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Roof Clean USA Georgia 229-227-0000 · guest

Basic Roof Cleaning Proceedures 101 (For the NEW Roof Cleaner)

caesar99 · Guest

David

As a newby this type of concentrated information is very helpful. In reading over this site I have already gathered a general idea of the way to do it but your post is more precise (example: start in the middle and leave 1/4 bottom of roof) and is very helpful. Thanks. Also if someone would write up a diagram showing how to rig up a roof cleaning unit from tank to nozzle indicating fittings, guages, hose size etc that would be very helpful also, and would probably cut down on repeating posts and annoying phone calls for you guys. I realize everyone is probably different but still it would help a newby. Thanks David.

Steve Johnson
Bossier City, LA

Guest

Steve,
Under the thread of roof cleaning rig for newbies explains alot as far as nozzles, tanks, trailers, and the is a thread also just dedicated to tanks and how to plumb them.

titan stainless steel hose reel and kuritec or goodyear hose is the way to go. the bigger the hose the more flow( 3/4").

Air operated double diaphram is the way to go and will give you the most life.

Read the section that dave from Roof Clean USA wrote about the All-flo-kv-038 pump. I personally use this pump and is nothing short of amazing. I must give credit to dave as he is the one that informed me of the pump and its specs.and performance.

I would recommend this over a 12 volt setup if you can afford it. It cost more upfront but the longevity will pay for itself.

hope this helps.

Adam · Guest

Thanks, this is helpful.

I don't mean to hijack your thread but I couldn't see where to start my own thread. So I'm gonna ask my question here.

Can someone guide me to link for a "newb roof cleaner" equipment setup. I have experience designing trailer mounted pressure cleaning systems. However, my pumps, etc can't handle these chemicals. So...I needed a small simple system to start out with. Something that I might pull out once a month if I have need.

Thanks,
Adam

Guest

Adam under Roof cleaning pumps youll find a thread call bare minimum roof cleaning rigs. or use the search button atop the page.

caesar99 · Guest

miked,

Thanks, I have decided to go with a KV-038 pump. Figured I would try to start out with a good setup from the start and try and minimize problems. This may be a stupid question but I looked at tanks yesterday at Tractor Supply and the ones I looked at had drains on the side bottom. Can you buy a tank that has no bulkhead?

Steve

Guest

Nice post Dave!

I remember spending about 6 hours on my first roof cleaning job just trying to find a routine and coordinate with my ground guy. Most of the things you mentioned seemed very elementary, but when you are in the heat of the moment on that first job and the customer is watching, you tend to forget logic. I rehearsed that first job for a week straight! I knew every move I was going to make when I got on that job site. All that went out the window when my rehearsal didn't go the way I expected in real life.

This information should be very useful for the new roof cleaner. I did a lot of trial and error before I learned most of what you posted. In fact, I think I refine something every time I go on a roof cleaning job. I don't know if that will ever stop?

Brian

Guest

First off great choice of the pump you will not be disapionted.

Secondly,If you get a tank - tractor supply sell a 100 gallon with no drains. Thats what you want to look for. I and others use a top feed to prevent disasters like the seals on the bottom blowing out and having "love all over your trailer or rig.

SHC is not to freindly with plastic seals.

Also try Tank- depot and tell them exactly what you want. The only thing is that shipping on these tanks is murder. If you can buy locally try to go that route.

Also try Snyder tanks- Use google to find the tanks.

Hope this helps.

-- Edited by miked on Wednesday 17th of June 2009 02:54:28 PM

caesar99 · Guest

Thanks miked,

Very helpful info. I'll go back to Tractor Supply, maybe I missed one or maybe they can order me one. I'll try not to ask too many more stupid questions. :)

Steve Johnson
Bossier City, LA

Roof Clean USA Georgia 229-227-0000 · guest

Good Afternoon All,

PLEASE do me a FAVOR. From now on. When you all make new posts or comment in existing posts and threads.

I am trying a new method of tracking post count and relevance so can you all please take the time to VOTE and the top.

Also , Please rate the primary post thread by clicking the STARS on the far right ide of the beginning thread.

These will help to rate the topic and its value to the board membership.

Thanks in advance to everyone that participates.

Have a Profitable Day!

David

cmachine · Guest

I am not sure how to bookmark this page or save it into my favorites. Should this be done through my toolbar or is there away to save it within the RCIA site?

Roof Clean USA Georgia 229-227-0000 · guest

Good Question NEW member cmachine,

There is no way for a board member to save a individual page withibn the RCIA site but, if you make a favorites flder in your browser and save all your favorite RCIA gages to theat folder and then put a UNIQUE description in each of the topics you save, you should be able to reference anything you want on the forum.

Welcome to the RCIA and have a Profitable Day!

DAVE

Roofguard Shingle Cleaning · Guest

Hello Steve,
I'm not sure about bulkheads on tanks however I found that National Tank Outlet had a great selection and some of the best prices. The ship sameday. www.nationaltankoutlet.com
phone# 1-888-NTO-TANK
Lew,
Roofguard Shingle Cleaning

Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 · Jul 6, 2009

Roof Clean USA Georgia 229-227-0000 wrote:

Remove all tarps to a concrete driveway or other area and rinse, after disposing of runoff in a sanitary sewer drain roadside or containing the runoff in additional 5 gallon bucket WITH LIDS that securely attach.

This was an excellent post David. I think it will help a lot of people. I hate to bring this up but, you overlooked the EPA's Clean Water Act. Nothing is to be poured down a sanitary sewer drain. If a local enforcement officer sees you do it you will be fined very heavily. In Houston Texas a 15 year old kid had just completed washing windows and poured his pail of soapy water down a sanitary sewer drain. A police officer saw him him and wrote him a ticket that cost him almost $5000. Ouch. That was his first offense and last I bet. If it did not drive him out of business. I have heard of even higher fines for first offense. The fines can also be rectroactive to the customer also... Beware! For more info check out http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/cwa.cfm?program_id=6 I would edit the above post. This Act is not enforced in all areas but in mine and many others it is heavily enforced and I would hate to see anyone get caught.

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 on Monday 6th of July 2009 12:29:25 AM

Roof Clean USA Georgia 229-227-0000 · guest

I will edit the post.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. We do ALL need to comply with all appilicable laws in our local areas.

I too, recommend checking your local EPA and wastewater laws in EACH of your LOCAL work areas so you can be in compliance and avoid fines or problems.

DAVE

Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 wrote:

Roof Clean USA Georgia 229-227-0000 wrote:

Remove all tarps to a concrete driveway or other area and rinse, after disposing of runoff in a sanitary sewer drain roadside or containing the runoff in additional 5 gallon bucket WITH LIDS that securely attach.

This was an excellent post David. I think it will help a lot of people. I hate to bring this up but, you overlooked the EPA's Clean Water Act. Nothing is to be poured down a sanitary sewer drain. If a local enforcement officer sees you do it you will be fined very heavily. In Houston Texas a 15 year old kid had just completed washing windows and poured his pail of soapy water down a sanitary sewer drain. A police officer saw him him and wrote him a ticket that cost him almost $5000. Ouch. That was his first offense and last I bet. If it did not drive him out of business. I have heard of even higher fines for first offense. The fines can also be rectroactive to the customer also... Beware! For more info check out http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/cwa.cfm?program_id=6 I would edit the above post. This Act is not enforced in all areas but in mine and many others it is heavily enforced and I would hate to see anyone get caught.

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 on Monday 6th of July 2009 12:29:25 AM

Ohio Roof Cleaning · Guest

First of all, incredible post David! Thank you!

Secondly, in regards to the disposal of used LOVE (is that a song?), I looked into this in depth today. It lead me to the Ohio EPA, which is NOT where I wanted to go, for fear of their answers. They suggested I contact a sanitary company in my area. I didn't want to go there either, for fear of the price. I found that they would take a 55 gallons of used mix for $25 and dispose of it properly. They will also come to my location and extract the waste from my container. They offered this at about $240 for 600 gallons, which would go a long way. My point is, don't be afraid to do the right thing for the environment. My brother didn't have a problem with dumping it on his 50 acre farm but I didn't feel real good about it. Gotta go hug a tree now. Later!

williamwinn1 · Guest

We should ALL learn from this. Sometimes it's a LOT cheaper to "FIND than to get FINED",

find being the info that we need

BCRoofClean · Guest

The Roof Cleaners of Chester County Pennsylvania 610-842-2104 wrote:

Nice post Dave!

I remember spending about 6 hours on my first roof cleaning job just trying to find a routine and coordinate with my ground guy. Most of the things you mentioned seemed very elementary, but when you are in the heat of the moment on that first job and the customer is watching, you tend to forget logic. I rehearsed that first job for a week straight! I knew every move I was going to make when I got on that job site. All that went out the window when my rehearsal didn't go the way I expected in real life.

This information should be very useful for the new roof cleaner. I did a lot of trial and error before I learned most of what you posted. In fact, I think I refine something every time I go on a roof cleaning job. I don't know if that will ever stop?

Brian

I totally hear that Bri. I'm such a perfectionist and I always freak out at my ground guy. We are learning tricks daily.

Roof Cleaning Corpus Christi TX · Guest

You can take the used chemical back to your place and leave it outside and let it evaporate and then the remaining salt is non-hazardous and you can dispose it in the trash.

Most places call the sanitary sewer the system that takes the stuff from the sinks, toilets, etc... from houses and sends it to the wastewater department of the city.

The stormwater drain is what they are mostly concerned with as these drains to bodies of water.

Some cities have combined systems and that is where you have to be especially careful.

Call your wastewater department and talk to them, chances are you might be able to send it down the sanitary sewer at your house if it does go to the city wastewater department or whatever the name is where they deal with the stuff from the sinks and toilets.

More than likely it will be ok since it will be like a lot of houses or a laundromat on wash day with that much SH going down the drain.

Sounds like the kid dumped the stuff down the stormwater drain, not the sanitary sewer.

Most houses have cleanouts where the plumber runs the snake to clean out the drain pipes, that is where you can dispose of the used roof cleaning chemicals if you get the ok with the wastewater department in your city. If you don't know where it is at your place, it might take some time finding it. Usually there will be 2 caps, either 3" or 4" where you can unscrew them to run the snakes into the plumbing system, buildings have them also.

Green Apple Roof Cleaners LLC · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

RE: Basic Roof Cleaning Procedures 101 (For the NEW Roof Cleaner)

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

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"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"