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Roger Oakley

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Posts posted by Roger Oakley

  4. Posted · Report reply

    Outstanding, Roger. But I was told Brits prefer things to not look so clean and finished. ::wink:: What product did you apply as a sealer?

    Thanks Ken,

    True some clients do prefer it to look not so finished, (I just want it clean brigade). Washed, sanded using 120 grit max to remove fuzzies etc, then brushed sealer on by hand. Product is Cuprinols Golden Teak, nothing fancy does what it says on the tin. Client wants it cleaned etc once a year from now on.

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Ken,

    Know how you feel on this one, I quoted a 5000 sq mt paving job a few weeks ago, still waiting a reply (House is up for sale a 8 Million Pounds about 12 million dollars)) so they want it cleaned up before it sells.

    Messuring took over 2 hours, I have photos if you want to see them, tennis courts, various levels of patio etc, drive is about 100 mts long.

    Hope you get it, would look great on the portfollio.

    Roger

  7. Posted · Report reply

    Who makes your "Golden Teak Finish"?

    Rick,

    It is Cuprinol Furniture Protector.

    Client wanted it to match this swinging bench.

    There was also this Green Bench to be stripped and repainted (Bench is Shot/Rotten) but it must have some sentimental value. Also the "Decking Panels" (which had been laid in the GRASS ugh!) finished in the same Forest Green.

    This was the "Calming Green Area of the Garden"

    Did not take before photos, as this was an after thought by the client.

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Nice one Roger. Looks great. Top job. What size surface cleaner did you use? pressure washer GPM? PSI? How long did it take you? WAllydog.

    Wallydog,

    FSC 18" PSI max 4000, GPM around 4 my machine pulls 15 lts per min. 4 Days washing at 10 hours per day, 1.5 days forweed killing and 3 day re-sanding, this took 750 kgs of sand. total of 1200 sq, mts.

    Rick

    "Very good looking job. What kind of facility is that, not a private home is it? Had no idea palm trees could grow in England, looks real but must certainly be a replica".

    Yes it's a private home, CEO of a major company, Yes palm tree is real, Palms grow real easy in the south of England,this guy has 2 full time gardeners the area is that big.

    The jetty could take the titanic, LOL, it's another world Rick belive me.

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Rod,

    Thanks for the reply, yes trying to educate clients that to seal/stain/protect is a good investment, but it's a up-hill task, but 'I'll get there.

    As far as people being "green/environmentally conscious" goes people are really starting to do so, and here's a point for you, a couple of councils in the London area, you get fined if you don't seperate bottles, newspapers etc from your weekly refuse collection. So you can see the chemicals issue's I have sometimes.

    Rick.

    "Limey" mate that is so old hat.

    If you guy's get "Eastenders" on BBC world out there it might help bring you up to speed. :lgsideway

    Rick Quote

    "Many are the same people that bemoan global warming, air pollution, and the increasing price of petrol, yet drive their monster SUV's with abandon. It is very amusing." Yep same over here too.

    "However, it seems that our UK cousins are lacking in the wood preparatiion products we have available in the States."

    This is also true, I am looking to import from the USA at some point,as it is a pain trying to get anything even close to what you guys have, over here.

    Roger

  17. Posted · Report reply

    Rod,

    I use pretty much the same techniques as you have stated.

    I also use a twin lance and can control the water flow from it.

    Couple of things that may differ over here are,

    99% of the decks I clean are what I think you would call PT wood, and are either scandinavian redwood or yellow balau, have never been sealed, stained etc so removing sealer is not an issue. Sealing is not a big thing over here as it is in the states, people seem to like the natural colour of the wood which is mainly white. Even after washing and suggesting sealing or staining the answer is "No I just want it cleaned", or "I'll do it myself at a later date". People just don't want to pay the extra.

    When washing deck's I'll bleach bath a deck as the results far outway washing with water only, if people are prepaired for the extra cost. If I am staining/sealing the deck myself then that's a different matter. The other thing the moment you say I'm going to be using chemicals to some home owners, panic panic my lawn, my plants, do you have to use chemicals etc, I 'm sure you know what I mean.

    After cleaning furniture, I nearly always apply a finish of some sort, depending what the owner wants, as just washed furniture can look rough,

    yes it's clean but it need's a little extra for the wow factor.

    So these are some of my reasons for washing with water only.

  19. Posted · Report reply

    Roger, how could you get results when water, whether high flow or high pressure cannot kill mold spores unless it is very hot? Very hot water will raise grain and destroy wood furniture.

    Ken,

    I don't use hot water, only have a cold water machine. We have more algae and general dirt then mold really, over here. Furniture that I cleaned and treated/stained last year still looks good and was not damaged in any way.

  20. Posted · Report reply

    Chems help us to get the best result out of the job and provides for a better surface to apply a product to.

    We do not use pressure only to clean with, not even on concrete. The chems help to do the work faster and easier than would otherwise be accomplished without them. And another point being that with the chems we are able to limit any type of damage that a pressure washer can do alone because we don't need to exert force to clean with. It is more like a speed rinse. With the products we use, it (the pw'er) has become more of a speed rinse tool instead of the primary cleaning tool.

    Let me give an example: Would you try to clean a dish with dried egg on it with just water and a scratch pad? Or would you use a dish soap and give it some time to soak so that when it's done, you can simply rinse off the plate and its as clean as it can be?

    What about the dishes with grease on them? Does it come clean with water and wiping or do you need something to cut the grease with? Does hot water help in the process?

    How about your laundry? Would you just leave it to the water and the agitation to clean your clothes? Will water alone remove the stains? Will water alone rid them of the smell? No. We all use a detergent and 'BLEECH' when needed.

    When you go to a car wash, do you just use the pw'er wand to clean you vehicle with or do you apply soap?

    The Philosophy is the same with pw'ing. The appropriate cleaner and dwell time gives you a better clean and minimal harm to the surface. The arguement is that chems can do harm. Yes they can if not used properly by someone who has been either educated or instructed on their proper uses and exposure limits. But where's the trade off using pressure alone to clean with? I don't see one. Pressure alone can do great damage to a surface that is not hard enough to withstand it. Even concrete can be damaged by a pw'er. Wood, especially furniture is especially susceptible to damage if not used with caution. Even pvc furniture can be damaged by using pressure alone. (trust me on this one, had to replace a table because of it in our 1st year)

    I hope this gives you the information you need to make a decision on which method you want to use in the future and the choice is yours...but remember, your business and reputation will be riding on it.

    Rod!~

    Rod I agree with what you say above, but what-ever method you use, you should use great care and caution. I stated above that I use water only to clean furniture, but you need to know your machine, pressure and water flow etc, to get the results.

  21. Posted · Report reply

    With this ride I'm currently on (using chems this and chems that), I was wondering if anyone uses pressure alone to clean furniture and decking?

    Is is possible to achieve great results doing this? Holding back the pressure where appropriate?

    Tim

    Tim,

    Nearly all the furniture I do is without chems, just keep an eye on the pressure, or you will trash the wood.

    All decks i do are now "bleahed bathed" thanks to "Sir Jim Folley" it is quicker and the results are fantastic.

    Roger

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Tim,

    Teak oiling furniture, is quite easy.

    P/W first, let furniture completely dry out.

    First coat use a brush, then between coats I lightly rub over either very fine sand paper or wirewool, (Check no strands of wool get snaged on wood) then for second coat, I use a lint free cloth and apply.

    Yes it does take time but the finsh can be fantasic, here is a link to some photos of a teak finish I did a few weeks ago.

    http://forums.thegrimescene.com/showthread.php?t=6377

    If you do ever go the sprayer route, remember to cover surrounding grass etc, for over-spray. depending on the size of the deck, you could use a pump-up sprayer, but again watch out for over spray.

    Roger

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