Claude Hawkins

I'm putting the final touches on my website and I have reached the point where I need to decide what kind of guarantee (if any) I want to include with my pw services. What's your opinion on guarantees? A long time ago I worked in retail. In that far epoch many upscale retail stores had an absolute guarantee, i.e. bring it back, all your money returned, few questions asked. Now, even some of the best retail stores are getting edgy about returns. Changing times? More crooked customers? Greedy stores? I recently read an article that urged any service business to incorporate a "complete satisfaction" guarantee on their work as a advantage over the competition. In my head this sounds logical, although I understand that I will eat some loses due to unethical customers. (It's a universal problem.) Do you decide if your work is the best quality or do you leave it up to your customers? Has anyone here been stung badly by a complete satisfaction guarantee? (Should there be a different guarantee for residential and commercial?) Any comments, thoughts or elaborations would be appreciated. Claude

That is too cool. Claude

Excellent work on all levels. Claude

Jon (or anyone): Could you expand on the airless sprayer? Claude

I am a lurker on this BBS. But I hope to moderate my lurking behavior, somewhat, with this first message. For several weeks I have enjoyed the comments posted here, investing scores of hours searching past posts, often reading a thread a number of times, gaining new insights as I learn. As I increased my understanding of the industry I found that the second or third reading often provided me with more knowledge than the first. I lurk for two reasons: First, I am somewhat introverted. (I want to say “shy” but that sounds terrible; I am rarely bashful once I become comfortable with people.) More important, I lack sufficient knowledge to contribute in a meaningful way, as yet. I belong to several forums for fishing, kayaking and rod building (fishing rods). When I first joined those forums I lurked. I figured that until I learned a little about fishing, bought a kayak and made a few rods there wasn’t much I could offer, except questions. Once I got my act together, I did not hesitate to participate. I am truly impressed with the willingness of industry professionals to share their expertise on this forum. Thank you. More than thanks for providing me with valuable insights. Priceless. I still have a lot of questions. As I continue to learn I find that my need to know seems to multiply rather than diminish. I am sure this will continue so, at least in the short term. Until I have gained sufficient experience to participate on a more equal footing, I hope you will excuse me if I post a few questions that may prove garishly idiotic. Sometimes, even my friends are amazed at my ability to put such a large foot entirely inside my mouth. Thanks again. Claude

I've done a search in order to build a Shurflo pump rig. From what I can tell, some of you use 1/4" poly-braid hose and some prefer 3/8" for a 1.8 gpm 60 psi pump. Does the smaller diameter give more pressure or higher lift? Does the larger give more gpm? Why do you choose one over the other? Thanks. Claude

Lance & Henry, Excellent and detailed responses. Thanks. This is a bit of a quandary, since I’ve developed a respect for both of you while reading your posts in the archives. It’s obvious that you both know your business well. It sounds like I could go either way and get good results, which, by itself, is good news. I’m going to build Don Phelp’s lance in the next few days because there is a lot of roof business here. My concern was getting a good flow up to the roofs. That concerned is resolved. I also plan to use the pump for applying soap to delicate areas of the house. I’ll check prices and make a decision this week. I'll definitely get 200'. Thanks again. Claude

Needless to say, I'd appreciate a copy, too. (I like your logo by the way.) Thanks. Claude courage@tampabay.rr.com

Hey everybody, I just want to say thanks for your responses and this terrific forum. It's been a while since I started a service business (been working with lawyers for the last decade) and I'm a little nervous. (Been sitting at a desk for way too long.) Reading your posts and absorbing the information is very encouraging. Thanks to you all, I see this industry as a first class trade and I am pleased to become a part of this profession. Thanks. Claude

Scott, The snook are indeed on the beaches. I hear reports that they are all over the beach sides of Honeymoon Island and Caladesi in the early morning before the people arrive to spook them. And I've seen a few caught off the Dunedin Causeway there. I caught some big fat females last year just inside the pass. (Revived them and let them go to spawn.) Haven't had a chance to try it this summer, yet. It's great to hear from Clearwater people on this forum. Good luck to Jennifer. What kind of cleaning does Jennifer want to do? There's also a fellow named Ken on the forum from Palm Harbor. He seems like a good fellow from his posts. Claude

Great information. It can happen when and where you least expect it. I once experienced heat exhaustion paddling in a kayak on a sunny afternoon. Because I was surrounded my water I didn't think about heat exhaustion and I didn't hydrate sufficiently. Once I realized what was happening I drank all the water I carried but the effects don't go away immediately. For a while I didn't think I would make it back to the launch point. Claude

Philip, Great information.Can you recommend a harness? Claude

First, let me express my appreciation for welcoming me to the forum. Very kind of you all. I apologize for not thanking you earlier. A non-PW client had an emergency that took up most of the week. He's one of the reasons I find PW so attractive. I've attached a photo. The part I circled is a small (but diverse) flower garden with about a dozen plants. Some look pretty tender and there may be some herbs in there. You will notice that the roof has no gutter. Applying chlorine (about 6%) with a shurflo, I'm not very concerned with overspray. However, if I rinse the roof or even wait for rain, I am concerned that the runoff will remain too concentrated. I don't want to take a chance on burning the plants. (FYI - It rains everyday this time of year in Florida.) I know that if I rinse, I will need to wet the plants heavily first. Do any of you ever tarp plants when you wash a roof? If tarping or covering the plants with plastic is a good idea, what about runoff from the tarp? Isn't there a good possibility that the tarp, itself, will concentrate the runoff onto the grass. Thanks again. Claude

Thanks, Don. I've read your posts with great appreciation as I've researched the archives. Claude

Outstanding thread, Ryan. I've been thinking a lot about this lately and you answered many questions. However, how about three more questions? 1. It is very nice to see the safety equipment. You say that you tie to trees. Could you use a "dog stake" as an anchor, screwed into the ground? (I've attached a picture, I hope.) 2. I assume you are using the harness and rope for safety. You don't actually repell (like on steep roofs) do you? 4. I understand the sodium hypochlorite (bleach) bio-degrades into salt (NaCl) after a few days. Am I right about this? If so, will the salt damage the asphalt shingles? (I was under the impression that salt damage was the main argument for the anti-chlorine crowd.) Bonus question: Those of you using an xjet to wash roofs with chlorine, how do you keep overspray from harming plants, the neighbors' windows and cars? Once again, this is a great thread and a great forum. Claude