A deck that I have been avoiding......

Mike Hughes

New Member
This person has been a gutter cleaning customer of mine for over three years now........every time I'm at the house, I look at this deck and say "No Way!". I am thinking of trying it this year, if they're willing.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1471628&a=11073115&p=40667897


As you can see from the pic, the deck is in three parts. I think this deck has to be stained by hand. Too many problems for overspray.......the house is stucco, concrete pad under main deck, metal supports for awning, and the one section of deck is 15 feet in the air. So, in my opinion, spraying is not even an option.

My question to you is, how much "danger pay" would you want for doing a deck that high up, and that much difficulty? I think the "suck factor" as some like to say, is pretty high on this deck. Thats why I have avoided it for so long, but I'm ready for it now. Besides, it will make for some great before/after shots!




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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA
 

JR Wood

New Member
I did one like tha last year,it was that high up just a bit smaller.The people just had new vinyl siding put on and there was an old man sitting there watching me the whole time.It was brutal,They also wanted the underside cleaned,talk about getting chemicals in your eyes...whew!The suck factor is very high on that one though because of the stucco.You will have to have someone right there ready to rinse it down if you get anything on it.On ones like that I clamp a dropcloth on then get some cardboard and bend it and clamp it to the top rail so about a foot high so you can safely spray without gatting it on the house.I would bid on that one adding a few extra hours of labor.It doesn't look like that one has been done in awhile if ever so it might be easy to clean.

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DID SOMEONE SAY DIVERSIFY?</FONT s>
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Shawn George

New Member
Mike,

Like you said, the before and after shots would be the reward for this one. What a set of pictures these would make for a 4-color brochure!!!!

Very Impressive !!
my 2 cents,

Shawn @ Pressure-Tek

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Dan Flynn

PWN Founder
Hey Mike,

I would pass, unless you are slow. That looks like a total pain in the rear. You would probably have a hard time getting paid properly the the work you would have to put in.
<IMG SRC="http://www.powerwash.net/ubb/icons/icon13.gif" border=0>

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Dan Flynn
Timberland Power Wash www.powerwash.net
Houston, Texas.
 

Mike Hughes

New Member
I figured I'd throw a # at them that's a bit on the high side, and if they bite, fine......if not, I won't lose any sleep over it.

We'll see.

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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA
 

TCross

New Member
Mike-
I would go for it! We do decks that are ten times worse than this almost on a weekly basis. You should be able to clean everything in less than a day and seal in about a day. You will have to seal the rails and spindles by hand. Think of a project like this as a challenge and I will bet you once completed you will take on larger more complex projects with ease. I wish I had a scanner to send you photos of projects that would make this one look like gravy. Charge accordingly and proceed.

Good Luck,
Tim Cross

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Brad

New Member
I wouldn't touch this job with a ten foot (or more) pole. Cleaning and sealing decks this high off the ground is a liability nightmare. One fall could take you out of business for the rest of the year.

The amount of money you could make (even if it was a high "sucker" price), let alone the time absorbsion, couldn't match the money you'd make doing decks that are slightly above ground.

There are too many easier decks to do than to take a chance on this one......

Brad - Performance Pressure Washing

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Craig Knight

New Member
Mike,

Did one just like it last year. Cleaning is not a problem, as we all know. Sealing took as long on the top as it did on the other two pieces combined. But the money was there. Like Tim said, a day for cleaning and a full day for stain/seal.

Mine was connected to a white brick home and they wanted dark brown stain. I just tarped it all off and used a paint mitt and did the top deck, then came down below and rolled and light sprayed the bottom of the top deck.

Then did the bottom two sections. After i got thru with the top, and got back on ground level, it was a breeze. My only problem was the height. I do not like heights, so i was skeered to work off a ladder that high up, so i just got them to let me in, did all the top work, lowered the stain, mitts, ect down by rope and then took my shoes off and went down thru the house. That was it.

Go for it.

Craig

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Craig Knight
www.powerwashunlimited.com
 

charlie

New Member
I am with Tim I do these decks all the time. Spindles and railing by hand. I also would use a painters pad on the Deck 2 Guys would take no more than 6 hours to treat. Cleaning would be fun and about 1/2 a day of work. Great before and after picture

Good Luck.



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TONY ELL

New Member
Mike:
The cleaning wouldn't probably be to bad. I would charge more because the height of the decks. I would bid the job for cleaning the decks only. Let them fend for themselves on sealing it. I have done worse decks in the past.

Tony Ell

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Don F

New Member
After reading through all the Posts I clicked on the picture. I thought it was going to be this Horrible Job. No Way, That's Easy Money.... Use Tarps... Tarps are your Friend. Screw Tarps on the board connecting the Deck to the Home and let it hang down. Tarp the underneaths... That will save you from Staining the House Wall and patio. Get some extra $$$$$ and wash/stain the undersides too! Don Farner

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