How about slate roofs? i figure the same solution would work for them as well. What scares me are these wood shake roofs.....would you clean them the same? I think I will just stay away from those.
Yes Chris. Tile roof cleaning DOES pay ALOT more than shingles. One mistake I see some people making is charging the same price for shingles and Tiles.
Below is a recent Houston, TX Tile roof cleaning we did.
Hi Charlie, Bleach is too strong for cedar. Sodium precarbonate and oxalic acid are the key. Mike Sullivan has written alot about this somewere on the thread. Just search for his Cedar roof info.
Hi Charlie, Bleach is too strong for cedar. Sodium precarbonate and oxalic acid are the key. Mike Sullivan has written alot about this somewere on the thread. Just search for his Cedar roof info.
BINGO Again Bill!
Sodium Hypochlorite will turn a CEDAR ROOF black in a heartbeat.
The roof cleaning chemicals you specify ARE the CORRECT methods from my experience with SAFELY Cleaning WOOD SHINGLES, especially CEDAR.
Bill said: "Sodium Percarbonate and oxalic acid are the key" (ENVIROSPEC)
Also, be careful not to BLEACH the Wood Roof by leaving it on too long.
Much more can be found on this topic on other boards like our friends at the GRIME SCENE in their CEDAR and WOOD Cleaning Threads and also on PWI (the Pressure Washers Institute)
(LOADED) Question:
What OTHER ways can a Wood roof or other wood surfaces be cleaned SAFELY?
BTW, This THREAD SHOULD be continued on the WOOD and METAL ROOF section of the board if possible, for the search engine's sake?
-- Edited by Roof Clean USA Georgia 229-227-0000 on Tuesday 21st of April 2009 02:18:26 PM
Correction Dave, sodium hypochlorite will turn cedar shakes "white"
Sodium hydroxide will turn cedar shakes "black"
If not NEUTRALIZED with Oxalic acid.
Sodium hypochlorite is too alkaline and softens the fibers of the cedar too much degrading it's integrity. And it bleaches out the natural color of the wood just like it does on cotton clothes turning the shakes too white.
Ok anyone not familiar needs to realize that when these guys say sodium percarbonate and oxalic, they are referring to a two step process, NOT MIXED TOGETHER. Percarbonate first and then oxalic to neutralize.
Sorry I will be more specific, as Jeff pointed out please do not mix them together. Thanks for the clarification guys. Wood is a special kinda beast, it has it's own processes to be cleaned safley and effectivly just as other roofing materials have thier own process seperate from pressure cleaning.
Check out restore from envirospec.com, and still use oxalic acid afterwards if you decide to use this product. Sodium precarbanate will probably cost you less if you just make your own mix. (I still use restore). See cedar shake roof thread as Mike said, type cedar shake roof into the search to find it.