What's up with ROOF WASHING?

Minuteman

Minuteman

New member
I don't think ANYONE has ever washed a roof in Texas... It must be a northern thing, snow, etc...
Why do you do it?
What do you charge for an average 2,000 sq ft home?
Is there a market for this in Texas? :confused:
 
Is it a regional type of thing or can it be sold in the south - Texas?
How do you market this type of service?
 
Toughest job

Too late to ask too many questions. This was my first roof job. High pitches. I had to use mnt. climbing harness, grigri, etc. The arrows show the angle of the ropes I used. It cost $200 for the rope and gear. It was the scarriest thing I have ever done in my life. I will NEVER get on another high pitch roof. I'm doing all of my cleaning from the ground or a very secure ladder.

I don't recomend that anyone ever do a roof like this without a spotter and training on climbing gear - and a good course in knot tying.
 

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Ken,

This is an excellent place to put your M5 to use! Not being able to see the back of the house, it appears that most, if not all, of the roof could have been done from the ground with excellent results using your X-Jet. Some people prefer downstreaming to the X-Jet, but either way will work great.
Great job!

As for the market for roof washing in Texas, there's actually a great market for it. Practically anywhere there are large pecan trees or other large trees in the vicinity of the roof, you can find dark discoloration, mold and mildew on the roof. Just look around, there are more than you think!
 
How much for the rope and gear,
since you wont be using it anymore??
 
Joe Ragsdale said:
Ken,

This is an excellent place to put your M5 to use! Not being able to see the back of the house, it appears that most, if not all, of the roof could have been done from the ground with excellent results using your X-Jet. Some people prefer downstreaming to the X-Jet, but either way will work great.
Great job!
Click to expand...

Downstreaming doesn't work well on roofs...just not strong enough. The Xjet works moderately well, but again, not strong enough, but can be done.

For a roof with a pitch like that one, I'd have added a good bit of soap to the mix for cling.

In addition to the trees, anywhere that mold grows, roofs will get dirty. Get some good before and after pics and go after it! I've found once a customer sees a good before/after pic of a roof cleaning, it's easy to sell them. Here's a copy of my latest postcard mailer design...
 

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Why did you need climbing gear for that one?? I'd have just walked up the valley and sat on the peak to do the job.... Run my shurflow pump system to pump the 15% bleach up to my m5.. applied it and then let it dwell then rinse..

Now if I had a steep roof I'd just m5 it from the ground then dwell and rinse. I wouldn't free walk the roof but I woulnd't have any problem walking up the valleys.. If nothing else install a brake board or two to set up a chair or something.
 
Henry Bockman said:
Why did you need climbing gear for that one?? I'd have just walked up the valley and sat on the peak to do the job.... Run my shurflow pump system to pump the 15% bleach up to my m5.. applied it and then let it dwell then rinse..
Click to expand...

If you're going to use a shurflo, why bother with the M5?
 
I use the shurflow to pump the chlorine up on the roof to my m5. Then I have a mini ball valve that I can turn off the chlorine when I want and it allows me to coat the entire roof quicker at a high enough concentration to get the job done.
 
Roof clean

Are you guys seening IMMEDIATE results after rinsing? This black stuff on the asphalt is tough to get off. I would like to se something that works harder than me on getting it off. 15% Chlorine is pretty strong. What do you think it is hitting the roof at? If you are ShurFlo'ing it without mixing it in the x-jet your hitting the roof at 15%.
 
By using the Shurflo to "Push" chem out of your X-Jet you should be getting almost a 1:1 rather than a 2:1 that you would be getting with just the passive venturi of the x-jet. I often wondered if I could do that to get a better x-jet proportion.

How has it been working for you - other than - "Great". Do you find any problems with the SHurflo cycling with no pressure outlet when your ball valve is closed?

How are you getting 15% Chlorine? Are you making it from powder or buying it in liquid from a chemist?
 
I'm buying it from a chemical distributor. As for how it works, all the mildew and mold is gone. Next time I do a roof job I'll take some photos and send them to you. I've also got pictures on my website under our power washing area. Just look for roof cleaning.
 
oneness said:
Downstreaming doesn't work well on roofs...just not strong enough. The Xjet works moderately well, but again, not strong enough, but can be done.

For a roof with a pitch like that one, I'd have added a good bit of soap to the mix for cling.

In addition to the trees, anywhere that mold grows, roofs will get dirty. Get some good before and after pics and go after it! I've found once a customer sees a good before/after pic of a roof cleaning, it's easy to sell them. Here's a copy of my latest postcard mailer design...
Click to expand...

Nice post card.

I have used the x-jet with 12.5 sh, but it just doesn't work nearly as good as pumping the stuff right on the roof. If your first roof job was with ropes on a steep roof, you must have really had some fun! Learn to clean roofs that are walkable first, and then charge double if you need ropes. I use tree climbing ropes and harness and knots as this was my former profession. I am used to hanging off the end of a rope, so I can concentrate more on the roof and less on the fear factor. It is still a constant struggle to stop your hose and ropes from tangeling, and trying to keep the bleach off the ropes.
 
Minuteman said:
Too late to ask too many questions. This was my first roof job. High pitches. I had to use mnt. climbing harness, grigri, etc. The arrows show the angle of the ropes I used. It cost $200 for the rope and gear. It was the scarriest thing I have ever done in my life. I will NEVER get on another high pitch roof. I'm doing all of my cleaning from the ground or a very secure ladder.

I don't recommend that anyone ever do a roof like this without a spotter and training on climbing gear - and a good course in knot tying.
Click to expand...

You gotta have cat-like balance and climbing skills. Just kidding, I don't recommend doing this.
 

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I know this seems like a stupid qustion but can't you just hang out at the peak and let your chem flow down the roof. then rince the same way letting it flow from the top.
 
It causes more run-off when doing it from the top. You're essentially creating a waterfall by doing it that way. Spraying from the bottom up creates much less run-off.
 
I haven't got a direct answer on this one.. Have done a bunch of roofs from the ground with an X-Jet.. or lets say applied the chemicals that way. I have yet to have a roof where the shingles didn't need to be washed.. ie, up close and personal attention with a couple hundred psi. Do you guys wash your roofs or just rinse them from the ground? I don't know if this is a northeast thing or perhaps just the jobs we have done but I have yet to get a shoot and rinse job.
 
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