Slate Roof! Uncleanable?

[cajun cleanin]

I hit this roof with 6% and then 8% and it laughed at me.I added more soap,different soaps,nothing worked.It is a painted Stucco house and I was worried about taking the paint off it too.

Have you ever had a roof that you couldn't clean?

 

[Larry Millette]

JC. Are you sure your mix is strong enough? Also, What is the outside temp where you are working? That is a REAL steep Roof. You need a strong mix and LOTS of surfactant to make that mix stick and to give it time to do it's job. Don't worry about the paint. Just keep it wet and you will be fine. NEVER let the Roof Win!

 

[cajun cleanin]

Temp is 70 degrees, hardly any wind.The bleach comes from and industrial supplier that sells close to 5000 gals a week.I think he told me that he empties the tank every week.So I would say it is fresh,also the plant that makes it is local.The pitch is like 10 or 12.The face of these shingles is very irregular lot of indentions and pock marks.The pics are kinda bad too that doesn't help.

 

[David O'Connell Jr]

From the pictures it looks like the slate is multi-colored
Is that correct?

 

[Mark 8262]

JC

Where are you buying your chlorine? I could always use another supplier?

Thanks

 

[howarddoug]

From the pics. I see does the roof really need cleaning?

 

[cajun cleanin]

The slate is about 5 different colors.It does need cleaning the pics don't show the mold well at all.It has lichens on it in several spots but you can see them in the pics.Mark I sent the pm about the SH.

 

[Scott D.]

No roof is uncleanable!! lol

I once cleaned a tile roof that took 1000gl just for the 4 car garage. And no it wasnt when I first started. Do a search on here for Maxitile.

Without seeing it in person, its hard to say, but my first thoughts would be

1. Did you mix your chems fresh in the morning? Or were they left over from a couple days ago?
2. How much of and what kind of surfactant did you use? You may not be getting the dwell time needed for such a steep roof.

 

[814jeffw]

First off, I like the black tape around the stabilizer end cap,....looks just like mine.

But anyhow, that is a steep roof and the product wants to run off as soon as it hits,...already discussed. I've done a few of these and the lichen on them seems to get so hard a resilient for some reason. Add some hydroxide to your mix, that should give it the extra punch it needs to get it off,...the lichen and moss will turn more black than bleached out though. I usually kill it with hydroxide mix and then bleach it back out with regular SH for visual effect.

As you probably know, hydroxide is hot, so be careful what surroundings you get it on. probably 1 cup per 5 gallons will be hot enough.

Just be careful though!!

Jeff

 

[cajun cleanin]

Well I went back and tried it again.Stronger mix and a sh%tload of soap.Still didn't budge this stuff.I'm officially out of the slate roof cleaning business.I think this is a sealed slate on this roof,very slick finish.

The black tape is to hold the end caps on they kept falling off.I use black tape on everything.(My wife complains when I pull it off but oh well).

The bright spot is the Fatboy worked like a charm.

 

[Scott D.]

You've stumped me then. Post it over at RCF and see if anyone there can help.

 

[814jeffw]

Did you try the hydroxide?

Jeff

 

[cajun cleanin]

No, I'm kinda leary of spraying it on this roof because of the dormers and the exposed beams around this place.I'm gonna punt this one.A wise man once said "You gotta know when to fold em".

 

[cajun cleanin]

I went back to tackle it boys!I hate to lose.

 

[Apple Roof Cleaning]

I have been WATCHING this thread - unable to respond
Here is a picture of a slate roof we cleaned - one of many.
What you need do is get you some Rubbing Alcohol to put in your mix.
For a slate roof use 1 to 1.5 percent Isopropyl 70 percent Rubbing Alcohol in your mix.
Dump the alcohol in JUST before you start cleaning.
Soap and surfactants CAN help cling - but can also be a SOB to rinse off a slate roof ?
Plus incompatable surfactants Weaken your overall MIX.

Here are some slate tile roof pics to show you NO roof can't be cleaned ... except Asbestos

 

[Scott D.]

So JC what did you do different?? Came out nice!!

 

[cajun cleanin]

I put some goat piss in it.(Thad told me it 's a Louisiana thing)

Really I got a call back from the homeowners property management guy and we looked at it.I told him this was the only way to clean it and what it looked like was going to be the end result.He said go with it.The homeowner is getting it washed to make his wife happy and she is not going to be happy until it's done he said.

I actually went straight to the supplier and got my SH and used a bunch of soap to cling it with and it really looks good.I hope it rains like hell on it today.The only thing I can see is it killed the mold and fungus but it is not turning loose and rinsing off like on a asphalt shingle roof.

I had a little trouble with the fatboy but it worked like a charm most of this roof was shot from the ground.I am going to upgrade my hose to the one with factory ends crimped on with the threaded fittings soon because this pump can put out some pressure.

 

[Scott D.]

Am I missing what you did different?

 

[gks72]

Here are some slate tile roof pics to show you NO roof can't be cleaned ... except Asbestos

Hate to say it but your wrong mr. tucker.


asbestos on left, slate on right. NEITHER required alcohol...until payday and it wasn't the rubbing kind.

 

[Scott D.]

What kind of special precautions should you take when cleaning an asbestos roof?

Those pictures look great