Apartment Complex

[Don Phelps]

Thanks for all the good words, guys!

As Carlos mentioned, organization and preplanning are essential to doing jobs this size in a professional and timely manner. Having the right people involved and everyone knowing their role and consistently executing it is vital to the whole operation.

Jon,

I'm the 7ft (6'3) gorilla on the roof. I prefer to be fully involved in the operation, so I go up and spray also. There will come a time when I'll stay down and run the operation from the ground. Until then, I'm having fun on the more exciting end of the job.

The wands we use are the wands that we make and sell. I've never labeled it the "Phelps Wand." That's what others have chosen to call it. You can see pics and get more info about it by doing a word search in this forum.

As for a website, no....but there are several things in the works with regard to sites and the various directions that the company is diversifying into.

Hi Jeff,

We're doing the roofs and they also want a proposal for the breezeways.

Yes, it's for the same GC as the last one. We're planning to do another one for them in the not-so-distant future also.

[StainlessDeal]

Good to see you keeping Wayne under control! LOL

Projects like this fascinate me, but are well out of my league for now. Give us lots of pics and be careful up there. We need our guru alive and well.

BTW, you should be proud of your wand, and happy to say so! HA!

[Don Phelps]

Hi Scott,

Keeping Wayne on the straight and narrow can be a handfull!

Here are a few more pics. I should have a lot more Sunday or Monday.

[JFife]

That is crazy!! Man, accidently step on your hose and you'd be toast! I hope you guys get paid a fortune for doing that stuff, can't be that many people willing to do that. I'd rather herd sheep on Brokeback Mountain in my speedos than do what you guys do. Cannot see how you can stand up on a wet roof like that. I'm impressed.

[Dewy]

[quote=Jon Fife] I'd rather herd sheep on Brokeback Mountain in my speedos than do what you guys do.

You owe me a keyboard Jon! I just spit Miller Lite all over mine.

[Don Phelps]

That is crazy!! Man, accidently step on your hose and you'd be toast! I hope you guys get paid a fortune for doing that stuff, can't be that many people willing to do that. I'd rather herd sheep on Brokeback Mountain in my speedos than do what you guys do. Cannot see how you can stand up on a wet roof like that. I'm impressed.

The bid was just under $21,000 and we started on Tuesday and will be done on Monday. I'll take home at least 60% of that......go figure! While you're at it, don't be afraid to live a little. A heart attack, stroke, random violence or auto accident can take you out just as quick.

[copgib]

Don this question is for you! What would you use to clean a Metal roof? I have read where some have used truck wash with wax in there mixture, but I want the suggestion from the roof guru! Thanks Hugh

[JFife]

The bid was just under $21,000 and we started on Tuesday and will be done on Monday. I'll take home at least 60% of that......go figure! While you're at it, don't be afraid to live a little. A heart attack, stroke, random violence or auto accident can take you out just as quick.

....I'll settle for my crappy life stuck to Earth on my fat butt, waiting for the heart attack!! I've got an idea for large, multiple roofs like that......ever see the helicopters dump buckets of water on a fire?? For the 10K in expenses you have on that job, I think I could come up with some pretty wild ideas that might be a little safer. I actually have several ideas involving helicopters that would be possible! The only dangerous job I'd consider would be crab fishing, the 45K a month is tempting.

[Degraffreed]

Don, I am very intrigued by your pictures and what your doing on the roof. I have tried to analyize your process by just the pictures. I have a few questions.

1. In the third picture, I noticed you have a White line or rope coming from your D ring. Is this your safety line that is tied off to your boom cage? and if so is one of your helpers up in the lift pulling in and out on the line as needed for you to manuever around on the roof? Can he visually see your or do you do some type code for him to let out line or pull in the line?

2. I noticed the orange hose. Is this the chlorine pump sprayer that your applying to the roof? Are you then using another hose, that is not in the picture frame to then rinse the roof off after letting the chlorine dwell?

3. Are you using the 12% chlorine straight or diluted. or do you spray the chlorine on the roof and the you have another helper come behind you and the rinse in that type of cleaning process?

[Don Phelps]

....I'll settle for my crappy life stuck to Earth on my fat butt, waiting for the heart attack!! I've got an idea for large, multiple roofs like that......ever see the helicopters dump buckets of water on a fire?? For the 10K in expenses you have on that job, I think I could come up with some pretty wild ideas that might be a little safer. I actually have several ideas involving helicopters that would be possible! The only dangerous job I'd consider would be crab fishing, the 45K a month is tempting.

As you've stated, your butt is self-discribed as fat and if that's the case you probably should keep it on earth.

As for large loads of liquid being dumped on roofs, obviously weight and/or impact and run-off will be a problem.

"Wild ideas" and "a little safer" sounds like an oxymoron.

Crab fishing isn't "a month," it's "for the month!"

Stick to wood before you hurt yourself or someone else.

[Don Phelps]

Hi Tracey,
The slack in both lines are constantly adjusted by either the sprayer or the boom operator. We either communicate by voice, hand signal or radio. The orange hose is the chem hose. The roof isn't rinsed, as these are tile roofs and the heat dries them quickly without degradation. The chem/water mix is approximately 1:1. Normally a higher concentration would be used, but we're laying down more gpm, essentially flooding the roof.

Don, I am very intrigued by your pictures and what your doing on the roof. I have tried to analyize your process by just the pictures. I have a few questions.

1. In the third picture, I noticed you have a White line or rope coming from your D ring. Is this your safety line that is tied off to your boom cage? and if so is one of your helpers up in the lift pulling in and out on the line as needed for you to manuever around on the roof? Can he visually see your or do you do some type code for him to let out line or pull in the line?

2. I noticed the orange hose. Is this the chlorine pump sprayer that your applying to the roof? Are you then using another hose, that is not in the picture frame to then rinse the roof off after letting the chlorine dwell?

3. Are you using the 12% chlorine straight or diluted. or do you spray the chlorine on the roof and the you have another helper come behind you and the rinse in that type of cleaning process?

[Don Phelps]

Don this question is for you! What would you use to clean a Metal roof? I have read where some have used truck wash with wax in there mixture, but I want the suggestion from the roof guru! Thanks Hugh

Hi Hugh,
I've actually never cleaned a metal roof. Obviously whatever is used would need to be something that isn't corrosive to metal or at least very weak in concentration. Hopefully there are others here that have cleaned one and can help you out.

[JFife]

copgib--

"THE GURU" is stumped!! Though he feels i should stick to wood, I actually have experience is this arena, so I'll offer some help. Bleach or restoration chems will EASILY etch the surface, unless it is brand-new. Once they've started fading, everything scars them. We've washed areas of metal roofs by hand before using soap and a sponge and it will take off the paint/color. Only have done that when we overspray on them. We rinse them from a bucket if they have debris, etc. ....And, if the metal is wet, you won't be able to stand on even a 1/12 pitch (maybe with special footware, I dunno). Don't check this section often, if there is anything else that Don can't answer that you need my help on, post on the "log" forum

[Don Phelps]

Yeah, when you're talkin' about using helicopters to clean roofs, it would probably be a good idea to stick to wood.

As far as anyone standing on wet tile, it's just a figment of Jon's imagination. We take all the necessary safety precautions. Fall gear, respirators, glasses, gloves, bibs and two-way radios and the appropriate footwear.

It doesn't matter whether it's your mom's roof or a 5 story hotel, safety should be priority #1.

Be safe!

[squirtgun]

....I'll settle for my crappy life stuck to Earth on my fat butt, waiting for the heart attack!! I've got an idea for large, multiple roofs like that......ever see the helicopters dump buckets of water on a fire?? For the 10K in expenses you have on that job, I think I could come up with some pretty wild ideas that might be a little safer. I actually have several ideas involving helicopters that would be possible! The only dangerous job I'd consider would be crab fishing, the 45K a month is tempting.

The impact from dropping roof chemicals from a helicopter would be somewhat similar to dropping a 1972 AMC Gremlin on a roof.Look Out Beloooooooow!!!!!