SprinklerGuy

quote: HVLP=High Pressure Low Volume and it refers to a decker unit from PumpTec. Are you sure? ;)

Just for the record..I have some ideas....not sure if I should post them or not.....what do you think?

Thanks Will the tarps draped on the other side of the fence really prevent any of the stain from going between pickets and getting on the other side? Seems to me that would depend on the gap between boards....but if the other side is in bad shape and hasn't been cleaned I guess the stain won't be too noticeable eh? 2 weeks later the neighbor calls and wants his done too....can the recently finished client's stain/sealant be compromised by the cleaning on the other side of the fence? Inquiring overanalytical minds want to know!

I have a problem...well I have many problems...but lets focus on just this one for the time being. I had this problem in the past with my other business...and I'll give some background and ask for suggestions. I started my company in 1993 with the intention of just repairing lawn sprinklers...i did just that...and also installing them..my company name was indicative of that fact... Sprinkler Solutions....fit perfectly. As time went on...we started doing some Landscape Contracting...sod, plants, walkways etc....I fought with the idea of changing my company name to reflect this. I ultimately decided that my company name and my core business were more important...and I marketed myself to people who already knew me anyway, therefore the name change was not important. Now the dilemna...(sp?) I love wood....I love the way it smells, I love the way it looks and I love to work with it, mostly building things but I was so impressed with the before and after pictures on this site while researching PW'ing that I have decided I want to specialize in wood restoration. I want to be known for that and I think my company name should reflect this...my niche. However, initially I feel it is very important for people to know that I will also offer other types of PW'ing....I will need to do all I can to make ends meet...it won't happen overnite. Should I attach a more generic name to my company and push the wood restoration because I love it...or should I do what I did w/ the sprinkler company....attach a name that defines my niche and mention also that I offer other services? I'm leaning towards the niche name...and getting those prospects to do other things as well. The way I see it a client has many chances to use that big machine on the trailer for things...not just wood restoration and it is my job to let them know what those things are. BTW...it is with a heavy heart that I realize I need to let the fledgling sprinkler business run its course...I just finished my first season here in Colorado and it was promising...but I believe my future is in something else... Thanks for listening.

I just left a fence repair/replace bid....and it got me to thinking. The guy was upset that it was going to cost so much.....so I told him to speak w/ his neighbor about ponying up 1/2 the cost..as it is HIS fence also...that brings me to my problem. A lot of the fences around part of my market are cedar dog-eared beautiful grey, splintering fences....but they are shared fences....the neighbors are that close together. How do you go about cleaning and restoring just one side of a fence? Can it even be done? This worries me, ultimately if it cannot be done, there are 3 other sides of the fence to worry about....3 other people to be convinced...3 other people that could ultimately say no and then what? Is there a way to seal one side and not another or is this impossible. Thanks....

Hey..I love tools...in fact, I have enough tools to enter just about any trade that I want! As for the info...I guess I understood that there is a system...my eyes and head hurt from reading this stuff. By system I meant....a commercial system or "franchise" if you will. Not necessarily a franchise in and of itself but a system of cleaning and restoring that is the same brand name, marketed in that way.... Or...do you use a certain stripper/cleaner from one company and a stain from another company. thanks

What do you guys think of this one? Maybe I need a little drive...does this perhaps belong to one of ya? http://cgi.ebay.com/HYDRO-TEK-STEAM-HOT-WATER-PRESSURE-WASHER-TRAILER-CAT_W0QQitemZ7578104025QQcategoryZ46536QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Any thoughts on systems? By systems I mean manufacturers/distributors that sell a system...an all in one system for restoration. I have heard of some....Weathershield....Extreme....probably many others. By going to the people or companies that market these systems..would it be a better way to learn the fine art of restoration only or would it be a good idea to learn the business as well. I know that many of them (read: ALL OF THEM)..think their way is the way the truth and the light...but are they all created equally? Not trying to start a war...just wondering and hoping for solid advice. thanks in advance.

Sorry to steal this thread..not often I meet a fellow rock inhabitor. Ever go see the habu mongoose fights? We went on a field trip with my little brothers school....yes grade school..I still can't believe they let those kids watch that. Pssst, the mongoose almost always wins!

Celeste....remember the Habu's in Okinawa? When I was on mainland Japan in Atsugi..there was another kind of snake all were afraid of....for the life of me I cannot remember the name..... Anyway, the banana spiders on "The rock" were incredible...how about the poisonous conch shells that scared the daylights out of everyone...it seems there were so many scary and dangerous things there...except I still loved it. I was there from 82-85 yourself? My father was USMC and we were also stationed in Cherry Pt., NC...another great place. Take care.

Thanks guys....John Fife...respectfully, our climate is nothing like Denver's.... We are at 10,000 feet..they are at "mile high"...ugh I hate the Broncos.... Their average highs in summer are a good 10-15 degrees higher than ours..but the big difference is that their average lows are 15-20 degrees higher than ours. I know it seems like I'm trying to talk myself out of this...LOL...Truly I am not..I am just trying to be realistic..the last thing I want to do is go from a 7 month per year business to one that is much shorter.... Ha Ha...thanks for all the help guys...luckily for me Colorado Springs is pretty close to me...that is where I install and repair lawn sprinklers in the "season"...they are much like Denver.... Thanks

I understand that I will have to diversify in order to work the "shoulder" months..and I have no problem with that...I just hate to think that I have a window of 3 months to do wood work.... I guess the biggest problem is the wood itself...freezing temperatures and the moisture in the wood will cause the pores of the wood to close...correct? If they don't open up again with steady warmer temps...then I cannot apply sealant. If it is above 45 during the day and gets below freezing at night during my shoulder months...will the few hours of freezing temps at nite cause me problems? Keep in mind that our humidity is very low here. Thanks

Wow..that's gonna make for a very short season here....hmmmmm. Average High temp in april is 54.5 average low for april is 21.7 May high is 64.1 low is 29.2 June high is 73 Low is 36 July high is 77 low is 40.6 august high is 74.9 low is 40.4 Would you ever work here?

I did a search..found part of what I was looking for but I am interested in specifics....answer this question if you would please. When the nightime temps are falling below ( ) we are done for the year. In my immediate area it is a mountain community...the temps are below 30 most nights now and I am sure the season is over. However, in the big town 45 minutes away from me...the temps may be consistently over 35-40 degrees at night and 50 in the daytime....safe to continue or not safe? I am trying to gauge my actual season and when it will begin and end. If the temps are too cold for decks..can you still do fences? Thanks in advance.

Thanks guys...this reminds me of the sprinkler business.....many products..all do much the same thing, but everyone thinks their product is the best. Ford vs Chevy type of thing. I agree on the training....a smart guy may be able to learn what he needs on his own...will he screw up? Probably....and his friends deck may never be the same...I believe in being taught when it is available...I believe that training is invaluable and worth every penny. That being said...it is tough to decide which way to turn based on heresay and second hand information. I am going to stick around over the winter...watch the boards and see what happens. I think my instinct will tell me which system is right for me. My biggest concern is my area and its idiosyncrasies. Humidity..types of wood used etc. I am a fairly independent person...I will figure this stuff out through trial and error if I have to or I will get "schooled" if I have to...but I'm not spending a dime until I figure out wether or not I can do this for a living...I love what I do now and I'm just looking for other options at this point. I do know that I truly enjoy seeing the before and after pics...and I can imagine the satisfaction one receives from the look on the client's face....much better than giving my client a bill for 500 bucks for fixing something buried in the dirt that they will NEVER see ever ever ever.... Thanks again...look for my many posts....I have lots of questions..hopefully none of them considered redundant. Thanks again