HYDROACTIVE

I've been lurking here for awhile doing alot of reading. Now I have a question... I have been doing new consruction cleaning for large contractor for the last couple of years. They are my best customer by far. Mostly concrete. The latest job is a 10 building condominium complex on the gulf. Subs made a real mess on all the concrete breezeways- Paint (latex and oil), epoxy, block sealer, waterproofer, primer, sheetrock mud, glue, tar, stucco, you name it.... 90% of everything has been removed using our current means, that is scraping, brushing, paint stripper, Sure Klean, mineral spirits, pressure, etc. They asked me if I knew of any way to remove the other ~10%. Alot of what is left is spilled block sealer, and some crap that we haven't even identified. Regardless, it's stubborn. Some of the concrete was so bad they made the sub put a coating of Ardex over it before we even came in to clean it. Sorry for the history, but my questions concern wet blasting of some sort. Is it feasable in this situation? Can we just do it in the spots that need it or will the texture change enough to require blasting everything to make it uniform (about 40,000sf)? What media would be best? Will a "sandblasting kit" added to my equipment provide decent results? I need to keep this customer happy. If I can find a way to remove this stubborn crap, it will not only make my customer happy, but it will add to the service options I can offer to them and others. I have one 2-man trailer unit and a single trailer unit w/ heat. Any advice would be appreciated. I have pictures if needed. Thanks, Jeremy

After all the talk, I'm going back to take another look. I know it's big. I also know that 6000 sq ft is big. I also had help calling out measurements for me while I wrote. I'm gonna take some pics this time. I don't want to seem defensive, so I apologize. I'm gonna re-measure right by myself and see what happens. Also, everyone here is right. I have never sold a job of this magnitude (wood or otherwise). It would take me and my guys awhile to do it. But if it took two weeks, I would still profit more from this job. Even if I did 10 house jobs at $350 a pop (which I won't), this job still pays better. And I am confident that we can do good job. I should also mention that I'm only a part timer. I have a full-time job besides my side business. I don't have a steady schedule of jobs to fall back on. It would be nice to get a good paying job. Paul has made a generous offer that I am considering. I will report back this afternoon with the findings from my second trip. Also, I want to thank everyone for their input and advice. Sometimes it's just hard to weed through the posts from folks that say things that make it obvious that they think you are less intelligent than you are. Then again maybe it's just me. I am indeed gratelful. Thanks.

Fife, You got it pegged. The rich are used to getting things done for the same price as the poor because prices are based on what the majority can afford in a given area. Not to say that the majority is poor, but the majority is certainly not rich. There are many in my area who are indeed very rich, but you will play heck getting them to spend any of it. Especially on their deck. Maybe that's why they stay rich. By the way it's not three stories high stacked. It is three levels connected by stairs from water level up to the house. Three seperate landing areas. All under the sun.

I'm just telling you all what the owner said the deck cost to build- $40,000, which I thought was unheard of. Pennsylvania is a far cry from Clanton, AL. You've probably never lived around here because it is absolutely ruidiculous to think that someone would pay $120k for a deck in my area or within a 100 miles for that matter. The house and property probably didn't cost that much. A GOOD income around here is $50-60k a year. I'm sure these owners are above that, but I'm just giving you a clue about the demographic. I'm not trying to talk myself out of making more money, but it is absolutely crazy to think that I can get $8-10k for this job. Just because there are a few people around here that have that much money to spend, doesn't mean they will spend it. They are accustomed to paying for services at a price well below their means. The fact that they are well above average financially is just fortunate for them. 100 bucks says they would go into cardiac arrest if I told them I'd do it for $6000.

Tropical wave, thanks for the encouragement (finally). I know no-one here knows me but I'm not an idiot guys, I just wanted a little advice from experienced people for a new venture. I'm a pretty capable guy whose done a good bit of research and have a couple of good helpers to boot. I intend to spray and backbrush the horizontals and labor through the railings. I'm not a seasoned wood pro, but at least give me a chance!

Proclean, you have a message. Thanks.

Pressure treated pine. Oil base clear type sealant. Type -waiting for suggestions. Water is readily available.

I don't even know anyone in my area that has experience in the biz. I'm it. I've been doing houses and concrete about a year or so. My trustworthy sources are here on this board. The question is not whether I can, or should do it. But rather advice on how to a have a troublefree experience from people who know a little more than me. Also, the demographic difference between NC and Central Alabama couldn't be more different. I would give anything to get $2.00 per sq ft to do 6000 sq ft!

I've been reading alot about wood. Enough to confuse the crap out of myself. I'm pricing a deck job on the lake that consists of a three level deck. Level one is an open boat house, level two a sun deck, and level three attached to the house. Over 6600 sq ft. mostly horizontal. 280 lin. ft. of hand rails not counting the 3 flights of steps totaling 40 steps with rails-- all rails w/ 2x2 spindles about 6 inches apart. And a couple of built in benches about 20 lin ft total. Roughly a $40k deck, a year old. Exposed portions are just beginning to turn gray. It has never been treated before. Customer wants it basically clear. Will need some cleaning to remove the gray. I've read where some folks are getting $1.50 to $2.00 a square ft. for cleaning and sealing!! I can't tell these folks it will cost $12,000 to clean and seal their monster deck! I don't have easy access to cleaning products except for consumer stuff which is expensive for a job this size. I'm figuring 25-30 gal sealer depending on what I use. Any advice on cleaning products and procedures and sealing products would be greatly appreciated. I'm ready to venture into deck finishing, but this is a little intimidating. I hope this doesn't turn into another argument about whose system works best, I just need some tried and true products. Also I think this will be a flagship job that will play a great role in the future of my business (All jobs do, but this one to a greater extent). I just realized this is my first post. Maybe I should have introduced my self in some way. I apologize. I've been lurking and reading for several months and received alot of helpful info here. I'm just not knowledgeable enough to contribute alot yet. Sorry.