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Cardinal Roof Cleaning Jackson TN · Guest

RE: Cedar roof cleaning work

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

It is, as well it is returning the wood to it's proper PH. The cedar will turn a darker color from the SP. The oxalic will return it to it's proper color.

Cardinal Roof Cleaning Jackson TN · Guest

So I assume that is the same for treated lumber on decks and fences? It isn't just a cedar reaction right?

Roof Cleaning Missouri 417-230-8103 · Guest

I have 2 roof estimates to do on cedar roofs, i read the threads and I am wondering how you are applying these chems, are you upstreaming, d/ streaming.. need to talk to Mike i guess..... how does this whole process take place , can I apply with fatboy or?

both jobs will be at least 1000.00 a piece, do you all charge as you would a shingle roof ?

KID

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

Steve: yes

Kid: Yes you can use your Delevan, but on a cedar roof you generally need to gently pressure wash it as you would a wooden deck. The reason for this is that you must REMOVE all dirt, debris and dead algae before sealing. Full strength (not downstreamed) chem is necessary. Low pressure, high flow. I suggest you check out the wood cleaning advice on the PWI. It should cost far more than a shingle roof and you should sell a sealant. Cedar roofs are a completely different task than spraying the love. You will notice that Chris Tucker won't even do them. I can't stress enough that this is different than the roof cleaning we usually talk about on this board. Expect to spend allot of hours on the job. Expect to replace bad cedar tiles. The sealant is not only a great up sell but truly necessary to create a good looking long lasting clean. No seal and it will be black again in 6 months. It must be completely dry before sealing or mold will grow under the sealant creating a much harder problem to clean off next time as well as rotting the cedar tiles. I charged $.95-$1.10 per square foot in the past to clean then $.95 to seal it. 2 yr guarentee.

http://www.propowerwash.com/board/upload/showthread.php?t=4606&highlight=cedar+roofs

http://www.propowerwash.com/board/upload/showthread.php?t=7760&highlight=cedar+roofs

I use restore from envirospec, and their brightener/ph balancer for a rinse.
http://www.mobicleaninc.com/page/17kb7/Home.html

Cedar is a specialty field in power washing, and is something to be very proud of when mastered. If you have never cleaned wood before I do not suggest starting with cedar. It is soft and fragile compared to pine decking. Wood MUST BE CLEANED FREE OF ALL DIRT. That means you can't spray it and leave it you have to remove the dirt!! The only way around pressure washing it is to scrub it, and that is going to take longer, potentially be more damaging and produce less than satisfactory results. All Split tiles need to be replaced with the same size/shape tiles. It will be VERY VERY SLIPPERY when wet. The last job did that was a cedar roof came in over $6K and was covered in moss.

-- Edited by Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 on Wednesday 10th of June 2009 07:52:46 AM

Roof Cleaning Missouri 417-230-8103 · Guest

Bill TY.

That thread was excellent on pwi , Thank you for responding I happen to call Mike Sullivan yesterday and he said the same as you did , Iam so glad I asked or I would have lost my a--
We are doing an estimate in an upper class neighbor hood that has over 50 homes that are shakes, We will see what happenes

KID

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

WOW 50!!! you will be a cedar man after that!! lol. NP and good luck brother!!!

Jun 21, 2009

Hey Kid, did you quote that 5000 sq.ft cedar roof at $10,000 clean & seal?

That's what I would have charged.

I bet they had a stroke! LOL!

Roof Cleaning Missouri 417-230-8103 · Guest

Yeah I did Mike and she said she would just get a new roof, I did mention to her that it would bearound 40,000. We are still talking as of right now, i want to do it , but something tells me to walk.. we have another cedar roof around 5200 sq ft it is a 2 pitch, it hardley has any algae on it but the guy powerwashed it every year until he fell off the roof, he just wants it powerwashed, Im curious since it has only 3-4 areas with moss on it, (on the face of shingle) i mean 3 to 4" long can i just spray the infected area and then just use the brighter on his roof to make it look new again.. or should i power wash , They dont want to pay for the 3 step process.. he would rather just clean annually..
The roof looks great just weatherd. hard to see the little moss that is on it even standing on the roof .. just powerwashing with no chem , the roof would look the same as it does, Correct? I feel so

KID

well tried the brighter on my deck and no difference, so i guess i need to powerwash it... no wander Tucker doesnt do cedar

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Branson/Springfield,Mo (417) 230 8103 on Monday 22nd of June 2009 10:26:30 AM

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Branson/Springfield,Mo (417) 230 8103 on Saturday 22nd of August 2009 12:05:14 AM

Jun 30, 2009

Roof Cleaning Branson/Springfield,Mo (417) 230 8103 wrote:

Yeah I did Mike and she said she would just get a new roof, I did mention to her that it would bearound 40,000. We are still talking as of right now, i want to do it , but something tells me to walk.. we have another cedar roof around 5200 sq ft it is a 2 pitch, it hardley has any algae on it but the guy powerwashed it every year until he fell off the roof, he just wants it powerwashed, Im curious since it has only 3-4 areas with moss on it, (on the face of shingle) i mean 3 to 4" long can i just spray the infected area and then just use the brighter on his roof to make it look new again.. or should i power wash , They dont want to pay for the 3 step process.. he would rather just clean annually..
The roof looks great just weatherd. hard to see the little moss that is on it even standing on the roof .. just powerwashing with no chem , the roof would look the same as it does, Correct? I feel so

KID

well tried the brighter on my deck and no difference, so i guess i need to powerwash it... no wander Turk doesnt do cedar

If they don't want to pay for the 3 step cleaning process and sealing then turn it down.

If they don't want it done right and would rather have a cheaper, less involved procedure, they'll get what they paid for.

It won't look clean and it won't increase the longevity of the roof.

Cedar shake roofs are the hardest jobs to get, because they cost the most, just the way it is.

Roof Cleaning Missouri 417-230-8103 · Guest

I agree , I passed on it, I told her i couldn`t put my name on it unless i did it right.
thanks for all your help MIKE

KID

don m. · Guest

You guys dont walk these roofs do you?

I just looked at a 5300 sq ft cedar roof, planned on renting a lift and taking a while on the job. Is my mind in the right place or no? I really dont want anyone on the roof. I might just walk away unless I get paid $$$ for this one.

Aug 20, 2009

You will need to use the 3 step cleaning process using a power washer and seal with a good quality oil-based stain.

I recommend Wolmans, ReadySeal, or WoodTux.

I would charge close to $10,000 plus the cost of the lift to clean & seal this job.

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

You are very right Don, at least I would never walk on it. They are extremely slippery!! Listen to Mike he is the man for the wood!! I have done a few as well and they are a long and arduous task.

To anyone else looking at those cedar roofs and wondering if they should just spray some love on it.....Because I know it must cross some peoples minds......you will probably be out of business if they sue you when the roof turns out gray and fuzzy from the ruined cedar.

Cedar is a task all its own and one of the hardest things to master, it requires a delicate and accurate touch. Sh will destroy the patina ruining the look and strength of the wood.

don m. · Guest

Dang, I was thinking more along 10 grand just to clean. It looks like a huge pita.

Aug 22, 2009

$10,000 to just clean plus another $10,000 to seal would be great.

If you can charge more and get away with it, by all means do it! More power to you bro!

Some people have money to burn and cost is no object.

People that own houses that have cedar shake roofs, for the most part are rich. Replacing a cedar shake roof this size would cost a fortune. I'm not a roofer but I've heard for that amount of square footage would probably cost around $50,000 - $80,000.

If you can sell yourself well enough, then go for it, charge more.

Never hurts to make more money!

don m. · Guest

Mike, yes its quite a fancy house. The landscaping around it is going to make it pretty difficult to get a lift in there. One side of the house I wouldnt be able to get a lift in there at all, so I am weighing different options from doing it from the gutter line. I have thought about a pitchwitch, but dont know if that the right route or not.

This is the side that would be major issues. The back, which is 86 feet long and two stories, would be the next issue. Plus all the cedar siding... ashamed

PowerClean · Guest

Ceadar roofs are not my favorite, but there is a huge market out here for them and surprisingly there a few guys out here who are good at it. I just cleaned up a roof 2 years after another company had up-sold my customer on a clear sealant.

Clear sealants are an easy sell. People like the natural look and contractors love it because they can be a bit sloppy with it since it's more forgiving than a stain/sealant. Problem is, clear sealants don't last long because there's no pigment in them for UV protection. You're not really creating a strong, molecular barrier like you would with a colored stain. Of course, the problems with stains out here is that insurance companies don't like them due to their high flammability.

Does anybody here seal them when finished?

Great White Technologies · Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Certified Roof Cleaner

You might want to check into Armstrong-Clark for the shingles. They have a product that has a fire retardant in it. armclark.com

Aug 23, 2009

don m. wrote:
Mike, yes its quite a fancy house. The landscaping around it is going to make it pretty difficult to get a lift in there. One side of the house I wouldnt be able to get a lift in there at all, so I am weighing different options from doing it from the gutter line. I have thought about a pitchwitch, but dont know if that the right route or not.

This is the side that would be major issues. The back, which is 86 feet long and two stories, would be the next issue. Plus all the cedar siding...

I haven't used a pitchwitch before and I probably wouldn't want to try it.

It looks very awkward to use.

If the front of the house has enough room for a lift, I'd do the front from the lift and get on the roof using a rope and harness for the back.

You will also need shoes with spikes or cleats to give you more traction. That looks like a very steep roof and would become very slippery after applying chemical.

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