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Great White Technologies · Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Certified Roof Cleaner

Starter setup and costs for startups

Algae*Free Roof Cleaning · May 9, 2009

Why don`t you use 5/8 hose?

Great White Technologies · Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Certified Roof Cleaner

Everyone says the bigger the better. Especially Mike S and some of the others that have been doing this a while.

From what I saw this thing do last night, I think you can spray 1500 - 2000 square feet in under 30 minutes. (actual spray time) Floods very fast I need to try it with just the dawn and water to get the speed down. Practice on my own roof and see how it goes. If you are not careful you can waste alot of the LOVE down the gutters.

It's really not that heavy of a hose to drag around. Just gotta remember to move fast.

Roof Cleaning Memphis TN · Guest

GW,
You are teasing me right. I really need to show you my set up... Complete, under $250.00 Not including the van.... It was $65 hundred used..

Should I charge for this information... LOL I should do a siminar!!! :)

Great White Technologies · Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Certified Roof Cleaner

Roof Cleaning Memphis TN wrote:

GW,
You are teasing me right. I really need to show you my set up... Complete, under $250.00 Not including the van.... It was $65 hundred used..

Should I charge for this information... LOL I should do a siminar!!! :)

All I have to use is a SUV and SH is NOT going into this vehicle.

Thus I had to purchase a trailer. Hell if you eliminate the Trailer, Tank and Ladders then you remove over $700 of the cost. Add the battery and you have 800 tied up in 4 items.

What works for you would probably not work for me. According to what I have read here the Delavan 5850 is probably the second best 12v pump to use and it is available to me locally. Everything I purchased with the exception of the ladders and the trailer has been new. I don't want any issues with equipment. I went with the more expensive larger rubber hose instead of the vinyl, personal preference. I also opted for the 100 gallon tank, over 3x the size tank you have from your other posts.

I could have gone a lot cheaper but that was my choice not to based on the experience and information here. I chose to put things together this way and spend a little extra and do it the way I wanted it done. With the exception of hose reels and the kuritek hose I think I did pretty good and maybe a few other things also. Another smaller rinse tank would be nice but since I did not get one yet I bought the fittings for hose connections so I could hook up a hose and rinse that way.

How many years ago did you put your rig together? Posts like this are not beneficial here and no I am not teasing you on this. In my opinion, if someone is making a complete setup for $250 then they are taking too big of a chance for mishaps. There are cheaper pumps but the Delavan is 1/2 the cost of what you are quoting.

Maybe you should do a seminar.

Kleen Roof and Exterior Cleaning · May 10, 2009

gw, I like your set-up. Looks like a great starter rig. Are you going to be putting a placard of some type on your trailer with your company name on it ? Got to let people driving by see who is doing the work.

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

Pat you are doing a fine job. The reels are a big expense, that you can add later. They are a time saver but very expensive, especially since you would probably want 2-3 of them, for various hose types... such as Garden hose, Kuri hose, pressure or backup or air hose. That new tank is what got you, but I bet it's chemical resistant unlike mine, which needs replaced soon. I plan to buy a brand new tank as well. It's like buying speakers, you never know what the last guy did to them.

James please post your rig as well. Not for comparison, but to share and help newbies. I think it is great to see all the various rigs that can be built. Your ideas can help all of us the more you share, as no one knows it all. Sometimes the littlest thing you are using can cause a brainstorm of new ideas across the board. Such as Jeff's ideas for a homemade bypass, or my ladder stabalizer prybar.

Cardinal Roof Cleaning Jackson TN · Guest

Thanks for the pics Pat. The rig looks great. I was going to start out with a 55gal drum, but the more I read, the more I believe it is going to be a headache, and I want to be ready incase I am doing a roof and a neighbor wants his done too.

Algae*Free Roof Cleaning · May 17, 2009

You don`t need a bigger tank just carry with you more SH in smaller containers & other mixure for the LOVE. Works for me. Kipp

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

The biggest problem I see with a drum is that you might not be able to see how full it is, making it harder to see how much mix/ingredients you are using/mixing. A 55 gallon chem tank could be a good start??

macoto · Guest

Hi Great White,
I didn't notice a respirator or mask. Since your list seemed so complete, non-glove safety equipment struck me as missing. Why don't you list chemical goggles or a 3M 6000 series mask ($13 for a half mask plus $23 cartridge or about $30 together shopping around)? http://www.discountsafetygear.com/3m60sehamare.html http://www.discountsafetygear.com/3m60mevaorch.html http://www.allergybegone.com/3mmervaporch.html from the first few google hits...

I'm currently investigating the feasibility of starting a roof cleaning business with a rig similar to yours, and I really appreciate your thoroughness in documenting your up-and-coming business.

BTW, congrats on getting the first few jobs under your belt!

Great White Technologies · Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Certified Roof Cleaner

I do have those. Guess I just missed them when making the list of items. I was working off of receipts and must not have had that one in the pile. Thanks for catching that

Jul 24, 2009

Pat, you need to change out your plastic quick connects on your ball valves with brass 3/4" MPT X female garden thread adapters.

The plastic will break under the stress and weight of the hose as you are pulling on it going up the ladder.

TRUST ME ON THIS! You will save yourself from spraying roof mix all over you!

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Pro Greensboro NC (336)362 7659 on Friday 24th of July 2009 07:11:46 PM

Roof Cleaning Kissimmee FL 407-452-4526 · Guest

Off topic, but Mike I just watched your video and I thinkyou did a very excellent job. Graphis at the beginning were awesome imo.

Jul 24, 2009

Thanks Nick. Alan Howell owner of Star Path Images did my graphics and video.

Roof Cleaning Wallace N.C 910-463-8400 · Guest

G/W ALLSOME RIG MAN!!! but i saw something on there that might be a safety problem. your tank. if you have to hit the brakes hard with a hundred gal of love in it do you think it will side forward. or if some idiot hits you hard in the rear.do you think that tank will stay put.or if that trailer was to roll over would that tank stay put. the last thing you need is that tank rolling across the medium in to oncoming traffic.i to just built my first rig. check it out the post reads (gentleman say hello to my little rig) look down a few post.look how i got my tank secured. remember your tank is one of your biggest liability going down the road.G/W i don't want to sound like some awesome rig maker. because i am not. i to am a green horn and have lot to learn.i am just looking out for my fellow brothers. p.s i run 3/4 hoses and love them.i keep a small air-compressor on board to blow the water out.it makes them a dream to roll up. i also been running quick connects on my pump out lets. its alot faster and you don't disturb your threads on your pipe out lets ,that screw in you pump.

Great White Technologies · Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Certified Roof Cleaner

Tank securing has already been changed as well as positioning. After getting the ladders on the top the tounge weight was too light even with the tank filled. I could lift it with one finger. Not good in my opinion. I have since moved the tank forward and turned it 90 degrees. Now it takes both hands to lift the tounge.

Jul 25, 2009

Pat, post your new ball valves with brass garden adapters before you get started.

And believe me when I say this, you will regret using plastic quick connects.

I am speaking from experience.

Poly PVC valve.JPG

Great White Technologies · Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Certified Roof Cleaner

I trust you on this Mike.

I changed the configuration on the ball valve because the plastic quick connect started leaking. Not spraying but dripping. I had plans to change it anyhow because the tips are easier to carry than extra ball valves. I have attached a new pic.

On another note I started out with my existing GMC Envoy pulling the trailer. It did well but this was my wife's vehicle and she was not happy. Well the other day I went out and got a used truck so that I can keep all my equipment in. 97 F250 with a utility bed. It currently has crap destined for the dump from a non roof job in it but still need to get a ladder rack on it.

-- Edited by GreatWhiteTechnologies on Saturday 19th of September 2009 01:33:42 PM

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Aug 22, 2009

Hey everybody. New guy here. I've been paying pretty good attention the last few weeks. I'm really excited about all this. I've been searching a trailer and found a sweet dual axle 6x14 on Craigslist. I hair bigger than I wanted but I also have alot of pw equipment. I set up an appt but bailed out at the last minute. I love the F450 idea with a flatbed but in Jersey here the Garden State Pkwy is critical and there's weight restriction above 7000gvr. I saw someone elses rig here with a 6x14 and its look sweet but its long. We're very densely populated here and I know it would be hairy with a long rig. I currently have an E250 and I've been staring long and hard at the inside and I think I want to make it work. I've been covering 6 counties doing pw for years now so I need agile transportation. I'm excited as hell to add the roofs. I started by finding an SH supplier @ $2.50 a gal per 5gal. They will deliver for $2.00 if I have the drums and order at least 100 gal. He swears he gets it at 15% but has to label it at 12.5%. How would I know? It sure smells strong even in closed containers. I want to start acquiring a tank, pump, etc so I can get a few roofs under my belt. My neighbor accross the street will be my first test run (hopefully not my first victim). Just wanna let people know where I'm at.

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"