Metal Roof cleaning

[Michael Carter]

I have a metal roof to clean this week. I have cleaned lots of shingle roofs but only 1 metal roof which turned out great. I was wanting some input on cleaning a metal roof . I cleaned the 1 and only metal roof similar the way I clean shingle roofs except I rinsed, rinsed and rinsed some more. I would like to hear from someone that has cleaned lots of metal roofs. Ratio and procedure. Thanks in advance

[Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777]

We use a weak shingle roof strength solution, and rinse rinse rinse. Try to do one side of the roof at a time if you can, to minimize the amount of time the cleaning solution is in contact with the metal roof, if you can. 

 

[Doug Riemer]

I use my house wash mix and a car wash brush on a extension pole and wash it the same way as a car

[Michael Carter]

Thanks Chris. When you say weak, how much SH in a 100 gal mix?

[Roof Cleaning Jacksonville FL 904-304-0810]

For metal roof cleaning, you only need about 1.5-2% max final solution. Sometimes even less. Just do a test with a small mix first and you'll know. Often times my hw downstreamed will clean a metal roof.

[Michael Carter]

Ok thanks

[Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777]

Once upon a time, I "stole" a metal roof cleaning job from a competitor. The way I "stole" this job was as follows "Mr Customer, my competitor does not neutralize his cleaning solution, and he may rust your metal roof. We not only rinse the metal roof very well, but we also neutralize the cleaning solution "

Needless to say, we got that big metal roof cleaning job

How can I neutralize the damaging effects of chlorine bleach?

Experienced dyers agree that the effects of unneutralized chlorine bleach discharge are deadly to fabric. Some residue of the hypochlorite remains in the fabric even after washing, later resulting in holes or thin spots wherever bleach was applied. Fabric that looks fine after bleaching may be in rags a few weeks later.

The answer is to neutralize your fabric after you bleach it.

You must also strictly avoid using chlorine bleach on any synthetic fiber, such as polyester, nylon, or spandex, because the damage done by chlorine bleach to synthetic fibers is irreversible. Use only 100% cellulose fibers, such as cotton or hemp, for bleach discharge. (Some synthetic fibers such as nylon can be safely discharged with another chemical, instead of chlorine bleach, known as sodium hydrosulfite or sodium dithionite.)

What NOT to use

Whatever you do, never use vinegar or any other acid in an attempt to neutralize your chlorine bleach. It will destroy the hypochlorite that is the active ingredient of chlorine bleach, but only by turning it into much more caustic and dangerous chemicals, including hypochlorous acid, which is very damaging to textiles, and, if the pH gets low enough, deadly chlorine gas. Unlike stronger acids, vinegar is unlikely to produce a pH low enough to generate much chlorine gas, but hypochlorous acid is even more damaging than hypochlorite.

It is very disturbing that a number of dyeing books with otherwise good information blithely pass on this dangerous advice, to use vinegar to neutralize chlorine bleach. I worry that a book with such bad information may include other dangerous misstatements.

Good neutralizers for chlorine

There are three good alternatives for neutralizing hypochlorite bleach: bisulfite or metabisulfite, thiosulfite, or peroxide.

Bisulfite and metabisulfite

Bisulfite, or metabisulfite, is the most economical choice. It is widely sold under the name Anti-Chlor by dye suppliers. It does not matter whether you buy sodium bisulfite or potassium bisulfite. It is economical because only small amounts are required. If your dye supplier sells anti-chlor, be sure to order some the next time you order dyes.

Bisulfite is also used as a preservative of fresh and dried foods, such as the potato salad in restaurant salad bars, or dried apricots. A good local source would be your local home wine brewing supply store, as sodium bisulfite is widely used for sanitizing the fruit juices to be used in wine, to stop yeast growth, and as a preservative. Camden Tablets are a product sometimes used in wine-making; each tablet contains 1/16th teaspoon (0.3 ml) of sodium bisulfite.

Here is the chemical equation describing the neutralization reaction between sodium hypochlorite and sodium metabisulfite:

Na₂S₂O₅ + 2NaOCl + H₂O —> 2NaHSO₄ + 2NaCl

An alternative reaction is as follows:

Na₂S₂O₅ + 2NaOCl + H₂O —> 2Na₂SO₄ + 2HCl

(Source: R.J. Xie et al. Desalination and Water Treatment vol. 3 (2009): pp 193–203 [PDF].)

 

Thiosulfate

Sodium thiosulfate, also known as Bleach Stop, is another excellent choice for neutralizing chlorine bleach. It is less economical than Anti-chlor because you must use a much larger quantity to prepare your bleach neutralizing bath. Thiosulfate is commonly used in developing photographs, so you may be able to find a local supplier in the form of a photography supply store. The reaction between thiosulfate and hypochlorite is as follows:

4 NaClO + Na₂S₂O₃ + 2 NaOH → 4 NaCl + 2 Na₂SO₄ + H₂O

 

Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a third choice, perhaps preferable for asthmatics who are sensitive to the effects of sulfur-containing chemicals. It is more expensive than Anti-chlor or Bleach Stop, but it has the advantage of being readily available at pharmacies. Look for 3% hydrogen peroxide among the first aid supplies at your local drug store. The chemical reaction between hypochlorite (the active ingredient in chlorine bleach) and hydrogen peroxide is as follows:

OCl^- + H₂O₂ -> Cl^- + H₂O + O₂

 

How much bleach neutralizer do I need to use?

Thiosulfate (Bleach Stop) is not as strong as Anti-chlor (sodium metabisulfite).

You need to use one whole ounce by weight (30 grams) of Bleach-Stop (sodium thiosulfate) per gallon of warm water, or a pound and a quarter for a twenty-gallon washing machine load — so, using your washing machine for this step would be very expensive and you'd better stick to a bucket, but you can do that. Cost per gallon of bleach neutralizing bath, 25¢. Not too expensive.

In contrast, you need only one teaspoon, or 2.2 grams, of Anti-chlor (sodium metabisulfite) per 2.5 gallons of water, or less than half a teaspoon per gallon of water. That works out to 18 grams per twenty-gallon washing machine load, if you like to use it there. Cost per gallon of bleach neutralizing bath, three-quarters of 1¢. Very, very inexpensive. Cheap enough even to use in the washer, if you're lazy about carrying buckets around, or if you want to use it as a regular laundry additive to reduce unwanted bleaching from chloramine in your water supply.

Buy whichever one your dye supplier sells, and be careful to use no less than their instructions say to. Rinse your garments in water quickly before neutralizing. ALWAYS fill your bucket or washing machine with rinse water to do this BEFORE you start to apply bleach to your fabric.

I'm not sure how much 3% hydrogen peroxide is absolutely required. I had good results by pouring half a bottle over my project; at $.79 per bottle, that was about 40¢ per use. Far less economical, but convenient for those times when you don't have any Anti-Chlor in the house and your next order isn't due to be delivered until next week. It works very well, too: although I had to leave that particular shirt in the bleach a long time to get my design, it never did develop any holes in the bleached part, over hundreds of washings. (There was no spandex or other synthetic fiber is the shirt, which helps a lot.) It eventually developed unrelated rips elsewhere on the shirt. I can certainly recommend 3% H₂O₂ as effective, even if not the most economical option.

Do I need to neutralize after using a reductive discharge such as Thiox?

No. You must neutralize after using chlorine (hypochlorite) bleach, but not after using reductive discharges such as Thiox, Formosul, or Rit Color Remover. You need only wash reductive discharge chemicals out with water. Any residual bisulfite or thiosulfate will react with the oxygen in the air and be safely destroyed.

 

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[Michael Carter]

So Chris, what if you just rinse very well?  And or you saying I need to go back to neutralize? Here is pics from today's job

[Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777]

So Chris, what if you just rinse very well?  And or you saying I need to go back to neutralize? Here is pics from today's job

No Michael, what I am trying to say is this - If you had a metal roof, and 2 guys could clean it chemically, but one neutralized, and one did not, who would you rather have clean the roof ?

 

[Michael Carter]

Gotcha...

[Sussex County Roof Cleaning]

I think you left money behind on that job. That sidewalk is hideous. 

[Aqua Clean Solutions Inc]

LOL .....Thats funny......True but funny....

[PeakOfPerfection]

We add Sodium Metasilicate to the rinse. Helps prevent corrosion, gives the roof a shiny look, harmless stuff to boot. 

[Michael Carter]

So Chris, what if you just rinse very well?  And or you saying I need to go back to neutralize? Here is pics from today's job

where do u get that from?

[Michael Carter]

Where u get that from

[PeakOfPerfection]

Chem supplier. Lot of cleaning chem suppliers carry it in 50 lb bags. 

[Richard Frisson]

We add Sodium Metasilicate to the rinse. Helps prevent corrosion, gives the roof a shiny look, harmless stuff to boot. 

It's a powder?  Isn't this used for degreasing as well?  What concentration of SM do you use?

[Richard Frisson]

I have a Green Metal roof coming up - same design as the one Michael posted.   Same protocol?  It's 19 years old with a lot of chalking from the sun on the south side.  Will be using a water fed pole to remove all the milky chalking away

[Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777]

Where u get that from

Here is where to get it, and nearly any other cleaning chemical you need, in small amounts http://www.florida-chemical.com/

[Roof Cleaning Jacksonville FL 904-304-0810]

I'm lucky to have a little chemical company that makes their own cleaners and stuff. We mostly use them for oxalic acid and sodium hydroxide, but they have a lot of things and even some pretty good cleaners. 

[Jeff Mathieson Tartan Window Cleaning]

Sometimes you have to go with what is available in your local.  I am cleaning a metal shingle roof.  Mild shingle mix, 1% SH? Or should i use a degreaser?   There has been some discussion on not using a surfactant due to the slippage?  I am using a man lift on this one but do not want to put anyone in harms way. Then to  rinse I only have access to thiosulfate  as something to neutralize  what strength to mix and apply. Can I just put the thio in a garden fertilizer sprayer to apply? Rinse with water first then neutralize?  Very large home and I do not possess multiple tanks to apply other solution mixes.  I am primarily cleaning eavestroughs the roof build up is mild and does not encompass the entire roof .   Any thoughts appreciated

Edited August 27, 2016 by Jeff Mathieson

[Rickardo]

Cleaning metal roofs can be difficult especially old ones because of the corrosion build up and the several layers of paint underneath.A wire brush works better in removing the paint off metal roofs.Before stepping up onto the roof make sure you are able to clean each and every surface with  ease.You can clean the mild and mildew off the metal roof by mixing ½ cup of tri-sodium sulphate in a gallon of water.Take a soft brush and dip it into the solution and scrub the affected.Repeat the process until the surface is clean and then rinse the area with water.Metal roofs are durable but I think they can have a lot of leaks.I once had multiple leaks on my roof though I tried to fix it on my own I was not able to get it fixed so I called a roof repair service called royal york roofing to get it fixed.

Edited September 20, 2016 by PeakOfPerfection
plz ignore double post

[Kyle Clark]

Cleaning metal roofs can be difficult especially old ones because of the corrosion build up and the several layers of paint underneath.A wire brush works better in removing the paint off metal roofs.Before stepping up onto the roof make sure you are able to clean each and every surface with  ease.You can clean the mild and mildew off the metal roof by mixing ½ cup of tri-sodium sulphate in a gallon of water.Take a soft brush and dip it into the solution and scrub the affected.Repeat the process until the surface is clean and then rinse the area with water.Metal roofs are durable but I think they can have a lot of leaks.I once had multiple leaks on my roof though I tried to fix it on my own I was not able to get it fixed so I called in a roof repair service called royal york roofing to get it fixed.

So with this method you are using a brush on the whole roof?  This would seem to labor intensive if it was a large roof. How many of you guys use brushes on your metal roof jobs and how many of you just use a mix and a bush just to do some touch up areas?  I am just curious of the results of your mix verses having to use a brush on the entire roof.

I just noticed you said "wire brush".  I would never put a wire brush on a customers roof.  But for those who are using soft brushes and water fed poles why do you use this method verses spraying on your mix and rinsing well?

Edited September 21, 2016 by Kyle Clark

[Roof Cleaning Jacksonville FL 904-304-0810]

I think the post above is just spam. The whole thing is senseless and has a link with keywords in it. 

[PeakOfPerfection]

Cleaning metal roofs can be difficult especially old ones because of the corrosion build up and the several layers of paint underneath.A wire brush works better in removing the paint off metal roofs.Before stepping up onto the roof make sure you are able to clean each and every surface with  ease.You can clean the mild and mildew off the metal roof by mixing ½ cup of tri-sodium sulphate in a gallon of water.Take a soft brush and dip it into the solution and scrub the affected.Repeat the process until the surface is clean and then rinse the area with water.Metal roofs are durable but I think they can have a lot of leaks.I once had multiple leaks on my roof though I tried to fix it on my own I was not able to get it fixed so I called in a roof repair service called royal york roofing to get it fixed.

Metal brushing a metal roof is a TERRIBLE idea. You'll break the galvanization layer then you are looking at flash rust all over the place. TSP is also not very effective in and of itself on organics...only as an addictive.