My First Roofie!

Pure-Pressure

Pure-Pressure

New member
I just completed my first roof job! It took me for ever, but I know that with practice I will get faster. I do have a question though. There is a section of the roof that I was not able to get to due to trees and power lines. I was able to spray on the Clorine/Water/TSP mix, let it set and rinse it off after about 15 minutes. There is still some black streaks showing. Will that wash away over time with the rain? Sorry is this is just a newbie stupid question, I'm still learning.
 

Attachments

  • P1010065.JPG
    P1010065.JPG
    128.4 KB · Views: 118
  • P1010066.JPG
    P1010066.JPG
    125.1 KB · Views: 101
  • P1010067.JPG
    P1010067.JPG
    128.8 KB · Views: 101
i'm not sure if that will go away as it should have already after you hit it with the chlorine. i would keep hitting it with the chlorine (maybe strenghten it up a little) until it finally goes away. since i'm not sure of what obstacles you have in your way maybe what i'm saying cannot be done. good luck, let us know how it goes.

rando
 
If you would care to explain how you cleaned the roof, we can probably give you some useful tips to improve your time/results. :)
 
Since I am just staring my company, I have not yet invested in a surflo and water tank yet, but it is on my to do list. I used a 50/50 Sodium Hydroclorine 12.5%/Water and added a little TSP. I sprayed the roof with a pump sprayer and hit it with my soap tip. This caused it to suds up pretty good. I let it set for about 15 minutes and then came back and hit each tile one by one using only the soap tip (minumun pressure) that took the black off pretty good. Should the bleach/water simply disolved the black streaks?
 
Most of the time the chem mix will simply cause the stains to disappear and all you'll need to do is rinse the dried SH from the roof. Your time was consumed for obvious reasons.

We don't use TSP, but if you feel the need, go for it. On the PH scale, it can help, but it brings an added dimension of risk to an already risky situation. With SH, you're using a chem that destroys organic life on a roof and can also do the same to anything it happens to drip down on below.

TSP can and will streak/strip paint and it's also very hard on screens.

Good luck!
Don

Ps...Thanks for the PM.
 
Don Phelps said:
Most of the time the chem mix will simply cause the stains to disappear and all you'll need to do is rinse the dried SH from the roof. Your time was consumed for obvious reasons.

We don't use TSP, but if you feel the need, go for it. On the PH scale, it can help, but it brings an added dimension of risk to an already risky situation. With SH, you're using a chem that destroys organic life on a roof and can also do the same to anything it happens to drip down on below.

TSP can and will streak/strip paint and it's also very hard on screens.

Good luck!
Don

Ps...Thanks for the PM.
Click to expand...

Tsp in STRONG concentrations can streak paint, and is hell to rinse out of screens, if left to dry.

It is also, believe it or not, a fertilizer, LOLhttp://www.owr.ehnr.state.nc.us/ref/21/20402.htm

One reason we like using it is for when customers ask this question "Can your chemicals harm my plants"

Our answer, "Yes, they can, If not rinsed off promptly, and that is why we have a person on the ground, protecting your plants.
In fact, one of our cleaning chemicals is also a fertilizer"

Just be SURE and keep the windows wet when using TSP.
 
From the pics I can see the tsp but it looks like it is too weak.

You were close imo. Using 50/50 is the correct ratio of chlor/water. 6% looks to be perfect for that roof. With the correct amount of tsp the mixture would turn a bright white..waaayy whiter than just chloro. It almost phizzles.

I fall out of my chair when I read that an accomplished roof cleaner posts he does not use tsp. I would go as far as to say that is like using cold water to clean grease.

I am not trying to start an argument. Learn how to clean with the correct chems. Yes, you can just use chloro....we all have done it.
Dont you want to provide the best service you can? Tsp hands down is a no brainer when it comes to roofs. I cant believe all the roofs you clean don and you have not learned how to utilize tsp? Not a shot at you Don....I just cant believe with all the roof gigs you do you are still dumping strong chloro.
On a roof like that 50/50 without tsp woud not work without using a stupid amount of chloro w/pressure. Look he didnt use enough and has some streaks still around. I guess you could just dump 75-80% and be done with it. That would be more dangerous to the paint than the tsp mix!

I would say the first year I was playing around with everything chem wise. I came to the conclusion the just chloro was the ticket. Then I started adding more and more tsp and less chloro. Ya, if you are the only one on the job and letting tsp run all over the house..you are doing a crap job. I also feel if you are just dumping chloro you are giving the basic minimum service, and not cleaning the roof with the best method available.

Yes, you will have to go back over some heavy spots. When you get a pump that can displace some volume it will be no problem to remarinate a spot real quick. You dont have to look down that tunnel mang.
 
Peerless said:
From the pics I can see the tsp but it looks like it is too weak.

You were close imo. Using 50/50 is the correct ratio of chlor/water. 6% looks to be perfect for that roof. With the correct amount of tsp the mixture would turn a bright white..waaayy whiter than just chloro. It almost phizzles.

I fall out of my chair when I read that an accomplished roof cleaner posts he does not use tsp. I would go as far as to say that is like using cold water to clean grease.

I am not trying to start an argument. Learn how to clean with the correct chems. Yes, you can just use chloro....we all have done it.
Dont you want to provide the best service you can? Tsp hands down is a no brainer when it comes to roofs. I cant believe all the roofs you clean don and you have not learned how to utilize tsp? Not a shot at you Don....I just cant believe with all the roof gigs you do you are still dumping strong chloro.
On a roof like that 50/50 without tsp woud not work without using a stupid amount of chloro w/pressure. Look he didnt use enough and has some streaks still around. I guess you could just dump 75-80% and be done with it. That would be more dangerous to the paint than the tsp mix!

I would say the first year I was playing around with everything chem wise. I came to the conclusion the just chloro was the ticket. Then I started adding more and more tsp and less chloro. Ya, if you are the only one on the job and letting tsp run all over the house..you are doing a crap job. I also feel if you are just dumping chloro you are giving the basic minimum service, and not cleaning the roof with the best method available.

Yes, you will have to go back over some heavy spots. When you get a pump that can displace some volume it will be no problem to remarinate a spot real quick. You dont have to look down that tunnel mang.
Click to expand...

Agreed Thomas, we also try and provide the best product we can, so we too use TSP.

Not using TSP with your Chlorine/Water mix is kinda like replacing brake pads/shoes w/o turning the drums and rotors!

Yes, it will "work, but that does not mean it is right.

Also, ARMA recommendations call for it.
TSP and Chlorine are what THEY want their shingles cleaned with.
Any other Questions ?
 
I started out cleaning roofs with Bleach and Dawn. Works good, but I like to keep looking for better ways. Then I switched to Emulsifier Plus, which is what I like to use for house washing, a little better. After researching and reading posts, most guys recommend TSP! Heck, if Chris, Thomas and Russ use it, and the ARMA, Owens Corning, and GAF all write about it......then DUUUUHHHH???

TSP with bleach, hands down beats them all.
 
Pure-Pressure said:
Since I am just staring my company, I have not yet invested in a surflo and water tank yet, but it is on my to do list. I used a 50/50 Sodium Hydroclorine 12.5%/Water and added a little TSP. I sprayed the roof with a pump sprayer and hit it with my soap tip. This caused it to suds up pretty good. I let it set for about 15 minutes and then came back and hit each tile one by one using only the soap tip (minumun pressure) that took the black off pretty good. Should the bleach/water simply disolved the black streaks?
Click to expand...
When you sprayed the mix with your rinse tip, you may have diluted it!
It needs time to work.

Pump sprayers are not generally uniform in their application, and often can not get enough on to do the job.

TSP in weak solutions is not to be feared, and will only help clean a roof.

The Cleaners of the past used TSP all the time to clean houses with, along with bleach.

If used at 1/2 cup per gallon of mix, or less, there shouldn't be any problems.

But, if a little is good, more is better, right ?
Nope, more can cause problems.

The only time we go to 1 cup per gallons is on a filthy white tile roof, and we have ground man watching out for run off, and promptly dealing with it.

IMHO, you need to consider getting a chemical pump.

I suggest a Delevan, they are under 150 dollars.
One roof will pay for it!
 
Mike Sullivan said:
I started out cleaning roofs with Bleach and Dawn. Works good, but I like to keep looking for better ways. Then I switched to Emulsifier Plus, which is what I like to use for house washing, a little better. After researching and reading posts, most guys recommend TSP! Heck, if Chris, Thomas and Russ use it, and the ARMA, Owens Corning, and GAF all write about it......then DUUUUHHHH???

TSP with bleach, hands down beats them all.
Click to expand...
Thomas is my good friend, but we also compete.
The Bar is high here in my town, and people like Thomas, Frank from Specialty, and myself all try to give our customers their moneys worth.

Chlorine is not a detergent.
If it were, Tide would be out of business ?

To get things clean, one needs a detergent and an optical brightener/oxidizer like chlorine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top