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champ7x3 · Guest

Newbie with question!

Guest

Chemical should clean relatively quickly. In 5 minutes you should see a noticable improvement. It may look almost completely clean at that point.

As long as there are no black streaks left, you are done spraying that area. The brown streaks are the dead algae and will generally come off with the first rain.

I don't continue to keep the roof wet. It just wastes chemical. I wait about 15 - 30 minutes (depending on the temperature) and take a look at the roof to see if all of the black streaks are gone. It is usually starting to dry out some by then. If they are not, I will reapply chemical to the areas that are still black.

As far as the "soapy white water" that is coming out, give a little more information.
How much TSP did you use?
How much surfactant and what type did you use?
How many gallons of SH did you use?

Brian

champ7x3 · Guest

Thanks for responding.

I made 5o gallons of mix.

15 Gallons SodiumHypochlorite
33 Gallons water
6 lbs TSP
6 lbs Borax

32 oz Dawn Regular

plinscott · Guest

What type nozzle are you using to apply the Love?

champ7x3 · Guest

I have been using size .40 orifice 0 degree, 15 degree, 25 degree, 40 degree tips.

Roof Cleaning Missouri 417-230-8103 · Guest

From what I gather from your post and how I clean a roof vary`s like this.

15 gallon SH to 33 gallon water (you)
15 gallon SH to 25 gallon water (me) I do bump this to 30 at times cause i get 15%sh
5lbs of tsp
32 oz alcohol
45oz dawn
I Mix tsp nite before then add Dawn in morning after adding sh , the ride over to site will stir up your mix to where its not sudsy> i then prime my hose after arriving to site by placing nozzel in love and running for up tp 1-2 minute not creating in suds in tank..
I also dont see the advantage of using borax if you are using TSP ..
again be patient if its brown u have hit the area ..dont trip and wait for good rain

If roof is hot this might be reason you are not seeing the white u r looking for.

Practice my friend

KID

champ7x3 · Guest

Thanks for the help. I will give it a try your way.

Where do you buy alcohol in larger quantities?

Roof Cleaning Missouri 417-230-8103 · Guest

I just get mine at Sams $3.74 for 64oz , I can get in larger qun. but I dont for only use 1 btl. per 40 mix.. hope this helps

KID

champ7x3 · Guest

Thanks for the quick response. I will go get some at Sam's today.

Guest

The mix ratios you are using are fine to clean the roofs with. If you find that you are having a hard time getting some of the roofs clean, you might have to add a little more SH from time to time. I add a little more Dawn to my mix. I do about 1 oz per gallon of mix.

You won't necessarily get a "soapy white water" coming out of the spray nozzle. It will look almost clear coming out. It tends to turn a little white when it hits the roof. That is from the cleaning process and the aggitation of the spray, with soap in it, hitting the roof.

If you are going by some of the pictures you have seen on this web site where there is a completely white coating on the roof, that might be because it was a very steep pitch and they had to add a lot of extra surfactant.

The reason people use Borax is because it is a biostat. It is a proven algaecide. It gets trapped in the film of TSP that remains on the roof and helps to prevent the algae from coming back as quickly. That is why you don't want to rinse a roof after cleaning. The longer the TSP/Borax (if you use it) combination stays on the roof, the longer it should stay clean.

Brian

Sep 9, 2009

I mix the same as Kid, except I'm using 64 ounces of alcohol for a 40-50 gallon mix.

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Pro Greensboro NC (336)362 7659 on Wednesday 9th of September 2009 10:25:27 AM

Mobile Prowash · Guest

There will be some roofs that will have brown streaks after cleaning without rinsing like light gray ones. If you wait about 1 hour or so rinse a small area to see if it goes away, if so you can either rinse the roof or wait until a good rain hits it. Light gray will be hardest to get clean without the rinse.

champ7x3 · Guest

Thanks for the replies. I am having difficulty with the grey roofs.

Also, what is the lowest air temp to try and clean at?

plinscott · Guest

I read somewhere on here that 40 degrees give or take is ok.

I did my first roof and came back an hour later and it still looked dirty (See the thread "Getting Started") I came back a few days later and rewashed. It looked like new.

The next roof did was for an Open House showing two days later. It was 25 years old and really dirty. I had to clean it twice also.

I did a white one and had to respray it also.

Soooo... the next one I sprayed as usual. Then I went right back over the whole thing with a quick, lite wash. I came back an hour later to check it and it was perfect.

This is my technique now! I won't wait for the rain. I tell my customers that they will see instant results and I want it clean NOW as well!

So far my customers have been thrilled and I do not have to say "wait for the rain"!

It may cost me a little more but at .03 cents cost per square foot I'll go with what works!

champ7x3 · Guest

Thanks for the response.
What kind of mix are you using to start with?
How long after the first spray do you apply the second spray? Immediately after you finish the first application?

Guest

patrick are you just applying twice or are you rinsing the roof then appling your second coat.

plinscott · Guest

60/30 mix (H2o/SH) SH is 12% & fresh!
5 lbs TSP
32 oz Iso
32 oz Dawn

I apply the second coat as soon as I finish with the first.

plinscott · Guest

patrick are you just applying twice or are you rinsing the roof then appling your second coat.

I DID rinse the roof for the Open House coz it needed to look good for that Sunday but it did not help. When I resprayed the next morning it came clean.

Guest

I use a similar method. I spray first with the regular strength,...and then after it dries up some,...I hit the spots that aere the darkest with another application of a lighter mix. Always seems to be enough to make the roof come together really nice,...but,.they still look better after a few rains.

Jeff

plinscott · Guest

Yes, I always tell the customer "If you think it looks good now wait until it rains once or twice, it gets even better!" aww

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

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