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Anyone? It sounds like this might not be a good idea.

Waterworks NW wrote:

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Anyone? It sounds like this might not be a good idea.

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Been there, done that. Got the t-shirt.

For me its all about common sense? Common Sense isn't too common sometimes.

EXAMPLE:

I spend a LOT of time driving in my truck over the course of a year. It is like my second home, and next to my home it is where I spend the majority of my time when I am not cleaning roofs or giving estimates for roof cleaning.

I know some people that have tried to BBQ indoors? I don't know why they thought this was such a LIGHT BULB moment of an idea but they did it. The result was not what they intended and gave a NEW meaning to the saying cookout as the were literally smoked and COOKED right out of their house. I don't think they will try this again and I know I sure won't?

In case you didn't know or were not aware, chlorine is a suspected carcenagen when it comes into repeated contact with the skin at high concentration levels. As a (cancer causing) agent we need to protect our lngs and cover our skin when using this product and at concentrated levels while it is in its active state and I am sure although I am not a chemist, that it cannot be all that good to breathe at any concentrated, exposed levels, especially in a small van ?

But, as a one time newbie I have done it also? 

In order to be my own boss and have my own business I ask myself this question?

Am I willing to EXPOSE myself to ADDITIONAL RISK when uneccassary?

Do I want to drive around everywhere I go with a gas mask on, I don't THINK so?

Do I want 900 pounds of chemical sloshing around in a vented tank while going around to do roofs?

When you compress any gas it has too escape to somewhere, I don't want that somewhere to be WHERE I am trying to breathe oxygen?

Sodium Hypochlorite is some PRETTY aggressive stuff and it OUTGASSES constantly from its enclosure container (tank)?

Did you know that (SH) corrodes 304 and even series 316 STAINLESS STEEL. It can eat thru a driveline or corrode a U-Joint in less than a year, sometimes MUCH less depending on concentration and level of exposure?

Chlorine can melt or decompose some rubbers including thoose found surrounding the wiring that makes your van run and corrosion of wires may not be very good?

Paying 40k for a rig and then having to sit in a enclosed box with chemical fumes day in and day out to make a living if you don'thave to and you can change it and your still doing this voluntarily? 

After thinking about the pro's and con's, health risks and the HIGH corrossivity of the TSP, Sodium Hypochlorite, Alchohol, wouldn't it make more sense to put it all in
a box truck with an enclosed, separate cab if you want to go enclosed.

I , understand the Northwest, and see the need to keep equipment from freezing and dry, etc. but, just for me, not at the expense of my health and my safety.

Although you may be heavily invested in your current SPRINTER rig, it may be better to think a trailer if you are upside down on your rig now or if you could take the loss and write it off, you would be better with a Flatbed and a shop to drive it into or a nice diesel 12-16' box truck.

Once again, it may not be as sleek and sophisticated and as easy to manuevoure but you would have better weight carrying capacity and you would be "living" in a toxic environment.

I already get enough of that on the roof ?

Hope you take this with a grain of salt and as constructive critisism.

Good Luck and please post what ever you do decide on,

David


-- Edited by Roof Clean USA Georgia 229-227-0000 at 21:02, 2009-03-10

Waterworks NW wrote:

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Thank you very much guys! I do a lot of other stuff besides roof cleaning, I was just thinking of adding this to my current setup. I now see that I need a different rig for this type of roof cleaning. There are not a whole lot of roofs that are black around here, its more of a moss problem. But I really appreciate the feedback.

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Mark, I learned to clean roofs in Seattle.
Been to Portland Oregon many times, used to date a girl from Beaverton!
Lived in Seattle from 1976 to 1989, been  back in Florida ever since.
The Roof TREATMENT to prevent Moss can make you some $$$$ out there!

 

I started roof cleaning last year and I used a van. The van was very cramped,squating in it mixing the chemicals was brutal on the back and put me close up to the chemical during the mix. I did notice the floor become incredably rusted in a short period of time. Driving around with the smell was no bargin, you could never escape it. I sold the van and have gotten a used 14' box truck with a seperate cab.The amount of room for everything is great,but I hope I dont have to cut the back door off like you did Chris.As the company grows I am sure I will upgrade everything, ladders on the box truck are a big draw back.

Roof Cleaning Portland Oregon 503-844-6788 wrote:

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No squatting for me, I can stand up fully at 6'2".

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That's Kewl, Waterworks, I would like an enclosed rig that I could stand in

I can stand on one the rigs I have now, it  has no ladder racks and is a 12x 8 flatbed

truck.

It's nice to not keep bumping your head on the steel racks and van roofs when your in a hurry.