Jump to content

DCOutdoors

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content count

    32

  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by DCOutdoors

  1. Posted · Report reply

    Take plenty of before and after of your work especially the roof shots. Guys in Florida can make a good living just doing roofs alone where here you have to diversify.--Good luck.

    Well, I completed the entire project (minus the roof till he can get past paying me for everything else). Everything I told him that will probably happen, happened. Some paint came off and some green is still on the house because I couldn't get it off without stripping the paint. I told him when he is ready to paint the house, call me and I will use the pressure washer to help strip it! Beth reminded me in another post to test for lead... ooopppsss... good point (why didn't you think of that John LOL). Bottom line: the customer was happy - two older women who walk the neighborhood was excited about how the house looks now (I gave them a stack of cards) - and I got paid (even got a $40 tip). So, mission complete.

    For those of you who assisted in growing my knowledge - thank you - please help me to continue learning how to do this right.

  2. Posted · Report reply

    A WORD OF WARNING:

    If the house is that old and is painted, chances are damn good there is or was lead paint on it. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and get a test kit. Test the house. If it is positive for lead paint and you are not certified, stop where you are.

    Lead | Lead | US EPA

    Beth

    Okay, excellent advice and it is advice I need to remember for the next old house I do! I did the house today with very little paint removal but the paint looks like the house was painted within the last 15 years so I would hope the whole lead thing wouldn't be an issue. Again, I can't stress how much I appreciate the advice. I am a firm believer in learning from the experts and doing the job right. I just don't have "right" embedded in my memory YET. I know you and Rod have been around as has John T (who has no problem telling me when I am wrong and how to do it right) and appreciate how you freely share your knowledge and strive to raise the standards of this industry. Wow, that sounds like I am brown-nosing... Anyway - did the house and the customer was happy. I made sure to tell him in advance all of the things that will probably go wrong so there was no shock when everything I said came to pass.

    Thanks again and keep sharing.

  3. Posted · Report reply

    How are you going to do roof? I would delay out until you are properly equiped.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk 2

    Told them I wouldn't walk the roof and they needed to get the branches and other stuff off... but I would help with that. I suggested they wait a while and the price added to everything else was enough to get them to agree. This will give me enough time to set up a pump system that should work. Then I can do everything from the gutter. This is the worst roof I have seen around here so if this works, I could become rich just doing roofs and retire in a couple of years!!!

  4. Posted · Report reply

    If it is in the paint, you may need to re-paint it because the paint will have degraded.

    This is a two part job where you will need to return once it is dry and apply the paint.

    OR

    You can bow out of that part and inform the customer ahead of time what is going to

    happen and give them the opportunity to entertain a price from you or their original

    painter.

    Rod!~

    Thanks Rod. Would light pressure and a brush work without taking to much paint off?

  6. Posted · Edited by DCOutdoors · Report reply

    Okay, I am washing an old (1902) wood house with blue paint and brick around the bottom. It does not have black mold, but rather green algae... I guess that is what it is... Uh, at least reasonable sure... So, what is the best way to get it clean without taking ALL of the paint off? I did all of the flat work today... bricks and concrete. Tomorrow is the house and garage. The green stuff came off of the bricks fairly easy.

  7. Posted · Report reply

    Carry yourself like you know what you're doing. Present the price like it's an everyday thing. Pretend that the job is yours but don't be surprised when they choke on the total.

    I've got the confidence part down pat... No problem with presenting a "Shocking" price and being shocked about them being shocked It's the rest of it I want to do right. BTW, I would have put an injector at the end of the wand (like an x-jet), not through the hose and reels. However, good point with the over-spray and I may not have gotten a strong enough mix.

  8. Posted · Report reply

    I am doing an estimate tomorrow for a painted wood house from 1902, a brick walkway and patio, a concrete drive, and steep pitched roof. So, here are the questions:

    The House: This house was built in 1902 and is painted blue. While I haven't seen the house in person yet, it looks like it is in good shape from Google Earth (I realize this is not an up to date image). What is the best house mix to use and what precautions should I be aware of. It is a single story at one end and two story on the other end.

    The Roof: It has a very steep pitch and is under many trees. I won't be climbing the roof - that's for sure! Can I shoot this from the ground through a PW (I know this is not the best solution). I do have a pump if need be but need to buy a battery and rig a quick system of some sort (advice here is good too).

    Brick Patio & Walkway: What is the best way to avoid effervescence? Best solution mix? Best way to avoid having to re-sand?

    Concrete Drive: At last, I don't have to ask about this one!

    After all of this, I may not even get the job, but at least you will have taught me well. Thanks in advance.

    David

  9. Posted · Report reply

    I would say use a stain that you have good access to with a good track record for reliability. You need to talk to Adam AAPaint who is also from Fla.I think he's also dealing with the rain issues with wood restoration.

    I would stay away from one day stains (stains you use same day you clean) I haven't heard of a good stain to use on wet wood. If the deck is old enough and gets 100% sun should be dry in 5-6 hours. If you want to be safe the moisture meter is the way to go.

    I'm lucky here in Texas we very seldom have a real wet season it's usually pretty dry here for the most part.

    Thanks. We have the standards: Cabot, TWP, Flood, Olympic, etc that you find in the big box stores. Then there's Sherman Williams, Benjimen Moore, and Porters. I have never heard of anyone who used Porters! Of course there's Thompsons but I've done enough reading to know better than that one! There may be others, I just don't remember.

    Of those, is there a best or at least a not so bad choice?

  10. Posted · Report reply

    By the way... John at EnviroSpec wants to put 11 more out of work vets into business at no cost to them! I can vouch for the fact that there are no strings attached, no contracts, nothing. He just wants to help. So, if you happen to know any out of work vets that want to work... either let John at EnviroSpec or myself know (I can only pass it on). You would be doing that veteran a huge favor.

  11. Posted · Report reply

    I don't know if you heard; EnviroSpec gave a pressure washing system to a retired vet... well, I am that vet so am fairly new at all of this. While I have studied all of your comments for months, now that I actually am set up, I need to step out. I said all of that to say this: I am not commited to one stain over another though I intended to use Ready Seal. I was concerned about the moisture due to so much rain but it sounds like I can get away with it. While I haven't bought it yet, I know Lowes has a moisture meter for $50 and I intend to get one. I love wood when it is done right so it seems a natural way to go (I'll do about anything to get started though).

    I appreciate all of your cpmments and will gladly listen to as much instruction and thoughts you would care to share.

    Thanks - David

  12. Posted · Report reply

    It cant rain every single day

    Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

    Ha-ha... check out the weather channel on your computer for Panama City Beach, FL... we haven't had a ful day of sun (except today - so far - they are calling for thunderstorms late this afternoon and tonight). Anyway, if I clean one morning and it rains that night, and we are warm (hot) and dry the next morning, do you think the wood (say pt wood) would be dry enough to stain by noon? This is hypothetical as I don't have a job yet but I would rather look dumb here!

    Thanks - David

  13. Posted · Report reply

    The situation: Sunny and warm in the morning, rain and thunderstorms every afternoon, and high humidity in both. What would be the best choice of stain when the wood hasvery little time to dry? As I am a bit anal about reputation, I would rather clean it now and go back in a couple of months to lightly reclean and stain! It locks in the customer and lets them know I want it done right.

    To much rambling so back to the original question... Is there a quality stain or sealer that will work in a case like this?

    Thanks in advance

    David Crockett

  14. Posted · Report reply

    From Pensacola to Port St Joe there are hundreds, perhaps even thousands of gray, weathering docks sticking out into the gulf and the hundreds of miles of inlets shorelines, not to mention all of the inland lakes around here. It just seems like I should do something about them... preferably without killing myself. How big of a water tank would one of those flat bottom boats hold - safely?

    If I did draw salt water through a pump (not the pressure washer pump) to wash with, the salt would tear up the wood - wouldn't it? Sorry, just throwing words out while trying to avoid pulling hoses. Of course, this is hypothetical, but still, if I could wash with salt or semi-salt water... And if I did, would the stain hold?

    And if the stain did hold, could I package the whole deal and sell it retail, get rich, and not have to do that again... Disregaurd this part...

  15. Posted · Report reply

    Chronological age - 56 Mental Ade - 21 Physical Age - Useless

    Is there a way to filter salt water before it goes through the pump? In other words, draw from brakish water - filter - then into the pressure washer! I guess if there were, it would cost a fortune and we wouldn't have a water shortage.

    I like the boat idea but it doesn't solve the water source issue. I could fish during the dwell time! Could rig a lawn tractor and charge for cutting the grass while I'm at it.

    Well, shoot. I'm not so sure I want to go after those docks now... or I will hire some helpers and charge a fortune - one or the other.

  23. Posted · Report reply

    Best advice I ever got... My Mom: Be the best. If you're not, find out who is and learn from them. The Army: Know your limitations. It is the only way you can overcome them. That is what I am doing here and why I appreciate people like you and Guy who will, I am sure (and hope), have no problems telling me when I am wrong and how to do things right.

    My marketing skills are based on College (throw big bucks at it till it sells) and having had my own businesses over the years. You both have been in this field for years and know what does and doesn't work. In other words, you are the experts - I am the student. Teach me Obi-Wan (I have no idea if I spelled that right).

    I figure I can't be to bright... I was a combat photographer for many years! Went out with the 82nd Airborn, Special Forces, and Rangers. Shoot at me with an AK and I will shoot you with my Nikon... yea... real bright.

  24. Posted · Edited by DCOutdoors · Report reply

    Thanks Guy - I actually agree with everything you have said... well... except I was more optimistic about the time frame... I figured three to five years. I have a business and marketing background and am aware of the required hats so am pretty comfortable with that. While I will probably use wordpress for the website, I am capable of designing and maintaining my own site. Insurance - $195 to start - $62 per month for a million dollar policy. I will up this when I move to commercial.

    Marketing Note: the easiest businesses to market are the high end or the low end - never in the middle... you compete with the other two. I will seperate myself by stressing I am niether a painter or yard maintenance guy - I specialize in caring for your home, decks, docks, and fences. I want to learn a bit more before I tackle a 500-foot dock. As for pressure washing specific marketing, again, I am all ears.

    I can't describe how committed I am but will say, one way or another, it's going to work. I will start with residential till I am established and comfortable before moving to commercial. For now, I will stay off the roofs (to easy to mess up) and out of the driveways (they are huge around here).

    My intentions are to hire veterans for a couple of reasons that I won't get into here. My wife claims the Army brain-washed me when it comes to things like: "The mission always comes first," Loyalty, Dedication, and a lot more.

    Most importantly, I will gladly listen to and learn from everyone who has experience and cares to share! I am a fanatic about doing the job right and exceed expectations.

    Thank you for your time and thoughts - God Bless you as well.

    PS: If you need help with that assault force, let me know...

×