Podcast #4 Q&A. What stains to use, when to go full time in staining, growing your business - a podcast by Caleb Roth

Caleb Roth, host of Stain & Seal Expert’s podcast welcomes you to Episode #4

On this episode, Caleb sits down with John Lafleur, VP of Sales for Stain & Seal Experts. John takes care of all the sales of our stains and our pre stained lumber. If you would like to order stain or pre stained lumber, contact John at info@stainandsealexperts.com.

Pre stained lumber sales are up and going. We are moving orders as fast as we can pre stain.We’re offering a medium brown color right now on cedar posts and pickets. If you’d like to place an order or would like more information, visit or Stain & Seal Experts Store stainandsealexperts.com!

We’ve also began selling our fence and deck stain and sealers in our online store. We’ve been using them for about five years with exceptional results and decided to jump into the retail side to offer contractors and do-it-yourself’ers a great product to stain and seal their fence and deck. Visit stainandsealexperts.com and go to our store or jump on our Facebook page to learn more or buy your Experts’ Brand Fence and Deck Stain.

We also have a premium deck stain and sealer in the works and look forward to bringing it to the public soon. We’re diligently working on a concrete sealer as well and will keep you updated on our progress.

Caleb and John talk about and answer questions from contractors in the staining business.

Questions from contractors -

Jamie Hodge @ Costal Premier Stain and Seal costalpremierstainllc.com in Southern Georgia and Florida

Question — How can you tell when you’re bidding jobs when the old stain is oil or water based?

Answer) If its water based, it will peel off or will look glossy. If this is the case, only water based products can be reapplied. Best way to test is the clean the fence. If it is easy to clean, it may absorb an oil based stain.

Question -- How do you control over spray from shadow box fences?

Answer) The best way you control the over spray is to be careful. Spraying is the best option to apply stain. Brushing and rolling will not give you the best results. If you use an airless sprayer, it will limit the overspray. Also, use a very thin sheet of plywood to absorb the overspray.

Question -- Using social media to generate leads…does this work well?

Answer) Social media is one of the best ways to get your company and product in front of potential customers. If you aren’t promoting your business, you’re dooming it to fail. Social media is one of the most popular ways to connect people to what the want/need. You also need a good website with a lead capturing capability.

James Porter with Wood Defender

4)What are some pros and cons of pre stain lumber

A) Pros - zero overspray. Finish always looks great, no run marks. Always consistent. Better for the consumer and contractor.

5) Best way to prep an old deck for staining

A) When wood gets old no matter if it has been stained or not, bleach the deck or use a more gentle per carbonate cleaner then use a brightener. This removes nail marks and bleach marks and leaves the wood looking more natural. After that, use a light pressure washer with soft wash house tips.

John Shelton from Carolina Stain and Seal carolinastainandseal.com Give John a call for all your fences, decks, boat docks, pergola staining needs in the Charleston, SC area

6) When it is time to go full time with your staining career? And how much do you pay your employees?

A) If you have plenty of jobs on the books, have a great profit margin, and if you have a great savings fund for expenses and cost of living then it’s time to go full time. The best time of year will be around May due to weather, depending on what part of the country your business is located.

A) When it comes to pay scales, there are three popular options: by the day, by the job or by the hour. Look at the job market in your area and base the pay off of comparable jobs. Remember, most of the time, the better you pay your employees, the better they will preform their job for you. Make sure that you train your guys well so that they will know how to stain and what your expect on the job site. Training is the one of the most important factors in running a successful stain business.

Stain and Seal Expert’s Fence and Deck Staining University is our Facebook group to ask questions, get feedback, show off your finished jobs and techniques. Its a community for stain contractors to bounce ideas off of each other and learn from peers’ successes and mistakes.

TIP of the day -

You should always present a written proposal to prospected customers. You will close more sales with a written proposal than just a verbal price.

Stainandsealexperts.com

Facebook/stainandsealexperts.com

info@stainandsealexperts.com

https://stain-seal-experts-store.myshopify.com

If you have any other questions or would like to be featured on our podcast, shoot us an email

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