Spa-N-Deck transforms deck

Environmental and weather conditionscan affect the outcome of many things:football games, golf outings, weddings—and construction projects. The uniqueconditions in Australia are no exception.A fragile ecosystem, high UV exposureand airborne salt in the coastal areascan make quality construction achallenge. Here is one of Flood U.S.A.customer’s story.

During his 20 years in the paintingbusiness, Jim Ashe, president of BeachPainting Contractors, Inc., has learnedto trust the advice of his employees. So,when one of his foremen informed himof the UV resistance and durability ofFlood’s Spa-N-Deck™, Ashe gave it a try.

“My foreman, who is originally fromTampa, Florida, was familiar with theproduct because of its popularity withmarina owners,” says Ashe. “It didn’t

take long to convince me. I’ve dependedon Flood’s E-B® for a long time, so Iknow Flood products are reliable.” Ashequickly learned Spa-N-Deck had severalbenefits. “It has the ability to bond inand on the wood, provide a tough, durablefinish, and because you must apply it tothe wood when it is wet, it savesapplication time. This is advantageousin our environment because you neverknow what the weather will be like. Youdon’t need to lose time.” Ashe startedapplying Spa-N-Deck to siding, roofs anddecks. He entered one of his Spa-N-Deckprojects in the Outer Banks Parade ofHomes shows. The entry took first place,partly because of the siding’s qualityfinish. “The natural cedar look is verydesirable in this area and Spa-N-Deckprovides a long-lasting alternative torelatively short-term, similar-lookingproducts.” “First place wasn’t the only

thing Spa-N-Deck helped us win,” saysAshe. “The business also benefits froma product that will ensure a quality finish.We have had several inquiries about theproduct since the Parade of Homes.

I think we’ll be using more of it!" Accordingto John Willis, General Manager of FloodAustralia, its ability to save contractorstime is what makes Spa-N-Deck sounique. "Spa-N-Deck can be appliedimmediately—once the deck or woodsurface is prepped, no dry time is needed.You can see finished results in one day.”

Ashe began Beach Painting Contractors11 years ago. He was introduced toFlood’s Solid colour Deck & Siding Stainat a Flood Road Show. Beach PaintingContractors now consists of 20employees, 15 re-modelers and fiveforemen. Ashe is a member of Painting& Decorators Association of America.

HOW SPA-N-DECK WON1ST PRIZE AT HOME SHOW

Private jetty on Mooloolah Island, Queensland New deck left to weather for 3 months in Buderim, Queensland

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Volume 9 - Spring 2007

2 Stain removalmade easy

3 Another Spa-N-Decksuccess story

4 Using exteriorprimers

5 Mildew murdered

6 Oil stains removed

7 Stripping made easy

9 Penetrol productround-up

12 Propatellar bursitisrelief

14 Enhancing woodenfloors and furniture

14-15 Spa-N-Deck,easy as 1-2-3

page

Today, almost anything can be leased.Cars, computers, stereo equipment andbig screen televisions all come with anoption to lease. Although the decision tolease or buy isn’t an easy one, when itconcerns the purchase of equipment fora business the stakes are even higher.Equipment is overhead – an investment.

Will leasing lower taxes? Will buying lowerthe payments? Which is better for agrowing business?

These are some questions to address

before signing on the dotted line. Everybusiness varies, which makes thedecision to lease or buy an individualone. A tax adviser or accountant canevaluate business strategies as well asanalyze critical information such as acash-flow statement, operating statementand balance sheet.

Option Number One: Leasing

An appropriate time to lease is in anexpansion year. While a high-profit yearfavors buying, leasing offers flexibility

and reduced risk when a business is ina growth phase. The short-term natureof a lease doesn’t lock a business intoone piece of equipment, which isadvantageous when the business isgrowing. Another advantage of leasing isits liquidity. The lease contract shouldbe structured with a purchase option atthe conclusion of the contract thataccurately reflects the equipment’smarket value. This results in lower up-front costs, lower payments and bettercash flow. The contract also allows the

lessee to fix their payments and deductthem from their taxes. This can be donewhen buying equipment as well. Beforesigning a lease, the contract should bereviewed carefully. The most importantcontract item is the length of the lease.Most leases are in the range of two tofive years, with three being the mostcommon. Interest rates also need to beconsidered. Rates can vary widely, makingit essential to compare. Insurancecoverage is another important item toconsider. Is the equipment insured underthe individual or the business? Finally,don’t enter into a lease that doesn’taccurately reflect the value of theequipment. This can result in the loss oftax advantages.

Option Number Two: Buying

Obviously, the primary benefit of buyingis ownership. When the term is up, theequipment is owned free and clear, asopposed to signing a new contract andcontinuing payments. As mentionedearlier, leasing offers some tax breaks,but when purchasing equipment,depreciation, insurance, repairs, taxesand interest can be deducted. Tax issuesaside, if ownership is the ultimate goal,buying is the way to go becauseequipment will cost less in total whenpurchased up front rather than at the endof a contract. Another problem thatpresents itself at the end of a leasingcontract is excess wear. Most leaseslimit wear to the equipment during thelease term. Often, people would ratherbuy than pay extra charges for exceedingwear limit. However, excessive wear doeslower the equipment’s resale value.Unfortunately, the leasing versus buyingdebate doesn’t have an easy answer,but knowing the pros and cons of eachwill help in the decision making process.

LEASING OR BUYING - WHICH IS THE BEST FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Contractor Grade Caulking Guns

CH-200 ‘The Professional’

Commercial grade caulk gun with heavyhex-rod, spout cutter and seal punch.Wide ladder hook. Plunger fastened withairline locking nut. Patented ‘Dripless’feature never needs replacement. 400gram capacity.

10 YEAR WARRANTY.

SH-111 ‘The Contractor’

Lightweight commercial grade caulk gunwith heavy hex-rod, spout cutter, seal punchand wide ladder hook. Heavy guage parallelbars wrap around end caps giving extrastrength. Cut-away front cap for easyloading. Patented ‘Dripless’ feature neverneeds replacement. Easy Squeeze designgives increased power with less strokes.400 gram capacity.

10 YEAR WARRANTY.

SI-300 ‘The Industrial’

Industrial grade caulk gun for DAILY HEAVYUSE. Powerful 14:1 mechanical ratioreduces hand fatigue when using highviscosity products. And optional ‘Dripless’feature provides the convenience of a‘Dripless’ application with acrylics andsilicone based caulks. When the use ofurethane and butyl based materials requireconstant, even pressure, the ‘Dripless’feature can be disengaged. Other featuresare: Large easy grip handle. Rotating

barrel. Ladder Hook. Seal punch.Heavy powder coating. 400

gram capacity.

Our mostpowerful caulkerfor the professional.

10 YEARWARRANTY.

The patentedprofessionalcaulking gunsthat don’t makea mess.•High quality commercial

construction

•Spout cutter and punch

•Patented Driplessfeature eliminatescaulk run-on

•Convenient ladder hook

•Quick and easy loading

AVAILABLEAT PAINT ANDHARDWARE STORESEVERYWHERE

SAFE AND EFFECTIVESPOT ANDSTAIN REMOVALFinally… new cleaning and removalproducts that are three-ways safe: for theenvironment, the end user and any surface.They are water based & biodegradablewith no more powerful smells like traditionalsolvents and thinners.

“Lift Off” products are effective and safe;historically products of this nature havebeen one or the other, not both.

After years of scientific research,Motsenbocker’s Lift Off range has madea breakthrough in spot and stain removalby dividing spots and stains into threedistinct categories that cover virtually everytype of spot or stain. These products havebeen developed knowing it is scientificallyimpossible for one product to removerevery type of spot and stain as all stainsare not created equal.

There are now three patented Lift Offproducts specifically formulated to removerthese types of spots and stains. #1 water& protein-based, #2 petroleum and naturaloil-based and #3 pen, ink and dyes. Theseproducts are formulated to do the workof dozens of specific cleaners andpre-washers and you don’t even have toworry if you accidentally use the wrongproduct as none of these products will setthe stain or leave a mark.

Lift Off also has two patented productsfor graffiti and paint removal that are bothwater-based and biodegradable. #4effectively removes spray paints, all typesof oil-base paints, varnishes, lacquers &more from all types of surfaces including:concrete, cars, brick, metal, plastic etc.#5 removes acrylic based paints from allsurfaces including: carpet, clothing,upholstery, brick, concrete etc. This meansthat the product will stand up to the toughperformance standards of contractors,while not disappointing consumers bydamaging delicate surfaces.

To learn more about the Lift Off rangelog onto the Flood Australia web sitewww.floodaustralia.net and followthe prompts.

STAIN REMOVALMADE EASY

1

Graco’s new FinishPro™'99 390 andFinishPro 395 air-assisted airlesssprayers are designed for high qualityfine finish applications with a finishquality that rivals HVLP and theproduction speed of airless. With acustomized on-board air compressor andpremium G40 air-assisted gun, theseare true 2-in-1 sprayers with the abilityto spray both airless and air-assistedairless. Both sprayers feature Graco’sexclusive Endurance™'99 pump that iscapable of pumping the heaviest ofmaterials without thinning.

The G40 air-assisted gun features anoptimized air cap which delivers air closerto the tip – resulting in a softer, moreconsistent pattern – and RAC X™'99SwitchTips™'99 which allow for easyclearing of clogged tips.

The FinishPro 395 has the added benefitof Graco’s patented SmartControl™'99pressure control that delivers the mostconsistent spray pattern withoutpressure fluctuations at all pressuresand a Digital Display that accuratelydisplays spraying pressure. TheSmartControl pressure control also givesthe FinishPro 395 the ability to sprayat 3300 psi in the airless mode.

This gives you the ability in Air-AssistedAirless mode to spray your high qualityfinish projects at much lower pressureswith the speed of airless, great qualityfinish and greatly reduced overspray. Youcan then simply by the flick of a switchconvert the sprayer into an Airlesssprayer to spray your ceilings and walls.

Both FinishPro air-assisted airlesssprayers feature a Lifetime motor anddrive train warranty, as well as a 1-yearwarranty on the pump lower againstdefects in material and workmanship.

For additional information on theFinishPro fine finish air-assisted airlesssprayers and other Graco contractorproducts please contract:

Eugene Van De Straat0400 213 484 (NSW & WA)

Jeff Nind0439 880 900 (QLD & NT)

Stuart Jackway0417 351 250 (VIC , SA & TAS)

WHAT’S NEWFROM GRACO!!THE NEW AIR-ASSISTEDAIRLESS FINE FINISHSPRAYERS

A decking project is something thatincreases the value of your house andalso increases the value of your relaxationtime, so quality time must be spentresearching the costs and benefits ofparticular products on the market to dothis project before hand.

I was pleased when I researchedSpa-N-Deck and found it fitted in perfectlyfor what I wanted to do. I contacted afew contractors and found what they usedand was pleased when I finally contactedGoodwood & Co who specialise in usingthis coating system and they pointed outthe benefits and features of the AcrylicSpa-N-Deck system.

I was so pleased with the job done thatI decided to editorialize the job. I nowhave a 24 sq metre deck made out ofmerbau, as I liked the strength and thecolour of merbau timber. Nathan thecontractor, explained to me the benefitof using Flood’s Spa-N-Deck in the merbaucolour and cleaning products to keep thetimber stable and protected.

The tannins in the timber need to leachout naturally, most manufactures say.Unlike all other manufactures of deckingcoatings, SND has a product calledPowerlift which chemically (not harmfulacids but detergents) brings the tanninsto the surface and then you scrub thedeck in the direction of the grain andthen flush off with water. Nathan explainedto me that you only use Powerlift in smallsections of the deck at a time, becausethe detergents need to work and not dryout before you can get to scrub thesurface. I thought that makes sense. ThePowerlift brought the tannins to thesurface and changed the colour of themerbau, so I was a little concerned, butNathan said not to worry that is why thesecond part of the system needs to beused and that was SND Prep. He saidPowerlift should always be used as thefirst step in the SND System because itremoves excess oil, as in eucalyptustimbers; grease as in most importedtimbers like teak, and linseed oil an oldfashioned timber treatment.

Getting back to my deck, the 2nd

treatment was SND Prep which was usedlike the Powerlift, doing only smallersections at a time to allow the Prep towork its way into the timber and not dry

on the surface. SND Prep containsdetergents and oxalic acid to open thegrain and bring back the original colourof my timber deck. By scrubbing again inthe direction of the grain it also opensthe pores of the timber. Most cleaners,no I think all cleaners say you let thetimber dry before applying their products.I was amazed to see that Nathan appliedthe first application of Spa-N-Deck witha pad applicator onto the timber whilethe timber was wet after flushing off theSND Prep. He explained to me that youdo this because you want the water tocapillarize the SND into the timber.

I said hang on what does that mean. Hesaid, sorry this way the water drags theSND into the timber.

Nathan and I grabbed a cup of tea whilethe first application dried into the timber.After small talk about the footy and golfwe found the first application was dry inabout an hour. He said that the idealapplication temperature is around about25 degrees and a humidity level of 50%,though today was little bit hotter and lesshumid so it dried a little quicker.

Through our discussions I found out itwas important that the SND was notapplied on hot timber because itwould dry too quickly and not havesoaked into the timber. I thought this iseasy I might be interested in being aSpa-N-Deck applicator, only jokingthough. Nathan applied the nextapplication of SND with the applicatorpad and it slid over the timber, he thenapplied another application after theprevious coat had dried, this seemed likeafter an hour or so.

He told me one thing to remember in thisprocess. It is very important to makesure you use all the SND that you haveallocated for the job, for it is so easy tospread it out further than it should go,and thus put on coats which are too lowin film build. He said remember the firstapplication which I put on, it was diluteddown by the water present on the and inthe timber. So it would appear that I coulduse less product than I should, so whatis important is not the number ofapplications but the amount of productthat is put on.

He packed up all his gear and loaded it

into his truck, we sat down inside andhad a cold beer and the deck was nearlydry. I was so impressed with the job doneand how the merbau colour looked sonatural, Nathan explained to me that thedeck would not need maintenance forabout 2 years but that he could put mein his data base and give me a ring inabout 18 months to give the deck amaintenance coat. He said prevention isbetter than the cure, it is better to givethe deck a coat before it is let go too farand begin to fade away. I thought thatwas very comforting to know that Nathanwas interested in maintaining my deckand that he was proud of his work. I wasso impressed that I penned this letter.By the way he was able to coat the deckfrom Powerlift to SND Acrylic in about 7hours, and this in the one day and nosmelly turps to annoy the neighbors.

NORM’S SPA-N-DECK APPLICATION STORY

2

on vertical surfaces

on horizontal surfacesGUARANTEE4 YEARS

2 YEARS

In order to get the best exterior paintingresults, it's often necessary to use a primeror sealer before applying the paint. Butdeciding when to use a primer or sealercan be confusing. Let us explain why primersare so important, and on what types ofjobs they should be used.

All top quality exterior primers help paintadhere better to the surface to be beingpainted. They do this by making the surfacemore uniform for the top coat, so that whenthe paint is applied, it can get a better gripthan it would on the bare surface.

Primers also help give the finished paintjob a more uniform appearance in termsof colour, hiding and sheen. This isespecially true when the surface beingpainted is porous or is uneven in porosity.

If there is existing paint on the surface tobe painted, some primers can help preventthem from "bleeding" through the paintand ruining its appearance. Not all primershave stain-blocking capability. If you areinterested in this feature, check the labelto make sure the primer you purchase isthe stain-blocking type. Most paintcompanies offer a range of stain blockers.

Experts say that almost any exterior paintingproject will benefit from use of a top qualityprimer, but there are certain applicationswhere a primer is essential: namely, whenpainting new wood, bare stucco or anysurface that has not been previouslypainted. You should also use a primerwhen repainting an uneven or deterioratedsurface or a surface that has been strippedor is worn down to the original material.

Certain applications call for a specific typeof primer.

Wood: On new, unpainted wood, use aquality acrylic or oil-based exterior primer.While good acrylic primers will block stainsfrom wood such as cedar or redwood, usean oil-based stain-blocking primer if theboards are particularly dark or highly proneto staining. Always prime and paint barewood within two weeks of its first outdoorexposure to keep fibers from deterioratingand reducing adhesion.

When painting weathered wood, clean thewood and sand where necessary and thenapply a good quality exterior acrylic or oil-based primer. When working with previouslypainted wood, scrape off all loose paintand feather-sand rough edges and barespots before applying the primer. A goodcoat of Penetrol will make sure that thenew paint will adhere well.

Stucco and Masonry: On new masonry, orolder surfaces that are very porous, usean acrylic masonry sealer or primer. If you

are repainting masonry, at a minimum,spot prime where the old paint has beenremoved. A good way to paint masonry orold wood etc. is to use E-B Emulsabond inthe first coat of acrylic paint. E-BEmulsabond is made by the Flood Companyand has saved valuable time and moneyin restoration projects.

Aluminum or Galvanized Iron: First removeany white powdery oxide, using a non-metallic scouring pad or steel wool. Rinsethoroughly. If steel wool is used, every

residual particle of it must be removed.Then apply a corrosion-inhibitive metalprimer. One of the best ways again is touse E-B with acrylic paint or Penetrol fromFlood with oil based products.

Ferrous Metals: If there is any rust, remove itwith a wire brush, then rinse and allow thesurface to dry before applying an oil-basedrust-inhibitive primer. Use the Penetrol methodfor best results and provide added protectionagainst future rusting.

The Best Re-Coating and Restoration Tools.

NOTHINGcan clean dirty, weathered,

grey wood better than

from Flood - without bleaching it.

DEKSWOOD TIMBERCLEANER ANDBRIGHTENER

THE MANY BENEFITS QUALITY EXTERIOR PRIMERS

120 YEAR OLD PUB RESTORED

GET THE GREY OFFYOUR TIMBERDekswood timber cleaner and brightener from the Flood Company will clean yourold grey and dirty timber surface and restore it to a new condition without bleachingor moving the wood’s colour. Dekswood will not harm scrubs or plants and iseasy on your hands. To use you simply apply to the surface with a scrubbingbrush, allow it to work for 20 minutes and hose it off. Dekswood is sold inconcentrate form and is extremely economical. One litre of Dekswood makes 5litres of finished product by just adding water. Available in 1, 4 and 20 litre sizesfrom hardware and paint stores. For more information and a free sample contactthe Flood Company on 1800 226 113.

Wherever there is the possibility of paintflaking, peeling or you simply don't knowif that new paint will stick because of apoor surface or past bad history - E-B willsolve the problem and do the job.

E-B, the short name for Emulsabond, adaughter of world famous Penetrol, ismainly used as a stir-in bonder/primerin all kinds of water-based paint bothexterior and interior.

By 'stir-in' we mean just that. You simplyadd it into your first coat of paint andapply, thereby doing away completelywith the need for a separate, time andenergy sapping, coat of stabilizer. (Minimum 25% E-B and max 50% on severe jobs - max 30% in white)

When you apply the paint/E-B mixture to a wall theE-B part of the mixture soaks deeply into the sub-strate making the paint 'looking out', so to speak,with the two components back to back stuck toeach other ensuring the paint staying exactlywhere it is put.

E-B has stood the test of time both here and abroad.Jobs done here date back to 1986, when it was firstintroduced in Australia, and where E-B was appliedto dodgy surfaces it is still stuck tight. E-B has since

been used on all kinds of surfacesincluding old porous wood, chalky walls,roofing, aluminium cladding, MDF boardetc. with excellent results. In fact, somepainters use it in all their acrylics witha 50% blend for exterior jobs.

Because you don't need to apply theE-B by itself, you save a whopping fullapplication as well as the valuable timeit would have taken to apply that, plusyou are off the job sooner and not sodependent on the weather risks.

Here are a few examples where E-B willsave you lots of headaches and make

your job more profitable, working on either outdooror interior substrates such as:

• Dusty, chalky, porous surfaces• Distemper and whitewash - kalsomine• Patio slabs, roof tiles, MDF• Drywall/plasterboard• Garden sheds, timber fencing

As a great exterior 1-coat paint jobon borderline 1-2 coat jobs. Super hiding power. Greatfor painting steel with water-based paint (50:50 blend)

BUT MOST IMPORTANT:Substantial paint and labour savings.

WELD ACRYLICS OR MASONRY PAINT ON SOLID WITH E-B

The Job:E-B and Acrylic mix is applied to the cleaned surface.

The Result:6 years later - E-B Emulsabond has done it again.

4

Exterior paint contains certain fungicidesand UV protective additives that are notapproved for interior use. Because of theextreme conditions exterior paints aredesigned to endure, the strength of thepreservative chemicals used may beunhealthy in closed inside areas.

This begs the question, "Why would one wantto use exterior paint inside your home?" If youare looking to get some of the qualities ofexterior paint, such as mildew or waterresistance, there are interior paints andadditives that can do the job just fine.

For example, there are special bathroomand kitchen paints that have very durable,eggshell finishes plus tremendous mildewresistance. There are also additives, knownas mildewcides, that are designed for interioruse. They can be added to any paint, evenflat ceiling paints and texture paints, to makethem more "bathroom friendly" and mildewresistant. One of those additives availablelocally is VC175 Tropical Mould Killerfrom the Flood Company.

WHY YOUSHOULDN’TUSE EXTERIORPAINTS INSIDE

MURDER THE MILDEWMildew it’s easy to spot: black splotchy stains on shaded surfaces.Bleach will clean off mildew but will not kill the spores that create it. Killoff mould and mildew completely by sponging or spraying Mould Actiondirectly on to the effected surface area.

Leave for 24 hours then wash the deposits off with a stiff brush dippedin soapy water and rinse. If left untreated, mildew will grow beneath thenew paint. Finish off by using VC175 mould treatment in your paint toprevent re-growth.

Brushing or rolling acrylicsNO ROLLER MARKS OR SPATTER,

WITH IMPROVED HIDING

Brushing or rolling deep coloursFLOETROL ELIMINATES SHADING OR STREAKS

Rolling ceilings and cutting inIT'S NEVER BEEN EASIER.

NO BRUSH OR ROLLER MARKS

Applying low hide colours -yellows, reds etc.

FLOETROL INCREASES HIDING AND SAVESPAINT

Colour washing, sponging, ragging etc.WITH FLOETROL YOU CONTROL

THE DRYING TIME AND WET EDGE

IMPORTANT: When you add 1 litre of Floetrolto 10 litres of paint you get greater coverageand enough material to do the work of 12 to 13litres. That alone covers the cost. We won’t evenmention the time it saves you.

Floetrol is available in 1/2, 1, 4 and 20litre packs from your local paint supplier

PAINTINGTOOL IN

A BOTTLEJust in case you didn't know it, hereis a tool that will make your workeasier and much more profitablein any of these situations...

5

The removal of ugly oil stains on thedriveway or unsightly grease stains onstone tiles around the barbeque is nowa reality with the arrival of a brand new,user-friendly product from the USA.

Called Pour ‘N’ Restore, this citrus-basedstain remover applies new technology tothe age-old problem of grease and oilremoval from porous surfaces.

Unlike conventional grease removers -that never completely remove the stain - Pour ‘N’ Restore utilises Micro ExtractionTechnology whereby the liquid formulasoaks deep into the concrete or masonryand locks onto imbedded oil molecule.The formula then draws molecules of oilto the surface, where the solution driesinto a fine powder. This powder is thensimply swept up with a brush and dustpanwith no water needed.

You save effort and water. Now, you don’thave to use a high power hose and lotsof water to wash away the usual greaseremoving sprays.

On the environmental front, as wellas not wasting water, this revolutionarystain remover is phosphate free andbiodegradable.

When using Pour ‘N’ Restore, the

manufacturer recommends pouring thesolution over the entire stain, extendingthe coverage three centimetres beyondthe perimeter of the stain. It should thenbe left for between five to eight hours,by which time it will have turned to apowder on the surface and the stain willbe gone. Oils stains that have soaked inand been there for along time may needa second application, worked in with astiff bristle brush and then allowed todry. A video demonstration of how to usePore-N-Restore can be seen on thewebsite, by following the tabs.

Pour ‘N’ Restore can be used on concretedriveways, garage floors, pavements,patios, courtyards and BBQ areas, butnot on asphalt. It is also recommendedfor commercial areas such as mechanicalworkshops, car parks and warehouses. It will remove all types of oil-based stainsincluding motor-oil, grease, hydraulicfluid, anti-freeze, animal fats, cooking oil,tar and wax.

For further information or details onlocal stockists, contact the FloodCompany [Toll Free] on 1800 226 113or log onto www.floodaustralia.net andfollow the prompts.

A CLEAN SWEEP FOROIL-STAINED DRIVEWAYS

Some pros dunk pieces in a vat ofchemicals. This method is the leastexpensive, but too much chemical exposureisn't good for the wood, and can damagethe veneers and glued joints. Because ofenvironmental regulations, some dipstrippers have switched to flow-oversystems, in which the chemicals arecirculated through a pump and hosed ontothe piece. Flow-over systems expose theworker to less chemicals, but the furnitureis still getting saturated with more stripperthan it needs. Stripping furniture is bestdone by hand. It does take longer, but it'seasier on the furniture, and on the persondoing the work. So if you do decide to havea pro do the work, look for a shop thatdoes the work by hand.

Tools you'll need. Before you begin stripping,you'll need the proper safety equipmentand a few tools. To protect yourself whenusing any stripper, use an organic solventrespirator with new filters, splash proofgoggles, chemical-resistant gloves and anapron. To lather the stripper, cut downnatural-bristle paintbrushes as they makegood scrubbers. Less expensive syntheticbrushes work with some water-basedstrippers but they turn to pulp the secondthey touch solvent. You'll also need acollection of scraping and scrubbing toolsto remove the paint/stripper sludge. Youcan use metal scrapers and steel wool,but if you're using a water-based chemical,use plastic knives and abrasive pads;otherwise, metal particles will leave ruststains on the wood.

The work area. Choose a well-ventilatedspot when you work. Because manychemicals in strippers are heavier than air,they will sink to the floor and can be difficultto get rid of, so basements are not a goodchoice. Some of the vapors can also corrodeany metal parts of your water heater. Formaximum ventilation work in the garage or,better yet, outside.

Do your work on a lipped metal tray thatcollects the extra stripper into paint canand re-use the stripper until it evaporates.You can cover a worktable with several thicklayers of newspaper, removing the top sheetas it gets caked up to expose a freshworking surface.

Taking it off. The speed of the strippingprocess depends upon the strength of thestripper and the stubbornness of the finish.On some surfaces the paint begins tobubble and blister almost as soon as it is

brushed on a coat of the liquid-type stripper.Methylene chloride strippers work fast andeat through almost anything. The chemicalbreaks the bond between the wood andpaint and most finishes will come off insheets. For tough paints carefully scratchthe surface of the finish to help the stripperget down to the wood. If you find yourselfprying or scraping off the finish though, puton more stripper or you'll damage the wood.

To strip a flat top use a putty knife to removethe thick sludge, scrub the surface withcoarse steel wool and finished up with asecond dose of stripper. Carvings andturnings require special attention. Use ascrub brush to work the paint out of all thenooks and crannies on the legs, but coarsetwine and wood shavings also work well.

For some vertical surfaces and difficultfinishes, use a paste-type stripper. Thesechemicals work when wet. Pastes havechemical retarders built in to blockevaporation, helping them stay wet longer.To further limit evaporation, as well as yourexposure to the chemicals, considerwrapping the piece in newspaper, wax paperor polyethylene sheeting and letting thechemical work overnight. If the stripperdries, you can reactivate it by brushing ona little more, and then scraping it all off.

The only trick to stripping is to treat everyelement making up a piece of furniture inexactly the same manner. Because thechemicals and scrubbings affect the abilityof the wood to absorb stain and finish, giveevery leg the same degree of attention.

Once the paint is off, you'll need to rinseoff any remaining stripper; otherwise, thechemical residue will react with the newfinish. Commercial stripper rinses areavailable, but you can also denatured alcoholor mineral spirits. Water-based stripperscan be rinsed off with water but the waterwill wind up raising the grain, which willmean more sanding later on.

After it had thoroughly dried, gave the piecea finish sanding. After starting with a powersander, switch to a small cork-paddedblock. Sandfast make excellent pads.Power sanders do tend to leave swirl marksthat will show when you apply the stain.Avoid too much sanding. If a piece isgetting a surface finish, using 100-gritsandpaper is sufficient.

You are now ready to finish the projectand we'll discuss the best methods inthe next issue.

DIFFERENT WAYS TOSTRIP FURNITURE

7

Insultec’s marketing company MainstreetMarketing says there are now distributionopportunities for retail paint suppliers toon sell this unique product, which isAustralian owned and operated, in thepast 17 years the sales of Insultec hasbeen mainly in the export market.Insultec is an Australian success storyon the International market. Now it’savailable for local resellers to capitalizeon its success.

Insultec claims have been tested for over15 years in both Australia and 23countries around the world; in fact it isthe most tested product of its kind. RayBrooks the inventor of Insultec said itsunique formula cannot be copied, manyhave tried he said, it has taken over 22years to perfect the formulae. . Manyscientist have tested insultec and theyall agree its truly a remarkable product,Professor Richard Aynsley, formally ofJames Cook University, Townsville,conducted tests and confirmed thatInsultec to be the product of choice forEducation Queensland, for the CoolSchools program in 1998.

The success of Insultec is world wide with

over 1.5 million square metres applied inSaudi Arabia alone; its nearest competitioncomes from the United States, in the formof ceramic based coatings. Insultec’sreflect-ability and longevity has provedsuperior to ceramic coatings, the Saudisprefer Insultec which has been in usethere for over 12 years.

Insultec is an excellent product of choicefor Homes, Commercial buildings etc, itcan be applied to exterior roofs as wellas walls, once applied it will not allowthe surface to heat up, on a hot day youcan walk across it barefoot. Insultectreats the source of the problem ratherthan the effect. It’s like being outsideunder a shady tree. The ambienttemperature is the same but it feelscooler, this is due to the tree leaves notradiating heat, like an iron roof or tiles.

Besides Insultec’s international successthere are also many local ones.

Greg & Robin Bate run a printing and OfficeStationery business in Qld, “We had ourwarehouse coated with Insultec and notedan immediate difference in temperaturein the whole area. To confirm the differencewe had temperature testing done on the

underside of the roof. The outsidetemperature was measured at 33C. Theunder roof area of the uncoated sectionof the building measured 55.8ºC, theInsultec coated area measured 38C adifference of 17.8C. Its just unbelievable,we no longer have to wear wet scarvesaround our necks, it is now a verycomfortable working environment, withmuch happier staff”.

A year later Channel Seven’s Today Tonightprogram on Energy savings featured OfficeNational and recorded the same figures.

Insultec is ideal for all Commercial orHome roof and walls (all types), Garageroller doors, motor homes, Garden sheds,Dog kennels etc. Insultec DIY comes ina 4 litre & 20litre containers.

For expressions of interest phoneKen on 1300 880 602 or email

WORLD’S NO.1 INSULATING PAINT NOWAVAILABLE FOR NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION

• SAVES TIME & MONEY• SAVES MESSY CLEAN UP• SAVES OUR ENVIRONMENT• SAVES YOUR BRUSHES• SIMPLE. CLEAN. EFFECTIVE.

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Ph/Fax: 03 9525 4233 - Mobile: 04177 40 200Secure Website: www.brukon.com$59.70+$15p&h per “6Pack” (Ask for trade$59.70+$15p&h per “6Pack” (Ask for tradediscount $54.70+$15p&h - Min 2 x “6Packs”)

• Up to 100 uses per tube• Prevents paint cling• Better brush performance• Longer brush & roller life• Fast and easy clean up• Works with natural or

synthetic bristles• For oil and acrylic paint

BRUSH STUFFBrush and Roller Conditioner

CITRISTRIPPAINT STRIPPERCitristrip Paint Stripper is easy to use, yet very fast acting andwill remove multiple layers of most paints from wood, metal ormasonry in less than 30 minutes. To take care of coatings thattake longer to soften, Citristrip stays active for up to 24 hours.

• Non flammable• Bio- degradable• Easy to use• No dangerous

Methylene Chloride• Evaporates slowly• No unpleasant fumes• Use indoors and out• Fast acting• Economical

The safer, user-friendly paint stripper...made from oranges.

8

Here is a checklist of some of the littlethings where many contractors makemistakes. Have a good look and if thereis something you see that you shoulddo – JUST DO IT. NOW. The things youget done now will never come back tohaunt you later.

1. Pay yourself a salary.Don’t mix your business and personalfinances. Pay yourself a salary each month.Write a cheque and put it in a desk drawer,even if you can’t afford to cash it right now.

2. Computer Back-upIt is not a matter of if your system will fail,as it will sooner or later, but when. Youshould back up your files every day and havea back-up copy off site where it will be safein case of a fire in the office. Also remember– a fireproof safe will not protect tapes ordisks from heat damage.

3. InsuranceWe all hate paying those hefty insurancepremiums but they are a necessary evil somake sure you are adequately covered. Getyour cover from a reliable well known brokerand not a friend. You have no friends whenyou have a major insurance claim. Rememberthat insurance is for disaster and not forday to day mishaps.

4. Theft or embezzlement.There are not many contractors whose shopor office has burned down but many whohave suffered from theft. Make sure you areinsured for theft. It should not be expensiveand be part of any standard businessinsurance package.

5. AccountingIf you don’t understand the basics or do notlook at your books monthly, then have your

accountant or bookkeeper put them in aformat that makes sense so that you canmake proper use of that information. Conductmonthly meetings and ask questions untilyou do understand it all.

6. Accrual v. cash statementsFor your monthly financial analysis use theaccrual method. You must know what youowe and what others owe you and what youhave in the bank to know where you standfinancially.

7. Cash needsCash flow has little nothing to do with income.If you do not have enough ready cash in thebusiness to fund salaries, purchases, rent,equipment etc., prepare a cash flow plan tohelp fix any cash flow problems. You willsleep better.

8. CollectionsHave a collection policy and stick to it. Youare not in business to finance others. Putone person in the office in charge ofcollections and make them follow a writtenprocedure. Use the phone to make contact.There is nothing like the personal approach.Statements often finish up in drawers anddon’t solicit action.

9. Ask for cash discountsWith the high cost of money not getting cashdiscounts is much more expensive thanborrowed money.

10. Customer listsDon’t wait for past customers to call butmail of phone them for possible repeat work,especially when they have decks that needmaintenance. Your current customers areyour lowest cost leads and should provideregular income.

11. Keep a time card on yourselfWant to make a six figure income? Then

you have to perform tasks that are worth 6figures. Keep a time card for yourself at 30minute intervals and then put an hourly ratefor every task you perform. Delegate oreliminate tasks that do not generate income.

12. One job at a timeDon’t start several jobs at once in an attemptto keep customers happy and finish up withno one happy. Do one job until it is finishesand then move to the next one.

13.Terminate difficult employeesThe employee you dismiss never keeps youup at night. If you have a person whocomplains a lot, misses time, drinks, doesn’tfit into the team or whatever – let him orher go. In a few weeks you will ask yourselfwhy you did not fire them months or yearsago.

14. Make a willRegardless of the size of your business, youshould have a will. Better still, meet with afinancial planner and do some basic financialand estate planning.

15. Avoid risky jobsIf a job looks too large or is for a customeryou do not know and you can’t take the riskof not getting paid – don’t do it.The jobs you never did won’t sendyou bankrupt.

16. Set job targets.It is hard to win or run a race when you donot know how far you can go and how fastyou have to get there. Set achievable targetsand milestones so employees can use themas a guideline of what is expected fromthem.

17. Family membersin the businessA touchy subject at any time. Pay and positionfamily members like any other employee.

No exceptions. If they can’t do the job thereis no place for them in the business. Berealistic of how many family members thebusiness can afford. If the business goesbust, everybody looses. Most important –there is only one boss.

17 THINGS YOU SHOULD HAVE LEARNEDIN CONTRACTOR KINDERGARTEN

8

C.I.P is a commercial grade allweather primer made with Penetrol,originally developed as a dependablecoating for ballast tanks for cargoholds. It makes a secure base onhand cleaned steel for any type oftop coating including 2-part epoxies,urethanes, vinyl, chlorinated rubberand other catalysing coatings as wellas any type of conventional finish.Granular or tightly bonded rust neednot be removed either. Under high

flashing synthetics, a single coat ofC.I.P with a 7 day curing time isrecommended before over-coat, it isalso an excellent protective primerfor outdoor wood structures prior topainting. C.I.P has a reddish brownmatte finish; if this is the look andfinish you are looking for, no top coatis required.

C.I.P has excellent resistance to waterimmersion and condensation andhelps in de-scaling heavy rust

deposits. It is a highly effective primerfor rusty surfaces as it does not bridgeover the many imperfections presenton any steel surface. Unlikeconventional primers it fills everyminute pinhole driving out air andmoisture-the “food” rust needs togrow. Highly flexible it will not crack,peel or blister and does not requiresanding prior to top coating.

C.I.P is air drying with low odour andfumes and can be used in confinedareas without abnormal precautionsand has high resistance to solvents,petrol and hydraulic fluids. It doesnot change viscosity under virtuallyany paintable conditions and dries inrelatively high humidity, insufficientair circulation or low temperatures.

Multi-purpose wood oil to enhance the natural beauty of fine wood

Beautifies and protects wherever fine wood is used

• Penetrates deep into the wood• Keeps wood ‘alive’• Is non-toxic when dry• Will never crack, blister or peel• Primes, seals and hardens in

one application• Does not yellow• Will not show finger marksPENETROL WOOD OIL HAS MANY OTHER USES

Makes an effective moisture barrier

Lets you make yourown stain

Makes a greatwood primer

Makes varnishspread easily

THE BEST ANSWER TO RUSTYou won't beat Penetrol as a cure for rust.

1 Saturate entire surface including rust lumps with Penetrol.2 After and hour or so, get a scraper and descale with the greatest ofease (no more hammer or wire brush) and remove all loose scale.3 Top up any hungry dry areas with more Penetrol until the wholesurface is shiny when dry.4 Anytime after 24 hours apply a metal primer with 25% Penetroland follow with top coat with 10% Penetrol.Now you will have a tough yet flexible finish and no more rust.

C.I.P. THE HIGH SOLIDS, DEEP PENETRATING,ALL PURPOSE METAL PRIMER

9

Have you ever had to really work apaint’s to cover a surface – scrubbingit into a rough sawn surface orcontinually dipping into the bucket tocover smooth walls? Or did your paintrun off the brush between the bucketand the wall? Does is seem that somepaints are more suited to sprayingthrough a garden sprayer than tobrushing or rolling? Or thick coatingslook like paste in the roller tray, but rollout easily and without splattering?

IT’S ALL RHEOLOGY

Rheology is the resistance to flow ofa liquid and is one of the keyproperties of any paint. In morecommon terms it might be thought ofas the consistency of a coating. It isa description of a paint’s thickness,how it picks up on the brush and howeasily it applies to smooth or roughsurfaces. Rheology not only affectshow a coating covers the surface, butalso determines how physically easyor tiring it is to apply – and that lastproperty can cost you money. If apaint doesn’t flow or cover well andyour crew hates to work with it, theresult will be disgruntled workers andpoor quality work.

Even with paints that start with goodrheology, the property can change with

use. Oil paints are known to brush well,but what happens when the can is leftopen and the mineral spirits begin toevaporate? It can become thicker anddrag. Adding more turps or white spiritwill help some but it also thins out thepaint – you have improved the rheologybut in the process you have lost hidingand coverage at the same time. Thesame thing can happen with waterbased paints.

Penetrol (for oil based paints) andFloetrol (for water based paints) arepaint conditioners which will improvethe rheology of paint which is sufferingfrom poor weather conditions. Whenacrylics or oils begin to drag or becomesluggish, adding the proper amountof the right additive will improve andfortify the qualities of the paint andthe attitude of the workers - a win-winsituation, rheologically speaking!

Most finishes fall into one of twocategories – a surface sealer or apenetrating finish. Various industryexperts will argue the benefits of one orthe other, but why try to choose whenyou can combine the best attributes ofboth into one finish?Surface films lie on top of the wood anddo not dive into the surface as apenetrating finish does. While surfacesealers form a protective layer on thetop of the wood, which allows for longer-lasting colour retention, they can beeasily scuffed off with heavy foot trafficor sliding furniture. Surface films canalso clog the wood pores, and withrepeated use, cause build-up that canpeel and flake.A penetrating finish dives into the wood,working from the inside out and allowingfor longer protection from nature’sdamaging elements. A penetrating

finish, however, does not retain colouras well as a surface film and can fadeat a faster rate.Flood’s Spa-N-Deck 100% acrylic woodfinish offers the best of both types offinishes by combining the superiorqualities of both penetration as wella protective and abrasion resistanttop layer.Floods Spa-N-Deck wood finish isguaranteed against cracking and peelingfor 2 years on decks and 4 years onvertical surfaces.To get optimum penetration from yourdeck finish, Flood recommends cleaningthe wood from contaminants such as oldfinishes, dirt and mildew. Before youapply a finish, use a surface prep productsuch as FloodPro Spa-N-Deck Prep anexcellent product for opening the woodpores and enhancing the penetration ofwood finishes.

PENETRATION X SURFACE FILMGet the Benefits of Both in a Superior Wood FinishGO WITH THE FLOW

HOW RHEOLOGY (BET YOU NEVER HEARD OF IT)CAN MAKE OR BREAK A COATING

How to protect and beautify fine timberwith the “Double D” Deks Olje system• Protects timber from moisture attack• Will never peel, blister or crack• Gives long term protection without

problems• The easiest finish to maintain with

low maintenance• Beautifies all types of timber• Never needs stripping of sanding

DEKS OLJE 1+2The Preferred Alternative to Varnishin Rich Matte or Deep Gloss Finish

10

on vertical surfaces

on horizontal surfacesGUARANTEE4 YEARS

2 YEARS

PAINTERS!!!!!

Do you have anexample how

Flood products madeyour life easier?

If you do, call Floodon 1800 226 113 orE-Mail the editor onhthorei@gmail.comThe Flood Company

will pay $100for every entry used.

Prepatellar bursitis is the medicalname for painful knee joints andis caused by the inflammationof small fluid sacs surroundingthe knee joints. The inflammationresults from friction between theknee and hard surfaces such asexperienced by painters andother tradesmen who frequentlyhave to kneel on such surfaces.Painters find themselves in thesepositions when painting skirting boardsand wall sections close to the floor.

Eez Neez Workwear Pty Ltd have recentlyreleased white drill pants for painterssimilar in styling to those currently wornby other tradesmen incorporating flexible,7mm rubberized pads, permanently builtinto the garment as a knee panel.

Feedback from tradesmen after wearingthe Eez Neez garments with these inbuiltkneepads suggest that problems withsore knees, ingrown hairs in the kneesetc are virtually eliminated.

The pants are made from heavyduty 100% cotton drill fabric with anelastic phone pocket plus otherpockets for wallet, pencils and toolssuch as a spatula.

The big plus Eez Neez say is that thepads are always in position when needed.

The garments are washable and can betumbled or line dried. There is no needto take the pads out for washing.

Also they are available in a full size rangei.e. regulars, longs and stouts ensuringthe pads are in the correct position whenkneeling for different sized wearers.

They are available from leading work wearoutlets and selected paint outlets.

For further informationPh 03 5261 9775Fax 03 5261 9112

PAINRELIEFFORPAINTERS

11

12

How responsive is your organisation'scustomer service? Take this quick quiz.

If you can answer all the questions in theaffirmative then your company is most likelymeeting or even exceeding your customer'sexpectations. If not, you could be losingcustomers and not really know why.

1. Customer service standards are clearlydefined and applied consistently in all partsof the company. You don’t want the hardwork done by the sales department to beunraveled by an unfriendly Accountsdepartment.

2. All departments work harmoniously towardsa common goal and there are no solos.

3. Communication flows freely in alldirections and frontline staff are awareso that they can answer all customerqueries. For example are all sales andcustomer service staff aware of youradvertising program?

4. Access to key personnel is easy andoperating hours are designed to meetcustomers’ needs.

5. Everyone lives by the philosophy of “TheBuck Stops here”.

6. Presentation of everything (andeverybody!) is exemplary.

7. Everyone takes responsibility for thequality of customer service - all of the time.

8. Customer feedback is continually sought- and acted upon. So what can you do ifyour score is less than satisfactory? It is

time to stand back and take a long hardlook at management involvement andcompany procedures. Good service doesnot happen by accident. It is carefullythought out and reviewed regularly. Sometenets of creating a service culture are:

Management visibly supports superb serviceand “walks the talk”.

Management ensures that staff have theresources and skills to deliver the servicepromise. Ask staff what gets in the way ofthem providing excellent service.

Staff are involved in setting servicestandards so that these are realistic andengender their commitment.

Regular training is a high priority.

The customer service message iscommunicated consistently and clearly.

Service recovery procedures, e.g. responsesto complaints, are simple to implementand based on the needs of the customerrather than being bureaucratic and focusedon the needs of the company.

Success is celebrated.

Try the quiz out on your team at a speciallyconvened customer service think tank. Youmight be surprised at the results. Staff willknow what your customers value as wellas the service “hot spots”. Just ask themfor their suggestions for improvement andyou are well on your way to developing acustomer focused organisation.

CREATING A CUSTOMER SERVICE CULTURE

PAINTINGPAINTING

GOT SOMETHING TO SAY OR OFFER TO:14.000 painters and decorators3000 architects2000 renovating builders300 deck builders350 councils600 hire shops and over 5000 paint &hardware stores in both Australia andNew ZealandPlus a further 4,000 distributed by ourreps and agents throughout Australia

Painting News is the only trade journal dedicatedto the tradesmen in our industry. Being costeffective and highly targeted it brings businessand profits to both readers and advertisers. Witha print run of 30.000 copies, Painting News is freeand mailed directly to your customers - the peoplethat matter to you and who keep you in business.

Want to know how you too can benefit from PaintingNews and how to get your message to over 30.000prospective buyers?

Call 1800 226 113 and ask for Matthew.

Here are a few hints to follow if you’relooking for easy ways to clean-up andrestore old or damaged furniture in yourown home with little expense or outlay.Restor-A-Finish is simple to use, extremelyeffective and you don’t need to worry toomuch about which colour to use.

The colour or tint is only a wash which isintended to boost the existing colour ofyour furniture. It cannot dramaticallychange the colour of your piece. The realwork is done via the formularisation whichdoesn’t dissolve but rather amalgamateswith your existing finish and blends outmost surface damage as well as re-enlivening and rejuvenating the look andlife of the piece. To apply Restor-A-Finishto badly neglected or marked surfacesyou will need good quality #0000 gradesteel wool. Howard Superfine steel woolis ideal. When used properly and lightlythis will not scratch or harm your furnitureat all, in fact it will smooth older roughersurfaces and assist with the injection ofthe fluid into the damaged surface. Yousimply tear a piece off one of your steelwool pads and pour the Restor-A-Finishinto it until it is squishy (wear latex glovesif you wish). Then you simply apply theproduct going with the grain gently, butfirmly, in even strokes. When you’vecompleted the entire piece you can buffit dry and I think you’ll be amazed at howgood the difference will be. Now, allow

the piece to settle down for a few hoursbefore the next step which is to give thepiece a protective coat with Feed-N-Wax.

Feed-N-Wax will deliver a wonderful lightcoat of carnauba wax protection whilefeeding the dry wood beneath the surface.Simply take a clean cloth, squeeze someFeed-N-Wax into it and wipe onto yourfurniture, allow 20 minutes or so to “set”then buff to the finish you desire. Tomaintain the great look that you haveachieved you should dust and polish fromtime to time using Howard Orange Oil.Pure Orange Oil blends with the Feed-N-Wax, which itself contains orange oil, andallows you to clean away dust and fingermarks without removing all the wax. Everyfew months you would be well advised tolightly re-wax.

Here is a genuine comment posted in byone of Howard Products many happycustomers:

Thank you for the detailed advice yougave me on how to restore my old oaksideboard.

Restor-A-Finish did what you said, it wasamazing - It was like using an eraser toclean away the marks and muck.

I am just thrilled with the result.

Vera Rothwell. Sydney

EASY WAYS TO CLEAN UP AND RESTORE

13

EXPERT TIPS ON EXTERIOR WOOD FINISHES OR THE BENEFITS OFPOWERLIFT, SPA-N-DECK SURFACE PREP AND A BIT OF ELBOW GREASE

We have three products before us; (1)Powerlift (2) Spa-N-Deck Prep. (3) Spa-N-DeckAcrylic Coating, we need to have a clear linein the sand about these products.

POWERLIFT: - Three detergents mixedtogether in a secret mix that workspowerfully on timbers. Let’s face it we haveto look at timber as a natural product andso in nature the timber is protected bynatural occurring processes and theseprotectorates have to be removed to allowany decking products to soak in and fill upthe pores of the timber.

So we will look at two situations: new timberand previously coated timbers.

NEW TIMBER:- Timbers fall into the categoryof having natural occurring oils such as oureucalyptus timbers, natural occurring greasytimbers, mostly imported timbers from Asia,and lastly timbers which have a degree oftannin from brown to red and includingpinks as in jarrah and Fijian Mahogany andTassie Ash etc. All of the above will haveto be treated with Powerlift, to bring to thesurface those naturally occurringcontaminants and then with the scrubbingaction to remove the surface contaminants.They are not bad contaminants so to saybecause they protect the timber, but to getany new product into the wood they haveto be removed so they can be replaced. Ifyou wish you can just use Powerlift andthen what ever decking product you choose.If you do choose to go this way you haveto make sure the timber is suffiently dry,but the natural occurring tannins will bebrought to the surface and then cleaned,will leave behind a residue of colour whichmay be not pleasing, but if you wish, youneed to go no further in the cleaningprocess. Incidentally if you are going to useCabot’s or Feast Watson or Wattyl deckingoils add 10% -15% Penetrol and you willget better penetration into the wood.

PREVIOUSLY COATED TIMBER: - If you want

to remove any existing faded product,whether decking stain, decking oil, linseedoil or water repellant oil or any decking oilcontaining lanoline, you should use Powerliftto remove this. Any film bearing productsuch as DWD, UVC, or acrylic deckingsystem such as Wattyl, Haymes andSpa-N-Deck, if it is more than 3 years inthe direct sun Powerlift could shift it.Remember this is not a paint stripper itcontains no harmful ingredients, so anyfilm bearing product, that you wish to removehas to be approached differently, such asusing Flood’s Citristrip to blister the filmand to scrap it away, then use Powerlift toremove the rest, what is left. Again thecoating system is your choice.

The second product we need to look at isSpa-N-Deck Prep; it is a powerful mediumwith oxalic acid added to open the grainand to remove the last scraps of tanninetc. when using the Prep. after Powerliftthe resulting process brings back the naturalcolour of the timber. (Incidentally oxalicacid is the toxic leaves of a rhubarb plant)

You will find if our cleaning process is usedyou will get a better result and thus a betterjob than any others on the market, if youchoose not to use Flood’s Spa-N-Deckproduct you must wait for the timber to drysufficiently.

The third product we need to discuss isSpa-N-Deck Acrylic, this is a unique productand there is no other product like it on themarket. It is unique because you save timeby not having to wait for the cleaningproducts to dry, you use the Prep. straightafter the Powerlift and while the timber isdamp after the SND Prep has been usedand flushed off you apply the first treatmentof Spa-N-Deck acrylic using the water todraw it down into the timber. In simplerwords it is a (1), (2), (3) process one afterthe other and no waiting period. It is an “inthe timber, on the timber” product.

COATING SPA-N-DECK SYSTEM

Wood is making a big come-back. Manyhome owners want the good looks ofbeautiful wood to enhance the appearanceof their home. Whether it means buildingthe entire home from wood with cedar orsimilar cladding or the most popular additionof a timber deck for outdoor entertaining.This presents a unique opportunity for theprogressive painting contractor to cash inon this trend. Not only is there a demandfor the finishing of new decks but with theright follow-up there will be a demand formaintenance which a good painter shouldtake advantage of. Yet, while many paintingcontractors have a good understandingof paint, few are very familiar with exteriorwood finishes.

To properly understand exterior woodfinishes, it is important to recognize thatthese popular products fall into three broadcategories. There are transparent (oils),semi-transparent (oils or acrylics containingsome pigments) and solid colour (paint)wood finishes.

Transparent wood finishes are applied inone or more thin coats depending on themanufacturers recommendations. They willlook the best, highlight the grain of the woodbut unfortunately don't last very long in ourU.V. rich sunny part of the world.

Semi-transparent wood finishes are alsoapplied in relatively thin coatings that allowsboth the grain and texture of the underlyingwood to show through. These will last forlonger periods, anywhere from 6 months to2 years depending on the brand, as thepigments in the coating will give moreprotection against U.V. damage.

Solid colour wood finishes contain morepigment than semi-transparent varieties,

are of heavier consistency, and go on inthicker coats. They may still reveal the textureof the wood, but not the grain. Because theyare more highly pigmented, they have good"hiding" ability, which makes them a betterchoice for blemished wood. They are moreor less a paint.

All exterior wood finishes come in oil-based and acrylic-based formulations.Oil-based finishes tend to penetrate wood,while acrylic finishes form a protectivefilm on the surface. However there arenow acrylic wood finishes coming ontothe market which combine both theadvantages of penetration and top-coating. Flood's Spa-N-Deck penetrateswell with the first coat and forms a hardand abrasive resistant top coating withsubsequent applications.

Surface Preparation - The Make orBreak of a Good Job

One of the most important tasks is theproper preparation of the wood's surface.It is essential when applying any type ofwood finish. The whole surface has to befree of all dirt, dust and mildew, before asuccessful job can be achieved.

New wood often contains some mill glazefrom the milling process, which often preventthe finish from adhering properly. You canremove mill glaze by either sanding with asuitable grit or use one of the new woodcare products on the market remove bothmill glaze and help open the wood pores aswell as cleaning the wood. The FloodCompany have brought out 2 products whichprepare all types of outdoor wood forsuccessful coating. Not only will they removemill glaze and open the wood pores but italso thoroughly cleans the wood removing

any unsightly blemishes which may showthrough the eventual finish. These twoproducts are Powerlift and Spa-N-DeckSurface Prep. Powerlift will remove residualsof old stain, preservatives and oils as wellas tannin bleeds whilst Spa-N-Deck SurfacePrep will thoroughly clean the surface andrestore the look of new wood withoutbleaching it.

New bare wood that has weathered for morethan a few weeks should be treated firstwith Powerlift to open the pores and removemill glaze. Then follow with Spa-N-DeckSurface Prep. to clean the surface. Finally,carefully power wash the surface with plainwater to remove any residue of the cleaningmaterial. All this will help to remove loosefibers and provide a fresh, clean and stablesurface to enable the wood finish to deeplypenetrate and adhere to the wood as wellas offer a good base for the subsequenttop coats. Be careful to not mar or gougethe wood with the power washer.

Old wood with residues of previous finishesshould be treated in a similar fashion.Powerlift, Spa-N-Deck Surface Prep andpower washing.

Dirty, grey wood without previous finishesjust needs treatment with Spa-N-DeckSurface Prep followed by power washing.

Applying Wood Finishes

Whatever you may have done in the past -look carefully at the manufacturer’sinstructions. Wood finishes and theirapplication methods have changed over theyears and unless the makers instructionsare strictly followed you may be inviting earlyfailure of the finish and - equally important- the loss of a possible repeat customer.

Because most wood finishes contain differingamounts of pigments and since they aresometimes applied in just a single coat, anymistakes in application procedures can bequite noticeable. So, it is important to applycoats in the right way. When coatingweatherboards or other cladding apply thefinish horizontally, using either a brush orroller. Start at the top of the wall or surface,coating all the way across, a few boards ata time for their whole length to avoid lapmarks. Then move on to the next lowerboards and continue in this manner untilreaching bottom.

In a similar way, when staining verticalsections, apply the stain from the top to thebottom of each section before moving onto the adjacent section.

Use a Quality Wood Finish

Unlike paints, which are often applied overa primer and in multiple coats, exterior woodfinishes are typically applied directly tounprimed wood. Whatever product you use,make sure it is a high quality wood finish tobest withstand the elements and to maintaina good appearance -- for example, a topquality 100% acrylic exterior wood finishsuch as Spa-N-Deck 100% Acrylic WoodFinish. Such a product will provide maximumadhesion to the wood surface, and will resistfading and mildew growth much better thaneconomy products will. Even so, keep inmind that because of their relatively thinfilm, exterior finishes may need to bereapplied more often than paint. Flood'sSpa-N-Deck is long lasting (3 to 5 timeslonger than conventional wood finishes andoils). They are the only wood finish thatcomes come with a 2/4 year guaranteeagainst peeling, blistering or cracking.

14

on vertical surfaces

on horizontal surfacesGUARANTEE4 YEARS

2 YEARS

SPA-N-DECK PrepSpa-N-Deck Prep Timber Cleaner is a speciallyformulated detergent type cleaner for alltypes of timber. This cleaner prepares thesubstrate for all timber finishes includingSpa-N-Deck 100% Acrylic Wood Finish.Spa-N-Deck Prep is versatile enough to cleanall types of soft and hardwood, as well aspressure treated pine. It restores and cleanssilver grey timber back to its original beautywithout sanding, removes mill scale andopens the pores of the wood to ensurepenetration of the finish, especiallySpa-N-Deck. Ideal for both Trade & D.I.Yprojects, depending on the surface conditionand temperatures is touch dry within 2 hoursand is cleaned up easily in water.

ApplicationApply Spa-N-Deck Prep to damp timber witha brush or lambs wool applicator then backbrush with a stiff broom to help agitate andloosen any surface impurities. LeaveSpa-N-Deck Prep on the surface for 10minutes before power washing off. Be sure

not to let this product dry on the surface.Spa-N-Deck Prep is a pre-treatment timbercleaner to be used on new timber or oldtimber where all previous coatings havebeen removed. Should there be any previouscoating on the surface, depending what itis, you will need to remove using either acleaner like Powerlift or a stripper likeCitristrip before using Spa-N-Deck Prep.

Spa-N-Deck Prep solution is a concentrateand is mixed 50/50 with water whenprepping timber prior to the use of coatingproducts such as Spa-N-Deck. I litre dilutedmake 2 litres and this generally will coverapprox 10 to 15 Sq metres, depending onthe surface porosity.

Make sure to follow common sense paintingprocedures and wear protective glasses.Wash skin and other areas that have comein to contact with the Prep well with soapand water. Always dispose of any excessproduct in accordance with local regulations.Spa-N-Deck Prep is available at selectedhardware and paint suppliers.

PREPARINGIT RIGHT THEFIRST TIME

Powerlift is a powerful yet affordableliquid remover formulated to lift oldstains and finishes from decks, fences,timber cladding and all other exteriortimber with the utmost of ease. Powerliftwill remove old and weathered solventbased decking oil and decking stainsand sealers, it will even remove linseedoil. One of Powerlift’s major jobs is toremove tannin or sap from within tanninrich timbers such as Merbau / Kwila.It is the only product of its kind thatremoves tannin from new timber.

Some strippers are too strong orexpensive for the job at hand. Many deckcleaning products are only designed toremove dirt or brighten a lightly weathereddeck. Powerlift is designed to do thatand much more. Powerlift handles thetoughest of cleaning jobs and is ideal forboth Trade & D.I.Y projects.

The Process:

Apply Powerlift undiluted to damp timberwith a brush, lambs wool applicator or aspray. Work well in to the substrate witha stiff broom, leave for 10 minutes beforepower washing off. Do not allow Powerliftto dry on the surface. If stubborn areasremain, repeat the application in thoseareas. Once you are confident the oldfinish has been completely removed,check to see if the water beads on anypart of the surface. If the water does notbead, you have successfully removedany old coatings. If water continues tobead on any part of the surface afterrepeating this process, it means thereis still the previous coating left on topthat section of the surface.

Powerlift will not remove any film forming

products like acrylic / water or solvent/ oil based paints. These coating productsgenerally need to be removed by usingeither a paint striper like Citristrip orsanding. Once using Powerlift somesurfaces may darken from the tanninthat it has removed. If you are usingSpa-N-Deck to coat the surface, brightenthe timber before hand using Spa-N-DeckPrep dilute 1:2 with water and applyevenly to the surface. If you are usinganother coating system use Dekswoodinstead also diluted 1:4 with water. Forboth these cleaning products leave forabout 10 minutes to bring the timberback to its natural colour.

Powerlift takes about 1-2 hours to dryon the surface depending on theconditions and temperatures. Powerliftis available in 2.5, 4 and 10ltrs and willcover approx 4 to 6 sq metres per 1 litre.Cleaning up is a breeze as it is donewith water.

When applying Powerlift follow commonsense painting procedures.

Wear protective glasses, wash any skinand other areas that come in to contactwith Powerlift well with soap and water.

Make sure to wet down and keep wetsurrounding plants to protect them fromany splashing that may occur during use.

Powerlift can also become slippery whenused on smooth dressed timber; makesure you watch how you step. Oncefinished, disposing of any excess productshould be conducted in accordance withlocal regulations.

Powerlift is available at selected hardwareand paint suppliers.

POWERFUL FACTSABOUT POWERLIFT

SPA-N-DECK PREP

Quick and easy with dramaticresults, with out using bleacheasy to use and economicalpre-treatment solution fortimber. Use prior to use ofcoating products such asSpa-N-Deck and all other outdoor timber coating products.

Spa-N-Deck Prep Cleans alltypes of timber includinghardwood & softwoods, cedarand pressure treated timber,removes mill scale and opensthe pores of the timber toensure products penetrateand bond to the surface,helps to bring back thenatural colour from greyingtimber, removes nail ruststains and residue fromtannin.

Spa-N-Deck Prep solution isavailable in 1, 4 and 10 litrecontainers. It comes as aconcentrate and is mixed50/50 with water making it avery economical timber wash.

THE PERFECT WAY TO PREPAND TREAT YOUR TIMBERWITHOUT SANDING!

Sap & Tannin GONE!

Decking Oil GONE!

Decking Stain GONE!

Graying Timber GONE!

Water Sealers GONE!

Linseed Oil GONE!

POWERLIFT DECKSEALER REMOVERThe answer to removing tannin, oldoils and sealers from within newand old timber, with out using bleach.

Available and ready to be used undilutedin 2.5, 4 and 10 litre containers.

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