First roof cleaning - some questions

tigerwash

tigerwash

New member
I just received an email from a customer who wants, among other things, a quote on a roof cleaning. I have never done a roof cleaning before, and want to make sure I do it right, without any damage.

I plan on using my soft pressure system (low soap/rinse) with Gain. Is there any tricks or anything I need to be aware of?

Here's a pic of the roof (doesn't look dirty to me; seems fairly pitched which I am concerned about):

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Anyone wanna' take this? Anyhow,..stay off the roof,...just spray it and let gravity do the work for you,...spray from the top of a ladder that has a stabilizer attached. That's personal safety advice. What does the other side look like? Read, Read, Read,..in the roof cleaning forums. Maybe you want to wait till' Spring to do this roof. Not that it's hard,..but you need to have a grasp of the process. Sell the driveway while you're at it.

Jeff
 
Already have the rest of the house sold -- house wash, driveway, pool deck -- I just don't want to lose it by not being able to do the roof. Are you suggesting I just offer what is essentially a rinse-over of the roof? Is there a wide spray rinse high tip I could use to safely clean the roof from the ground?
 
A wide spray rinse high tip would be a new one one me.
You didn't say what the other side looks like. If it's the same as this it needs next to nothing from what I can see from the pictures. Tell them to wait till they see traces of darkening,..or sell them a simple treatment.

Jeff
 
You can get most of that from the ground or a ladder at the edge of the roof. I always walk the valleys of roofs for more stability. Every now and then you'll have to do the monkey crawl up one of the corner peaks to get to the top. If you need to walk it, spray the top peak down to where you can reach from the ladder and then get off and finish from the ladder/ground. Be sure to leave an exit path when spraying the peak or you'll slip and go for a ride. I am much more comfortable on the ground than on a roof... however you will run into roofs that its easier and faster to spray from the peaks.

3% SH, soap - spray evenly, and be mindful of your over spray and your runoff.

As for the rinsing, its a personal preference. I don't rinse my roofs, but a lot of guys do. I explain to the customer that I don't feel right charging them to do something mother nature is going to do for free. I would, however, rinse the section that has the wall climbers on it, just for peace of mind.
If you do rinse, don't blast the shingles with high pressure.

Water the plants very well before, during, and after.

Above all, be safe on that roof. We don't want your first roof job to be your last.
 
1) What is this Soft Pressure System that you are planning to use??

2) If you are concerned about your stability on the roof, do not get on it.

3) No tricks to be aware of, but you their are many basics and fundamentals that you should know before cleaning your first roof.

4) As Jeff asked, what does the other side of the roof look like? Is it it dirty? If the whole roof looks like what it's in the picture, I would advise them against cleaning the roof at this time.

Feel Free to call me if you would like to discuss
 
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