenger cars in NC $21.50, Commercial vehicles depend on year, value, size, etc...our truck and suburban both run a bit over $100 each. Getting started was about twoce that. Celeste

We have 2 36' Coress wands. I love them. I have extended it all the way out to 36', it bends but you can control it. Roger

We wish you much success Rocco and look forward to hearing about your results :) Celeste

Thanks for the informative post, Mike. Celeste

Rocco, Is there a fee involved to you to get in on one of these home shows? If so, would you mind telling how much? After you've done it, let us know how it worked out for you :) Good luck Celeste

Hey Lou, Evidently you're not washing yet...do you have a regular full time job that won't let you go very far to pick up a rig if you were able to work out say the one in Colorado? Point I'm getting at.....if you had a rig, could you be making money? Why would it not be worth the couple of days travel time to go on over to get it so you can start making the money? I know how long you've been huntin' - our offer to check out anything around us still stands if you find something in the NC area. Celeste

I think the diversity of what we all use combined with how we all got started is what makes this such a good place to learn. We personally started out with little capital and have doubled our capacity in just over a year. I know others that started out with debt in a big operation and have paid it off already. Then there are others that had money to start but didn't know what to do with what they had and now they're gone. There are far too many factors involved for one to be able to form judgments about others....logistics, competion, demographics, capital, motivation. We were encouraged as brand newbies just over a year ago and we listened, asked, learned and have been successful thus far although still are considered newbies by many. We're also still learning something every single day. You can ask for all of the advise you want and you will get good and bad - you have to learn to disseminate the good info from the not as good, press on and make something from what you have. Pick your cheerleaders carefully and go for it. Best of luck to you! Celeste

Roger spoke to a company that actually makes the chemical that is involved with the pressure treating process. He was told that these spots & stripes should not happen - made reference to another country's lumber being substandard to American lumber and may well leach but basically, these pretty green stripes & spots are not supposed to be happening.