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Whats the best surfactant?

RCIA Founder

I know of NO Surfactant at this time that can match, or even approach the cling of the NP 9 surfactant from Florida Chemical Supply here in Tampa. Bear in mind it is NOT long term Chlorine stable, but this is not a problem if you mix right at the job.

If you dump in 1 gallon of it per hundred gallons of roof cleaning mix, it will form sort of a thin paste that will stick to the roof like GLUE.

This paste is a BITCH to rinse, and really is best left for a good rain or 2. But then what a beautiful roof is the final outcome.

-- Edited by Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 on Thursday 18th of August 2011 04:03:11 PM

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Chris,

Any problems with keeping the TSP in the mix with the NP-9 that you know of?

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I just seen you added pictures as I was replying. That looks exactly like what I need on this roof.

RCIA Founder

landisconstruction wrote:
I just seen you added pictures as I was replying. That looks exactly like what I need on this roof.

Yes Barry, the chit sticks biggrin Tell your customer you are gonnna clean the roof, and leave a "bio barrier treatment film" that will go away after a good rain or 2 biggrin

We find our customers LOVE to see all the soap bubbles that an excess of the powerful NP 9 surfactant provides.

This Church had Bermuda Grass Barry, a real bitch to keep from browning or killing. It rained 2 days later, and we used a strong mix, cause this roof was 2 inchs thick with Algae, as u can see ?

NO Grass was effected Barry ! I think possibly the incompatable NP 9 surfactant ate up the chlorine left on the roof maybe, so when it came down there were no problems ?

There are zillions of different kinds/brands of NP 9, I have only used the Florida Chemical Supply stuff. They are on Chelsea street here in Tampa.

RCIA Founder

No problems with the TSP Barry, just use less of it when using with a surfactant, a 1/4 cup per gallon will be more then enough. I would just use SH, TSP, and NP 9 with water, no alcohol, it may thin out the NP 9 ?

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NO Grass was effected Barry ! I think possibly the incompatible NP 9 surfactant ate up the chlorine left on the roof maybe, so when it came down there were no problems ?

That's what I thinking also Chris. It makes sense. If this happens to be the case, then Great!!! With as steep as this roof I'm doing is, I highly doubt that the gutters are catching much, if at all.

I'm going to give this a shot tomorrow with the NP-9 I have from Brainerd. I hopes it's comparable to the stuff in your pictures.

Thanks for the help Chris.

RCIA Founder

I hope so too, and everyone always be sure to stir the chit up real good, once u dump the NP 9 in the tank. That advice was not for you Barry, but for newcomers who dont realize the benefits of stirring stuff up. So many just dump it in ....

We use Wooden Boat Oars to stir our tanks with, they are cheap in Pawnshops, and last awhile.

Please try to take some pictures, and keep all of us posted ?

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That's the hardest part of roof cleaning for me, remembering to take before pictures. I usually remember half way through the job, then I figure it's to late. I have plenty of AFTERS.

RCIA Founder

Barry, I find steep roofs make really nice before and afters. And, the roof looks kind of cool with the NP 9 Surfactant Film on it. Once the NP 9 gets a good rain or 2, it is beauty to behold biggrin

Like I said, customers like all the bubbles, and seeing the film, believe it or not smile

We did about 4 houses in a small subdivision with some left over NP 9 Barry, cause I was too lazy to drive over Lori's to get some Ammonyx.

BIG Mistake, all the neighbors wanted the "bio film barrier" LOL

WE are really not set up for NP 9 Surfactant use, we have big 325 gallon tanks, and can't have our mix going bad on us. Doing the big Church was no problem, it took nearly all of our dual tanks to clean it.

Jo Jo · Aug 19, 2011

Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:
I know of NO Surfactant at this time that can match, or even approach the cling of the NP 9 surfactant from Florida Chemical Supply here in Tampa. Bear in mind it is NOT long term Chlorine stable, but this is not a problem if you mix right at the job.
If you dump in 1 gallon of it per hundred gallons of roof cleaning mix, it will form sort of a thin paste that will stick to the roof like GLUE.
This paste is a BITCH to rinse, and really is best left for a good rain or 2. But then what a beautiful roof is the final outcome.

-- Edited by Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 on Thursday 18th of August 2011 04:03:11 PM

Chris, will the thickness of this mix be a problem to shoot with a 12v system vs. air?

RCIA Founder

Jo Jo wrote:
Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:
I know of NO Surfactant at this time that can match, or even approach the cling of the NP 9 surfactant from Florida Chemical Supply here in Tampa. Bear in mind it is NOT long term Chlorine stable, but this is not a problem if you mix right at the job.
If you dump in 1 gallon of it per hundred gallons of roof cleaning mix, it will form sort of a thin paste that will stick to the roof like GLUE.
This paste is a BITCH to rinse, and really is best left for a good rain or 2. But then what a beautiful roof is the final outcome.

-- Edited by Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 on Thursday 18th of August 2011 04:03:11 PM
Chris, will the thickness of this mix be a problem to shoot with a 12v system vs. air?

Unknown Joe,, and a great question !

We use air diapraghm pumps, that was a 1/2 inch Yamada, and we did notice a slight loss of spray distance, but it was windy that day. One can see the wind in these pics catch the spray, LOL

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WOW!!! Thanks for the tips Chris. The NP-9 stuck like glue, just like you said. You can feel the stickiness of it on your hands just from the overspray, this stuff is tacky. We did this complete roof - front and back - with under 40 gallons of mix. What is the downfall of using the NP-9, other than the fact that it would kill your mix quicker. The reason I'm asking is because my mix tank is only 55 gallon and I wouldn't be wasting nothing if it kills the mix. I may have found my go to surfactant unless I'm missing something.

This was sprayed using a 12volt with no problems.

RCIA Founder

The only downfalls to using NP 9 is a film left on the roof, until it rains good, and a really clean roof. Yes, it does kill your mix, eventually, but not a problem for those who mix by the job. Did u rinse this roof Barry ?

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I did rinse the side you see in the pictures. It was facing a pretty busy walking trail in an upscale neighborhood that had quite a few curious folks, so I wanted to make sure it stood out nice and clean for their return trip back. On the other side of the house I didn't rinse and once the solution dried on the roof, the film was very hard to see.

RCIA Founder

landisconstruction wrote:
I did rinse the side you see in the pictures. It was facing a pretty busy walking trail in an upscale neighborhood that had quite a few curious folks, so I wanted to make sure it stood out nice and clean for their return trip back. On the other side of the house I didn't rinse and once the solution dried on the roof, the film was very hard to see.

Interesting Barry, you can see the film on the church we did ? You know, as long as you use all the mix up that day, the non compatability of the NP 9 may be an advantage, because it should eat up any residual chlorine left on the roof. of course, it will not neutralize salt, but I did notice a lack of dead grass on the church we did, and it had Bermuda Grass.

Did u see all those Suds biggrin

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The suds where crazy. I was paddle mixing the tank and had to keep misting the suds down with alcohol. They were overpouring the tank and I couldn't see anything but foam!!! Your suggestions and help on this job are greatly appreciated. This would have been a run off nightmare with my regular mix.

RCIA Founder

Well, since you seem to clean some steep roofs, and only mix up enough for the roofs you do, there is nothing wrong with using NP 9 Surfactant.

I have never been able to get Ammonyx to stick like that.

Roof Cleaning Bradenton FL 941-822-2454 · Guest

This is really a great thread!
Thanks Barry & Chris for sharing better ways to tackle this steep ones!
Kim R
I need to add this to our arsenal.

deleted member

Barry- did you get your NP 9 from Florida or Brainerd? Thanks. Art

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"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"