Any others from the UK?

[power2clean]

Hello to any other pressure washers from the UK. I am pretty new to the business and reading all the information that I can from these forums. A lot of information is available, it is a great resource. Looking forward to a little better weather to get out washing more.
Good luck.
Chris.

[StainlessDeal]

Look for user names: Paul UK and Richard Ivy. You can look them up alphabetically in the, "Members" section.

Paul has been helping us here for quite a while, and Richard is just getting started, I believe.

I hope things go well for you, Maybe a Roundtable meeting across the pond for me someday if you make a go of it!

[Mountain View]

I lived in the UK for 12years (my wife is English and all of my kids were born over there). I moved back to the states 10 years ago. If you need any help with translation, just let me know.

[power2clean]

Thanks guys, I do look at other UK sites but they do not have as many members and so not as much information as the USA sites.

Just getting started myself so the hints, tips and tricks are vital to me. Very quiet starting out and I am finding myself doing family and friends for next to nothing while I learn and spread the word. I have been trying flyer drops with no real success, not sure weather it is the quality of the home printed ones so looking to try some professional ones. Only got the van to wash and some of my own property today.

[Tim UK]

Hi Chris,

I'm England and new here and hope in time to give back what I learn - I think that's the spirit to get into on the forums.

Catch you sometime.

Tim

[RPetry]

Amazing. Pressure washers from across the pond. The Grime Scene has a worldwide audience.

Do any of you guys work on exterior wood? Do you get major stain manufacturer products like Cabot's and Wolmans? How do you stain? Seems like in every English movie we see in the States it is always raining. London fogs and all that.

Customers want you to clean wood but then they stain it? Tim mentioned a job like that. Brits are a tough bunch. My grandmother's maiden name was Winpenny, born and raised in a small town in Britain. Kindest but most determined woman I have ever known. Lived to be 99.

You also make terrific beers. Watney's Red Barrel was one of my favorites but we can no longer get it over here. Big American brewers make terrible beers.

There is a lot of information on this site and virtually everyone is willing to help out. Welcome. Us Colonials have forgiven you for pampered Redcoats, tea tax, and all of that.

[Roger Oakley]

Rick,
Yes I do exterior wood, mainly decking, wood not as exotic as in the USA though. I use Cuprinol as a main stain/protector. I either spray or brush, but like the look of the "Deckster" at sunbrite.
I do a lot of paving, drives, patios etc.
No it don't always rain in the UK, at the moment, (I'm in the south of England) we have an hose-pipe ban,
Yes have drunk american beers, used to tour the States endlessly in the 70s and 80s, bit like drinking a soda to a Brit LOL (worked in Rock & Roll business) did around 20 odd tours out there, even worked for one of yours The Allman Brothers.
Anyway if you get a chance have a look at my website and you'll get an idea of the work I do.
Tea taxes, wish it was the only tax, we seem to have a tax on tax these days LOL.

Roger

[RPetry]

Roger,

Good web site. Well designed. From the pictures it looks like you have a lot of mold and mildew problems. You certainly do very nice work.

That is a strange looking type of decking wood with the ridges. Is that real pressure treated wood or some type of composite or "fake" wood?

The testimonials are great, especially the featured Colonel P Davis CBE. The British have such a wonderful command of the English language. I enjoy watching the Prime Ministers Questions in the well of the House of Commons on television. The wit, irony, sarcasm, humor, and true "off the cuff" debate is fascinating. Tony Blair is gifted and your previous leader of the Conservatives could attack and retort well. Each of the benches laughing, hissing, groaning, cheering in turn. Its a wonderful way to air out grievances, policy, and social agendas.

We have no true face to face debate in our government. By contrast, our Congress is generally boring and artlessly ineffective.

You toured with rock bands? You must have some great stories to tell. If I recall, the Beatles fled England because of the high tax rates. Americans constantly complain about high taxes but our burden is much less than most European countries. We have evolved a shameful but politically palitable solution, spending now and piling up national debt for future generations to pay.

Water restrictions in Britain? Ouch. We have occasional droughts in the Northeastern U.S. but small businesses are usually allowed water use to keep operating. Wish I could send you all of our rain now as we cannot get any staining done.

Well I guess thats enough cultural exchange. We're suppose to be talking about pressure washing or something. If we upstarts can help in any way, kindly let us know.

[Roger Oakley]

Rick,
Yes it's real wood, we have mainly pressure treated wood over here, either Scandinavian Redwood or Yellow Balau, all take a FSC ok, White in colour when new, so great for staining. Ridge's on one side flat the other, most people have it ridge side up.
Mold, algae, moss are the main problems over here, due to the usually damp winters etc. The hose-pipe ban is a pain, have it in writing that it's ok for me to work etc, but you know what home owners are, some still need convincing, have a deck to finish off this week, and start another one later in the week, Stone paving (not been cleaned since house was built 1920s) garden furniture and a deck will take around 2-3 days to complete.

[RPetry]

Roger,

Strange. We have a redwood here but it is from California and never pressure treated. Our redwood is quite soft but weather durable, naturally resistant to rot and insect damage. The old growth wood is full of tanins and must be treated with special stains. Otherwise, the tanins bleed immediately to the surface and turn the wood black in color.

I am seeing a lot of balau starting to be used here but again, it is not pressure treated. From what I understand, most of our balau comes from the Philippines, and is called philippine mahogany or sometimes luan. It is a reddish-brown dense wood that will not absorb stain to any great degree.

all take a FSC ok

This is unfamiliar terminology. What does it mean?

Stone paving that has not been cleaned in 80 years? That is going to be one dirty job.

The rain has finally stopped on the east coast of the U.S. and as weather generally moves west, maybe we can send our British cousins needed water!

Well, cheerio, or something like that. Not well versed in Cockney or English slang.

[Roger Oakley]

Originally Posted by RPetry

Roger,

Strange. We have a redwood here but it is from California and never pressure treated. Our redwood is quite soft but weather durable, naturally resistant to rot and insect damage. The old growth wood is full of tanins and must be treated with special stains. Otherwise, the tanins bleed immediately to the surface and turn the wood black in color.

I am seeing a lot of balau starting to be used here but again, it is not pressure treated. From what I understand, most of our balau comes from the Philippines, and is called philippine mahogany or sometimes luan. It is a reddish-brown dense wood that will not absorb stain to any great degree.



This is unfamiliar terminology. What does it mean?

Stone paving that has not been cleaned in 80 years? That is going to be one dirty job.

The rain has finally stopped on the east coast of the U.S. and as weather generally moves west, maybe we can send our British cousins needed water!

Well, cheerio, or something like that. Not well versed in Cockney or English slang.

Rick
FSC = Flat Surface Cleaner.

I'll post some photos after the stones have been cleaned.

Roger

[RPetry]

Roger,

Ok. FSC = flat surface cleaner. They are a round base type machine that has handles that one walks behind, with spinning tips jetting water? And you use these on wood?

More strangeness. FSC's are used here in the States but as far as I know, only for "flatwork" or surfaces like concrete.

I only work on exterior wood. We apply chemicals such as sodium percarbonate, sodium hypochloride, or sodium hydroxide based products to the wood to either strip old finishes or clean the wood surface. We then use a pressure washer gun and wand with various size tips to rinse the chemicals off the wood, using different pressure according to the job. I know of no one here that works on exterior wood that uses a FSC to clean or strip wood.

[Roger Oakley]

Rick,
The FSC works for me, again our decks are totally different to those in the States. I do have a deck to "bleach" tomorrow due to it being so dirty, even the FSC didn't get all the dirt out.
All the before and after photos except furniture on my website have been done with a FSC.
I turn the pressure down, depending on what surface I'm working on.
Wood I guess half power, Block Paving and Concrete flagstone etc pretty much full power. I also use a twin lance, non of that changing tips business to fan spray afterward using FSC. Turbo lance for Block and Concrete if I have real tough stains/marks etc. The Turbo goes nowhere near wood though. Only use chemicals as a last resort.

[RPetry]

Roger,

Yes, those turbo nozzles are very powerful. I purchased one last year to clean a relative's concrete patio. It would probably blast a hole in wood.

In the U.K, are you restricted from using chemical cleaners/strippers on wood or is this your personal preference? With the heavy mold and mildew in your climate I can appreciate the need for sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solutions. Is this the only chemical you use?

Here in America, there are quite a number of manufacturers that sell wood cleaners and strippers. As far as I know, the environmental regulators have not issued laws regulating use.

You mentioned the Deskster available from Sunbright. It looks very similar to the Decker 5 unit that I have used for staining for the previous 2 years. If you purchase one, make sure it is a PumpTec pump. I have a large battery holder and use a marine deep cycle 12 volt battery. Unlike on demand Shurflo type pumps, the PumpTecs run continously, keeping stain mixed. Also get the adjustable sprayer gun. With the thumb of your hand, you can immediately change the flow rate of stain. There should be an extension available for the gun to make it longer. This is great for staining deck floors, as you do not have to bend over or stoop.

In all honesty this Decker 5 unit paid for itself in labor savings within a few weeks. It is the most important, valued piece of equipment I own.

[Roger Oakley]

Originally Posted by RPetry

Roger,

Yes, those turbo nozzles are very powerful. I purchased one last year to clean a relative's concrete patio. It would probably blast a hole in wood.

In the U.K, are you restricted from using chemical cleaners/strippers on wood or is this your personal preference? With the heavy mold and mildew in your climate I can appreciate the need for sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solutions. Is this the only chemical you use?

Here in America, there are quite a number of manufacturers that sell wood cleaners and strippers. As far as I know, the environmental regulators have not issued laws regulating use.

You mentioned the Deskster available from Sunbright. It looks very similar to the Decker 5 unit that I have used for staining for the previous 2 years. If you purchase one, make sure it is a PumpTec pump. I have a large battery holder and use a marine deep cycle 12 volt battery. Unlike on demand Shurflo type pumps, the PumpTecs run continously, keeping stain mixed. Also get the adjustable sprayer gun. With the thumb of your hand, you can immediately change the flow rate of stain. There should be an extension available for the gun to make it longer. This is great for staining deck floors, as you do not have to bend over or stoop.

In all honesty this Decker 5 unit paid for itself in labor savings within a few weeks. It is the most important, valued piece of equipment I own.

Hi Rick,
Cheers for the Deckster info, it is something I am thinking about getting at some point.
With regards to chemicals, I do use a few, sodium hypochlorite & soap for wood cleaning, only if really bad though. Hydrochloric Acid if I have a nasty concrete/stone surface this is a 10:1 mix so strong stuff, you do have to be careful not to etch the surface though. A de-greaser for engine oil removal. Phosphoric acid as a rust remover on concrete etc.
Question Rick, Oxalic Acid, do you guys use this as a stain remover as in stripping decks, or a stain remover as in marks/stains etc on decking?
Can get this over quite easily, but not had an reason to use as yet.

It's now raining, so that has put paid to me finishing off a Garden Furniture stain today trying re-book it in later in the month weather permitting.