> I wonder how you could make sure you got
> your commission, when the deck restorer can
> make another $100 just by forgetting to pay
> you?

Well, $100 would be one cheap lead, Boyd. And if I had someone sending work to my imaginary (so far) deck renewal biz that cheap, I'd be trying to keep them as happy as possible, lest they slip away and start working with my arch nemesis, John Drake.

Gordon makes some good points about a lot of things (doesn't he always?), but I think if you want to say to hell with the bureaucracy, you can make a lot more working this on your own. Yes, there's equipment and things to learn, but you're all fast learners! It all depends on how much you want to put into it.

And all the 'libilties'? What about em? Good luck in any business if you can't step over, work with, or trample the effects of these.

I just reread that to make sure that's how I really feel, and it is. Just checking. It's good to do that sometimes. It's really weird some of the ways your point of view can come out in print. So much so that later when you read it, you just think 'Why?!?'

You aren't going to have problems with lawsuits if you're talking with a picking and choosing customers in person. Maybe I'm just from a different neck of the woods than y'all (and no, that word is not part of my vocab).

Success,

Erik Lukas

P.S. Yes, you might damage the surface of the wood some if you use too much pressure (and you'll have to fix that before staining with light sanding). You'll be fine as long as you can handle that AND stay away from Thompsons deck cleaner.

P.P.S. Hint: Start with a 40 degree tip 12 inches away and use wolman's deck brightener (cedar version if you need to get out darkness). Go easy on the pressure and heavy on the carefulness.