Members in Sandy's path PLEASE check in!

[Members in Sandy's path PLEASE check in!]

We are fine here in York, PA. We're flooded in, but we still have power, no problems and are fully prepared with essentials. Flood waters should subside by tomorrow morning. I guess we got lucky with the power compared to others I know in PA.

[Sandy]

I'm in south-central PA, everyone is expecting the worse. Generators were sold out early Thursday in ALL stores around here. There was a 200 person waiting list at the local Lowe's to get a generator if they got another shipment in. We had a lot of flooding last Fall. This looks to be just as bad or worse.

Some guy on Craigslist advertised generators. He said he had a trailer load he bought at Lowe's and will be selling them for $200-300 more than he paid. Unbelievable how someone can take advantage of people like that. I noticed today that his ads were flagged and a few were posting nasty things about him.

[Newbie mistake]

I am going to try using a little roof snot for house washes. The temps are getting lower and I need something to help the SH work better in these temps. Has anyone had any issues with windows using roof snot during a house wash?

[Stripper for acrylic paint on concrete]

Thanks Shane and Craig. I'll check those out.

[Stripper for acrylic paint on concrete]

What stripper would you recommend for removing acrylic paint from a garage concrete floor?

[The universe or where we live ...]

Some of those pictures are fantastic and unreal.

[The economy going down the toilet?]

I read the articles from Martin Armstrong. He has a great insight to what is really going on with our government and economy. You can read his essays at Martin Armstrong - UNOFFICIAL SITE - Economic Essays, Currency Trading, Global Economic Analysis, Princeton Economics, Kondratieff Wave, Kwaves, Prison, Business Cycles, Currency Trading, Gold and Silver Investing. I do agree with you John. Business has been doing well, but the economy isn't improving.

[Turbo nozzle- do you use them much?]

I use mine on occasion, but not much in the grand scheme of things.

[Need Advice]

If you have a few decent supply companies around your area, you can build your owns system for 1/4 the cost of a $900+ system. Also, if you have a Tractor Supply store near you, check out their 25 gallon tank / pump / sprayer combinations. I have two (one for cleaning solutions and one for stain) and they work pretty well if you simply replace the hose with a vinyl and the sprayer with whatever is most appropriate for your particular use. Recently I aquired a wood defender ST-250 Pro setup and am completely in-love with it. I can spray extremely quickly with maximum coverage but honestly the machine is quite pricey $$$.

As far as equipment and product goes, I did not see anyone post anything about the wood defender products. Anyone have experience with their products? I have used them now since april and except for the price I am quite pleased with their performance.

Hey Bryan - That ST-250 Pro setup looks fantastic! I bet you do love it. I never thought about the Tractor Supply option. How much hose did you run on those, and from your experience, how durable are they?

[Another day of rain!]

I use Ready Seal a good bit and have never had any issues if it rained later in the day.

[My most difficult bid thus far]

Oil based or water based?

Oil based.

[My most difficult bid thus far]

Your a better man then I Jason. I would run from that project if I was the one doing the work. Elaborate swing sets are one thing but the whole darn playground---cya.

Good luck.

Thanks John, I've always been one to look for big challenges. I do know my limits though.

[My most difficult bid thus far]

Is there a previous finish remaining on the structures?

Why semi solid?

Scott Hugunin

Scotts Restoration

8164014616

scott@scottshomeserviceskc.com

Yes, there is a previous finish on it. 20+ years of finish on top of finish. The township wants to keep with the same type of stain as before.

[My most difficult bid thus far]

I think I bid it well. I figured up the square footage, and also came up with how many hours I thought it would take based on my production times. I just hope my measurements/guesstimates were good. I also figured a PITA into the bid.

The township is looking for a new contractor to take this project over. The supervisor stated the old contractor did sub-par work, and I noticed that while doing the walk-thru. He also said that that contractor was half the price of the others. Imagine that!

[My most difficult bid thus far]

These are pics of a bid I put in for a township the other week. The entire playground including the fence and picnic tables needs washed (not stripped) and stained with a semi-solid. This also includes inside of the playground towers and bridges. I had to really focus when taking measurements and guesstimates. Decks are one thing, but this kind of had my head spinning and second guessing myself at times while figuring up a price.

[Don't do what I do-- Listen to your Doctors!!]

Also,

I'm glad your doctor was able to help you out John. Hopefully you have a great doctor.

[Don't do what I do-- Listen to your Doctors!!]

I'm right there with you Adam. I could go on for a long time why I'm against many of modern medicine's practices, but I will bite my tongue on this. Yes, you should see your doctor when something is wrong, but don't blindly follow their advice. Do your due diligence and make an educated decision by truly studying the situation. Don't be afraid to question, disagree or refuse when discussing your health options. Doctors are just like any profession; there are great professionals, average professionals and terrible so-called professionals.

[Fence Staining Jacksonville, FL]

That looks great Adam. I'm sure the customers are really pleased.

[AC Blend on PT Deck -- Finished]

Thanks Beth. I owe it to my web designer and his logo guy.

[AC Blend on PT Deck -- Finished]

Looks nice Tom. It's always great to see that finished product after all that work.

[PT Pine Test Pieces ... RS sucked right in; AC not so much]

Tom,

I don't have any experience with AC, but I do hear great things about it, especially the color quality. I love using Ready Seal. I was amazed at how the wood just soaked it all up the first time I used it. Since then, I haven't used anything else when I supply the stain.

[Average age at start up]

Started my business at age 38. I wish I could go back in time and start at age 18. Instead, I went the college route and worked for others. College has its place, but I would do it all differently if I could for various reasons.

[black streaks on gutters! what do you use to clean them with?]

You can cut the F-13 to a 20-1 ratio. I usually use it around 10-1 and have no problems getting the black streaks off. I had to use it at full concentration one time. The gutters were over 30 years old with heavy oxidation and were never cleaned. I haven't used it for anything else though.

[gutter cleaning inside and out]

I would be around the $250 range for 120LF. We usually charge a minimum of $1 per LF for inside and another $1 per LF for gutter whitening/scrubbing.

[Gutter cleaning ?]

I have never been a fan of gutter cleaning tools like these, because I doubt my customers want a major mess in their landscaping or yard. I also don't blow out dry leaves for that reason. We use ladders and buckets. We always use a stabilizer on the ladders. If it looks too dangerous, I decline the job. Taking safety risks is not fair to my family.