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Non Walkable Roof Aparatus

SP Cleaning · Jan 30, 2011

20' might be too much. I use a 10' piece for those hard to reach roofs.

Chris

Roof Cleaning Cleveland (216) 323-0552 · Jan 30, 2011

I'm thining it's going to be to flimsy. Won't your pump shoot 20 feet, or are your roofs farther than that. Maybe more psi. Another thought, make something like the roof gitter to put on the love. You could attach it to a paint pole for more stability.

deleted member

Paint pole....that's what I was looking for! I can shoot 20' on a calm day, but these houses are 3500sf. minimum and the ridges on the big ones are up there so I need more distance.
20' of PVC zip tied to a paint pole will be much more stable than just 20' of PVC. Thanks Tom. (I was thinking 2x2's but that would get heavy pretty quick. I actually haven't been in this neighborhood in years so I don't know if I NEED 20 extra feet or if 10' will do.)
Any other suggestions guys/gals?

Guest

Keep in mind that for extenstions of practicaly any length, they'll hold SH like a bucket just beyond that ball valve. Turn the wand sideways and SH from the extension is going everywhere.

I think that 20' will be a handful Art. Don't know for sure though cause I've never done that.

Hmmmm. I hate to even mention it, but I wonder if a pitch wit#% would work, driven by a roof pump at 45-65 PSI? You could even take the nozzles out of the contraption.

deleted member

Ted, I would never use anything that even remotely resembled a pitch what-you-said. I'd tape 4 paint poles together and use a roller from the ground before I did that!

Roof Cleaning Cleveland (216) 323-0552 · Jan 30, 2011

The roof gitter is a pitch witch from a different company. I think putting wheels on it would help tremendously. Painting a 20 foot ceiling gets to you after a while. I couldn't imaging trying to hold a 20 foot pole straight out for any length of time. Another thought would be to put the nozzle a foot or two from the top of the pole and use the top of the pole as a guide and drag it down the roof spraying as you go.

Guest

Roof Stain Removers wrote:

Ted, I would never use anything that even remotely resembled a pitch what-you-said. I'd tape 4 paint poles together and use a roller from the ground before I did that!

Art - you always crack me up You'll figure something out.

SP Cleaning · Jan 30, 2011

Art,

I can shoot 40' with my setup. what are you using
that only gets you 20'.

Chris

deleted member

Chris- I've got 300' of hose on my reel, and I haven't gotten around to making it a 200' piece and a 100' piece yet, so I'm fighting a lot of friction. Tom- I was kidding about the Pitch Witch. I know what they are, I'm just against using them & I'd hate for a competitor to snap a picture of me using something that resembled one.

Chesapeake · Guest

As Ted said, you are going to have a problem with all the extra chem. in the line once the ball valve is closed, not to mention the weight, and awkwardness making it hard to control. I would invest in a FatBoy pump. You should have no problem shooting 35-40 ft. with the right nozzle.

deleted member

Thanks Chris.

Arkansas Roof Cleaning (501) 681 3355 · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute Of America

Chris,
thanks for this post...
what nozzle sizes would you
recommended???
thanks

Chesapeake · Guest

I'm currently running 300' of 5/8 hose and using #50 nozzles with my FatBoy. Thats 0050, 1550, 2550, and 4050. I tryed #40s, but was having a problem with the pump cycling even after adjusting the pressure switch. I would try 40s, 50s, or 60s and see what works best for you. The only problem with the FatBoy is not being able to control flow when you get close to an edge or near the gutter line. (This takes a little getting use to if you've been running a 5850 or another smaller pump.) This is where guys run into a problem burning up the relays. Restricted flow causes the pump to cycle intermintanly, drawing higher amps then if the pump was running continuously. The relay is the weakest link, so keep an extra on the truck just in case. If you haven't already, check out Mike Sullivans post on the FatBoy.

nater474 · Guest

I use a pressure washing extension to reach out there for extra distance works well only problem is the seals don't last very long.

Matthew · Guest

Chesapeake wrote:

I'm currently running 300' of 5/8 hose and using #50 nozzles with my FatBoy. Thats 0050, 1550, 2550, and 4050. I tryed #40s, but was having a problem with the pump cycling even after adjusting the pressure switch. I would try 40s, 50s, or 60s and see what works best for you. The only problem with the FatBoy is not being able to control flow when you get close to an edge or near the gutter line. (This takes a little getting use to if you've been running a 5850 or another smaller pump.) This is where guys run into a problem burning up the relays. Restricted flow causes the pump to cycle intermintanly, drawing higher amps then if the pump was running continuously. The relay is the weakest link, so keep an extra on the truck just in case. If you haven't already, check out Mike Sullivans post on the FatBoy.

Buy a fatboy get a bunch of different tips and a tri or quad banger.

Install a bypass valve to keep from burning up the pump.

Use the best tip for the reach and then switch tips as needed.

You may not like the bypass valve idea for every job, but they are easy to install and remove.

That should do the trick for about $200-250

Roof Cleaning Little Rock Arkansas · Guest

I put together a 10 foot wand last year for one job and I swear I only gained 5 foot of reach. That wasnt worth fighting for.

Ive got a bid out from last year that I think I will get eventually. When I do Im going to consider buying a gas powered pump for reaching up there.

Roof Cleaning Raleigh NC · Feb 22, 2011

I think I have an answer for your problem but I will wait and try it out on my neighbors roof first.

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

Roof Cleaning Little Rock Arkansas wrote:

I put together a 10 foot wand last year for one job and I swear I only gained 5 foot of reach. That wasnt worth fighting for.

Ive got a bid out from last year that I think I will get eventually. When I do Im going to consider buying a gas powered pump for reaching up there.

I had this problem as well with extensions. I think it might have something to do with the flow loss at the valve. I have used 5 ft. aluminium pressure washer lances and they restricted the flow too much as well as they are only 1/4".

Art I think the weight of the SH will break a 20ft. section of pvc. When you get it working be carfull about shooting over the peak. I had a hardwood deck teach me that one real quick.

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"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"