I’ve got a fence to prep for sealing and it’s damn near clean already. Any advice on method? I’ve got some powder sodium percarbonate, powder oxalic acid, SH of course…
But this is so pretty already… think I could get away with a low dose SH and some as needed fan tip action on the panels with the black marks?
Suppose I may need to treat everything equally?
There’s 285 plus 100f of fronts… Maybe only 150f has any algae/mold.
Check for organics using hydrogen peroxide (squirt it in in a few areas and see if it bubbles up right away, if so you have organics). Check moisture of the wood (should be under 14%), if both check out should be good to go.
I do see organics visibly… will check humidity… But on getting rid of the organics, what would be your choice of cleaning chem on new wood? I usually just do sh and ox but that’s on dark old lichen covered fences…
I’m not sure if I need to treat it differently or not.
Use a house wash mix.
Hit the organics with stronger SH.
Apply ox. Especially important on newer wood.
Rinse.
Stain.
What stain are you using?
What color stain are they going with?
Pre rinse to open up the wood, apply your pre carb mix (Xjet/pump up sprayer/12v) for your cleaner and let it dwell for a bit. Rinse staying uniform on distance away from the wood (long full board passes, you’re looking for a consistent psi on the boards) then follow with your ox. I’ve left the ox on without rinsing, up to you.
I’m just getting an idea for the kind of labor to be involved so I can bid the cleaning properly. I was hoping for an easy solution since it’s just a small area with organics on a newer fence. Looks like not lol
I keep getting stuck in this mindset of trying to save my client some money rather than backing up full size bids. Hope I can pass this phase quickly and get on with it. Sheesh!
I’m sure it’s just the lack of knowledge on my part, once I know most of the answers I’ll be able to bid more confidently… I’m so thankful for all your replies and help!
They’ll probably go with that red colored Thompson’s or Eagle. I only apply clears myself.
If that’s the case, just apply HW mix or Perc and rinse well. No need for the ox or citric. Try to at least talk them into using decent stain - Ready Seal they can get at Lowe’s and you can do, no back brushing.
Great advice thank you!
Decide now where you want to fit into your market. When people call us with the “wash 1 side” crap, they either wind up getting their full house washed, or they get someone else to do it. We’re proud of being full service, offering a warranty, and paying our employees/taxes/insurance properly. If they won’t listen to the reasons why the whole house should be cleaned, then they’re likely bargain hunting, and don’t really fit our niche in the market. There’s the rare exception for a returning client or what have you, but it’s very rare.
That said, we’re not going to sell someone things they don’t need (heck, most of the time I don’t think the guys are selling them things they really do need…). We’re not going to sell them cleaning a nice clean deck or patio unless it needs it, we’re going to remove the gutter scrubbing treatment if the housewash mix alone takes care of the issue for them, etc. But we’re also not going to do little piecemeal work that isn’t worth pulling the hoses. There are guys that exist to fill that segment of the market, and will just come out and spray the 3 spots on the house that “look dirty”, we’ll let them have those clients that insist on doing it that way. All of those companies make up the industry in every city, you just have to decide which one fits you (and what you plan to be, because it’s tough to change once you choose your path), and be true to that. It may mean not having work instead of doing a little thing here or there, but your market needs to come to learn/understand who you are and why your company exists. Business philosophy rant over…
LOL, you must be having a slow morning
Alex, good money to be made in the staining portion. Don’t have time to write it all, but call me if interested and I’ll walk you through everything.
and be sure to check requirements…we learned in researching a 2nd business offering staining in Virginia, we’re actually required to have a contractor’s license as required for a painter… glad we don’t do that any more
I don’t know Eagle but don’t let them use Thompson’s. Rick’s right. Ready Seal can work fine. Not sure what area you are in, but there’s other good stuff out there, too.
Don’t apply clear stains. I’ve stained for 26 years and have never done a clear stain. I talk customers out of them. They offer no UV protection. And don’t last long at all. It’ll be grey again in 6-12 months. Might as well just wash it and let it gray, and save them a bunch of money on having it stained.
I hear ya, I’m in Tennessee.
If you are in TN contact stain and seal experts, they love selling stain. You can get a sample stick off them for the variety of colors they sell. They are outside of Nashville. Apparently fence staining is big money in the Nashville area and they get good rates for it.
Funny, I had to get a contractor’s number in PA just to splash and dash. Plus I have to do sales and use tax for cleaning. It is a PITA. I have quarterlies due in a couple of days.
