beginner, and deck problem

First I'd like to thank all for the site. I have been wanting to start my own business for a long time. One that I can get started a couple of days a week, and relatively inexspensive start up cost. Well, my full time job has introduced me to pressure washing, maintaining our parking area. I found that I had a nack for it (compared to other employees) and felt satisfaction from the task. Anyway, I began researching and stumbled across this site, and as I said to my wife " I found the mother load." I want to stay with resindential work until full time, and one primary goal is to teach and start my son in this business. I have been praticing around my home, 15 yrs old (mine four 3) and getting good results and alot of practice/experimenting.
Two questions (for now)
1. Using a cold water wand type only, can I do a good job and be time/cost profitable? Have read alot about scrubbers and hot water systems.
2. While cleaning old deck in back of house, I roughed up the wood (a lesson learned), now what is best way to get looking good before stain and seal?


Marv Morgan
company name undetermined

Marv,
A cold water machine is okay for doing wood restoration and cleaning houses. You will need a hot water machine for flatwork or fleet washing, etc.
The "roughed up" wood on the deck is called "fuzzies". They are caused by using too much pressure from your washer and/or too much sodium hydroxide from your deck cleaner. You might want to consider getting a dual lance wand. That way, you can very accurately control the pressure and stand less chance of damaging the wood.

Marv,

You have a few options for removing the fuzzies. You can use a palm sander for rails and spindles and a belt sander for the floor. You can also get a stainless steel pool brush and get them out also. Some sealers will afford easier fuzzy removal once you have applied the sealer using the pool brush or 3m stipping pads. There is also a hook and loop type stripping pad sold at Home Depot that works quite nicely. On Cedar, you are going to get fuzzies to some degree no matter what.

As Warren stated, too concentrated a solution will raise the spent wood fibers just as too much pressure. If you don't have a variable pressure wand, look into getting one. Dial in your pressure at the wand until you get satisfactory result in removing the dirt/stain etc. You will get the knack of it after you gain experience. The more you do the easier it will get. Hang in there and good luck.

Reed

Welcome Marv!!!
I suggest you subscribe to the trade rags as well as frequent the BBS's.

Go to: www.blastmastermag.com and sign up for a free trial subscription. Tell Lee (the publisher) Beth sent you.

Email me and I'll send you some electronic articles from past issues that might be of help to you.

Again, WELCOME!
Beth