Ready Seal

[the_GUNN_man]

I had a question for those of you who use Ready Seal. I thought I read the coverage rate for a gallon of Ready Seal was about 125 sq. ft. You read the junk sealers at the store and they say their coverage rate is 250 sq. per gallon. I was wondering if Ready Seal was getting the 125 sq. ft. number by implying that it was for two coats. In any case what is most people's experience with how many sq. ft. Ready Seal covers per gallon. I want this answered by poeple who use it and not from the company. I have always charged by the linear foot for railings but does anyone know a close number for square footage for 1 linear foot of railing?

 

[DanKes]

I don't use ready seal, however, if a spindle is 42" tall and 1 inch wide, each spindle has 168 square inches, divided by 144 sq. inches in a sq. ft, comes to about 1 sq. ft. per spindle.

 

[the_GUNN_man]

How close are the spindles placed? I never really paid attention to it. I know that some decks vary with how far they are spaced but what is the average? It seems there would be about 3 spindles every foot. I am also thinking about the top rail too. I just don't feel like going out and measuring all this and was wondering if someone already had it figured out.

 

[Deck Works]

I spray rails so I charge sq foot for even the air. You lose too much material on the drop clothes. And, in my opinion rails take longer than the floor.

Also Im going to repeat a hint I learned a few years ago from Greg from Timberseal - Clamp your drop clothes to rails. You will have a lot of material hit the clothes but you will fly through the rails with your airless. This was by far the best hint I have gotten off this board.

I've also gone from spraying the floor to using a pad with a pole. Saves the back and gets a good solid coat on the floor. I used to spray the floor then back brush each board.

 

[HeavyChevy]

Steve,

I don't include rails or spindles in my price. I just charge a flat rate for s.f. of floor boards, which actually includes the cost of doing the rails and spindles. My AVERAGE rate is $2.50 s.f. This covers the cost of spraying spindles/railings. I agree with Deckworks about spraying these. It goes WAY faster. I have not used the clamp/drop cloth method yet, though. I have my helper stand opposite of me with a sheet of cardboard (you can cruise through Sam's Club or Costco and walk out with about 50 sheets of FREE cardboard).

I thought about breaking up my quote to include a rate for floor baords (s.f) and a rate for railings/spindles (l.f.) and a rate or lattice(l.f.) but decided it was too cumbersome and confusing for the customer. I make it a point to explain that my s.f. rate is higher than most, but that is why...it includes the rest of the deck. They seem to like the simple math as opposed to the "fuzzy math".

As for coverage...I use Ready Seal exclusively. I do get an average of 125 s.f. The key word here, is "average". I've gotten 150 s.f. and I've gotten less than 100 s.f. It depends on how thirsty that wood is. Watch the floor boards by pools and boards that get beat up by the sun really SOAK up the sealer!!! It's like watching your dollar bills fall between the floorboards and you can't get them back

 

[Gwas]

Heavy Chevy or Gunnman,
Do one of you want to do my deck ????? I have no time and my wife is killing me about this. She pays top dollar because she has nothing better to do. She just bought a $600.00 mosquito machine ??????? That would have bought a lot of fly swatters !!!!!

 

[Karrie]

He's serious. I seen his deck and it's in awful shape. He does need it done and he is serious about someone else doing the deck... he's got too much golf to play to have time to deal with this.

 

[HeavyChevy]

I'll let Steve do it...too far out of my way to come back and seal 2 days after stripping.

As for the mosqito machine...I'm guessing she bought the electronic "fence" barrier thing...if so, they work. You will NOT have any mosquitos in your yard or house if installed properly. Got a friend in FL that sells them and has one herself. NO mosquitos in her yard in the Keys...at all!

 

[Gwas]

COOL !!!!! Looking forward to being bug free !!!!! Come On Bryan, my deck needs you. I can get you a couple of houses while you wait !!!!!