DCOutdoors

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

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.

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.

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.

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!!!

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

Good news and more good news... Got the job and the bricks were mortar and not sand.

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.

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

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?

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.

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

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

Here's the scenerio: cross 300-feet of yard to get to a 500-foot dock with a 20x30 two level platform at the end in North Florida. Owner says, "don't drive across my grass!" What is the best setup to accomplish this. It is hypothetical because I am getting ready to agressively persue them... lots of them... no, really... lots and lots...

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...

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.

I guess I walked into that one :)

My Mom was 29 and it took me till I was 30+ to realize something was amiss! Now that I am, well... past that + after the 30... I am pretty sure she wasn't telling the truth!!!

Mental: I am 21 - Chronological: as you put it, I am what I am - Physical: they're about to throw dirt over me!

Happy Late Birthday John... Didn't really know you then but now I do... Okay, here's the answer to your age problem... as I explain it, I have three ages: chronological, physical, and mental... none of which are the same!

So if I live in Northern Florida, yet somewhat to the west... am I in the North, North West, Midwest... I don't know, I am to new to all of this to answer! Near Panama City Beach, FL...

Ok, I have already beat myself up for wasting time and money (excitement over ran brain power) so we can skip that part. Can or will you suggest the lowest cost way to start while maintaining a professional image. Military retirement and raising my grandson does not allow for a major investment however it does allow us to live while we grow the business. I am willing to do almost anything to get started. My goal is to build a full time reputable business that will allow us the income to live while teaching my grandson (12) work ethics and honesty! Thank you in advance for any help you provide. We are located near Panama City, FL. David Crockett (Yes, this is my real name)

Ha-ha... yea, I looked at your site and saw the places you service. Talk about Flashbacks! I was there when they called it, "Fayett-nam." '75 to '79. Back then the locals didn't like us much. I understand the area was cleaned up a lot and everything has changed. I used to camp at White Lake just to get away. Small world!