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Roof Cleaning Virginia 540-949-6277 · Roof Cleaning Institute of America Premium Member/MODERATOR

Getting ready for Spring!!!

Guest

Hey Brett,..I am getting ready to get some advertising out ,..still be a few weeks though,..but getting ready!!

Last year was good to me,..6 days a week April through August. But that is with roof cleaning and house washing.

Which brings up a good point,..anyone who also washes house has the added benefit of getting roof cleanings that may not be available otherwise,...happens all the time,..someone calls for a house wash,..and don't even realize the roof is cleanable,...clue them in and you got 2 jobs otta' one. If it wasn't for the house wash,..they wouldn't have called for the roof.

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Friday 4th of February 2011 07:13:18 AM

Roof Cleaning Virginia 540-949-6277 · Roof Cleaning Institute of America Premium Member/MODERATOR

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:

Hey Brett,..I am getting ready to get some advertising out ,..still be a few weeks though,..but getting ready!!

Last year was good to me,..6 days a week April through August. But that is with roof cleaning and house washing.

Which brings up a good point,..anyone who also washes house has the added benefit of getting roof cleanings that may not be available otherwise,...happens all the time,..someone calls for a house wash,..and don't even realize the roof is cleanable,...clue them in and you got 2 jobs otta' one. If it wasn't for the house wash,..they wouldn't have called for the roof.

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Friday 4th of February 2011 07:13:18 AM

Jeff.... you're the man!!! great idea! Going at it from that direction is just another way to get your foot in the door! I'm going to use that one!

Guest

Yea Brett,..this will be my 10th year roof cleaning,...but it will be my 15th year for the house washing. House washing will always be a staple for me,...and house washing is how I got into the roofs to begin with,...which really helped in the understanding of chemicals and equipment.

I started out doing roofs with pump sprayers, Ha,Ha...and then I added tire valves to the sprayers,..and thought I was on top of things,...ok,..this is getting depressing,Ha,Ha....

I didn't have the internet until 2005,...by that time I was using roller pumps and using 3/8" hose and using hypo and water. The roller pumps with 3/8" hose sprayed ok,..but the roller pumps gave up way to quick.

Among other things I've learned with the internet,...I learned from Chris T about using garden hose for the application hose,..which worked very well. I then learned about air diaphragm pumps,.. and after several variations of mixes,.. I've now settled on water, liquid hypo and sodium bicarbonate,... I don't like a soapy mix,.so I never add soap anymore. I also use 1/2" Kuri-Tec hose I purchased from Lori at Pressure Washer Products. This is very good hose in all respects,..chemical resistance, light and vary manageable.,..not to mention cheap.

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Friday 4th of February 2011 10:23:35 AM

Roof Cleaning Cleveland (216) 323-0552 · Feb 4, 2011

Jef I never heard sodium Bicarbonate before here. What does it do? Why do you use it? It was cool hearing how your business evolved over the years.

Roof Cleaning Memphis TN (901) 826-8370 · Guest

tell more about SB

Guest

There's is info on here here about me using sodium bicarbonate and why I choose to. The original roof mix consisted of water, liquid hypo and TSP. No soap was added. Although I understand the thought of using soap,..I think the whole idea has been over thought and over used.

Used on tile and VERY steep roofs would be beneficial,...but I don't think it's necessary for your average shingle roof. The granules alone will stop alot of the runoff,..along with utilizing proper technique.

TSP is kinda' hard to mix,..but it is a good cleaner and boosts the hypo. Sodium bicarbonate also boots the hypo,..and is cheaper and easier to mix than TSP,...TSP is more powerful as a cleaner though,..and I'm not comparing it to TSP.

I just use the Sodium Bicarbonate (AKA) baking soda,...as a direct replacement for TSP from the original mix,.. ratio about 1/2 cup per gallon.

I used it all last Summer and chose to stick with it,...as I stated in the other threads pertaining to sodium bicarbonate,..I'm not saying it's better for everyone,..but I don't like soapy soap.

Do an internet search and you'll see it has bleach enhancing ability. Also thickens it some,..I personally liked the results better without the use of soap,..but that could be just me. I think it may give a better finished product because there isn't a layer of soap scum left on the roof.

This simple mix shoots further as well. And for me runoff didn't even have a noticeable change.

About $22.00 50 lb.from Univar.

I just thought I'd share and don't expect anyone to change from what they prefer.

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Saturday 5th of February 2011 04:37:39 AM

Soft Wash Wizard - Harrisburg, NC · Guest

Jeff, are you saying your mix is only SH, water & Sodium Barcarbonate? Not adding anything else to help keep your mix up on the roof? How steep are the roofs you are usually cleaning? We are cleaning a number that are from 9 / 12 & steeper. I have been using Hangtite to help keep our mix stuck to the roofs along with SH, water & TSP.

Matthew · Guest

SB stabalizes both PH and alkalinity, thickens, reduces chlorine odor, softens the water, and has a mild fungicidal effect.
Because it has a hydrogen ion and forms carbonate it enhances SH's ability to oxidize. So it helps tear through the algae cells walls faster.
It doesn't really boost the cleaning effect... (not scientifically)

We use it all the time in various aspects of cleaning and water or soda blasting also.
But for roofs here, near coal fired energy plants, we need the other effects of the Am-Lo surfactancts.
It's really all in the chemistry and each region is different.

Here, with the tile roofs, coal fired plants, heavy biological growth, and such; Jeff's simple solution wouldn't be as effective.
But in other parts of the country... It'll work perfectly.

Every "MIX" should contain: water, an oxidizer, a soap (not detergent), fungicide or biocide, and a wetting or clinging agent (usually found in the soap)
Chlorine, inspite of popular opinion, is a poor biocide agent. I always suggest the adittion of Boric Acid and a quaternary ammonium compound based algaecide.

But once again.... This is best in my area. It may be overkill in yours.

Guest

Nice explanation Matthew!
Yes,..I agree,..regions can all be different when it comes different types of airborne dirt and even the hardiness of the mold.

Jeff

Toy2 · Guest

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:

There's is info on here here about me using sodium bicarbonate and why I choose to. The original roof mix consisted of water, liquid hypo and TSP. No soap was added. Although I understand the thought of using soap,..I think the whole idea has been over thought and over used.
Used on tile and VERY steep roofs would be beneficial,...but I don't think it's necessary for your average shingle roof. The granules alone will stop alot of the runoff,..along with utilizing proper technique.

TSP is kinda' hard to mix,..but it is a good cleaner and boosts the hypo. Sodium bicarbonate also boots the hypo,..and is cheaper and easier to mix than TSP,...TSP is more powerful as a cleaner though,..and I'm not comparing it to TSP.

I just use the Sodium Bicarbonate (AKA) baking soda,...as a direct replacement for TSP from the original mix,.. ratio about 1/2 cup per gallon.

I used it all last Summer and chose to stick with it,...as I stated in the other threads pertaining to sodium bicarbonate,..I'm not saying it's better for everyone,..but I don't like soapy soap.

Do an internet search and you'll see it has bleach enhancing ability. Also thickens it some,..I personally liked the results better without the use of soap,..but that could be just me. I think it may give a better finished product because there isn't a layer of soap scum left on the roof.

This simple mix shoots further as well. And for me runoff didn't even have a noticeable change.

About $22.00 50 lb.from Univar.

I just thought I'd share and don't expect anyone to change from what they prefer.

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Saturday 5th of February 2011 04:37:39 AM

Great info Jeff, checks in the mail smile

Guest

Ha,Ha..Thanks Anthony,..but I'm a non-profit organization.

Jeff

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"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"