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I started doing roofs with a pump sprayer,..but that was actually long before I started selling it as a specific service.

There isn't much advice available for using the pump sprayers. Get the mix right and put it in the sprayer and spray away.

Not being a smart a**,...but if you can't afford a more efficient sprayer,..then you really can't afford paying someone to refill your jugs. Get rid of the helper and get things rolling on you own.

You only need a couple of roof jobs to get you a better starter setup,...and add to it from there. Pump, hose and storage tank. Go from there.

Jeff

Yes, if you're paying a guy before you're up and running,...you're missing something. The proper tools and knowledge to do the work is first and foremost,...not a helper!!

Jeff

Suggestion: Put it on a visa or talk to a close family member for a little finances. Don`t get me wrong but it sounds like you might not have faith that this procedure will work. Trust me I bought a 5850 kit with 5/8 hose in the middle of June & have cleaned over 50 roofs & have not looked back. The Love mixture might be too harsh on a pump up sprayer & I hope you have good health insurance when you slip off the roof using a hand held sprayer. Kipp

Craig,
I understand about not wanting to spend the money. Times are tough. If you are going to use a pump sprayer and a ground man... have him fill the sprayer and climb up and down the ladder while you wait on the roof. This will keep you from getting fatigued which could lead to an accident.
If you can manage two pump sprayers then have your ground man fill one while you are spraying with the other.
Premix enough Love to do the roof and put it in 5 gallon buckets that your man can use to fill the sprayers.
Over spray should not be too much of an issue but be aware and rinse any areas that may be at risk anyway.
I always do a two coat process. The second application is usually liter than the first but with the pump sprayer I would plan on the second being the same as the first.
TAKE YOUR TIME, don't get in a hurry, think of it as a learning experience.
Be safe and I hope this helps,
Patrick

This isn't necessarily directed at Craig,..but at the topic at hand.

I realize everyone doesn't or can't start with the best equipment. But, if I had the internet and access to this much information when I started cleaning roofs,...I would have been successful long before I was.

Pump sprayers were used probably by many unaware and aspiring  roof cleaners,...but how can anyone sit here and read this much info on roof cleaning and still want to use pump sprayers!! It takes approximately 35-50 gallons for an average roof job PROPERLY,...Do you realize how much of a pain that is with a 2 gallon pump sprayer that is losing pressure the first second you start applying.

Paying a guy to refill a jug instead of having a fairly cheap electric pump is just beyond me. As I said, many of us have probably started this way,..only because we were ignorant of proper methods. Nothing wrong with a helper,..but his/her job should be landscape care.

Also, you're first impressions on customers is very important to establishing yourself. I don't see the need to offer much advice on severely antiquated methods,...makes me feel almost irresponsible to make out like this is an "ok" method. It's not ok,...I've been there,..it sucks!!

I'd say the guys wanting to use pump sprayers instead of waaay easier and better methods just want to test out the roof cleaning business. They need to come back when they're serious about it and have at least intermediate questions.  

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Sunday 27th of September 2009 06:53:45 AM

Yes, it's on Apple's website.

Some guy put bleach in his pump sprayer that still had acid in it. After he mixed the two together, he screwed the lid down tight, climbed up the roof while it was building up pressure........and..........BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!


Craig,

Jeff is a very experienced veteran and knows what he is talking about.

We can not stress enough for you to avoid using pump sprayers like the plague.

If you can't afford a cheap $129 pump, how can you afford business cards, chemicals, or anything?

Hahaha! I can remember doing some Roof Cleaning with a pump up sprayer many many moons ago. What a PITA...Up and down the Roof, Sprayer clogging up all the time, busted back and legs and not to mention how many sprayers I went through. They just don't last running Love through them. I would kill at least 3 on every job.

Craig one idea to think about if you need to, northern tool has 15 plus gallon spray or 26 gallons with a 2.6 gpm sprayer built on top of it. Here is the link