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Brian

Thanks for the response.

Here are the proportions I used with both houses.

25 gallons SH (10.5% strength)
40 gallons water
8 lbs TSP
96 oz Ultra Concentrated Dawn
96 oz Alcohol

The house did not have gutters so trying to gage the amount of runoff is difficult. As I am developing my spraying technique I am trying to get better. I walk the ridge line to the top of the roof. I then spray the upper half to upper 2/3 of the roof without having any run off. I then spray from the gutter line to get the remaining lower sections of the roof. This is where I get alot of run off and my ground man earns his money. Regardless of the nozzle or how I control the flow with the ball valve I get more run off than I would like.

I provide a good soaking with my initial coat of love but control the flow so there is no runoff for the upper section of the roof. Once I get the whole roof covered I start looking for spots that need another dose of love. I spray those areas again and they come clean with the second coat.

Adjusting for the pitch I estimate that each roof was about 3800 sq ft. So 65 gallons seems like a lot compared to your results.

My SH to water ratio is 38% using 10.5% SH. I could make the mix hotter but then my concern for the landscaping would go off the charts.

Anyone who would like to comment on spraying technique near the gutter line would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Charles

You guys must be doing larger than average roofs and severely neglected.

40 gallons usually covers 2000 sq.ft. with average streaking going halfway up.

So 60 gallons is not too much for a really nasty 2500-3000 sq.ft. area.

Sometimes I'll get an extremely hideous 20+ year old roof that is so nasty with streaks going all the way to the top of the roof. These roofs consume TONS of chemical.

65 gallons for a really neglected 2000 sq.ft roof is not uncommon.

Going over it several times. Three passes usually will get roofs this bad clean.

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Pro Greensboro NC (336)362 7659 on Sunday 4th of October 2009 09:31:30 PM

Mike

I attached a couple of before pictures of my last job. This roof was 15 years old and as far as I can tell had never been cleaned. As you can see the roof was black all over with heavy algae growth. As I mentioned earlier I estimated the roof area at around 3800 sq ft. So based on your average house being 2000 sq ft it looks like I'm in the ball park by using 65 gallons on this house. After I finished there was a lot of dead brown algae on the roof. I did the roof last Friday and it hasn't rained yet. Weatherman says rain possible next 2-3 days. Both customer and I are anxious to see roof after a good rain.

Brian

I use a Delavan 5850 with 5/8' hose. My setup will reach the top of the roof from the gutter line with the 0040 nozzle but I like getting closer so I can use the 2540 or 4040 nozzles. I am able to do a better job of controlling the flow and distribution of the love. My goal is to get better with the 0040 and 0540 nozzles so I can do the whole roof from the gutter line. I initially used a garden spray nozzle but it leaked from the git go so I decided not to use it. Maybe I need to buy a new one and see how it works.

Thomas

Keep me posted on your development. This site is a gold mine and has helped me avoid certain touble but there is no substitute for experience.

Thanks to all.

Charles

thomas r wrote:

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I just got done with this roof Friday. it toke 65gal.my batch was 30sh/35HOTwater 10pound,TSP/96IPA/96dawn. used a fat boy,3/4 hose,40 tip.it toke two coats on the front and one on the back.2 hours 275.oo for the life of me i can't figure out how you guys are only using 40 gal on your roofs???

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I feel you Thomas.  You need to be charging more for roofs that are this hideous. 

I can tell the streaks are very severe and go all the way to the top.

How old was this roof?  Looks very neglected.

Was your bleach fresh?  Not old bleach is it?

I would have charged at least $400 for this job.

Your technique might be a little excessive, are you getting a lot of run-off?

This job should not have needed more than 50 gallons.  20SH/30water TSP,IPA,& dawn.

No big deal though, at least the roof came out great!  NICE JOB!




-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Pro Greensboro NC (336)362 7659 on Monday 5th of October 2009 05:06:57 PM

Sorry fellas, but I can tell you I would not have used more than 30 gallons on that size roof. I don't know why I am using less and getting the same clean roof? I have done a few lately that were a little bit bigger than that and I did both the same day with my 55 gallon drum filled to the top. I mix the Love the day of the job and I don't have any SH that last longer than 2 weeks around here. I'm sure you guys are the same way. I wish I could give you a better answer. Maybe I'm just putting less product on the roof? That is the only thing I can think.

Charles.... The garden sprayer I am using is the best one I have ever come across. I don't remember where I bought it, which kills me, and I haven't been able to find another that shoots as far as this one and has the on/off valve and adjustable brass spray nozzle. I am kicking myself for not buying more than one! I thought it was going to be an emergency back up nozzle and instead it became my favorite!

Thomas.... You do need to charge more. I would have charged $375 - $400 for that roof. Both of the ones I referred to earlier were $400 roofs. Don't sell yourself cheap. You and your methods are worth more!

Brian

-- Edited by The Roof Cleaners of Chester County Pennsylvania 610-842-2104 on Monday 5th of October 2009 11:26:06 PM

guys, i got another roof lined up this week. i am going to buy a adjustable garden hose nozzle. i will post the results and pic this week. Brian thanks for the infor on garden nozzle.and your right. i need to charge more...this next roof is a 400.00 dollar roof

Hey Brian, You have me curious now. The one I was planning on using is the firemans nozzle.
Maybe you could post a picture of the nozzle and with any luck someone may recognize it !!

When I get a chance I will post a picture of the one I am using.

Thanks Thomas. I will look into trying to rebuild it. Didn't think about that. I just assumed the SH had finally corroded the valves enought that it was not fixable.

As far as going "wrong" with the application of love.... I don't know that you are doing anything wrong. It is probably more along the lines of getting used to moving at a certain pace when applying the chemical so that you don't apply too much. My method is more of the exception on here and it is only because I used the nozzle out of necessity one day and really liked how it worked. I have stuck with it most of the year.

I have 6 roofs scheduled and one has over 10,000 square feet of shingles. I won't be able to use this nozzle I have for more than one job so I'm a little concerned about changing nozzles now and using way too much love. I guess I'll see what happens. I may find myself in the same boat as you guys soon.

Brian

Here is the nozzle I have been using. It has no distinguishing markings on it anymore and I had to use visegrips to get it off of my hose. I'm going to miss that little spray nozzle!

It is also the cause of the chemical burn that I posted pictures of on the "In The Shade" forum. I knew that nozzle was past it's useful life, but I didn't want to let go!

I found a new spray nozzle that I think I might like even more. I used it on the last roof I did and it had great distance and volume. I don't know why I don't just start using the 40 50 and 60 nozzles that I have? I guess I just feel very comfortable using a sprayer that stops without having to turn the ball valve off. Maybe next season I'll start using them. I'll just have to see how long this new nozzle lasts me.

Brian