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It seems that every time I see a new company, trying to get a quick start in roof cleaning, they jump on the "green" bandwagon and start knocking their fellow roof cleaners. These guys call us "Chlorine Cowboys" and even name Chris Tucker and Apple Roof Cleaning by name. I'm glad I can do honest business, without haveing to drop to the level of seeking to harm other workers reputations, to make myself look like something. These people have 2 companies and a "Certification Program?" Of course, the only ones certified by it are THEM!

They choose to attack us, so I am making this known to all the  roof cleaners here at RCIA. Also, I believe they are even members at RCIA? NOT SURE THOUGH?

It's not meant as an attack on the KC business or their sister company Ecotec.

It's public information I found and thought, because they are speaking directly about us, you all might want to read it? I posted some info on this before, but had it removed, because I was attacking in return, in that post. This is strictly for your info.

Note that it starts out leading the reader in a *NON ROOF CLEANING* direction, without most consumers realizing it, using  "mold remediation" See what else you notice!

This is from open internet information anyone can find on Google

If Chris Tucker or any moderator sees reson that this should be deleted, I have no problem with that.

http://kc-group.net/indecember.html

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE MISUSE OF CHLORINE (SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE) IN RELATION TO ROOF CLEANING IN FLORIDA.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) who once recommended using Chlorine (Sodium Hypochlorite) to treat mold was the first federal agency to stop recommending the use of Chlorine in mold remediation. Subsequently, The Environmental Protection Agency wrote-out/edited their guide (EPA 402-k-02-003) to exclude the use of Chlorine bleach as a mold clean-up agent.

Most homeowners in florida are used to seeing Chlorine in yellow Jugs, the warning label on the back of the jugs reads as follows.

"DANGER this pesticide is toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms. Do not discharge effluent containing this product into streams lakes ponds estuaries oceans or other waters unless in accordance with the requirements of the National Pollution Discharge Ellimination System (NPDES) permit and the permitting authority has been notified in writing prior to the discharge." View the U.S Governments toxicology reports for Sodium Hypochlorite (Chlorine) and Sodium Hydroxide here
There are several important Civil, Environmental and Health reasons why Chlorine usage should be controlled. At this point in time there are no restrictions on who can buy chlorine and what they can use it for.

There is no state license required for roof cleaning which means that any contractor can fill up with chlorine and start spraying it on roofs. No identification, no occupational license and no training in the handling and use of these toxic chemicals has led to a proliferation of "Chlorine Cowboys" in Florida.

If you wish to help us take action to implement a state license for roof cleaning in Florida then visit the clean4life petition page here.

Chlorine is not only toxic to aquatic organisms it is also devestating to humans and other organic life such as plants and landscaping.

Chlorine has the ability to give off a highly toxic gas, Chlorine gas was used as a chemical warfare agent in the 1st World War, it is highly toxic and can kill. Poisonous Chlorine gas is released when Chlorine is mixed with mild acidic or Ammonia compounds, Ammonia is a basic ingredient of many domestic houshold cleaning agents, in its pure form it can be bought over the counter in any home improvement store.

Roof cleaning contractors get their chlorine straight from the pool supplier, some larger roof cleaning contractors have tanks which can hold 600+ gallons of undiluted chlorine. This volume of Chlorine can be bought without any form of identification or occupational license, in the wrong hands Chlorine & Ammonia can be extremely dangerous.

It is important to understand that commercial Chlorine is high strength, undiluted it is extremely caustic and will burn on contact. The dilution ratio of chlorine is generally measured in ppm (parts per million) a more easily understood measure is a chlorine/water ratio.

A swimming pool holding 15000 gallons would require appx 10 gallons of chlorine which is equivalent to a 1.5% chlorine/water ratio. Roof cleaning contractors are using a far more dangerous ratio of up to 90% chlorine/water, there are environmental consequences of using chlorine at these ratios which are explained below.

The Clean4Life campaign is lobbying local government to implement a roof cleaning license for Florida. A roof cleaning license will help to prevent any unlicensed individual from buying large quantities of Chlorine.

"Splash & Dash" Roof cleaning contractors do not rinse the chemicals off the roof before they leave, the concentrated residues that drip from the roof after dew or light rain will kill plants (see picture below). The client maintained that his mature and well manicured plants were covered during the cleaning process, the damage to the plants happened as a result of the residue of concentrated chemicals that dripped off the roof several days after the contractor had finished cleaning the roof.

CAUTION: DO NOT MIX CHLORINE BLEACH WITH OTHER HOUSEHOLD CLEANING AGENTS. DOING SO CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HARM TO HUMAN HEALTH AND EVEN DEATH. Mixing chlorine bleach with cleaning products that contain ammonia such as window cleaning agents or acids (such as vinegar sodium Hydroxide/hydrochloric acid toilet cleaners) will release chlorine or chloramines, gases which are highly TOXIC.

Chris Tucker of Apple Roof Cleaning is not ashamed of being called a "Chlorine Cowboy" His chemical roof cleaning forum advocates the use of chlorine for roof cleaning and he maintains that roof cleaning with Chlorine is perfectly safe. We have spoken to many customers who totally disagree, having had their plants destroyed by this type of chemical cleaning process, they are convinced that they will no longer have chlorine used on their roof.

Why Does Chlorine Kill Plants?
Chlorine damages organic cells by releasing free oxygen which combines with plant cell proteins causing them to denature. Because the hypochlorite ion forms when such compounds as sodium hypochlorite (NaoCl; bleach) contact the organic materials which make up the cell membrane, it is also likely that the lipoprotein structure is disrupted, causing cytoplasm leakage and killing the cell.

Soft Wash (Chemical Roof Cleaning) contractors are recognizing that customers are becoming increasingly Anti-Chlorine due in large part to the negative experiences many have had at the hands of cowboy contractors. We are now seeing "Soft Wash" contractors marketing Chlorine as a 100% Biodegradeable cleaning agent. The term Biodegradeable is totally misleading and certainly does not mean that Chlorine is safe, virtually every chemical compound is biodegradeable, highly radioactive isotopes are also biodegradeable (after 100,000 years).

Our guidelines to consumers are as follows, if the contractor says he is using a "Soft Wash" 100% biodegradeable cleaner then it is probably Sodium Hypochlorite which is Chlorine. Chlorine is highly corrosive and at the concentration required for effective roof cleaning it has the potential to damage plants and metal fittings including gutters, vents and AC units.

If the contractor says they will protect plants during the course of the "Soft Wash" chemical cleaning process then look at the photograph above, these well manicured plants were protected during cleaning, the residue that comes off the roof cannot be contained by tarps it will simply run off into the ground.

Some contractors advocate plugging or bagging the gutter downspout all this will do is contain the caustic chemical mix in the gutter and downspout eventually it will have to be released into the ground. EcoTech "Soft Wash" roof cleaning are one of the few companies that we know of that rinse and neutralize chlorine after they clean, this procedure should be adopted as a standard for all soft wash roof cleaning contractors. "Soft Wash" or "No Pressure" cleaning is chemical cleaning.. FACT

The KC Group of Florida is against the indiscriminate use of Chlorine for the purposes of roof cleaning, we actively encourage other contractors to follow our lead and become QA™ Green Certified. The clean4life.net website aims to increase awareness about the damaging effects Roof Cleaning Chemicals can have on plants, humans and the environment as a whole.