First post from the "First State". My first year has been a great experience. Special thanks to Chris for all of your insight. For the guys in the Mid-Atlantic and North East - (1) How long is your working season? I've heard that most stop in late November and pick back up in April. (2) I'm a big believer in Apple Cider - I was wondering how temps effect its cleaning power?
Cant speak for how long the roof cleaning season is, up north. We are in Tampa, Florida. But generally,. the colder it is, the longer it takes the roof cleaning sauce to work. I have known some who use a hot water pressure washer to warm up roofs with first. Then, the spray a stronger version of the roof cleaning sauce. The pre warm water wet roof dilutes the stronger roof cleaning sauce down.
What would the lowest temp be that would effectively clean a shingle roof? Also would a tile roof would use maybe 20% more chemical than a shingle roof? I have shot tile roofs and they seem to take up to 50% more when its warm.
If is below 40 degrees, I reschedule another time. You end up reapplying so many times and wasting a lot of chemical, not worth it. Unless you have a hot water rig, like Chris said to warm up the roof. I don't.
Yes, like Chris has posted before Tile roofs require a 50/50 mix of 12.5% plus TSP and/or alcohol plus surfactant. Yes, like you said 20-50% more chemical.
If is below 40 degrees, I reschedule another time. You end up reapplying so many times and wasting a lot of chemical, not worth it. Unless you have a hot water rig, like Chris said to warm up the roof. I don't.
Yes, like Chris has posted before Tile roofs require a 50/50 mix of 12.5% plus TSP and/or alcohol plus surfactant. Yes, like you said 20-50% more chemical.
-- Edited by Mike Sullivan at 12:16, 2009-02-27
Hot Water helps the SH and TSP work, mix, and clean better that's for sure, IMHO.
Adding a hot water machine can be invaluable for warming surfaces before chemical application and for warming up solutions the night before so that when working with TSP, the granulated product mixes more easily and doen't clog filters and tip and nozzles, etc. as easily with SH as per the Apple Sauce w/or w/o alcohol.
It also helps to draw your chemical from the top of your bulk tank with a 3/4" to 1-1/2" downtube depending on your pump gpm ( you never want to STARVE your pump as it is very hard on diaphragms.
I have an agitation dispersement screen, (picked them up at TRACTOR SUPPLY) on my tanks chemical draw downtubes and keep them a good 3 - 4" off the bottom to aviod picking up clumps of TSP or trash i.e., leaves, pine needles, etc. that could enter my filters on down the line or get lodged in a hose, etc.
I believe using too many filters is better than using too few, unless, of course, you don't use the correct mesh which can also Starve the pump.
NOTE: always use a screen that matches orr exceeds the recommended mesh screen size suggested by the manufacturer of your pump, and REMEMBER to clean/check your Screens daily to weekly depending on workload to avoid possible damage)
Most guys know these things I am mentioning so I am sure I am preaching to the choir for SOME, but, there are ALSO others here that DO NOT know this stuff yet, and I would rather say it than have them ruin a pump and have to rebuild or replace an expensive piece of equipment, just due to improper maintenance.
Hope this helps someone new or inexperienced save themselves some grief.
Here in MD we generally work from March1st-Dec 20th Many times there are warm days in the winter as well so I try to have a couple floaters waiting for my services on a warm day. This year was cold through and through for the winter but for the last 3 yrs there was only about 10days we couldn't work in the winter. Sodium Hypochlorite slows down its reaction in lower temps so I would say above 40F is the place to be. Also if it is 40F or below and a little windy 10mph + hypothermia becomes the issue to attend to. I like to wear a ski liner base with waterproof pants and rain jacket. The wind chill can make the temperature below freezing on a surface so that your soap, chem whatever you are using for a particular outdoor cleaning project may freeze to the surface as it is sprayed.
STAY DRY in the cold only work above 40f with no wind
I struggle from mid Dec. to mid March with exterior work in general here in Richmond VA. When I do clean I find a need to use a stronger solution on wood siding, decks and shingles when the Temps or below 45 to 50 degrees. I do some acid etching on concrete and never need to worry about the cold weather. Late Feb and early March is a key time for me to start my first round of Marketing for exterior work. It is now my "GO TIME" how about you!