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Mar 28, 2009

Bare minimum roof cleaning rig for the newbie

Roof Clean USA Georgia 229-227-0000 · guest

Bare minimum roof rig

Roof Cleaning Missouri 417-230-8103 · Guest

Roof Cleaning Pro Greensboro NC (336)362 7659 wrote:

For those of you on a tight budget asking about getting started in the roof cleaning business, here is a good bare minimum roof rig to get you started.

Do not settle for weak Shurflo pumps or pump sprayers (except for demos only)

1) 12V Delavan 5850 5gpm 60psi pump $129 from www.pressuretek.com

2) 120 feet 5/8" Samsclub hose $25.

3) 3/4" PVC ball valve, garden hose thread adapter, bushings, 1/4" stainless steel coupler, 3 way nozzle holder, 0040,1540,2540 nozzles. From Home Depot & envirospec� $30.� or

- Northern tool's firehose style nozzle $19.99
- Home depot's industrial garden gun $9.97
- Ace Hardware's dirt cheap plastic gun $1.15

http://roof-cleaning-institute.activeboard.com/index.spark?forumID=123190&p=3&topicID=25879871

4) 10-14 gauge wire, 30 amp switch, wire to truck/van battery = $not much.lol!

5) Call around & ask for an empty 55 gallon poly drum, easy to find for free.

6) 3/4" Poly hose & Poly fittings to plumb intake- local agricultural supply store or www.usplastics.com

Buy chemical!� APPLE CIDER is the easiest and cheapest to mix.

Ladders, 3mil thick contractor trash bags, velcro straps or duct tape, safety goggles, 3m masks w/6009 filters, and gloves.

The three ladders I would recommend are
8 foot step ladder, 20 footer w/gutter guards and 28 footer w/gutter guards.�

I rarely need a ladder taller than 28ft, I just borrow a 32 or 40 footer from a local painter friend if I need one.

TOTAL PRICE� $700-$1000 approximately

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Pro Greensboro NC (336)362 7659 on Saturday 28th of March 2009 03:05:50 PM

�Thank You Mike
That info will prove helpful for me..

KID

RCIA Founder

LOL, GREAT roof cleaning on the cheap info Mike and Dave smile

I BUILT Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa with a 4 by 8 donated yard trailer, a 100 gallon tank, a Shurflo, and 200 feet 5/8 GARDEN hOSE FROM dOLLAR sTORE IN tAMPA.

Delavan Pumps were just a DREAM back then.

Do NOT settle for a Shurflo and 1/2 or 3/8 Hose.

Mar 29, 2009

Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa (813) 655-8777 wrote:
LOL, GREAT roof cleaning on the cheap info Mike and Dave

I BUILT Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa with a 4 by 8 donated yard trailer, a 100 gallon tank, a Shurflo, and 200 feet 5/8 GARDEN hOSE FROM dOLLAR sTORE IN tAMPA.

Delavan Pumps were just a DREAM back then.

Do NOT settle for a Shurflo and 1/2 or 3/8 Hose.
WOW! That's extravagant Chris!� 100 gallons and 200 feet!� LOL!

�

RCIA Founder

RE: Bare minimum roof cleaning rig for the newbie

Nick_K · Guest

Thanks Chris,
Thought I'd post this... now that i know how...

I have bought some gear and started a pressure washing business part time in Sydney, Australia. There are a lot of old single story terra cotta tile roofs in my area which are filthy. I tried using my pressure cleaner on my own roof.... but quickly realised this WAS NOT the best way to do it...lol... (I weigh 240lbs)....I having been looking at this site for a few months now, to learn more about roof cleaning so I can add it as a service to my customers. The information, especially the chemicals has been invaluable and much appreciated. I have a 25hp motor running a 4000psi/7gpm pump....Could I downstream the chemicals on my PW set up, instead of having to buy new gear?

Mar 31, 2009

No, downstreaming will not give you enough chemical for roof cleaning

Nick_K · Guest

Thanks Mike,
In that case I think I have an old 5.3gpm comet diaphragm pump I might try. How many gallons os cider/sauce would I need to carry to do 1 x 1500 sq ft roof ? confuse

Mar 31, 2009

I'd bring at least 40 gallons. Depending on how nasty it is, sometimes roofs require multiple applications.

If it's not that bad, 30 gallons might cover it.

Nick_K · Guest

thats lucky... I only have room for 1 x 55 gal drum on my trailer.. thanks again.
How long can you keep a mix before it spoils?

Mar 31, 2009

It will weaken after a few days. Try to use it up within a week.

You may have to add more 12.5% to your mix if it loses strength, but you will have to be more careful about landscaping because you are increasing the sodium content of your mix.

Do the houses in Australia have gutters? If so, great. Bag the downspouts and collect the run-off.

Nick_K · Guest

Thanks again.

All houses in Sydney have , or are supposed to have gutters, most of the old ones... which I am targetting drop straight to the ground, whereas new ones run straight into underground stormwater. When you bag, do you collect all the run off? So if you put 40 gals on a roof how much would you expect to collect as run off?

Mar 31, 2009

Depends on the pitch of the roof and how much surfactant you add to make it stick. It varies.

About 5+ gallons. Use 3mil thick 42 gallon contractor trash bags. Secure with velcro straps or 1/4" rope

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Pro Greensboro NC (336)362 7659 on Saturday 25th of July 2009 10:12:27 PM

Nick_K · Guest

thats better than I thought.... once i get my phone back, I will post some pics of the typical roofs I am targetting. Single storey, terracotta tiles ~ 50 yrs old.
What do you do with the collected run off?

Mar 31, 2009

I agree! Mike hit all the nails right on the head!
Any newbee who wants to get started, can follow that advice and not wonder if he could do better!
It's the least expensive way to START OUT RIGHT!
Chuck Bergman Roof Cleaning

Roof Clean USA Georgia 229-227-0000 wrote:

Roof Cleaning Pro Greensboro NC (336)362 7659 wrote:

For those of you on a tight budget asking about getting started in the roof cleaning business, here is a good bare minimum roof rig to get you started.

Do not settle for weak Shurflo pumps or pump sprayers (except for demos only)

1) 12V Delavan 5850 5gpm 60psi pump $129 from www.pressuretek.com

2) 120 feet 5/8" Samsclub hose $25.

3) 3/4" PVC ball valve, garden hose thread adapter, bushings, 1/4" stainless steel coupler, 3 way nozzle holder, 0040,1540,2540 nozzles. From Home Depot & envirospec� $30.� or

- Northern tool's firehose style nozzle $19.99
- Home depot's industrial garden gun $9.97
- Ace Hardware's dirt cheap plastic gun $1.15

http://roof-cleaning-institute.activeboard.com/index.spark?forumID=123190&p=3&topicID=25879871

4) 10-14 gauge wire, 30 amp switch, wire to truck/van battery = $not much.lol!

5) Call around & ask for an empty 55 gallon poly drum, easy to find for free.

6) 3/4" Poly hose & Poly fittings to plumb intake- local agricultural supply store or www.usplastics.com

Buy chemical!� APPLE CIDER is the easiest and cheapest to mix.

Ladders, 3mil thick contractor trash bags, velcro straps or duct tape, safety goggles, 3m masks w/6009 filters, and gloves.

The three ladders I would recommend are
8 foot step ladder, 20 footer w/gutter guards and 28 footer w/gutter guards.�

I rarely need a ladder taller than 28ft, I just borrow a 32 or 40 footer from a local painter friend if I need one.

TOTAL PRICE� $700-$1000 approximately

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Pro Greensboro NC (336)362 7659 on Saturday 28th of March 2009 03:05:50 PM

Well thought out.

A Nice, simple REALISTIC buildout for BASIC roof cleaning equipment and a build list that will definetely get a newbie started that has a budget of $ 1K for equipment and then the trailer or flatbed truck for their MOBILE platform to mount all the equipment onto.

A great rundown Mike.�

I am sure roof cleaners from all over will appreciate your time and advice and experience in sourcing these links so the NEW cost concious roof cleaner can get started cost effectively and profitably.

Great Job Mike S. , You are the Man :)
�

-- Edited by Roof Clean USA Georgia 229-227-0000 on Saturday 28th of March 2009 04:15:35 PM

�

Nick_K · Guest

I agree too Mike, and appreciate all the great tips.
Only problem for me is I am in Australia and depending on USD exchange rates, freight costs etc... I often have to improvise. You guys have great facilities, suppliers there... most of the gear, fittings, accessories are not available in Australia... e.g...pressuretek wont sell outside US.

Mar 31, 2009

http://www.delavanagpumps.com/contact.htm

Write Delavan and ask them if they can sell you one or direct you to a distributor in Australia.

The Delavan 7gpm FATBOY is the best 12V pump.� Perfect for starting out.

If you go with the smaller one, you won't be disappointed with the 5gpm pump.

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Pro Greensboro NC (336)362 7659 on Tuesday 31st of March 2009 08:33:12 PM

Nick_K · Guest

They obviously must be pretty good for starters.... I will contact them direct.. thanks again.

Apr 1, 2009

After the newbie gets some money rolling in the first year in business, here is a list of upgrades you should be working towards.

Upgrade marketing- business cards, website, yellow pages ads, direct mail, yard signs, vehicle signage, etc.
When your 12V Delavan 5850 5gpm pump dies, get the FATBOY 7gpm pump.
Upgrade hose to 200ft 3/4" Kuritec 250psi
Upgrade nozzles to 0050, 0060, 1560
Buy 22-28" Stainless Steel Titan hose reel.
Upgrade tank to 150-225 gallons
Upgrade truck, trailer or van so it can handle the extra weight.
Buy another battery, wire in parallel with vehicle battery.
Uniforms

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Pro Greensboro NC (336)362 7659 on Tuesday 30th of June 2009 06:39:09 PM

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"