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Post Info TOPIC: Using "low pressure" to clean a roof is NOT recommended!


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Using "low pressure" to clean a roof is NOT recommended!
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disbelief Hey friends.  I posted this photo on here last year, but I thought I would post it again.  This roof was initially attempted to be cleaned using a pitch witch which is an instrument that shoots pressured water from several nozzles from wheels.  

As you can see the upper right portion of the roof was the part that was cleaned using a pitch witch and now that portion of the roof is discolored and lighter than the rest of the roof.  What happened was that the "low" pressure from the pitch witch was actually blasting away granules from the shingles causing them to become lighter in color and also less effective due to granule loss.

The homeowner noticed this as he was cleaning his roof and then decided to stop because he realized that his process was damaging the roof.  He called us and we ultimately finished the roof using our process and as you can see the remainder of the roof is still intact and there is no discoloration or granule loss.  The HO said, "Son ya learn something new everyday don't cha!".   Haha!

Just thought this photo would be useful for it is a strong case against so called "low pressure roof cleaning".  Please feel free to use this photo for your own reference if you'd like.  Thanks!


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Mike Lacey Louisville, KY
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u got to be kidding me

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The good old Pitch Witch. The worse things to hit roofs, since time itself!

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Ahh yes the good ole pitch witch.  What causes people to go crazy and use one of them things???  haha

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Looks to me like a slightly different shade of shingles. Look close, you can notice the setback of about six inches on each row. That's how most guys install shingles. Different bundles of shingles not matching exactly in color.

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Throw those pitch witches out!!!!!!

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LPWash wrote:

Looks to me like a slightly different shade of shingles. Look close, you can notice the setback of about six inches on each row. That's how most guys install shingles. Different bundles of shingles not matching exactly in color.




Actually those are the same type of shingles.  That garage is only about 6 years old so there was no replacement of the roof within that 6 years.  Believe it or not that is the work of a pitch witch!

We should all be happy though because we do not use this method and this photo can be a good marketing tool in my opinion.



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Good idea.  Do you mind if I use the pic?

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LPWash wrote:

Looks to me like a slightly different shade of shingles. Look close, you can notice the setback of about six inches on each row. That's how most guys install shingles. Different bundles of shingles not matching exactly in color.



I was thinking the same thing initially. Problems like this even happen on brand new roofs, not just patch jobs - The manufacturer just screws up somehow. The packaging may say its the same color, you can see the difference on the roof.

As for this picture, when I look at it closely, the diagonal line going up the roof looks more like a "smooth" line and not the typical staggered line you would see with a bad bundle of shingles. 

... But they are Architectural shingles and it is hard to tell from the picture.



-- Edited by Curb Appeal Roof Cleaning Charleston SC (843)324-4003 on Sunday 20th of June 2010 09:24:59 AM

-- Edited by Curb Appeal Roof Cleaning Charleston SC (843)324-4003 on Sunday 20th of June 2010 01:20:10 PM

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Marcus, 

go ahead and use it bro!  No problem!


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Curb Appeal Roof Cleaning Charleston SC (843)324-4003 wrote:

 

LPWash wrote:

Looks to me like a slightly different shade of shingles. Look close, you can notice the setback of about six inches on each row. That's how most guys install shingles. Different bundles of shingles not matching exactly in color.



I was thinking the same thing initially. Problems like this even happen on brand new roofs, not just patch jobs - The manufacturer just screws up somehow. The packaging may say its the same color, you can see the difference on the roof.

As for this picture, when I look at it closely, the diagonal line going up the roof looks more like a "smooth" line and not the typical staggered line you would see with a bad bundle of shingles. 

... But they are Architectural shingles and it is hard to tell from the picture.



-- Edited by Curb Appeal Roof Cleaning Charleston SC (843)324-4003 on Sunday 20th of June 2010 09:24:59 AM

-- Edited by Curb Appeal Roof Cleaning Charleston SC (843)324-4003 on Sunday 20th of June 2010 01:20:10 PM

 



The homeowner swore up and down that there was no roof replacement or repair within the life of that roof.  He has lived there since the house was built.  They are currently building houses in that neighborhood now as we speak.  

He also showed me the pitch witch he used and I did see a lot of granules in the gutter as we were cleaning.

 



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I never said it was a patch job or repair job or done at different times. It happens on ''brand new'' roofs all done at the same time. That's why if you read a bundle of shingles, it tells you to mix and match shingles and not pull from the same bundle in the same area. Look closely at the shingles. Notice the light color horizontally on the same row, then stagger up one row and six inches off to the left on the next row. That's how you lay them down.

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If that was done by a pitch witch, it would be the first major damage I have ever seen by one. My big competitor here uses one and his roofs come out fine. I, sadley actually started with one and never had any issue. Just took like 8 hours to do a roof!!

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Confident Roof Cleaning Houston TX wrote:

If that was done by a pitch witch, it would be the first major damage I have ever seen by one. My big competitor here uses one and his roofs come out fine. I, sadley actually started with one and never had any issue. Just took like 8 hours to do a roof!!




If there isn't any damage associated with using a pitch witch then how can those methods void the shingle warranties as I've read on here?  There are roof cleaners here in Louisville who also use pitch witches so I'm curious.  Thanks.



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They don't void the warranty. I've asked the manufacturers, and In fact I've even lost some bids that were being paid by the shingle manufacturer to a guy using a pitch witch. Don't mistake what I said though, there is damage associated with the pitch witch, not on a large scale like that. Its minor granule loss tbhe first time, and more and more each time that method is used.

I'm not saying this ISN'T from one, I've just never seen it. And I in NO way endorse the use of one.

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I got a pitch witch, i've used a couple times on metal roofs attached to the yellow noodle.  I rarely use it so anybody want to buy it?...lol.

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I bet its great for metal roof huh? How much?

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