Alex Forbes

Pumped to announce that I'll be joining the team at Laundry Spot as COO to help launch and manage the best laundromat franchise in the land. After selling my business Summer 2025, my #1 requirement of "the next thing" was to surround myself with elite people. @TylerPurcell24 and @DanReese21 without a doubt check that box as well as the other LS partners. I recently visited their flagship store in Hamilton, OH (pictured below) and was blown away at the operation. - Tech-packed machines - Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing installed like a form of art - And don't even get me started on the fresh smell of Ozone when you walk in I'll be overseeing ops, store build-outs, and ongoing support for Franchisees. I'm excited to apply my knowledge of construction coming out of the gate and dial in ops the best way I know how. With good comms, standards, and systems. I'll be sharing our journey as we get the first group of Franchisees signed on and stores built out.

@theWrz That would look great. So the 20x40 pavers came in at 100k? Seems steep but as a chronic DIYer, I’m out of touch with prices.

@AlexForbesOps All in. Patio is 20x40. Deck would be smaller. Waiting on quotes to come in but it would be elevated. Wife’s rough patio vision

My wife and I demo’d the deck today in prep to either re-deck it or do a patio. My wife is a beast. She’s half my size and has helped with just about every home project since we bought our first house. Never complains. Fun fact. We bought our home in 2019 and spent 10 months of nights and weekends renovating every square inch of the interior ourselves. I received a Masters from YouTube University that year and didn’t hire a single contractor. We took a 2 week break halfway through the renovation to get married, did a quick honeymoon, and were right back to it. That was one of the most challenging years of my life. Growing a young business figuring everything out for the first time and learning everything I could about working on houses. I’m super proud of that year but I still get the itch to do major DIY projects and 10 years later my body has a hard time keeping up. Hence the back brace during my Jersey Mike’s break. Which was only halfway through deck demo and I was absolutely cooked. Anyway, should we go budget friendly and re-deck it or get quotes for a stone patio and pergola?

@NathanQuinlanGC Yeah trex pricing is steep and I may prefer a patio anyway. I plan to add a pergola and a patio would give more clear height

The biggest question is how much maintenance you want to do. A concrete patio is probably the cheapest, but it needs sealing every few years and maybe a pressure wash here and there. Pavers are nice, but if something heaves. Or when weeds grow up between the cracks, idc what people tell you 😂 PT decks are great, but I don't like them for kids. Those deck boards splinter a lot and need staining every year or at least every other year. Trex is great to do once and has the least maintenance. I also like the drainage factor with it, but we are doing Trexdecks for $100 a sf, and that's up to the enhanced line.

@theWrz Just the patio was 100k or that was including everything else? How big of a patio?

@AlexForbesOps It’s a small part of a larger project including repaving a driveway, rebuilding a retaining wall and adding new door and stairs. First quote for flagstone patio was 100k. That will probably be the cheapest

@AlexForbesOps Why’d you have to show me these 🥲

If you’re a home gym enthusiast and appreciate fine machined parts. These plates are a dream. Price isn’t as bad as you’d think. 320 lb set is $1,000.

@FikseJake Spot on

Shoutin it from the rooftops again. The woman you marry will be the single greatest business decision you ever make (or worst if you’re an idiot). Reminds me of that Rogan video: “I like a gal who can help you move a couch.” My house wouldn’t be nearly where it’s at without my wife’s help.

@iamjaneandrews Oooo that’s nice

@AlexForbesOps A patio would look nice

@theWrz Are you getting quotes for both deck and patio? Mind sharing approx square footage, material, and ballpark quotes?

@AlexForbesOps In the deck vs patio debate currently. The quotes I’m getting are bananas. Keep up the great work

@NathanQuinlanGC The decking was ripping through the nail heads because and had to pry most nails from the joists. I interpreted that as the structure still being in good shape, no? What do you think would be most to least affordable? - PT deck - concrete patio - trex deck - stone pavers

@AlexForbesOps YouTube University 😂 Personally that framing looks pretty well cooked and probably not the right spacing for decking, especially Trex. I think either a new deck (not bad to do at all) or the concrete patio would be great options. The patio would probably be cheaper.

@737spot I may consider stamped concrete depending on stone cost

@AlexForbesOps Pour a slab of concrete with concrete steps from the inside. Pressure wash it each year and you can put a fire pit directly on it.

@Jake___Oliver A screened in porch or sunroom would be awesome but not sure we want to venture down the path of anything that feels like an addition.

@AlexForbesOps My vote is for a screened in porch... I know it wasnt one of the options 😂, but im a fan.. I am building one onto my addition.. the bugs are crazy where I am out in the woods.

@TSLAMOON It’s like you’ve read my mind haha. Redecking with pergola was the plan but I may get quotes for a patio so we can add a bit more area and fire pit. Still would do pergola.

@AlexForbesOps Redeck it. Joist looks still good but get those deck tape. Add a pergola or gazebo for shade and bbq area. Also consider sunroom

@CaseyMericle It’s never too late to start

I grew up when the minimum wage was 5 bucks & there was no jobs Never once made a tictok vid in my car about it

I’m meticulous about my finances and also my lawn. Excited for another season of mowing, fertilizing, watering, and enjoying some cold ones on the deck.

@ForgottenFixers Good to know. Thank you!

@AlexForbesOps advantagelumber.com If you redeck, I have never regretted using exotic hardwoods from these guys for exterior projects (accents on siding projects) and the pricing tends to be competitive with other common materials like trex.

@jack_watson_hfw I feel the same way. You learn a ton about yourself and what you’re capable of during sustained stress tests.

@AlexForbesOps I bought a house late last year while also taking over the sales team of our family business. Underestimated the challenge, but grateful for the experience that will shape my career.

@finecarpentry63 If we re-deck that was my exact thought. The joists are rock solid still. The decking tore through the OG nails that just didn’t want to let go.

@AlexForbesOps Lay tar paper on the floor joists if still in good condition then install 1x4 mahogany decking good for 30 years

@seanm_mccarthy It’s a game changer. I got so sick of going to commercial gyms

@AlexForbesOps Love that, no home gym for me yet but hopefully soon

Got it hung after the kids went down. Went with french cleats at 45° to create a bit of a dovetail effect on the wall. Allowed for no visible fasteners, which turned out pretty clean. Also made that dumbbell rack the other week. 2” thick poplar.

@seanm_mccarthy Thanks dude! I’m always trying to optimize every inch of the gym

@AlexForbesOps Looks great man 💪

@cubanseminole1 Not sure if you can get your logo on them. And I appreciate it. Feels good to be focused on the next chapter.

@AlexForbesOps That’s sweet. You can get the logo scanned? Congrats on the sale of your business. We used to chat a bit back in the day. Happy for you.

@bankertobuilder There should just be parallel parking allowed on the interstate

Imagine how short your commute would be if we had the courage to build highways like this