Have you built one?

[reedsterstl]

I have a rough sketch of a "barrier" for spraying spindles. Two broom handles inserted into 2x4s that have holes drilled for adjusting the position. It is fashioned after the barriers contractors use for isolating rooms and areas for dust. Does anyone use this sort of thing?

 

[Deck Works]

guys I've been using the clamp system that I believe Greg mentioned earlier. It works excellent - you clamp drop cloths to the rails. Real time saver!!

John

 

[Aplus]

I've found that spraying generally results in a lot of lost product. If the barrier, whatever it is, collects all the excess, what do you do to dispose of it?

 

[Power Clean]

i use a tent system. after using a pad on the top rail i use four 12x14 canvass'es to cover. put on a respirator and play in the tent on both sides before sliding them down if i need too. goes pretty darn quick.

 

[Greg Rentschler]

Using an airless and good aim will keep the tarps from becoming soaked with sealer. When they do we hang them out to dry and grab a new one. Eventually when they become pretty rough you just chalk it up to the cost of running a business and trash them. We use 4X12 canvas tarps that cost around $12.00.

In regard to lost product... regardless of your method (airless, pump up, flow jet) spraying will use more material. However the time savings are substantial and well worth it. If it cost me $25 in additional product to cut 6 hours off a job I am way ahead.

 

[Aplus]

Greg,

I have customers specify to me that they do not want their deck sprayed. Often, they tell me the last guy sprayed all over their house, outdoor furniture, etc, and made a mess.

I always ask what a customer wants, and carefully listen to them before I commit in my mind how I would do the job for pricing purposes. If I can pick up on one particular method they seem to favor for stain application, I use it to my advantage. When I tell them I brush everything, and they've had a bad experience with spraying, I get a huge advantage. Most people seem to pay extra for what they deem a premium service. So if it takes six hours, then it does, built into the price.

However, if I detect that the customer is ok with spraying, I'll consider going that way. Sure, it cuts down on labor time, but it also cuts down on the total revenue. I've always thought it better to make more $ on one job, then have to break down and go to another job site so frequently, as small faster jobs go.
Just some thoughts.

So what happens to the gallons of overspray that get on your tarps? How do you handle the soaked tarps without killing the customers grass? The oil based stains I use seem to really soak in, and make a huge mess.

 

[Deck Works]

I spray most jobs period.....no choice to the customer. if its too small or I painted the rails white I'll brush. Spraying is by far the only way to go to keep profits high. I can spray a floor and back brush in about 1/10 of the time it takes to apply by hand. I poly the house at least 4ftup. No problems this year!

Greg, the old drop clothes - save for fences or to protect bushes and grass. New drop clothes are a cheap cost of doing business. I thought about trying to wash them but decided just replacing is easier.

John

 

[Mike Hughes]

Time to ressurect this old post because I built one of these things today. I like the idea of clamping drop cloths, except for the fact that you then have a bunch of cloths soaked in deck sealer..........so I decided to go the route of a board. We are going to give this a try for the first time tomorrow. The picture below was taken today.......I had planned to seal this deck today but it turned out it was too wet.........I thought it would dry up later in the day but it never did.

The design I made requires a second person to hold it from behind so it won't fall off the deck.........I couldnt think of any way to attach it to the rail.............

Anyway, I'll let you know how it works out.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1471628&a=11073115&p=54816409

 

[reedsterstl]

Mike,

That is excatly what I am looking for. i am anxious to hear how it works out. does the overspray collect on the board and drip down onto the deck floor? Let me know.

great idea!!!!!!!
reed

 

[Mike Hughes]

Reed,

It went well. Both of the problems with it are problems I anticipated. First problem, it takes two people.

Second problem, sealer runs off of it and drips below..........which is really not a big deal.

Other then that, it worked fairly well.

Mike

 

[reedsterstl]

Mike,

I used a piece of cardboard left over from the deck sprayer I purchased. I use it up next to the house after I have cut in about 1 foot. I wonder how this could be incorporated onto the spindle runs? The cardboard soaked up the sealer and no drips. When the cardboard gets to the point it won't hold anymore sealer I can throw it away and not have an investment loss. If you try the cardboard on the spindles let me know. Too windy here to try as of lately. Plus it's raining like hell outside.

reed

 

[Greg Rentschler]

Hey Mike,


We used to use a 4X8 sheet of luan to seal railings with but it always accumulated to much product on it. We attached spring clamps to the luan (via zip ties) and clamped it to the railing the same way we attach tarps. The only issue was the one that you had.... drips and runs. I went to the tarps because they absorb it and you can move them around without stuff dripping everywhere (Usually). I even thought about a catch pan at the bottom or something to reclaim the lost product?? They were also awkward to haul in our van...very large whereas we could fold the tarps.

 

[JR Wood]

I use drop cloths and clamps.The clamps are a buck a piece at home depot.I started using disposable dropcloths(plastic back).At $3.99 each it is worth it just to dry them out and throw them away afterwards,You can do a medium sized deck without it getting too heavy with sealer.For the rails facing out I hang a 2.5 X 3.5 piece of luan and over the rail spray into it.Recently I added a piece of rain gutter on the bottom to catch the excess sealer, works well but adds weight and after a while it can get tiring. The luan sits in the gutter and is screwed on.You could probably use a gutter to catch the drips from a bigger board,the only problem I foresee with it is hitting the bottom of the board the sealer will drip off the gutter.Could be taken care of with a roll of masking paper up against the rail on the floor.

 

[Mike Hughes]

John,

I like the rain gutter idea.........now you have me thinking. Only trouble is, it will make it even more fragile to carry around and store...........I'll have to put some thought to it.

Mike

 

[JR Wood]

I originally was going to cut a piece of pvc pipe in half and attach it somehow,then I walked by the gutters and it seemed obvious.It works great except for pouring the excess sealer back into the can.I just dip my pad into the gutter and use the excess to do areas close to the house and such...A drain plug might work on a big one.You would be surprised how fast the drips add up.I have ended up with a third of a gallon,just on the rails facing out.My contraption fits right behind my work box in the back of my pickup,there is about 6 inches clearance because of the ladder rack.

 

[reedsterstl]

Something else I used was the hand grip clamps holding a bed sheet on the rails to do the spindles. The bed sheets are for a twin bed and only cost. 2.50 at k-mart. Inexpensive and can be used over and over. When no longer usable pitch it, not out of a whole lot of cash.

reed

 

[Aplus]

The sheets sound like a good idea. Maybe I'll visit a thrift store, and see if they have some.

 

[gasman]

I use the cardboard. I hold the sheet of cardboard in one hand and the sprayer in the other. No problems so far. I use a 4ft x 4ft piece called a seperator used in shipping pallets. Works great up around the edge of house and on rails.