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Roof Stain Removers wrote:

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I think the only damage free way to clean an asphalt shingle roof is to soft wash it. I really don't believe that it's a case of "six of one & 1/2 dozen of the other" either.  It's as different as night and day because you are stripping protection (granules) off an asphalt shingle anytime you interact with it.  Obviously, the more pressure you apply, the more protection you remove. 
I also think it's nice to have a discussion where different points of view are welcomed and the discussion goes on long enough to hit a second page and there is no drama.  That's refreshing. 

Edited to add picture. 

-- Edited by Roof Stain Removers on Saturday 5th of March 2011 10:50:28 PM

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 Thank you Art. How I'm starting to see things.

 Pressure causes granule loss, the amount is deterimed by the pressure and whats on the roof. How strong the roots are.

 Everything comes off eventually, our method.

 Wait for it and dont rush it.

 

RCIA members approved in January our 50 Point Roof Cleaning Industry Standard which I think now as I did before it was approved that Section Two, Equipment # 12, should be reduced from the stated pump head should not exceed 800 PSI should be lower.  Maybe something like 125PSI because as we know it is the chemical mix that kills the algae, mildew not pressure. Yes we need to pump the mix up on the roof but so many contractors are either walking the roof or spraying from the gutter where this high pressure is not needed.   

Also, # 13 states the spray tip should not exceed 100PSI which I think could also be lowered to like 75 PSI.  This is plenty of PSI to apply the chemical mix.  The typical house water pressure out side hose bib runs between 50-60 PSI max which if some one sprayed with their garden hose water on their roof that water PSI will not cause any damage.  This way RCIA certified members can also claim we are not exceeding an average home water pressure which higher PSI could cause damage to their roofs.  The correct RCIA process in cleaning roofs is with the proper chemicals being applied to the roof and not the water pressure which on its own could cause shingle damage.

I feel if a contractor only has a pressure washer & wants to become a RCIA roof cleaning member then they should purchase the proper equipment to do the roof cleaning job as RCIA recommends not adapting a PWWA member equipment to roof cleaning.  The same is true if a contractor wants to clean concrete etc then a contractor will need to purchase a higher pressure pumping equipment to do that job correctly verses using his roof cleaning equipment.  

Depending on the type of business we want to perform the contractor wil need the proper (tools) equipment to do the job correctly.  I don't feel requiring a contractor who wants to be RCIA 50 Point Standard Certified is a problem with our brothers who do pressure washing in general but Roof Cleaning is different than cleaning Concrete. 

I have not read all 3 pages so forgive me if this has been covered.

I have used a Pitch witch, a home made water broom, a pressure wand and soft washed roofs. Of course, all we do now is softwash.

My main competitor uses a Pitch Witch. Ive seen them in action plenty of times and cleaned plenty of roofs with them when we got started.

My opinion is that they, and any other device like them, are JUST FINE for roofs. His roofs always turn out great and he has repeat loyal customers.

Its hard for me to say that since he is my competition, but its the truth. There are TONS of guys using these types of tools and doing a very good job with them.

My biggest complaints with them are that it takes WAY to long to clean and the Pressure washers are loud. They do not damage shingles though. The boys at PWNA are welcome here IMHO.