WTW, Rain & Scheduling

[Proclean 14]

How WTW can make you more money.

Here in the Atlanta area the forecast is the same every day. Chance of rain anywhere, anytime. If I looked at the TV news or online weather forecast, I would never seal decks.

Case #1. The guys are staining a deck. I am ½ mile away and no rain. They call me a say it is pouring down rain. They stop the rain passes over and the bright sun comes back out. They blow dry the deck, finish staining - job completed

Case #2. Different deck. We arrive at the job site first thing in the morning and I see it has rained here in the last several hours. Blow dry and they start to stain. About 3pm I get another one of those phone calls that it is raining again. They go below and stain the posts while it is raining. The rain passes over. They blow off the deck – job completed.

I’m not going to debate the quality of WTW (I’m bias), but if you have not tested this product or do not have this product in your arsenal, you are going to lose money if your main service is cleaning and sealing decks due to weather. Because I was able to stain everyday AND finish the job, it was a great week. If this past week would have been weather dependant, I would have made about 2K, because of WTW I made 5K and still on schedule for the next 4 weeks.

I still get comments that when I book a deck 4 weeks out and show up that day they can’t believe it. And talk about poor scheduling, I’m scheduling decks 6 days a week.

Now granted, it does not rain over the entire city everyday like with some of you. I can really feel for you guys. But, if the window opens up for a day, WTW is ready to go.

Newbies – Hang in there and keep at it. It just takes time. Also remember this very important info – You only have 1 time to impress your customer.

My .02.

And as successful as my company has become, God is really looking after me and my family.

Paul Dinos

Pro Clean Specialists, Inc.

[Neil_Asheville 114]

Congratulations, Paul! ProClean's success and reputation is what alot of us are working towards. I STILL need to get down and hang with you for a day or so.

Rock on....

/neil

[James 625]

PAUL, how many maint. coats or re-application of WTW have you done? I have had the worst rain related year to date and have considered WTW. But finishes that settle below the surface of the wood make me feel uncomfortable for future conisderation.

This is the problem with all hardwood products after a few appications of the sealer . The finish must be removed and it's very difficult to do so.

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

James, If I could step in on that question?

The maintenance is relatively easy as we have been doing maintenance for the past couple of years now on WT with WTW.

We wash with a weak HD-80 (equivalent 2-3oz/gal) and neutralize. This gets anything off the surface and leaves the wood clean for recoating. Spray application is the best method along with back padding to ensure even distribution.

http://forums.thegrimescene.com/showthread.php?t=4576&highlight=Western+Cedar

If this helps any. Our customers have been pleased with the performance and the maintenance ability of the product.

http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4316

Here is another one for you.

Back to you Paul.

Rod!~

[Proclean 14]

As you know I don’t post much – read everyday.

Ditto to what Rodh said.

For maintenance I use more efc-38 than hd-80. Depends on several factors.

If you are not using WTW due to thinking this is a “film” stain and/or stripping is required for maintenance, stop thinking this. Also, come to think of this, I don’t know where this got started about having to strip this product for maintenance.

It is not the easiest product in the world to use (but know more difficult than some other stains on the market), but the performance is one of the best stains on the market. And as we all know, maintenance is a key component to a good stain.

Bottom line of the post. I’m staining while it can rain and does rain whenever and at anytime. I’m on schedule & getting the check at the end of the day. Try your sample boards and see for yourself. I’m here to tell you it works and you don’t have many options if your deck can get wet at anytime and/or you can’t get 2 days of dry weather.

As I'm posting this I see the thread of "stripping WTW". I'm going to read this and maybe give me some insight on this whole "stripping" subject

Paul Dinos

Pro Clean Specialists, Inc

[Proclean 14]

Fuuny thread.

If you stand back and look, what this thread is saying is the product is soo good it is almost impossible to remove. Forgive me for saying this, but isn't that what we are looking for in a stain. Color aside (and be fixed to any color you like - I offfer brown, red, and honeygold), it lasts a long time. doesn't peeel or flake.

OK. I reread the stripping thread. I have no idea why I wood stip the stain off after applying to a whole deck.

#1 I always show a sample board to the customer. They also "sign off" on the contract about the color selection.

#2 I also apply a small sample on the wood after it is washed so they see what the color is like on their wood.

At this point, if the homeowner wanted the stain removed, no problem. Pay me now for what the contract stated and you signed off on, and I'll more than happy to give you another quote on removing it. BUT I know this would never happe due to the up front understanding we had going into the project.

I can't take credit for this saying (got it from a wood class). CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS.

Paul Dinos

Pro Clean Specialists, Inc

[PressurePros 249]

I agree with Paul and have had similar results. If every contractor remembers that WT on cedar (in it's natural form) makes an orangey finish, I can't see how you can have issues down the line. Add black (I don't even measure anymore) and you have brown. There is still a ton of opposition t using WTW and I understand the apprehension but when you give the product a chance and learn its caveats, your profit in woodcare rises dramatically. Just using it on 50% of my deck work this year has saved me tons of scheduling aggravation. I'd still love to see a product with just a bit less pigmentation, but I have expressed my concerns to ESI and possibilities exist to make this my 'go to' sealer in 100% of the applications.

I think the issue is this, most guys are used to using products they consider "fool proof". Wood Tux requires a little finesse, yes. In a business where profit is paramount (anything else is just a hobby) its hard for me to understand not working out the kinks and offering it in your arsenal. Fool proof and foolhardy are not synonymous.

[Proclean 14]

Ken, you are right on for color with WTW on cedar. I would not reccommend WTW honeygold on Cedar - too orange - add black or use a different product. I realy only see cedar on lattice, arbors and posts(4x).Not to much cedar down here for decks. A whole nother discussion why and there are a couple of reason. PTP rules in the south.

"Fool proof and foolhardy are not synonymous"

I agree 100% with this statement.

Paul Dinos

Pro Clean Specialists, Inc

[James 625]

I used Wood Tux. I Have not used WTW. Wtw just came out last year in the fall. So you have done maint on the product already? I used some Wood Tux today over Ready Seal..

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

WTW maint...not yet...tune in a couple of years from now and we'll have the scoop on that for sure!

Rod!~

[James 625]

So Paul you have done maint. on Hardwwoods with WtW ?

[PressurePros 249]

I did a cleaning last week from a deck I did in May 05. All day in the sun and the first time I did the deck it was covered in mold. Upon return, no mold growth and I could not determine any UV color shift though it was dirty from her dog walking from muddy yard. After cleaning, the customer was asking me when I thought it would ned to be redone. My reply was that at the rate it was holding up, probably 2008.

[Russell Cissell 65]

Ken

I saw where you wrote:

"If every contractor remembers that WT on cedar (in it's natural form) makes an orangey finish,"

I wanted to clarify this is only on white or VERY light cedar. If you visit:

http://www.esproducts.net/Colors2.htm you can see the Warm Honey Gold color applied to three different shades of Cedar. All three are red cedar, however the last sample is very light red cedar. It almost looks white. In this sample the color does have an orange tint.

Some home owners love this color.