WoodDefender Newsletter
April 2007
New Equipment
While the ST-250 machine and the Wood Defender Pro Package have proven themselves in the field, we recognized the need for a downsized more economical piece of equipment. With that in mind, Mel and Brent Turner have designed two new pieces of equipment for the start-up business on a budget. In the May 2007 newsletter we will have detailed descriptions as well as pricing for the new equipment options. We are very excited about this equipment and are looking forward to the unveiling.
New Equipment Packages:
Those of you who regularly visit our website may have noticed a few new “packages” added to our equipment price list as well as a price increase on equipment. We have added these new packages in order to help those customers who are looking for the best bang for the buck.ST-250 Show Special
We offer this package to any attendee of a training class held at our location in Mansfield, TX. This package includes the ST-250 machine, 100 gallons of stain (color of your choice) and the one day training class. This is an excellent startup package at $6495.00 with a savings of $737.82!Stainer Package:
This package includes the ST-250, 100 gallons of stain, training class, enclosed trailer, full vinyl wrap and accessory package. Essentially, the only difference between the “Stainer Package” and the “Pro Package” is the Pro Package has the double hose reel and bleach pump system. The “Stainer Package” is priced at $16,495.00.ST-250 Pro Package:
The ST-250 Pro Package is also still available. This is the turn key package which includes the ST-250 stain machine, double hose reel, bleach sprayer system, trailer and accessory package along with 100 gallons of stain and the training class at NO CHARGE. This package sells for $19,592.39 and has a savings of $1833.00!
Equipment Price Increases for 2007:
As mentioned, the equipment prices have increased due to increases in materials to manufacture. Listed below are the equipment options and current prices:
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Sprayer Systems/Pumps
|
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Part #
|
Description | Price |
|
WD250
|
ST-250 | $5,399.82 |
| WDDHR | Double Hose Reel | $2,343.47 |
| WD100 | Bleach Sprayer System | $1,862.97 |
| WD-2006 | Trailer & Accessory | $9,986.13 |
| Packages | ||
| ST-250 Show Special | $6,495.00 | |
| (Class, 100 gallons stain, ST-250) | ||
| Stainer Package | $16,495.00 | |
| (Class, 100 gallons stain, ST-250, | ||
| Trailer & Accessory Kit) | ||
| WDPRO | Pro Package | $19,592.39 |
| (WD250, WDDHR, WD100, WD-2006) | ||
Disclaimers on Proposals:
Over the last few months we have been asked on more than one occasion if we suggest putting disclaimers on proposals. We think it would be a good idea to minimize miscommunication between yourself and your customer. The following suggestions are just that, SUGGESTIONS. In no way should it be considered legal verbiage but merely ideas that should be conveyed to your potential customer before work is to begin.
The list below was compiled after visiting with a few of our large customers and going off of the suggestions they had as it pertains to disclaimers:
- If you choose to offer a product warranty to your customers, this would be a great place to explain along with an explanation on prorating product replacement.
- It is also a good idea to explain that your company is not responsible for any damage to the stain caused by sprinklers, plants rubbing on fence, mowing or trimmer string
- You may want to mention that overspray will be contained as much as possible. They may notice some overspray on the grass along the bottom of the fence. They should check indoor pet’s paws before coming in the house for a couple of days after the application process to minimize tracking.
- There should be no guarantee of 100% uniform coverage on fences with previous sprinkler damage.
Spring Savings Coupon
For the month of May we will be offering a one time use coupon good for 5% off a pallet order of Wood Defender fence stains or deck stains when ordered direct.
ST-250 Promotion
We have added a promotion for our customers interested in purchasing another ST-250 stain machine to their fleet. Any customer who has purchased $50,000.00 worth of stain from Standard Paint Inc. in a fiscal year will qualify for a 15% discount off of the price of an ST-250. This will be offered in appreciation of your business during the prior year as well as to help you grow your business buy investing that 15% savings in some other sector of your business.
Wood Defender Warranty:
A question about the warranty came up at our March training class regarding claims. It is our suggestion that you “pro rate” any claim. The warranty on the Semi-Transparent fence stains is three years and the warranty on the Transparent fence stains is two years. As a general rule of thumb, the product should show normal, minimal wear, three years from the date of application on the Semi-Transparent fence stain and two years from the date of application on the Transparent fence and deck stains. While the product is warranted by Standard Paints Inc., the labor is not. It will be up to you as the business owner to decide a fair wage to reapply the maintenance coat.
With that in mind, if your customer contacts you after 33 months on a three year Semi-Transparent product, first you need to visit with the customer and look at the fence. If you feel that it is indeed a warranty issue and not caused by natural causes ( i.e. sprinkler damage, vegetation……) then you may offer a credit for the three months that the product didn’t perform.
Avoid claims by applying the product in accordance with directions on the label. Apply stain without thinning and maintain a minimum of 175 sq. ft. per gallon coverage. If you check your coverage at the conclusion of a job and you’ve covered 250 sq. ft. per gallon, more than likely the warranty period will not be met.
Please contact Standard Paint Inc. for a written warranty explanation.
Tech Tips:
One topic sometimes overlooked is stirring the product before use. As the busy season begins it is easy to get wrapped up in getting the job done as quickly as possible, but care must be taken to thoroughly mix your product before applying to ensure an even and uniform application.
It is very important when filling your ST-250 to completely clean all pigment and ingredients from the bottom of the can and add it to the tank. One thing to remember……if it’s in the can, it needs to be on the fence. You can do this by rinsing each bucket with a small amount of mineral spirits and pouring it in your tank. When the engine is running the pressure nozzle inside the tanks will do a great job agitating the product. If stain has been stored in the tanks, start the engine and let it agitate the product. It is also a good idea to sweep your spray wand along the bottom of the tanks to ensure any settled pigment has been kicked up. At the same time, this procedure is allowing any stain that may have settled within the hose to be mixed as well.
The pictures below show “before and after” pictures of a newly opened bucket vs. a cleaned bucket:
Customers of ours that aren’t utilizing the ST-250 stain machine, it is imperative that you are diligent about stirring. It would even be advisable to empty the stain bucket into an empty five gallon pail and use the same clean out process as mentioned above. This will insure all pigmentation is thoroughly mixed resulting in a uniform appearance.
It is recommended to stir all colors of the Wood Defender product line. While the Transparent products may require less stirring than the Semi-Transparent fence stains, as mentioned above it is still important to stir thoroughly. It is extremely important to stir the Semi-Transparent fence stains as they contain more pigment and are more likely to settle over time. Shaking of the bucket or rocking does not constitute stirring. The lid must be physically removed and stirred with a five gallon stir stick.
Bleach Pump System Maintenance:
The bleach pump system runs off of a Shurflo 12volt diaphragm pump. This pump is the heart of the system and MUST be cleaned out with fresh clean water after each use. Our recommendation is that you fill an empty 5 gallon bucket with about 3 gallons of water and a pint of antifreeze. Stick the siphon hose coming off the valve assembly into the bucket of water/antifreeze mixture, squeeze the trigger on the gun and allow this mixture to be drawn through the pump. The natural lubricity and anticorrosive properties of the antifreeze will deter a seizure of the diaphragm while the water removes any corrosive bleach from the internals of the pump allowing it to last substantially longer.
Hose Reel Maintenance:
It is very important to lube the swivels on your hose reels on a monthly basis. The swivels are built with a “lube point” for this purpose. If this is neglected, it could result in the swivel breaking, leaking or hose coming disconnected. If your equipment has the double hose reel (bleach), this swivel must also be lubed.