Non Pressure Roof Cleaning With A Pressure Washer ?

[Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777]

In the past 20 years, I have owned 2 pressure washers, and one for around the house use only.

I tried downstreaming chemicals to try and clean roofs, w/o any success.

No matter what downstream injector I tried, no luck.

 

I just saw this post, and I wonder if this would work. I no longer own any pressure washers, or I might try it, just for shits and giggles.

 

Here is a hint on how to get the chem strong enough if you dont have a dedicated pump. Use 2 super sud suckers inline with a jumper hose(4ft) in between and you have got plenty of chemical to treat roofs. You can turn your pw throttle down to the pressure you need to get the roof coated. Secret is out!! You accually have to cut the mix because its too strong strait.

 

[PeakOfPerfection]

Only one issue I could see....the overspray could be EPIC!

We do use PW spray nozzles sometimes though....it works great for misting.

[Grime Busterz]

Besides only having to carry one set of equipment what else would be the pros to this? i see more cons than pros.. Heavier hose, less resitant hose, heavier wand, more expensive hose, marking hose, how do the injectors handle the SH? 

[Sussex County Roof Cleaning]

PW may work,and be alot easier then the normal set up, but when we sell our selves as non-pressure roof cleaners I cant see having a PW on site. Could raise alot of eyebrows.

[Roof Cleaning Virginia]

PW may work,and be alot easier then the normal set up, but when we sell our selves as non-pressure roof cleaners I cant see having a PW on site. Could raise alot of eyebrows.

 

Interesting.  I won't do a job without ours on site.  We have an 8 GPM mounted on each truck.

 

On Chris' original topic, another option is to use a low flow pw in order to get the appropriate mix ratio.   A 2.3 GPM machine with an  8 GPM injector, using strong SH, *might* do the trick.  But one would have to ask why?  At 2.3 GPM?  No thanks.

[Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777]

Interesting.  I won't do a job without ours on site.  We have an 8 GPM mounted on each truck.

 

On Chris' original topic, another option is to use a low flow pw in order to get the appropriate mix ratio.   A 2.3 GPM machine with an  8 GPM injector, using strong SH, *might* do the trick.  But one would have to ask why?  At 2.3 GPM?  No thanks.

I would have to ask WHY too Brother Ted  And it is true that low GPM Machines draw better.  I was just curious about this double injector idea

[PeakOfPerfection]

PW may work,and be alot easier then the normal set up, but when we sell our selves as non-pressure roof cleaners I cant see having a PW on site. Could raise alot of eyebrows.

Best tool for the job. Clean the roof...hit the house and the driveway. I would say it is a toss up between a high flow PW and a high flow Roof Rig as far as cleaning the siding and washing the plants goes. For flatwork....no comparison, a good PW is far superior just as a dedicated roof pump is far superior for roof work. If a customer asks, we will just explain that it is the best tool for cleaning your driveway....and we can add that in for only a few dollars more.

[Stay Clean]

While a PW isn't necessary for roof cleaning I wouldn't be without one on the job. Between the chemical pump and PW there is almost nothing you cant clean.

 

On a side note, if you upsell the driveway in addition to the roof cleaning, will you spray the mix on the driveway before or after cleaning with the PW or not at all? I've done tests for years and found spraying the mix on after will make the driveway cleaner and make it stay cleaner for longer than just pressure cleaning. If you spray the mix before you pressure clean you run the risk of nuking the surrounding landscape from the runoff.

[PeakOfPerfection]

While a PW isn't necessary for roof cleaning I wouldn't be without one on the job. Between the chemical pump and PW there is almost nothing you cant clean.

 

On a side note, if you upsell the driveway in addition to the roof cleaning, will you spray the mix on the driveway before or after cleaning with the PW or not at all? I've done tests for years and found spraying the mix on after will make the driveway cleaner and make it stay cleaner for longer than just pressure cleaning. If you spray the mix before you pressure clean you run the risk of nuking the surrounding landscape from the runoff.

The consensus on the Powerwash Institute forum is after to kill off any stubborn algae. I would still be careful to do a rinse down as the chlorine may evaporate out, but the salt will be left over and can also nuke the Veg. Remember, Dilution is the Solution to Pollution. In other words, water.

If you are going to hit the driveway, invest in a good, properly sized surface cleaner for efficiency. Do not try to clean it with a wand. That is an exercise in futility and poor results.

[Stay Clean]

The consensus on the Powerwash Institute forum is after to kill off any stubborn algae. I would still be careful to do a rinse down as the chlorine may evaporate out, but the salt will be left over and can also nuke the Veg. Remember, Dilution is the Solution to Pollution. In other words, water.

If you are going to hit the driveway, invest in a good, properly sized surface cleaner for efficiency. Do not try to clean it with a wand. That is an exercise in futility and poor results.

 

If I'm doing a roof and driveway I'll always hit the driveway with the mix after using the PW unless the customer is really cheap. I've had my 18" cleaner for years, can't do flat work without it.

[Doug Rucker]

In the past 20 years, I have owned 2 pressure washers, and one for around the house use only.

I tried downstreaming chemicals to try and clean roofs, w/o any success.

No matter what downstream injector I tried, no luck.

 

I just saw this post, and I wonder if this would work. I no longer own any pressure washers, or I might try it, just for shits and giggles.

 

Here is a hint on how to get the chem strong enough if you dont have a dedicated pump. Use 2 super sud suckers inline with a jumper hose(4ft) in between and you have got plenty of chemical to treat roofs. You can turn your pw throttle down to the pressure you need to get the roof coated. Secret is out!! You accually have to cut the mix because its too strong strait.

 

If i remember correctly this didn't work out to well for Jim, he was continuously going through DS injectors, and wen't back to using 12V pumps.

[Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777]

While a PW isn't necessary for roof cleaning I wouldn't be without one on the job. Between the chemical pump and PW there is almost nothing you cant clean.

 

On a side note, if you upsell the driveway in addition to the roof cleaning, will you spray the mix on the driveway before or after cleaning with the PW or not at all? I've done tests for years and found spraying the mix on after will make the driveway cleaner and make it stay cleaner for longer than just pressure cleaning. If you spray the mix before you pressure clean you run the risk of nuking the surrounding landscape from the runoff.

 

Sometimes, if there is no grease oil, or heavy dirt, you can get away with simply spraying the driveway with a tile roof cleaning mix. 

[Richard Frisson]

Roof Cleaning Virginia i have always loved your posts, you sir are a genius.  

 

With all surface cleaning i do, i ALWAYS hit the concrete before i surface clean with 3-5%.  Surface clean with 8 GPM / 4000 psi.  24" surface cleaner, 3 jets, orifice: 40030 or 25030.    

 

"40" being the degree spray, "030" being the MAX G.P.M per TIP x 3 tips = 9 G.P.M allowable at the tips.    if your pump(s) are rated for 8 gpm or 4 gpm etc, NEVER go under it (buying the wrong tips), you will F**K your unloader almost instantly.

 

I prefer the 40 degree spray for surface cleaning, it reduces or cuts out those "lawn mower" looking runs, i hate that.  More likely to happen on older, acid rain residual on driveways, an orange, brownish scale.

 

Rule of thumb for surface cleaning.  1 G.P.M per 4 inch surface cleaner.  ie: if using 4 G.P.M do not exceed in size 16" surface cleaner.  

 

There is a trick to achieve 8 G.P.M @ 4000 psi without buying a single 8 G.P.M machine... for those who want further details, send an enquirie @ www.edgepropertyservices.ca

[Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777]

I do not pressure wash driveways, but let's consider the argument of whether to spray the dway with the roof cleaning mix before, or after the pressure washing ?

If u spray before, then pressure wash the dway clean, the water from the PW will automatically dilute the SH.

If u spray after, you will have to come back to water the driveway grass, hard to do w/o making Mud on the clean driveway.

 

Any comments ?

[Richard Frisson]

Really once the SH have killed the spores on any surface, it's going to last longer whether you spray before or after, hitting the driveway first with chems and surface cleaning after eliminates the touch up work.  With 8 gpm to you can speed

 

walk with it.  Today we did a 3 story 3,000 square foot roof full of red algae and moss 8/12 pitch, gutters (20 gallons of muck in buckets), all the siding with a big deck / railings and 5,000 square foot driveway in 7 hours, I also changed out 2

 

inch and a half drains to a funnel drains.  The driveway only took 10 minutes with the surface cleaner, and with 8 gpm it comes out looking sooo much cleaner.  We never clean any surface before we hit it with sodium hypochlorite.  

[Richard Frisson]

[Oliver Twist Pressure Cleaning]

I chem then pressure wash all

Flatwork. My guy wands twice as fast as s hover cover.

[Doug Rucker]

I do not pressure wash driveways, but let's consider the argument of whether to spray the dway with the roof cleaning mix before, or after the pressure washing ?

If u spray before, then pressure wash the dway clean, the water from the PW will automatically dilute the SH.

If u spray after, you will have to come back to water the driveway grass, hard to do w/o making Mud on the clean driveway.

 

Any comments ?

 If needed we do both.  Spray and dwell a little bit, surface clean, then spray again and leave to dry.  Don;t rinse.

[PeakOfPerfection]

I think the big PW guys are killing the spores and such with steaming hot water then spraying a light mix of SH on to brighten, even things out and kill any lingering growth.

There is a good technical argument for hitting it after washing it. Power washing, particularly with hot water, will open and unplug the pores of the concrete, getting the embedded dirt/spore bodies and hyphae out. If you hit it with mix first, then wash, any remaining spores embedded in the pores will regrow. Hitting it afterwards will allow the post washing SH to penetrate in deeper, getting the remainder of the residual growth. A quick rinse afterwards to remove the salts and dead spore bodies and hyphae and to prevent possible salt spalling is a good idea, but that is quick as heck with a high flow PW or roof pump.

If you have a client who REALLY wants a bright driveway....say for sale prep, Hot water, followed by two stepping is probably the ultimate in clean, bright concrete assuming there is still a good calcium carbonate layer on top.

[Roof Cleaning Virginia]

Calcium carbonate?  I presume that you mean the cream coat?

 

For anyone one wanting a 'bright' driveway, oxalic acid certainly does that well presuming it's already clean.

[PeakOfPerfection]

Calcium carbonate?  I presume that you mean the cream coat?

 

For anyone one wanting a 'bright' driveway, oxalic acid certainly does that well presuming it's already clean.

Yup!

[Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777]

 If needed we do both.  Spray and dwell a little bit, surface clean, then spray again and leave to dry.  Don;t rinse.

This is probabbly the very best method, but time consuming. Plus, care must be taken on the second coat to keep from killing/browning grass. 

[Richard Frisson]

There is actually no difference spraying after if you sprayed before, once it's dead it's dead.  You know this while surface cleaning and cutting around the edges, if it's dark and hard to lift off, or there are dark swirls remaining, just hit that area with the mix again and keep going.  I haven't had to go over concrete twice before, if i'm spraying at roof strength 3-5%.  If i can't speed walk with my surface cleaner at 8 GPM then i would just hit it again

[Richard Frisson]

Yes oxalic is magic for that.  But for how many customers that will actually spend that much extra for a driveway, i don't even bother.  Maybe just maybe if the driveway is covered in orange rust or acid rain... but i still don't like to bother, lol