The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Guest

The &^%$%# wind......

Guest

I mix my ( love) up with an xtra cup or two of ammonyx lo and then I went to a garden style nozzle. I can change the spray pattern with that a bit better. I then get on the roof. I don't like to but with the wind here I have to. Make sure to use some form of fall protection. I then put my nozzle on a wide pattern and stay as close to the roof as posable with my spray. I have even talked to the neighbors and got permission to water down their houses, and bushes in case of over spray. I can't wait to try the thicker ammonyx M I think that is what its called. Good luck with the wind and I hope you get some calmer weather.

Confident Roof Cleaning Houston TX · Guest

We have the ability to catch up quickly if we have to reschedule, so like you, we cancel when the wind is over 15 mph or over 60% chance of rain.

Guest

Thank you gentlemen. Scott - as one of the leaders on this forum, I'm able to take a deep breath knowing that you do the same as I happen to do.

I have the ability to catch up quickly too, but in a dual income area, many of my clients don't. The weekends are 'smack full' as they'd say back in NC. I need to push the M-F, no-need- to-be-there philosophy I guess. Tough sell for many around here.

Interested in the thoughts of others as always.

Chesapeake · Guest

I feel your pain Ted. This rain and wind has really got us behind. The walkable roofs are tuff enough to spray even keeping your nozzle low. The unwalkables, you got to spray in between the wind gusts or reschedule when theres better weather. When we see good weather coming, we just load the day full. We managed to clean 3 yesterday, and would've done 4 but the one customer left their windows open.

Guest

Chesapeake wrote:

I feel your pain Ted. This rain and wind has really got us behind. The walkable roofs are tuff enough to spray even keeping your nozzle low. The unwalkables, you got to spray in between the wind gusts or reschedule when theres better weather. When we see good weather coming, we just load the day full. We managed to clean 3 yesterday, and would've done 4 but the one customer left their windows open.

Thanks Chris. I was staring to think I was just too risk averse. My high end clients are such a PITA to get a hold of, I hold my breath thinking I'll lose the deal every time I reschedule. I make it clear why - protecting THEIR property, yet we're running out of 'runway' fast as winter approaches for us mid-Atlantic folks.

I've had no plant, landscape or lawn damage at all since staring the business. Am I simply being too cautious? Protecting our reputation is huge to me. Perhaps it's costing me in the long run.....

gutterdog · Oct 14, 2010

I dont check anything. I just go out there. Sometimes ya gotta wait. Its a pain inthe arse. Ive set ladders to get closer. Just get the job done. Dont take off 'cause of the wind. Let me stop and say too. 15 plus winds a PITA . a windy day rare round here.

-- Edited by gutterdog on Thursday 14th of October 2010 08:11:26 PM

Confident Roof Cleaning Houston TX · Guest

You should definately push the "You need to be there for the estimate, but NOT when the work is done." If I had to guess, only about 10% of our customers are home when we do the work. We let them know that up front and they are usually pleased by that.

If you do HAVE to work when it windy, just make sure to take extra extra precaustions with the neighbors landscaping. Its usually not a big deal since the wind will carry most of it away from the homes anyways.

Just remember, NEVER work when its not safe. Period.

Guest

gutterdog wrote:

I dont check anything. I just go out there. Sometimes ya gotta wait. Its a pain inthe arse. Ive set ladders to get closer. Just get the job done. Dont take off 'cause of the wind. Let me stop and say too. 15 plus winds a PITA . a windy day rare round here.

Thanks Mike. I ask with all due respect - you haven't spotted a deck or a hot tub's wood siding as a result of working in high winds? It's the thought of turning a $550 roof job morning payday in to a $750 debit that concerns me. I did my first composite deck cleaning last month, and it was NOT by choice... I got lucky, or the job would have cost me money due to the $#@ #@$% wind....

Again I ask respectfully. Thank you.

gutterdog · Oct 14, 2010

Roof Cleaning Northern Virginia (571) 250 9650 wrote:

gutterdog wrote:

I dont check anything. I just go out there. Sometimes ya gotta wait. Its a pain inthe arse. Ive set ladders to get closer. Just get the job done. Dont take off 'cause of the wind. Let me stop and say too. 15 plus winds a PITA . a windy day rare round here.

Thanks Mike. I ask with all due respect - you haven't spotted a deck or a hot tub's wood siding as a result of working in high winds? It's the thought of turning a $550 roof job morning payday in to a $750 debit that concerns me. I did my first composite deck cleaning last month, and it was NOT by choice... I got lucky, or the job would have cost me money due to the $#@ #@$% wind....
Again I ask respectfully. Thank you.

What I think I understand is simmiliar to washin town houses. Its a bitch it can be done.

Guest

Confident Roof Cleaning Houston TX wrote:

You should definately push the "You need to be there for the estimate, but NOT when the work is done." If I had to guess, only about 10% of our customers are home when we do the work. We let them know that up front and they are usually pleased by that.

If you do HAVE to work when it windy, just make sure to take extra extra precaustions with the neighbors landscaping. Its usually not a big deal since the wind will carry most of it away from the homes anyways.

Just remember, NEVER work when its not safe. Period.

+1. My closing ratio is MUCH higher when the client is home for the estimate. I hate it when the say over the phone 'I won't need to be there, right?' for the quote, cause my sales closures suffer big time. Although I did close one near my local fishing lake this evening without the homeowner being there. (Exceptions to everything I guess).

With even no wind, I knock on the neighbors doors as a courtesy to close their windows, advise that we may water their landscaping as a precaution etc. And btw, we'll take care of your roof too

Scott - I've been through some sh&* in some ways, but when it comes to roof safety, I'm THERE brother

Thanks!

gutterdog · Oct 14, 2010

Now I got ya! Workin on youtube vids bro. no its never happened to me. knock on wood!!!!!

Guest

Thanks man, and to Bobby Byrd for the kind words previously. Robert - you share a name with a very special person - any relation?

*edit to correct transposed letters due to fat fingers

*

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Northern Virginia (571) 250 9650 on Thursday 14th of October 2010 08:30:37 PM

Confident Roof Cleaning Houston TX · Guest

No disrespect but did you just say Rober Byrd, the politician, was very special??

white fox · Guest

I usually just reschedule jobs on windy days. I figure its less hassle to reschedule that to have to worry about the neighbors landscaping and house

Guest

Confident Roof Cleaning Houston TX wrote:

No disrespect but did you just say Rober Byrd, the politician, was very special??

Longest in office ever.... I'll leave it at that. Tough for even me to say as a die hard right winger

Guest

just could be related Ted, you ever live in Long Beach Washington.

Roof Cleaning Toledo Ohio (419) 265-3306 · Guest

Just stay as close to the roof as possible and water,water,water everything. Keep everything wet and you will be o.k. If we rescheduled everytime it was windy we would never get any jobs done. Wait a week and someone on this board will try to sell you some secret advice on a super new product that will eliminate the wind. Just hang in there we deal with the same problems. Good Luck

Guest

@ Doug - LMAO! Almost spewed coffee all over my laptop!!

@ Robert - that's awesome. I've never lived in Washington. I was in Spokane a time or two on temporary duty years ago and loved it. The people there were very down to earth. I did spend about 7 years in Southern Cal. That's the extent of my living out west.

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Northern Virginia (571) 250 9650 on Saturday 16th of October 2010 11:06:05 AM

Guest

Ted,
There is a point at which it is just too windy to spray. The last time I pushed it, I was doing a home in a subdivision with 1/2 acre lots. There were people replacing a pool deck in the back yard of the neighbor next door. The wind was actually swirling the mist around the back of the house and taking it all the way over to the workers. They came over at one point to tell me that I was continually hitting them with spray. Fortunately they were pretty understanding. They moved from the back yard just long enough for me to finish up and we packed up and went home.

There are far too many things that can go wrong with the wind carrying your overspray/mist. It is not worth taking the chance. It is an easy way to be sued. There is no amount of Ammonyx that will keep the mist from being carried by the wind. Don't fool yourself into thinking you can fight the wind.

Brian

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"