John Orr

I have found Angie's List to be quite useful. It seems that I have been averaging 1 or 2 new residential customers per month this year - just for having been rated highly. It could be a two-edged sword if you don't deliver the quality people expect.

I always leave the furniture off the deck. In fact, I insist on leaving it off. Anything contacting the deck could hold moisture, and I want the deck dry - without wet spots. 3 days is not an unreasonable time - though I do let my customers know that the furniture needs to be left off the deck.

We're getting ready to leave for vacation (Milwaukee, 1 week). I was checking my email and found a request from a homeowner in Northern Baltimore County in Maryland: "Do you clean Trex decks in northern Baltimore County in Maryland? If not, do you know anyone who does? Thanks." There contact info is: Barbara Crain bcrain@jhmi.edu I have emailed them to let them know I have posted there request here. John P.S. Out of town, but not off line!

As I recall from the rigs I have bought in the last 4-5 years, standard practice is to not ship with a battery - or gas or diesel - or any flammable or corrosive chemical. On one, no battery was included (stated in sales lit) and the other came with a coupon that could be redeemed for a battery. As far as all the other issues, for $11 grand, I would expect much more - and at least a coupon for the battery!

Thanks for reminding me! :lgbonk:

Wouldn't the Oxalic fumes neutralize the SH fumes?

As its been 30 years or so since I have seen redwood up-close (not counting Muir Woods), but it looked like cedar to me. The only cedar I ever see is an occaisional fence.

I got my box of samples today. I've never used WoodTux or Ready Seal, but the samples sure do look like my old Oly Max Toner. Nice color, without a film. The samples are on cedar (rare around here) so I will be making-up some pressure treated samples ASAP. The box included samples of the transparents and semitransparents as well as a small can of each. If it looks as good as the samples, I may have found a new stain.

Have any of you ever heard of USLBA? Got an email this morning announcing I had been selected for this award. Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Low Pressure Exterior Cleaning Receives 2008 Best of Chesapeake Award U.S. Local Business Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement WASHINGTON D.C., July 16, 2008 -- Low Pressure Exterior Cleaning has been selected for the 2008 Best of Chesapeake Award in the Patio & Deck Cleaning category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA). The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Ask the people at your local Lowes for the name and number of your local PPG/Olympic rep. If he/she is anything like the rep I have, you will get some help.

Yep, it looks like sprinklers. I can't tell if its rust or mildew. Chlorine and light pressure if its mildew and oxalic acid and a rinse if its rust.

Only one way to find out - I will order some A-C samples and let you know.

It sounds to me that the A-C's stains are a lot like Olympic's. Oly's Toner is transparent - no film on the surface. It literally colors the wood and looks very natural. The semi-transparent leaves a film on the surface of the wood that, but you can still see the grain of the wood. The Toner has the consistency of mineral spirits - very easy to apply with a pump-up sprayer. The semi-transparent is thicker and generally won't work in a pump-up.

The Oly Max Toner is a true stain/sealer. In fact, as near as I can tell, the AC Transparent is very similar. Oly has a 3 yr guarantee on graying on decks and 4 (I think) on fences. Have you seen the Oly Max Toner in Canyon Brown?

I've had that happen using Oly Max Toner. The only problem were a few water spots where the water had beaded and dried. A light sand and recoat was all that was needed.

Not being able to fully clean a customer's home is rather embarrassing - even if it "can't be done". I recall figuring out how to clean the rubber gaskets around a garage door, and how to properly clean gutter streaks, or remove rust stains. Now that there appears to be a remedy for artillery fungus, I look forward to the day that I can say "remember when...". Jeff, if it truly works, you will earn my vote for the Nobel! By the way, while AF most commonly appears around wood mulch, I have seen cases of AF around stone, grass and trees. I have spoken with the Virginia Tech Ag Extension (They don't know how to remove it!) as well as some "experts" and the recommendation is the application of a fungicide in the affected area as well as turning over the mulch.

Lol I've never actually seen anything other than the green can Oly Max Toner (1) - OK? The "shiny" pic does not look like Oly Max Toner, but the lighter fence does. The stuff in the green can really tints the wood, though it does offer UV protection and won't (really!) gray for 3 years. When re-coating is need, downstream stripper to remove or even add a second coat after a low-pressure wash. The only complaint I have ever gotten is that its not dark enough, though that is very rare.

There are no similarities between the Toner and the Semi Transparent. None. The film in the other thread appears to be Toner over some existing stain - I don't recognize the color.

Back, arms ... lol Less than 500 psi on asphalt shingles.

A determined individual is able to mess anything up! lol As for the shine, I've never seen that color in the toner. Possibly the brown over some existing stain?

Mainly oil. After application, you can walk on it within minutes without leaving footprints. (24 hr to completely dry.) No topical coat that can be seen. Toner has the consistency of products like Minwax, Old English or liquid shoe polish or mineral spirits.

I actually had to pull out my 48' Coress this past weekend. A roof I cleaned about 6 weeks ago had a lot of lichen. Not enough rain since the cleaning and a wedding next week meant manual removal. 2 story, 12/12 pitch and about 2 hours.

That is surely a mess. A tarp would certainly have helped. I doubt if that is Olympic Toner though. Having personally applied it to hundreds of decks over the years, I can tell.

Looking at the A-C website, it would appear that their Transparent colors (toners) are VERY similar to the Olympic Toners. For those trying the A-C, you might want to also try the Oly Toners. Oly has a few more colors (clear, honey gold, cedar, brown and redwood.) too.

I would seriously recommend a call to the manufacturer of the sealer. Some can be stripped using a good deck stripper.