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gleamingtheview · Guest

Sodium Silicate

Guest

Tim,

Guys have been using this as a cedar shake treatment for years or a form of it. From what I remember this is a way to treat cedar shake roofs without pressure washing them, treatment only.

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Portland Oregon 503-844-6788 on Wednesday 13th of October 2010 06:58:10 PM

gleamingtheview · Guest

It mentioned in the hand book that its used in the paper pulp industry to bleach the wood. It also stated it can be used with sodium percarbonate. Interesting, im wondering if thats what there using to give the wood roofs a silverish color. Still no call from there tech.

Hey Mark... I found the supplier in Sherwood for SH. Have you bought from them before?

BCRoofClean · Guest

We use Sodium Metasilicate all the time on decks and siding. It is in a lot of commercial products actually.
Anytime you use a vinyl protector or concrete sealer or even wood sealers take a look at the ingredients I bet it's in there. We have found a lot of good quality deck restoring products have it as the main active ingredient.
Silicates are excellent sealers and can be used to preserve wood and to some degree fireproof it as well.
When you are talking silicates you tend to think silicone and they do have a commonality in many ways such as water repelling properties and temperature range but are very different. But in this case it can help you remember what it does in certain cleaning agents.
As far as roof cleaning goes, at least for asphalt shingles, I am not sure it would be the best cleaner but may help prevent some things, but could have a negative effect because it may not bond well with a petroleum based shingle. I'm sure there could be additives for this and that but if you ask me I'm stickin with the old RCIA method for asphalt roof cleaning.

RCIA Founder

I have tried adding sodium metasilicate to chrorine/water/surfactant mixes, and to just chlorine/water with metasilicate added. It did not do chit, except clean worse! It is no match for TSP/chlorine/water for cleaning roofs, or a good surfactant like Myristamine Oxide added to the roof cleaning mix. I am told it has anti corrosion properties, so may be useful for metal roofs ?
For roof cleaning, it sucks!

AC Lockyer · none

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

I have tried adding sodium metasilicate to chrorine/water/surfactant mixes, and to just chlorine/water with metasilicate added. It did not do chit, except clean worse! It is no match for TSP/chlorine/water for cleaning roofs, or a good surfactant like Myristamine Oxide added to the roof cleaning mix. I am told it has anti corrosion properties, so may be useful for metal roofs ?
For roof cleaning, it sucks!

Exactly Chris,

Its actually a stabilizer for SH and other chlor. It slows the bleaching process.

AC

gleamingtheview · Guest

I appreciate the input. If I ever get a call back from the company, I will let ya know what they say.

Guest

I agree with Chris on the TSP/Chlorine/Water mix,....but I haven't used TSP for a few years now,...simply dues to it being uncooperative when it comes to mixing.

But I have also mostly got away from using "soapy" soaps in my mix. I knew that the original mix as stated above worked fine without the addition of Dawn,.Ammonyx,...etc...

So the past few months I started using something different:
(1)Sodium Hypochlorite
(2)Sodium Carbonate (AKA Washing Soda)
Same thing used in powdered dish washer detergent,..so my assumption was it would rinse clean and fairly easy,..haven't been disappointed as of yet
Dissolves easier than TSP,..but still to take time to completely dissolve.

(3) Sodium Bicarbonate (AKA Baking Soda)

Both are in powder form.

Haven't really been adding soap. The mix can be made thick enough without soap bubbles type soap.
I was a little worried about the mix staying "wet" without the soap,..but hasn't really seemed to make a noticeable difference.

Both Carbonate and Bicarbonate can be had for cheap and in bulk. $33 and $22 for 50 Lb. Bag
Both are SH compatible.
According to Arm&Hammer Bicarbonate enhances the SH.
I use approximately the same as I would if using TSP, 1/2 cup per gallon.

I just notice it seems to give a slightly initial better look to the roof.

But here's the part I haven't necessarily figured out,..I buy both products and mix them 50/50 and then add it to the roof mix. Reason being I was never sure which would be better,..so I just mixed them together,.Ha,Ha,....The PH of the carbonate is higher,...but I liked the bleach enhancing of the Bicarbonate.

I'm in no way suggesting anyone change,...just wanted to let the board know about it. Some will always like the "soapy" mix,... and the use of their own ideas that suit them and the roofs in their geographical zone.

Jeff

Andreas · Guest

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:

I agree with Chris on the TSP/Chlorine/Water mix,....but I haven't used TSP for a few years now,...simply dues to it being uncooperative when it comes to mixing.

But I have also mostly got away from using "soapy" soaps in my mix. I knew that the original mix as stated above worked fine without the addition of Dawn,.Ammonyx,...etc...

So the past few months I started using something different:
(1)Sodium Hypochlorite
(2)Sodium Carbonate (AKA Washing Soda)
Same thing used in powdered dish washer detergent,..so my assumption was it would rinse clean and fairly easy,..haven't been disappointed as of yet
Dissolves easier than TSP,..but still to take time to completely dissolve.

(3) Sodium Bicarbonate (AKA Baking Soda)

Both are in powder form.

Haven't really been adding soap. The mix can be made thick enough without soap bubbles type soap.
I was a little worried about the mix staying "wet" without the soap,..but hasn't really seemed to make a noticeable difference.

Both Carbonate and Bicarbonate can be had for cheap and in bulk. $33 and $22 for 50 Lb. Bag
Both are SH compatible.
According to Arm&Hammer Bicarbonate enhances the SH.
I use approximately the same as I would if using TSP, 1/2 cup per gallon.

I just notice it seems to give a slightly initial better look to the roof.

But here's the part I haven't necessarily figured out,..I buy both products and mix them 50/50 and then add it to the roof mix. Reason being I was never sure which would be better,..so I just mixed them together,.Ha,Ha,....The PH of the carbonate is higher,...but I liked the bleach enhancing of the Bicarbonate.

I'm in no way suggesting anyone change,...just wanted to let the board know about it. Some will always like the "soapy" mix,... and the use of their own ideas that suit them and the roofs in their geographical zone.

Jeff

Any effect on the smell of the mix? I know old school carpet cleaning would use Sodium Bicarbonate for odor control.

Guest

No affect on the smell,...still smells the way roof mix should smell,...like money.

Jeff

Guest

jeff is there a lot of run off or less run off than using dawn or ammoxy lo

Guest

I think the granules on the roof and the person spraying can control runoff pretty well, and fairly easy.
But if I were guessing I'd say the seemingly obvious answer would be that soapy soaps hang on better,..but I have been spraying my mix and watching it,....and it doesn't seem to run noticeably any different. But I may be biased there,...cause' I don't like soapy soaps in a roof mix.

I know this though,..shoots about 10 feet further than with the soap bubbles,...that was never an issue with me,..but just an observation.

Jeff

RCIA Founder

This soapy roof cleaning mix hangs on pretty good confuse

Matthew · Guest

Hey Chris!

I drove past that roof today, it's almost time for it to be cleaned again.

Guest

TSP has a PH of 12

Sodium Carbonate has a PH of 11.6

Sodium Bicarbonate has a PH of 8

So,..although not as strong as TSP,..I think sodium carbonate is another option for using a powdered product in a roof mix to give it a little more viscosity,..and cleaning ability. I've been using it as a direct replacement for the TSP that would make up the old style mix,..BUT,....considering it's not as an effective cleaner as TSP,...it could be mixed a little stronger if needed. It's also less than half the cost of TSP.
Sodium Carbonate is also the main component that makes most powdered laundry detergents.

Not sure if I will continue two mixing the two 50/50 is really doing anything but,...It seems to be working. But it would probably be just as effective if I used only Sodium Carbonate and left out the Bicarbonate. But I think mixing the two adds more overall viscosity to the mix simply because there is more powdered product in the mix,...which I believe aids in it's ability to stay wet and also aids in it's ability to stick a little better.

Jeff

Guest

Yea Chris,..that is a soapy mix,...and what I'm using now doesn't look like that anymore,...I kinda worried about it when I first started using it a few months ago,...but got used to seeing the product lay flat without all the sudsing going on,...pretty much the same as the old TSP/SH/H2O mix.

But it does foam up a little from the product reacting with the GM,...which is kind of interesting in itself.

I do like a soapy house wash mix,..but just don't like it in a roof mix is all. Not saying it's better, without the suds..it's just what I prefer. I also like the cost effectiveness and the ability for me to get it in bulk and is easily stored.

Along with personal preference,... right now,..this mix is the simplest I've used when considering all things.

Jeff

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"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"