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Best Ways To Learn How To Clean Roofs

garyw · Jan 28, 2014

Read just about everything on here, twice, watched videos on youtube, and attended/hosted every program we had on Talkshoe on Sunday nites. After a while it all sinks in.

Maybe we need to start "talkshoe" back up. comments????

Guest

Chris,..I started washing houses, decks and concrete in 1996,..then I'd say around 2000 I was getting more and more roof cleaning requests,...so I started doing them,..Ha,Ha,.started with pump sprayers,..PITA,... I remember the wand going bad on one particular job and so I just took the top off the jug and poured it down the roof,..Boy did it clean,....thats the moment I learned about applying mix in volume.

I started using one of those little Homelite 1" water pumps with garden hose as the applicator,..no bypass valve,...and man,...when you let off the trigger the pump when into cardiac arrest and the hose looked like a python,..Ha,Ha,Ha,... But it did work.
I was also using CH with that set-up and also with the next pump,..a roller pump,....went through pumps ,... rinsing them it wasn't bad and was way better than anything else I had used and it was working pretty well,..

I used CH for 3-4 years for house washing and roof cleaning,..Chris,.remember me using the pantyhose and vegetable strainer to keep the solids out of my tank.

I then got the internet in 2005 and tweaked my methods with an air pump, better hose, etc.. and the major change was finding Univar after seeing everyone else on the boards using liquid hypo,...

Probably lots of other things went on along the way too,Ha,Ha....

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Tuesday 28th of January 2014 02:02:30 PM

RCIA Founder

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
Chris,..I started washing houses, decks and concrete in 1996,..then I'd say around 2000 I was getting more and more roof cleaning requests,...so I started doing them,..Ha,Ha,.started with pump sprayers,..PITA,... I remember the wand going bad on one particular job and so I just took the top off the jug and poured it down the roof,..Boy did it clean,....thats the moment I learned about applying mix in volume.

I started using one of those little Homelite 1" water pumps with garden hose as the applicator,..no bypass valve,...and man,...when you let off the trigger the pump when into cardiac arrest and the hose looked like a python,..Ha,Ha,Ha,... But it did work.
I was also using CH with that set-up and also with the next pump,..a roller pump,....went through pumps ,... rinsing them it wasn't bad and was way better than anything else I had used and it was working pretty well,..

I used CH for 3-4 years for house washing and roof cleaning,..Chris,.remember me using the pantyhose and vegetable strainer to keep the solids out of my tank.

I then got the internet in 2005 and tweaked my methods with an air pump, better hose, etc.. and the major change was finding Univar after seeing everyone else on the boards using liquid hypo,...

Probably lots of other things went on along the way too,Ha,Ha....

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Tuesday 28th of January 2014 02:02:30 PM

Yes Jeff, I remember very well biggrin

You and I go way way back.

It is funny to see people attempt to market calcium H as some "new softwashing and roof cleaning discovery of theirs" when you and a few of us were attempting to use it years ago.

Guest

Yes Chris,..I was using it because I was unaware,..ok,..stupid,Ha,Ha,... I thought that's how it was done. What a pain,..alot of work,.multiple, multiple applications in some cases,..and lots of RINSING, RINSING, RINSING!!!!

Jeff

RCIA Founder

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
Yes Chris,..I was using it because I was unaware,..ok,..stupid,Ha,Ha,... I thought that's how it was done. What a pain,..alot of work,.multiple, multiple applications in some cases,..and lots of RINSING, RINSING, RINSING!!!!

Jeff

Calcium H just does not work near as good as SH does. I see places telling people to "augment" their SH with Cal Hypo, but why ? LOL, if you want stronger roof cleaning mix, simply increase the percentages of SH.

Once you have had the "pleasure" of the cal hypo scale get on a roof, you will never want to use that crap again.

Did you ever get any scale formation on a roof from it Jeff ?

Guest

No scale Chris,..in those days we rinsed roofs.

Jeff

RCIA Founder

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
No scale Chris,..in those days we rinsed roofs.

Jeff

LOL, we always rinsed the CH too, mostly because it seldom worked very well, and we had to hit it again and again.

I had one friend who said he "perfected" CH roof cleaning Jeff.

He was up in Georgia (not Dave), and he would spray a section of the roof first with a light acid/water bath, then hit it with the CH!

He claimed it cleaned up like you know what!

Plus he said the water/ acid "solved the scale problem" as well!

I don't live up north Jeff, but IF I did, you know me.

I would figure out a way of cleaning roofs in cold weather.

I have always been reluctant to post my more "controversial and dangerous" roof cleaning ideas here.

Number one, I don't want anyone to get hurt, and number 2, I seldom if ever get any credit for all my roof cleaning discoveries.

I see some people posting everywhere but here about air pumps, mean green hose, large diameter roof cleaning hose, plastic hose reel swivels, and using chlorine stable surfactants discovered at the RCIA, yet seldom, if ever, do I hear anyone say they learned about these things, either from me, or at the RCIA.

I am of the mind that cold weather roof cleaning will eventually be "conquered" by a 2 step chemical system Jeff.

Parts of the cold roof will first be sprayed with a mild acid/water solution, and then a WEAK SH and Water solution with a surfactant will then be applied.

When acidifying the SH roof cleaning mix, you do not want a strong mix, because it takes way too much Acid to "overcome" the high PH that is inherent in a strong mix.

And, since acidified SH can be 100 times as strong as non acidified, you simply do not need (or want), a strong mix.

Of course, anyone reading this, NEVER MIX ACID INTO YOUR ROOF CLEANING TANK.

Dangerous fumes can and will form that can and will kill you!

Guest

Hey Chris, Just so you know,..I am one who gives credit where credit is due. I just mentioned your use of Mean Green hose on another forum the other day when someone mentioned buying it,..I did chime in and talk about you using it years ago. I think it was Brian Jackson,..and to his credit I doubt he knew you were using it way back when. I also gave Dave credit a few days ago with his introduction of the All-Flo air pumps and Kuri-Tek hose. It's too bad Dave isn't still around,..he was way ahead of the game when it came to roof cleaning,...and his heart was in it.

I do like to keep people informed of where some of these time tested products and ideas came from originally,.as people do tend to forget or aren't even aware of certain "new" discoveries.

* By the way,..in this thread I figured you would have mentioned your roller application.

Alot of people don't even know how nice it is to have all these answers for the taking,..figuring this stuff out for a year without the internet ought to be a requirement,Ha,Ha

Jeff

Advantage Roof Cleaning · Jan 29, 2014

I learned by studying the RCIA forum until my eyes bled. I then found an existing member who was gracious enough to give me actual hands-on training. I earned my RCIA certification and jumped into the game.

RCIA Founder

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
Hey Chris, Just so you know,..I am one who gives credit where credit is due. I just mentioned your use of Mean Green hose on another forum the other day when someone mentioned buying it,..I did chime in and talk about you using it years ago. I think it was Brian Jackson,..and to his credit I doubt he knew you were using it way back when. I also gave Dave credit a few days ago with his introduction of the All-Flo air pumps and Kuri-Tek hose. It's too bad Dave isn't still around,..he was way ahead of the game when it came to roof cleaning,...and his heart was in it.

I do like to keep people informed of where some of these time tested products and ideas came from originally,.as people do tend to forget or aren't even aware of certain "new" discoveries.

* By the way,..in this thread I figured you would have mentioned your roller application.

Alot of people don't even know how nice it is to have all these answers for the taking,..figuring this stuff out for a year without the internet ought to be a requirement,Ha,Ha

Jeff

Dave was a great asset to the RCIA, and I miss him too. Like myself, his lungs are toast, from all the roofs he has cleaned. I went out of my way to invite him back, and he did come back, for awhile. But his health is very bad, and his heart just isn't in it anymore.

Yes, he could be long winded, but he knew his stuff. I miss him!

Oh, you mean the roof cleaning roller on a stick called "The Apple Stick" biggrin

Advantage Roof Cleaning · Jan 29, 2014

Speaking of toasted lungs, it's most unfortunately to hear about anyone with respiratory issues. I must confess that I do not wear a respirator. However I did recently purchase gas filters for my mask and do plan on wearing it this year. What about everyone else? Does anyone else wear a gas mask?

Guest

Hey Dave,..I got really good at holding my breath over the years,..it's like second nature,..I don't even realize I'm doing it. I also spray from the top of the ladder from the roof edge 95% of the time. When you're on a roof the vapors or fumes are welling right up into your space,...from the ladder it's not near as bad.

Jeff

RCIA Founder

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
Hey Dave,..I got really good at holding my breath over the years,..it's like second nature,..I don't even realize I'm doing it. I also spray from the top of the ladder from the roof edge 95% of the time. When you're on a roof the vapors or fumes are welling right up into your space,...from the ladder it's not near as bad.

Jeff

Everyone needs to stand across the street, as a roof is being sprayed, from a ladder or whatever. It is not the Fumes we need worry about, it is that cloud of atomized roof cleaning chemical particles that we suck into our Lungs w/o knowing it, because our Lungs have no feelings!

These particles will be visible from across the street, so try what I said, see for yourself.

These atomized cleaning chemical particles can't tell the difference between algae and lung tissue, nor do they care either!

I would at LEAST wear a cheap cotton nose cover, like painters do, if a respirator is too uncomfortable.

Advantage Roof Cleaning · Jan 30, 2014

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
Hey Dave,..I got really good at holding my breath over the years,..it's like second nature,..I don't even realize I'm doing it. I also spray from the top of the ladder from the roof edge 95% of the time. When you're on a roof the vapors or fumes are welling right up into your space,...from the ladder it's not near as bad.

Jeff

Hey Jeff, I notice a big difference when I'm standing on the roof verses shooting from the ladder as you stated. But I'm going to play it safe and try to wear my respirator like a good boy. We'll see how long that lasts...LOL

Central Iowa Roof Cleaning · Certified Cedar Shake Roof Cleaning Specialist

Oh the good old CH days. LOL What a nightmare for some. You know most of the good quality information about roof cleaning was discovered years ago, long before I started. Anyone worth their salt in this business knows where it all came from.

Need I say. wink I understand that many are starting out but for those that have been cleaning they know what's up. All these people I see claiming the wheel when in most cases they are really a spoke. But it is what it is.

I have learned who to listen to and when to put some on my pay me no mind list. Things are changing with these franchises pulling into town, but they are on my pay me no mind list also.

You talk about the spray, having been an ole boat captain learned how to read the wind. Also I still rinse every job I do. Maybe old school but it works for me. Piece of mind if nothing else.

When I started I read and asked the questions needed and just started cleaning and haven't looked back. I will say the RCIA forum was a great place to learn.

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

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