Asphalt Shingle Cleaning applications

[CarolinaProWash]

This would be why I like to use chemicals from manufacturers that come with instructions!

[Mike Williamson]

[quote=pldoolittle]

Originally Posted by oneness

If it is bleach, I'd use it straight (5.25% or so Sodium Hypochlorite). If it is pool Chlorine (10.5%-12% SH) then I'd cut it 1:1 with water.

By the time you're done applying chems, the roof is ready to rinse. Depending on the severity of the mold/algae/moss, you may have to reapply in spots.
QUOTE]

Either you have a different type of mildew in Fla or I'm doing it all wrong. I'm throwing down 12% through an xjet at 2:1 and it changes from black to pink-black. Then I follow up every sq.in. with a 40^ #100 tip. It comes off easily at that point, but takes forever. I've seriously considered no more roofs for that reason.

I'm throwing the 6% via xjet @ 2:1 (4gpm no proportioner) down for residential driveways pre-surf cleaner. Loosens it up nicely, but it's still black until cleaned. There is no way I'm getting by w/o agitation.

12% straight on the other hand is a different story. Mildew vanishes w/o agitation.

Am I missing somethign here? Is it possible to clean a roof without sq. by sq. agitation? If so, then I've got a HUGE market waiting for me here on the southside of Atl.

You're putting it on a bit weak...you want MINIMUM 4%, closer to 5 or 6 for really bad roofs.

Get a shurflow and play with the strength until you find what works for you. The Xjet just dilutes it too much.

[Mike Williamson]

Originally Posted by pldoolittle

12-15% bleach through a X-jet 2:1 is too weak? Wow! I always assumed that I was getting 4-5% to the surface. Am I not correct that 12% through a 4gpm xjet with no proportioner is hitting the roof at 4-5%?

That said, let me go a little off topic. I'm washing with 1.5gal 12% (or 3 gal 5.25%) in a 5gal pail topped off with water (and some surfactants) through the same xjet. It seems to work well, but am I under delivering chems for good efficency? My calcs are:

12% *(1.5/5) = 3.6%
2:1 mix yields 1.2% at the wall.

Sorry...I assumed you were using what we in FL use, 10.5%. Yes, 15% through an Xjet should work fine.

[Washaway]

Originally Posted by oneness

....Just like with water...H20...hydrogen and oxygen, both flammable...yet you can't light water on fire..

I like that idea!!! Pool on fire at our next party.....I wonder if anyone has tried it.

[Gary]

I've followed several PW contractors using bleach/chlorine solutions to clean roofs and found serious landscape damage. Could someone with successful experience explain the proper method of protecting homeowner’s property?

Thanks

[Washaway]

Originally Posted by Gary

I've followed several PW contractors using bleach/chlorine solutions to clean roofs and found serious landscape damage. Could someone with successful experience explain the proper method of protecting homeowner’s property?

Thanks

Rinse. Rinse. Rinse.........before/during/ and after!

[Mike Williamson]

Originally Posted by Washaway

Rinse. Rinse. Rinse.........before/during/ and after!

Exactly. Wet things down before, rinse well during, and afterwards. I've seen pretty nasty damage to shrubs, where there's a 6" or so dead line down the entire row of shrubs where the chlorine ran off the roof and was never rinsed.

If there are particularly sensitive plants like annuals or flowers, you can either cover with a tarp, or set up a small sprinkler in that area to keep things wet.

[Barry M]

How does everyone keep wetting down the landscaping, via a second man or a sprinkler, when your only water supply is feeding your washer?

[Mike Williamson]

Originally Posted by Barry M

How does everyone keep wetting down the landscaping, via a second man or a sprinkler, when your only water supply is feeding your washer?

Ummm...with the washer? I use a 2515 tip, and it is great for rinsing landscaping down. For flowers and other tender plants, you may have to step back a few extra feet, but it works well.

[CCPC]

I don't even turn my washer on while cleaning roofs. Rinse the plants with the same garden hose you are using to rinse the roof while your cleaning.

[Barry M]

I was under the impression that most guys are at the peak of the roof while applying chems and rinsing. That would mean you would be climbing up and down the roof? I just need to work with someone on a job. To many people on the boards talk to me like I've done this before.

[Mike Williamson]

Originally Posted by CCPC

I don't even turn my washer on while cleaning roofs. Rinse the plants with the same garden hose you are using to rinse the roof while your cleaning.

That works too, but I usually have the house, and sometimes the driveway, to do also...so it is just as easy to use the washer to rinse. In fact, I often rinse the roof from the ground as I'm working my way around doing the house.

[Mike Williamson]

Originally Posted by Barry M

I was under the impression that most guys are at the peak of the roof while applying chems and rinsing. That would mean you would be climbing up and down the roof? I just need to work with someone on a job. To many people on the boards talk to me like I've done this before.

Maybe someone within a reasonable driving distance of you can offer to allow you to learn while you work on a couple roof jobs? I'd do it, but that's a heck of a drive!

[Mike Williamson]

Originally Posted by pldoolittle

So you guys are not up on the roof with a LP tip after the bleach? Wow, I guess my concentration is much too low with an x-jet. I have to gently PW every square to get the black off after a bleaching. I've even considered dropping the pressure on a rotary surf cleaner and doing it like a driveway. It comes off easily, but there is no way that I could get it off from the ground.

I'd invest in a shurflo setup or some other type of pump that will get the chlorine in higher concentrations.

If you're Xjetting, you may need to coat it 2-3 times

Do NOT use a surface cleaner on the roof! If you lower the pressure that low, you don't get the speed on the spinner, or the hovering ability, so you defeat the purpose. If you don't lower the pressure enough, you will wind up damaging the roof.

[CCPC]

I was under the impression that most guys are at the peak of the roof while applying chems and rinsing. That would mean you would be climbing up and down the roof? I just need to work with someone on a job. To many people on the boards talk to me like I've done this before.

my roof washing procedure:

put my roof cleaning wand on the roof ready to spray chems.

go back down rinse the plants real well.

back up the ladder start applying chems

after a couple of minutes of applying chem (usually one side of the roof) I go back down rinse the plants some more.

once the roof appears to have stopped dripping chems I move to another side of the house place my wand on the roof, ready to go.

rinse the plants and anything else that need to be soaked down.

go on roof apply chems couple of minutes (usually that whole side of house)

go back down rinse plants till the chems have appeared to have stopped.

Hint: if you are using the right tip on your pvc wand,, and applying the chem correctly, there should be very little run off during the application process.

reapeat steps entill chem has been applyed to the entire roof.

take your garden hose or pressure washer hose (with low pressure tip) and go on roof and start rinsing.

I like to rinse one side at a time from the peak down and after each side is rinsed I go back down the ladder and rinse the plants for each side I complete.

sounds like a lot of up and down the ladder, and your right, it is, but I would rather make more trips up and down then risk burning plants or etching a window I failed to rinse.

There are other details to this process, but I'm just giving my shortened version.

To avoid any live and learn nightmares it is probably a good idea to try and find someone near you that would be willing to trade some labor for learning.