Help with stained wooden post's - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Travis Gomez · Freshmen Member

Help with stained wooden post's

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Wow that is going to be tough. Id try packing celofane / plastic wrap.

AC

Travis Gomez · Freshmen Member

AC should I advise them to let us clean the post then restrain them?

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Unless you are in painting business, I wouldnt offer to stain. I would advise that if you wrap with plastic that water still may find a way inside, and you will do your best to minimize. You could also tell him it is a good time to restain the wood and emphasize that the whole exterior will be fresh. Its like when you clean the siding but not the deck. The deck will look even worse next to the clean siding.

Travis Gomez · Freshmen Member

Hey Tim that's what I meant I definately don't want to do it lol. I just want to cominicate to the property owner that now is the best time to restain.

thank you for your help!

Chris Mozick · Junior Member

Yup softwash the wood and all and sell the stain

Chad Eneix · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

I would also prepare them for the fact that the cleaning could leave an inconsistent result on the stained posts. In some areas where the stain is still good, the chems will not penetrate as deep. I would pre-wet them, treat and rinse quickly. I usually tell customers that an opaque stain might be required afterwards. Otherwise, refer them to a good wood restoration company that can strip and retain and seal those.

A good selling point is that SoftWashing is an excellent paint prep method. Any algae, mold, and mildew will be killed, minimizing the likelihood that any paint or stain will fail. However, I do include in my contract that we are not responsible for coatings applied after we clean.

Travis Gomez · Freshmen Member

Thank you all the owner agrees the post need to be re stained but would like the front entrance done now and when he lines someone up to re stain the post he will get me to come out and clean them and the parking lot. i explained the potential risk he accepted the risk we will wrap them as best we can and try to prevent them from having any contact with the chemical.

Thanks again everyone for jumping in to help!

Bob Riddick · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Travis, I think this entire process went pretty well for you and your customer. I love to see the power of the network in action!

Great job TEAM!

Troy Layman · Lead Tech

Glad you were able to up-sale the project Travis! Even if you were wrapping, I'd point out that SoftWashing is a liquid application, and even if you wrap and do an excellent job taping at the top, some liquid may still find its way in or have some effect at the edges of the tape/wrap. The sidewalk and parking lot look like good candidates to add on if you're comfortable with it. Offer to do a demo...once you have a clean spot, to contrast the rest of the filth, it gets so much easier. It's kind of having a uniformly dirty white car. It doesn't look too bad until someone wipes their finger across it exposing the clean paint beneath! :0)

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Travis Gomez wrote:
AC should I advise them to let us clean the post then restrain them?

Yes the posts will lighten for sure. There is likely mold on them but also some stain will come off from UV damage. Get them good and clean and have them do a maintenance coat or two of stain. They should be doing that yearly anyhow.

AC