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Washed-up · guest

RE: Telling customers what the mix is made of

ATTICUS Roof Cleaning Ohio · Guest

Nope that one is going to stick "Clydes Nunya "or maybe just pronounce it "Noonya" kind of foreign like .

Guest

Had a person earlier this year e-mail me wanting an estimate on their roof. Then another e-mail asking what I use,..and could I e-mail them whats all in the mix.

Yea right,...they was doing nothing but fishing for a cleaning mix,...to either try themselves or wanted to see if the roof cleaning business was for them.

I simply responded:
The product I use is compliant with roof cleaning standards and EPA laws. If you're interested in getting an estimate let me know.
Never heard from them again. I'm not interested in being fleeced for information by some cheap lazy a** homeowner.

Had one guy call me from another state, asking me about what to use on his roof,...so I told him it was a bleach based product and was what is typically used. He was asking alot of questions,..but it was Winter and he was from another state,..so I did tell him a few wrinkles of the business,....didn't take me long to figure out what he was up to,....he is now a member of this board,..Ha,Ha...

Jeff

Ugly Shingles LLC · Oct 15, 2010

I hear you Jeff you never can be too careful... wink

Over the phone I tell them it is a blend of household products but on the jobsite it's hard to hide some of the smell's. However 80% of our customers are at work when we clean their roof, we just tell them to tape a check to their back door. biggrin

Ugly Shingles LLC · Oct 15, 2010

The chemist said it was SH Stable and it's an 100% surfactant where as Ammonyx-lo is only 30 % and Myristamine Oxide is 60%???

Also it's local and less expensive, hope it works out? confuse

Guest

Let us know Bob, looks thick

All Roof Cleaning Lake Charles Louisiana · Guest

Telling them it is a mixture of surfactants and industrial strentgh Sodium Hypochlorite usually backs most people away from asking more when I'm asked what it is made of. Mostly, they just want to know that you know what it is and that it is not going to ruin anything.

gutterdog · Oct 15, 2010

Basicaly.

mfulton · Guest

That's some thick stuff Bob. How much do you put in a 40gal mix?
Is it for sale yet?
How much?
And where can I get it?

PM me

-Mike

Algae*Free Roof Cleaning · Oct 16, 2010

I tell my HO that I use algaesides,surfactants & mold inhibitors usually they say no more. If they say hey that smells like bleach I tell them yes like shock you use in a swimming pool to get rid of the algae. They respond"Oh I see".

tross1872 · Guest

This book will make my job a lot easier!

aaron61 · Guest

So Mr. Ugly,What ever happened with your new surfactant????????????????

Ugly Shingles LLC · Apr 14, 2011

aaron61 wrote:
So Mr. Ugly,What ever happened with your new surfactant????????????????
We only had a chance to try it once before winter hit so our test results were inconclusive. The Colder it got the thicker it was and it wouldn't even pour out.
Ninol is 100% surfactant and Ammonyx Lo is 30%

aaron61 · Guest

Nice.

Jul 24, 2011

Roof Cleaning New Jersey wrote:
One of my big selling points is that we do not apply any pressure and warn cusatomers of the dangers of it. So they obviously want to know whats in the sauce. I try to keep the answer to a minumum but I do say its chlorine based. If I say sodium hypochlorite they just look at me sideways and Im not sure if that scares them more. I've been getting a few phone calls from guys trying to pry information so I dont want to reveal any more than I have to... to anyone. How should we be answering this question?

I thought this was a good post to revisit.

I do not care to tell my customers this "Colonel Sanders" recipe.

I do give them facts if necessary. Like [and this is the truth-do the math:

It is 3-5% chlorine { Start out with 10% SH you buy and mix it with 50-70% water.

Plus detergent.

That's true and enough info to give out.

If they try to "Do it themselves" it may be misleading though-or if it's really another would be competitor calling, it's the same for them.

I do not lie, I just don't care to divulge everything. wink

Art O · Guest

This is a true story a little off topic. I had a lady and her husband come running out of there house the other day. She said you are making my house smell. She said I have to take my cat to the kitty motel. She said what are you spraying on my house. I said do you do loundry. Her husband said yes 2 times a day. So I said its loundry detergent. This lady was nuts!

RCIA Founder

I never say Bleach or Chlorine, always sodium hypochlorite.

Skyline Roof Cleaning Virginia · Guest

Hi Chuck,

That's good stuff.

Two that also stand out for me are from Bruce Sullivan and Mike with GutterDogs.

In Bruce's great video, he truthfully explains that he applies a proprietary formula.

Mike says, above, that it's roof soap.

Both are true.

I called Clorox last year when we bought a puppy. Puppies do what they do while they're being trained. I wanted to know what was in Clorox Hard Surface Spray. I called the company, half-way knowing they would tell me it was proprietary. That's exactly what they told me.

Clorox (SH) is in that hard surface spray, of course. However, what do they do to it to extend its viability once other chemicals or water are added to it? That's what I wanted to know. They wouldn't tell me that, of course.

Well, with that, and the fact that we may have tell-tale white bleach drop-outs on our clothing here or there ... wouldn't it suffice to say that we use a proprietary formula? If roof safety is expressed, tell them it's based on components in ARMA's guidelines and remind them that you are certified by one of the nation's most prominent authorities on roof cleaning?

To the question, "What's in it?" I'm sorry, it's proprietary. That's what worked for Clorox when they were refusing me additional information, and I believe that's fair. When they comment that it smells like bleach, yes it does.

We've all worked hard to learn just what will work optimally in our areas, and that formula may not work elsewhere or under other circumstances. That's down to proprietary knowledge. Chris explains that in certification.

I'm just learning, of course. I hope I can stick to my guns on that explanation, but I'm pretty sure I will. I have no idea what's in the deodorant I use. I'm just glad it works. So are those around me ....

It's roof soap. A proprietary formula. It's based on components in the ARMA guidelines and it will protect and extend the life of your roof.

That is the absolute truth.

-- Edited by Skyline Roof Cleaning Virginia on Sunday 24th of July 2011 03:27:38 PM

Jul 24, 2011

Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:
I never say Bleach or Chlorine, always sodium hypochlorite.

I understand your thinking on that Chris.

Very few people even ask and those that do, I want them to feel that what I'm using is not something from outer space that may make their kids grow a 2nd head etc.

That's why I say a 3-5% solution of chlorine and some detergent. That's what it is.

It's safe sounding to most people and familiar. In their mind, it probably sounds about like what they wash their white clothes in?

I wouldn't use the word "bleach" because that's what the "Go Green" phonies call what we do "Bleach Jobs" to try to make it sound simple and bad. After all, there's no other way for them to look good!

They do not have a roofing manufacturers statement to back up their unheard of "outer Space" chemicals, they call "Green"

PrestigePressure · Guest

I tell my customers, if they ask, that is a chlorinated solution recommended by ARMA along with surfactant to make it dwell on the roof and not just run off. Also that we bag downspouts and collect, if any, runoff that may drain to the downspouts, then is taken off site and disposed of properly. Most customers are satisfied with this answer. I think when you tell them that it is recommended by the company that makes the shingles, this usually gives them comfort. Also when they ask about plants, I tell them I have only killed 2 plants in five years (replaced both plants without being asked to) because of faulty drain pipe, this also makes them feel better about the process. I think most people are more worried about their $5000 roof and not an $60 plant.

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Lake Marion Citrus & Sumter Counties in Florida

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

Dwayne Miller
FLORIDAWASH