Neil_Asheville

It's there, Shane. It's not just big in Texas, you know! Below deck, that is. 10x10x15s add up real quick. Say, do you get ladybug hatches down Tejas way? If I were a trout, and loved ladybugs for lunch, I'd have been a fat and happy fish Wednesday. We lost a good 6 hours from these lady*****es....LOL. /neil

It's been since the 11th since a contest photo was posted, so I figured I'd throw a few in the mix. A few high gravity beers tonight and I'm feeling pretty good about this past week's work. Couldn't do these big projects without help. I have a GREAT team! (of 3:) ). This was a fun one. Cypress railing finished beautifully with WoodTux. This was 3Ksf of wood. Our biggest sf job to date. The majority of time was spent on the lower decking, ground level steps, side porch, the 6x6 and 10x10 supports. The highest 6by was a good 20'. 5 days total. Slept in till 8:30 this morning....wooooohoooo! From our good friend JL in MB....Life is GOOOOOOD! cheers, /neil

Hey James, the only documentation trail on that one was paper towel. It was a DOT approved pail!

Since you're curious, Rick...Tuesday's job I took a dump in an empty 5 gallon bucket. :p It's good to have an enclosed trailer! /neil

James put up a solid reminder earlier that when you get to a certain number of projects you just stop posting pics. Well, I have a few to go to get there but I hope I never quit putting up pics of our projects. I'll put a challenge out to James et al to keep reminding us new ones of the work that's being done at the top and what drives you. Yep, the beer money is nice! (as I finish off the last of an Allagash 11th Anniversary strong dark ale:) ) Sure you all are our peers and it's no secret we want to play in the bigs. Therefore, you'll have to put up with my countless pics of our decks and such. The gratification comes when the replies flood in with praises and ooohss and aahhss...and the occasional jackass in the bunch (you all know who you are!) with the crude humor! I think there's an ignore feature somewhere on here if you get fed up with my babble! This one was alot of fun. Mostly hand job....oh yeah. End result was nice. You see, my strategy is to compensate for my lack of experience with photography prowess. Cat's out of the bag now..... /neil

Trippin for sure. It's an asphalt driveway.

a fence shot

Railing and verticals cleaned with EFC-38 full strength. Decking cleaned with HD-80 3oz/gal + 12.5% at 10% solution. Neutralized with Citralic. Finished with WoodTux Wet. I'm bring'in it, Woodies! /neil:)

I should come over here to the Club House more. It's the personal side of the great folks I've met here in TGS community that sticks with me most. I'm sure I'm not alone in that there are some lifetime friendships forged here. I took some rare and deserved time yesterday to take an afternoon drive in the truck with the dog. I've always enjoyed taking unknown roads to the end. I was rewarded yesterday with another gorgeous reminder of God's gift to us. I thought I'd share a typical high-country photo. Fall is coming. I've lived in Wyoming and coastal South Carolina, road-tripped all over the West and BC and the Yukon. My home and heart, though, will always be the mountains of North Carolina. We have much to be thankful for...I need to remind myself more to pause and take in the beauty that surrounds me, it's usually there, regardless of day or time. I just need to look for it. As business owners we get to experience the gifts of our labor, patience and determination....an accomplishment very few in our world get to experience. /neil

What is it with this railing fetish I have lately?!? I liked this shot, more for the railing design. I'll be adding on decking and whole new rail system to my house next spring so that's probably it. Trying to figure on a design I like, and can afford. I like the 5/4 sammiched between the 2x4 and the 2x6 cap. More pics of this fun project coming maybe this weekend. Have a great weekend everyone. Cheers, /neil

Sweeeeet stuff, Beth! Don't you just love those nice ground levels with no RAILING. I'm about due for one...or overdue, one ;) Y'all better look out...we're finishing up one tomorrow that should have some nice 'glamour shots'. /neil

:lgbow:

Thanks a bunch, Jon. We've been fortunate to have some great projects lined up...and good paying clients to go with it. Not sure why Paul's Ipe looks sheenie. Me don't like sheenie. I think Paul posted his after washing and wet ipe, not finished. Ipe up here in the mountains finishes matte with WTW. Maybe that's a metro Atlanta thing! Paul?

a few more finished ones. Now if I could have two more months of this weeks weather...just perfect for sling'in stain :) /neil

We finished this one up Sunday. Three 8hr days me and one employee. Some wood ends up looking terrific...but this project came out super sweet! HD80 to strip existing Behr solid from original top deck and bottom deck. EFC38 to clean new part of deck (stairs down from top, lower decking, all the lattice, wrap around steps). Finished with WTW warm honey gold. Gotta love this business. /neil

Good morning, Jeff. I'll start by saying I can't help much on your process since we don't do solids of any kind nor do we paint. I can tell you, though, I'd make this someone else's problem real quick. Since you want to run from this quick, make it your part of this project to interview a few of the preferred painters in your area...ones you want a relationship with...ones that can throw their wood care your way. Make that connection, bring them to the project, you 'oversee' the work, and perhaps find some add-ons to be done that are more in line with the type of work you want. If you're not the expert, find the expert in your area and you'll win/win. If you do decide to do the work, try not to let him/them drive your recommendations. With all the stucco/pool/underdecking/etc you've described, stripping doesn't seem to make sense. /neil

Good morning. As we get more projects completed and in the portfolio, estimates certainly do come a bit easier. I would say after thousands and not hundreds of projects is about the time when we'll be completely confident in time and material figuring. We'll get there! Here's one I'd appreciate feedback on. The attached pdf will launch a slideshow. ALT pauses show, left/right mouse click advances or backsup, ESC will take you back to viewing it in Reader pane. I already have a figure in mind for labor + 7gal WoodTux. PDF is attached. This will be me plus one helper. Some quick points on the project: - 4 month old new construction PT pine - 960 total sqftage decking to restore - front steps covered with tree/berry stains - front steps handrail has been builder stained with unknown semi-trans, i'm thinking of priming and painting to match red front door. - client wants architectual trim treated also (see pic, approx 80 linear feet) - client wants 80 linear feet of split rail fence treated (see pic) - client wants decking furniture treated (see pic, table+4chairs, feels too light for teak) Feel free to ask more questions to clarify. Have a great week everyone! cheers, /neil - FriedmanProject.pdf

Cedar railing finished in Woodrich Natural Cedar. 200sqft/gal spread rate. At the estimate, I was sweating over the Trex bandboard/facia/risers but after staining a sample and now with the project completed, it looks just fantastic. Lots of wiping on that Trex, though, to get product worked in and off with another dry rag. Figured out today that spray bottle makes just as much overspray as the Decker. Still havin' fun! /neil

That is a great color, Jon. I haven't yet grown to hate cedar, yet. Played with a cedar railing today with Woodrich and looks just gorgeous. 75gallons, my God. If you were at 100sf/gal or more that's more than a 'modest sized' house. /neil

Makin' em bow down before me! How about Zodgodly Wood Care. LIke that one! Ken...silent...surrrrrrrrre;) /neil

I should try and unsell that split rail fence and furniture, then. I got my unders all in a bunch now....thx Jon.

Funny as hell, James. Love it!

Of course it will be done 'right', Ken. LOL You must be pushed for time or something this morning....never known you to miss a chance to say something! Absolutely no love...:lgtear: I was only considering priming and painting the lower section handrail, not step treads. /neil

Nice rich color Israel. I'm sure your client is thrilled. For your 30min clean/stain times don't change a thing cause your making $$$! Now where's that Ignore List feature again???? /neil

$300-$350 if you have a full book, less if you have down time. Definately woodtux. Since she's a housewash customer already do that BRICK at n/c while your hd80 is dwelling. /neil