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Post Info TOPIC: just finished my first cedar shake roof!


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just finished my first cedar shake roof!
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So I just finished my first cedar shake roof cleaning job and it seems to have turned out well so I thought I would post my experience here. I did a lot of research prior to the job and honestly did not find much helpful info. Obviously people do not want to share hard earned knowledge I respect that. I hope my experience can be helpful to someone and I Would love comments, advice, etc... from some of you masters out there who are established.
About me: Pressure washing for 10 years, cleaning gutters and air blowing roofs for 10 years.
The job: A long time client asked if I could remove the algae and moss from his cedar roof so I gave it a go. The roof is a 10/12 pitch, back side has a 35' drop. Two safety anchors to tie into, I was tied in at all times using a climbing harness, and prussik cords to ascend and repell. Korkers madatory. I used a  Dewalt PW 3800 psi, 4gpm. The pressure was dialed down to about 80% most of the time and I used a 45 degree fan tip. I used oxyclean (oxygen bleach) and TSP to soak the roof first, as I have read that bleach (sodium hypochlorite) damages wood. I guess the chemicals helped some but to be honest it was not that noticeable as I pressure washed parts of the roof without the chemicals for comparison and the amount of work was about the same. I think my concentration was too low, I do not have a good pump set up so I used the inline feed in my pressure washer which is down-stream of the pump, and I think my solution went on too diluted. I was careful to keep my tip a safe distance from the wood and just close enough to remove the algae. I did not notice any wood fiber being removed even at the full 3800 psi. With full pressure going with the grain seemed to work the best. With lower pressure going against the grain worked better as it leaves less marks on the wood. The problem I noticed with using full pressure going against the grain (or moving sideways to the shakes) is that it could potentially spit the shakes. So I pretty much went with the grain the whole time. Also I figured out early on that you clean one shake at a time. Obviously never spray up the roof, thats a no brainer, shakes can be dislodged and water will be driven under the shakes. I also made an effort to direct all of my strokes down the roof, and lift up before going back up the shingle as I could see water being driven up under the above shake if my tip was close to the roof on the up stroke.
The roof looked awesome, definitely brought back that nice wood color.
To seal the roof I used Chevron Shingle oil with a pump sprayer. Gave the roof a wet look.
I immediately got a request from the next door neighbor, and his turned out great as well. Meanwhile two more requests from residents on the same street. Gotta love that!
The first job was 4 thousand sq ft. It took me 4 full days just to clean and a 5th to treat.
I wore my Danner Goretex boots, and they did not stay dry, any recommendations on good boots for roofs that will stay dry?
Also any recommendations on Pressure washers? Does high volume (say 10gpm+ ) make the job easier? faster?
Any preferences on treatments, anybody ever use TWP?

I got hosed on the price. I honestly thought I was going to do this job in one day. Thats okay though I have happy clients and the jobs turned out well.
Any advice on what to charge for this type of work?
All in all I really enjoyed the experience and would love to get better at it.
Thanks in advance for any responses.





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Travis Evans
Eugene, OR


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It takes time. I'm still waiting for a big job. I did a small pool shed shingle roof in a very visible spot for free. I used the oxy bleach with some S hydroxide mixed in. Rinsed with a small 2gpm 1500 psi machine,one shingle at a time. After a while drying,it took on a golden wheat field colour.
I read somewhere that the chevron shingle oil should be put on after just the surface is dry as not to get to much penetration. I test applied some small patches with a pump sprayer and I guess the oil was too thick and the wood got a bit darker than I expected. Next I will try an electric paint sprayer to try and get a better mist application. I am in B.C. Canada and the chevron bulk plant figures they only sold one pallet of 5 gal pails,so it seems there is not a lot of use. The lady in the office though told me that at her home they use it for all their outdoor wood surfaces and respray every few years.
Being in construction,I have seen all kinds of "premium products" being applied to outdoor surfaces and none of them last long,especially on flat surfaces.
Yes,I need to know more about "Chevron Shingle Oil"

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Northern Exposure Roof clean


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falanagan wrote:

It takes time. I'm still waiting for a big job. I did a small pool shed shingle roof in a very visible spot for free. I used the oxy bleach with some S hydroxide mixed in. Rinsed with a small 2gpm 1500 psi machine,one shingle at a time. After a while drying,it took on a golden wheat field colour.
I read somewhere that the chevron shingle oil should be put on after just the surface is dry as not to get to much penetration. I test applied some small patches with a pump sprayer and I guess the oil was too thick and the wood got a bit darker than I expected. Next I will try an electric paint sprayer to try and get a better mist application. I am in B.C. Canada and the chevron bulk plant figures they only sold one pallet of 5 gal pails,so it seems there is not a lot of use. The lady in the office though told me that at her home they use it for all their outdoor wood surfaces and respray every few years.
Being in construction,I have seen all kinds of "premium products" being applied to outdoor surfaces and none of them last long,especially on flat surfaces.
Yes,I need to know more about "Chevron Shingle Oil"


 Why did you mix the two chemicals together ?



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Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Florida

711 Westbrook

Brandon, FL 33511

813 655 8777

See our website here 

Click here for more information

Here are more of our services

Watch a short video

 




 



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Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:
falanagan wrote:

It takes time. I'm still waiting for a big job. I did a small pool shed shingle roof in a very visible spot for free. I used the oxy bleach with some S hydroxide mixed in. Rinsed with a small 2gpm 1500 psi machine,one shingle at a time. After a while drying,it took on a golden wheat field colour.
I read somewhere that the chevron shingle oil should be put on after just the surface is dry as not to get to much penetration. I test applied some small patches with a pump sprayer and I guess the oil was too thick and the wood got a bit darker than I expected. Next I will try an electric paint sprayer to try and get a better mist application. I am in B.C. Canada and the chevron bulk plant figures they only sold one pallet of 5 gal pails,so it seems there is not a lot of use. The lady in the office though told me that at her home they use it for all their outdoor wood surfaces and respray every few years.
Being in construction,I have seen all kinds of "premium products" being applied to outdoor surfaces and none of them last long,especially on flat surfaces.
Yes,I need to know more about "Chevron Shingle Oil"


 Why did you mix the two chemicals together ?


 http://roof-cleaning-institute.activeboard.com/t44993870/need-some-help-and-not-too-proud-to-ask-for-it/?page=2&sort=oldestFirst



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Roof Cleaning Pro Greensboro NC (336)362 7659 wrote:
Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:
falanagan wrote:

It takes time. I'm still waiting for a big job. I did a small pool shed shingle roof in a very visible spot for free. I used the oxy bleach with some S hydroxide mixed in. Rinsed with a small 2gpm 1500 psi machine,one shingle at a time. After a while drying,it took on a golden wheat field colour.
I read somewhere that the chevron shingle oil should be put on after just the surface is dry as not to get to much penetration. I test applied some small patches with a pump sprayer and I guess the oil was too thick and the wood got a bit darker than I expected. Next I will try an electric paint sprayer to try and get a better mist application. I am in B.C. Canada and the chevron bulk plant figures they only sold one pallet of 5 gal pails,so it seems there is not a lot of use. The lady in the office though told me that at her home they use it for all their outdoor wood surfaces and respray every few years.
Being in construction,I have seen all kinds of "premium products" being applied to outdoor surfaces and none of them last long,especially on flat surfaces.
Yes,I need to know more about "Chevron Shingle Oil"


 Why did you mix the two chemicals together ?


 http://roof-cleaning-institute.activeboard.com/t44993870/need-some-help-and-not-too-proud-to-ask-for-it/?page=2&sort=oldestFirst


 An excellent old thread Mike. I think Bruce Sullivan uses a different cedar roof cleaning method/formula ? 



__________________


Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Florida

711 Westbrook

Brandon, FL 33511

813 655 8777

See our website here 

Click here for more information

Here are more of our services

Watch a short video

 




 

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