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It sounds like your using the some of the same thing as most every one here is using. Just add some ISP,TSP. and you got it. Do a search, the answer to your questions are here. Or, you could use what worked for you before. Good Luck

jordande1 wrote:

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every roof tends to have different problems, best if you show photo/s of an up and comming job, the pros here at RCIA will help you out a lot.

cheers,
rick

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 Here are some pics of homes within walking distance. The first 2 are my next door neighbors.

Confident Roof Cleaning Houston TX wrote:

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Danny your roofs are the same as ours and the algae will be the same too. We use a 50/50 mix with a bottle of dawn, about 48oz. The first coat kills most, the second cleans it right up.

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Even with the roof that steep huh?

 

Confident Roof Cleaning Houston TX wrote:

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Danny your roofs are the same as ours and the algae will be the same too. We use a 50/50 mix with a bottle of dawn, about 48oz. The first coat kills most, the second cleans it right up.

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Wow, a 50/50 mix is much stronger then what most people I know here use, we don't even use that strong a mix on a tile roof. You must not get fresh stuff like we do here in Florida ? Before I knew any better, I used 40 to 50 percent mixes of the stuff we get on shingle roofs when I only had one Tank. I did not want to dilute my Tank, since I had tile roofs to do later that day and week. I came back years later to re clean these roofs, and noticed lot's of granule loss in the same subdivision, compared to roofs cleaned with a weaker solution. Not to mention increased effects on plants, despite experienced ground guys. It must be the difference in the freshness of the SHC ? Or maybe that 1/2 inch hose is choking your pump so bad, you are forced to use a higher concentration ?

I noticed in a pic of you and  a TexanCajun where  you help him clean a tile roof and your spray pattern was Puny. Honestly, I feel I could Pizz more then what was coming out of your hose.  Perhaps that is why you feel a need to go up to 50 percent ?  I don't know any roof cleaner using an air diapraghm pump with 5/8 hose using 50 percent. Since we can apply more chemical, we need less concentration, saving us money, and our customers roofs.

Next time you come to Florida, you can watch us clean all day at no more then 25 percent, for a shingle roof.

 

We don't use a 50/50 either, but it will work very fast if you do. Just watch out for plants. A low gpm pump and learning to be patient with your spray will be the key to cleaning steep roofs. The dawn will work, I use lauramine oxide from my local bulk chem supplier. The myristamine oxide is what I would try if I had a lot of steep roofs, especially if they are lacking gutters.

Scott is a great roof cleaner, with many beautiful jobs under his belt.  He knows what he is doing. I think there may be a difference in the strength of the SHC he is getting, compared to some of us ?

Confident Roof Cleaning Houston TX wrote:

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Yes Chris it IS the freshness that's a problem. But technicaly higher concentrations damaging roofs is impossible I think. If the SH evaporates within hours and only leaves salt behind, and salt is NOT damaging then there is no way higher concentrations can harm a shingle.

Been cleaning for 3 years now with a 50/50 mix and my first roofs are still 100%.

The ONLY possible issue is the plants but as Long as the right precautions are taken there's no issue.

And its funny about the pump, Bobby actually switched FROM an air pump TO a Fatboy.

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Well, maybe in that pic of you helping CajunTexan your ball valve was not all the way open ? It did not seem like a whole lot was coming out ?
SHC as we know is Chlorine attached to Salt. The Chlorine is an potent oxidizer, it is what causes paint to change color and disappear, eats plant foilage, and may be strong enough to effect the granule to shingle bond ?
But then, if it is taking 50 percent to clean, it can not be the strength we are used to here in Florida. I know you are a good businessman Scott, and not into spending money foolishly. I have seen countless posts from you concerned with your bottom line. Using more SHC then you need to clean is throwing money away. Not something you are likely to do. Maybe a good idea would be to try a different source for your chemical ? I guarantee a 50/50 solution of the stuff we get will strip paint practically. If you could clean with 25 percent, it will add that to your profits.

 

This picture Chris? Haha I can actually see why you said it looks like its just pissing out. He is standing behind me with the camera and I am spraying almost directly AWAY from him. So you're not seeing a side shot of the spray pattern.

Kinda like if you turned your flat screen TV sideways and said "I cant believe your TV is only 3 inches wide!! How could you ever watch anything!!". lol

Yea in that picture it doesnt even look like a pump up sprayer!!! hahaha. Ill see if I can find one of a good spray