Aplus

Amen. I'm looking forward to the PWNA convention in March, hope to meet up with a lot of great folks out here.

I use a payroll service to handle checks, tax deductions, and tax payments to the IRS. So I draw a paycheck for each pay period. The amount you decide to take depends on the amount of money coming in, as well as what you need for your living expenses.

In other words, If my dog was as ugly as her, I'd shave his butt and walk him backwards.

Actually I did spray bleach on about 15 minutes before washing, because there was quite a bit of mildew growing as well, and I wanted to make sure all the mold spores were killed off. Rod, I was thinking about the softening and breaking up of the vines too, but I didn't have proof that happened, but it was a theory.

Yes....I use citric acid exclusively,and it works 100% just as well as oxalic. When it's said to be slower, you're talking about maybe a minute. Oxalic is almost instantaneous, citric is within a minute you see the brightening. I also like citric because when I order it, I don't have to worry about a hazmat shipping fee, or having to ship via a commercial carrier. Citric can be shipped via UPS with no problem. Below is a picture I took probably 30 seconds after applying citric to a cedar deck. You can see the difference where it was and wasn't yet applied. The deck completey brightened within another minute or so, although that pic appears uneven. You can see the handle of the gun attached to my pumpcart setup. I have not had any premature stain failure, and really the bottom line is that the acid neutralizes and brightens properly. Oxalic is too darn toxic. If it was the only acid suitable, I'd have to use it, but since citric is available, that's the route I go.

I use the 3/8" clear/braided hose from Lowes sold in bulk on a reel. Does just fine. Also, if the hose is too long, it becomes difficult to get a prime going and get it spraying.

The gvwr has to be adequate. In other words, don't exceed the manufacturers weight ratings. Off hand, I would say the six cylinder may be ok for very light duty usage, but not regular daily usage for your towing requirements. Just because a truck will pull a given weight does not mean a thing. What matters is if the truck can sustain that work load over a period of time. Your transmission will likely be the first component to fail if you exceed the weight limits.

Ryan, There are still a lot of aluminum sided homes around. If you're honest with the customers, and educate them, they likely will understand the possible outcomes, and why they happen. It's just as easy to wash aluminum as it is vinyl. The only difference is the potential outcomes, and that's often times not a problem if discussed up front. Is it worth it to miss out on the $$ potential you're missing?

I originally thought the odds would be the other way around, until I found this article... According to National Weather Service statistics, the average number of lightning fatalities in the U.S. for the last 10 years was 70. The number of fatalities has been steadily dropping. The average in the 1940s was over 300 per year. Last year there were only 41 lightning fatalities. However a recent study found that lightning deaths may be underreported by as much as 30 %. About 20% of people who are struck by lightning are killed - most survive! The chances of anyone being struck by lightning is 1 in 600,000. But Ray "Dooms" Sullivan, a park ranger from Virginia was struck by lightning 7 different times!

I'd switch to citric, so you don't poison everybody downstream of you......:)

Henry, Anytime we wash aluminum siding, I make sure to educate the customer up front about the potential outcomes. It's discussed with the customer, and written on the estimate. No surprises, no opportunity for law suits.

Before I did this gig full time, my previous workplace provided them for free or low cost. Of course I took them up on that offer. I haven't had a shot the past three seasons and have had no problems yet....

Under no circumstances would I buy a setup like that. RUN........

Chronic oxalic acid exposure could also cause a man to father children with birth defects.....that would be far worse than becoming sterile. That is exactly why I switched to citric acid several years back.

Talk to your doctor. I'm pretty certain that if you are allergic to bee stings, your doctor can set you up with the shots you need. Are you OK to give yourself a shot?

Wow, lawyers must work cheap in the Carolinas!!

TSP = Tri Sodium Phosphate

Valspar seems to be sold in smaller mom&pop hardwares, at least here anyway. Hopefully that will limit the exposure to it. About 10 years ago, CWF had a limited distribution, and was not carried in many of the stores. Now it's sold in most. I get my share of CWF decks, not fun. I'm noticing more and more acrylic products available. We all may soon get plenty of "rough roads" to travel. Check out this link to Thompsons..... http://www.deck-wash.com/forums/index.cfm Even they are now promoting latex based products.

Reed, How about you offering to replace the bad boards? Of course they pay for your time and the materials, but at least you're offering to do something for them. Maybe by offering your services you can make the builder look like the bad guy (he already is) even more so, and turn the tables around.

Reed, I don't think you have anything to worry about. It wouldn't hurt to get some supporting info together in case this moves to the court room. But really, I can't imagine the homeowners spending 5k to pursue this. But you never know. Why doesn't the builder just replace the boards with knots falling out? Or is it too many? It's not like the whole deck has to be rebuilt.

Free estimates here....but I really prefer, and strongly suggest the homeowner be present. I'll do my best to work with their schedule. After all, it's me who sells the job, not the piece of paper with a number on it. I've found that when I leave an estimate in an envelope at a house, I get less then 50% of the jobs. When I meet with the homeowner and provide the estimate along with my sales presentation, I sign around 88%. At this time I have no plans to charge for estimates, I feel that it's part of a contractors obligation to provide them for free.

Moisture & lack of sunshine.

Take your own risk with the blue windshield washer stuff. I've had it slush up in my truck a little below zero. The pink stuff is burst proof down to -50 F. As far as dollar savings go, let's get real here. Blue stuff..... about $1.25 gal Pink stuff..... about $2.50 gal Is that going to break you? Especially considering the peace of mind factor? As Al Borland used to say...."I don't think so Tim".

I just noticed the 2005 PWNA Convention date is for March 2005, it was listed in Cleaner Times. The location will be in Columbus Ohio. Anybody think they might attend? I know it's a ways out yet, just curious if anyone thinks they may go.

Actually, the pink RV antifreeze works very well. Also put some fuel stabilizer in the fuel tank, and if the machine has a fuel shutoff, close it and run the motor till it stalls out, while you are inducing pink antifreeze thru a large funnel and short piece of hose attached to your pump. Hook up and use your hp hose and trigger gun while winterizing, so the unloader will be included. You can fill yourself with the cheap vodka or gin, while you're winterizine your equipment.