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Integrity Curb Appeal

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Posts posted by Integrity Curb Appeal

  1. Posted · Report reply

    I made a setup of my own that not only allows me to remote control my injector, but I also mix my chems on command. I have a 1/4 inch "t" downline past my solenoid. One line draws SH and the other draws soap. I have a proportioning valve in the soap side so that I get the correct ratio. I never have to mix chems before going on a job. I have my soap in a bag with a back flow proof valve on the bag. I nver have to unhook it. I just change the bag when it is empty.

    I have recently had a couple of people ask me to build them the remote control system. Is this something that is marketable?

  2. Posted · Report reply

    Anthony,

    This is our second year of using Restora. we will continue to use it as long as we can get it. The problems, I believe are some inexperienced or could care less contractors do not clean the substrate. They low ball, then cloud the issue by applyng Restora over Oxyidation. We have never had any problems and find Restora is one of our most profitable jobs. We have three homes lined up so far this year. Looking forward to 50-100 if possible. Thank You.

    Tegrey,

    Where can I get Restora?

    Scott

  4. Posted · Report reply

    outdoor bleach ..mixture of bleach and soap from home depot. tired it at start of season and it works great. I wash each lap of vinyl siding like I'm spray painting it . each side takes roughly an hour on most houses with high pressure

    You need to search downstreaming and sodium hypochlorite. High pressure can damage vinyl, and low pressure not only performs better with the right chems, but it is easier and quicker. Feel free to call me if you have any questions.

    Scott

  5. Posted · Report reply

    Scott,

    The labor and materials on the job were quoted as a regular "hard strip oil solid and sand" job. Then discounted the labor by 1/2 the price of 2x2 new spindles, about $160. Customer pays for the rest of the spindle lumber.

    Thought is this. We all know that 2x2 spindles are very tough to strip off an oil solid as one cannot get a regular random orbital on the insides. In addition, with the tear out, the remainder of the balustrade is flat wood. Much easier to strip and certainly to sand. Even with tear out labor, mitre cut and reinstall with screws, I think labor wise as well as project wise, we are ahead of the game.

    Next one of these, I am on it!

  9. Posted · Report reply

    having the same problem on one I did last week. some uneven areas of oxidation still showing after it dried. the customer and I walked the house before I was paid and NO signs of oxidation were left. I hit every sq. onch when cleaning and that is reflected in my price.. she gave me a call later that night and said she notice some discoloration. I told her I would be over in 2 days and she agreed. I gave it a second go on sat eve. with purple stuff but thunderstorms prevented it drying out and checking for oxidation. I haven't seen oxidation this bad in many years on vinyl. Only on the eastern and southern side where sun exposure is bad. I will be cautious on bidding on any other homes with this brand of siding in this neighborhood. It could have been residue from the cleaner or even cleaner weeping out from the drip holes in the vinyl I explained but I haven't had this much problem with vinyl in my whole time of cleaning houses. Hell I may have to get a big jar of armor all and brush the 2 sides with it!

    How are you applying your chems? If the S-hypo is too strong... and the sun is beating down... then it may be crystalizing on the siding.

    Are you downstreaming or x-jetting? If ds-ing, what is your draw percent?

  10. Posted · Report reply

    after staining a pine deck it looked good. Now a week latter the customer calls and says there are light spots all over like there was not enough stain. So I go look and all the light spots are around the knots.

    Used WTW WHG. any ideas? I found one earlier post that mentioned it but I'm not sure if it is normal or not. If not, how do I correct it.

    It happens frequently. The knots are like straws that soak up the stain. I have not found a way to remedy this. You should just communicate this up front. With WTW I would think you could just apply more on the spots. With RS, it just keeps soaking in.

  11. Posted · Report reply

    Just curious as to how much time you are allocating to sanding that monster deck and how you chared the HO. Major undertaki for you and HO finances!!

    Let's say the sanding alone is about 26 hours. We will not talk about the labor for stripping. I was only onsite 12 hours of the stripping process, but I had 2 guys there 3 days straight.

    I talked to the homeowner about changing back to a solid, but she insisted that it could never look as bad as it did before we started. My goal is 100% stripped, and we may come in about 99.5% The underside of the top layer took 3+ coats of boosted stripper.

    I will apply 30 gallons of sealer the beginning of next week.

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Ken, if you haven't tried it, next time talk to them about a two tone. Rails hold up differently than floors, steps and caps and if you can get the semi-trans on the horizontals it's a nice sharp looking job.

    Beth

    I am doing the house directly next door as well. It is a two tone. The decking is semi and the rails were actually painted. The homeowner insists on repainting the rails. pic attached.

  14. Posted · Report reply

    Have you ever convinced a homeowner to strip a solid and apply a semi-transparent... then asked yourself WHY?????? did I do that?

    The test spot was promising, but there were areas of multiple coats that we found after getting down and dirty.

    Well.... It is now stripped and ready for sanding tomorrow!

    But after it is all said and done... I will have to say. Great choice!

    This is gonna look good.

  15. Posted · Report reply

    Ironically, I just found this and am in the process of building one right now. 100ft remote is the best I could do without tripling the cost. What would someone pay for this?

    Scott

    If I were to sale a remote controlled (100 ft) downstream injector on/off switch, would it be worth $125.00?

  17. Posted · Report reply

    I've seen remote controls for switching machines on/off or chems on /off but if I recall correctly, pricing was ridiculous. Can you build a better mousetrap?

    Ironically, I just found this and am in the process of building one right now. 100ft remote is the best I could do without tripling the cost. What would someone pay for this?

    Scott

  18. Posted · Report reply

    Actually I put a bid in on a condo project in my area last year and offered that as one of my services. I got a call from them today saying that they are ready to go with me even though I was higher, partially because I was providing the protective wax sealer with mildew retardants with my service. It should be a good job too about 20 buildings or so.

    Paul,

    What wax are you using?

    Scott

  19. Posted · Report reply

    PN,

    You must admit, you asked for these type of replies. I don't know what you do for a living, but what if I told you I was going to perform one of your professional tasks. Ithen said I am cheap, and then I said I am lazy. Then I followed up with saying I was desiring professional results. I must assume you would think I pompous, and ignorant. And then it would tick you off. Why? Because if we could all perform professional tasks and reap exceptional results with little to no money while using core competencies such as laziness, and ignorance. We would have no use in lerning institutions at any level. What is your proffession by the way?

    I must admit, your first post really led me to believe that it was a joke.

  21. Posted · Report reply

    You are correct they do require some maint, but not too bad. I have a dual vac system and it is the only way to go if you use the vacuboom. In 6 years I think I replaced 3 motors, most in the first few years. What usually caused the problem was the foam caused by the combo of air flow and soap. A little de-foamer and pre damming solved a lot of those problems.

    What defoamer are you using, and how do you introduce it to the waste water?

  22. Posted · Report reply

    I am sure I want to try it myself, besides lazy I am also cheap. As I mentioned the deck is over 15 years old and if I end up replacing the deck boards it would not be the end of the world.

    All of the strippers I have looked into say to apply to a dry surface, let stand and rinse. I doubt I can rinse the first area without getting the next area wet. Is there stripper available that is applied to a wet surface? They also say to scrub the surface, that is the step I would most like to skip.

    I had considered just flipping the boards over since they are all square cut. I also have a thickness planner and could just take off the top layer very easily, which would make them nice and smooth. I would rather not do either of these two options though.

    Thanks

    O.K The jokes over. Your pullin my leg.

    And if not then do I have the solution for you. Leave it alone. If you are too lazy and cheap to do it right then just buy a pair of really dark sunglasses. Keep them by the back door leading to the deck. Put them on before you look at it, and it will always look nicely stained. Or you could just take advantage of your deck at night.

  23. Posted · Report reply

    Learn a foreign language??

    Nah.. part of my gig is to entertain the Indians..Not knowing what they saying can make for some fun times albeit usually at my expense.. :)

    For instance I had an Indian teach me how to say "I want to get with yer sister" ...you know to be able to play around with some the guys at other locales that enjoy shootin the breeze in true guy fashion. Some them like crude humour.

    So this guy teaches me something sounding like 'mary bonda morrow' and I head out into the world all proud and armed with another addition to my small repertoire of Punjab/Hinde slang. Come to find out monthes later that all the while I thinking I been dis'en them about their sisters I really been telling them I want to bend male men over and have at them in a frisco sort of way. Is no wonder many were choking on their kava(sp?) drinks and about falling off their stools in laughter.

    ...

    I'll stick with English cause that is the official American language isn't it?

    DUDE, that is hilarious. Probably the funniest thing I have read in a while.

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