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

juarez1981 wrote:

---

what type of air compressor should I buy just to get started?
I can't afford to buy a really expensive compressor, and I haven't read alot about it in the forum. 
and also where do you guys buy TSP?
do you buy it from the same chemical supplyer?

---

juarez1981

New Jedi Roof Cleaning Apprentice,

If you want to start cleaning roofs in your area you may not want to go with a air compressor and air diaphragm setup to start off, especially if your FLOW is LOW.

Until your Paper is THICK, Try starting out with a simpler setup until you are confident in your skills and you outgrow more traditional methods.
We have to learn to crawl before we can walk and walk before running.

So, too SHOULD be your progression in the Roof Cleaning Arts.

We all try to get back up rigs at some point as no pump is forever.

They all wear and corrode and break over time and usage.

Think of the air compressor and air diaphrgm pump as your secondary rig once your getting consistant  regular business.

My thought, and personal advice is that you may want to start out Building your first PRIMARY rig learning by reading and closely examining others rifgs and pictures.

My advice is to make your FIRST priority to set up an electric diaphragm pump and deep cycle battery and a 150 gallon tank and a trailer or flatbed, truck or van.

Then get yourself some hose (5/8" is best) and fittings for everything, Titan reels (see the link on this board to the LOWEST price on Titan Reels from Pressure Washer products.com)

Get either the Titan Hose Reel Model 5518 or 5528 with SS manifold and at least one but preferably 2 poly guns or ball valves (back up in case of breakage mininizes downtime)

Keep on reading on this subject.

This Forum, The RCIA is Your best bet for being a success at roof cleaning There is knowledge and many highly qualified roof cleaners with much wisdom here on the Roof Cleaning Institute.

Then look in your area for a pool supplier that sells SH @ 12.5%. For TSP check your phone book for chemical or AG suppliers in your area and also search your local area on the web on Yahoo or Google LOCAL, Remember, SAFETY FIRST, eyewear and protective clothing and a respirator designed for Organic Vapors and Chlorine GAS.

Hope this helps you get started.

All the Best to you

David - RC-USA

-- Edited by Roof Clean USA at 00:36, 2009-02-23

You don't need much of a set-up to get started,...in fact going slower at the beginning of your roof cleaning will benefit you. Gives you a chance to see things happening,...that will be second nature later. I did my first roofs about 8 years ago with a pump sprayer,...Chris Tucker from Apple Roof Cleaning used a roller with a long handle. So you're getting started light years ahead of what some of us started with. Man, that was embarrassing to tell a roof cleaning crowd,..Ha Ha!!

Jeff

Mike Sullivan wrote:

---

I hear ya Jeff, I was there once myself. You've got a couple years more experience with roofs than I do. I started in 1999 pressure washing, and 2002 roof cleaning. I hated how painfully slow pump sprayers were, so one of the first roofs I cleaned I actually carried bottles of clorox up the roof, quirted some dawn in them and poured it on the roof and spread it around with a brush!! LOL!

---

Hey Mike, ever think of doing a job with these prehistoric methods like we started with??
Just to remember how it used to be!!

I sure never have!!!   Have joked about it,... but never would consider doing it!!
I remember when my pump sprayer gave out on me and I had to pour it down over the roof. I see I wasn't alone, with that method,... Ha, Ha!!

 

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning at 11:05, 2009-02-23

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning at 11:21, 2009-02-23