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Central Iowa Roof Cleaning · Certified Cedar Shake Roof Cleaning Specialist

RE: Chris Tucker describes how to do roof cleaning

RCIA Founder

Roof Cleaning Tallahassee wrote:
bnkeenan wrote:
OK.... Chris, you've been doing the a long time, and the videos are of great quality, but with the 50 point standards in mind:

1) I didnt see one piece of safety equipment, no safety goggles, respirator, or even gloves.
2) I see a guy walking backwards on a roof, numerous times....
3) the ladder is leaning directly on the gutters without a standoff...
Just a couple of examples....
Once we reach 20 years of experience, can we just do away with the safety stuff?
4) Diverting the mix coming out of the gutter onto the lawn to soak in?
(and that fence on the side of the house took a beating with the run-off)

OK, that is in video number 3, and here is the deal. We could have bagged the gutter, but the customer was out of town, and torrential rains were falling and forcast for the next 3 days. So, do we bag the gutter, and have it break or overflow due to torrential rainfall when the customer or us are not there, or do we divert the flow into some bare sand and crabgrass areas, instead of the plant beds ?

Actually, with the torrential summer rainfall we had when this video was shot, it probably would have been ok either way.

The Whole TRICK to roof cleaning is what we practice and preach, use weak chemical mixtures. It is no "Sin" to go over the roof a few times, as you see us doing.

Also, notice how I wet the entire house down, not just the plants ? This prevents spotting of the paint and spots on windows from overspray due to wind, etc, etc.

Guest

We are allowed to disagree with you chris and I do. A stabilizer bar is the safest way to work on a ladder. Also wearing a mask is for your own protection and once that chemical hits the asphalt roof allot of gases rise up. Hey you guys can do what you want but i want to be around in 40 yrs without carrying an oxegyn bag on my back.

If you guys dont like the 50 piont standard than talk to chris and the moderators and work out a 10-15 piont standard you can live with. Not all of the 50 pionts are pertaining to the job.

ACLockyer · Guest

I remember when I posted videos and got nailed for not crossing the "t" and dotting the "i". I think when making a video we should assume that no one knows what weather we are experiencing and what deals we have with the customer and go the whole 9 yards addressing each and every step. These videos often show up on the web with no explanations or disclaimers.

AC

Roof Cleaning Tallahassee · Guest

or do we divert the flow into some bare sand and crabgrass areas, instead of the plant beds ?

I hear what your saying Chris. South Florida is just a big sand bar and any liquid perks into the ground pretty quick.

Aug 25, 2011

Diamond Roof Cleaning New Jersey (1-800-Roof-Clean) wrote:
We are allowed to disagree with you chris and I do. A stabilizer bar is the safest way to work on a ladder. Also wearing a mask is for your own protection and once that chemical hits the asphalt roof allot of gases rise up. Hey you guys can do what you want but i want to be around in 40 yrs without carrying an oxegyn bag on my back.

If you guys dont like the 50 piont standard than talk to chris and the moderators and work out a 10-15 piont standard you can live with. Not all of the 50 pionts are pertaining to the job.

You have every right to disagree-no problem here!

Just as I disagree with there being a 50 point standard. In actuality, isn't it odd that it came to an even 50? Why not 43 or 52? biggrin

No one has to change it for me, I have no interest in it.

If after 22 years doing this, I suddenly need others to give me 50 points to operate my business by, then my business should have failed long ago and my son and I should have been hurt and have lung trouble. I have none. Actually, the worst work on lungs is pressure clean pool enclosures-the 15% sh downstreamed spray is everywhere!

As Chris said, we work with the wind or air currents, keeping the fumes away from our faces. I have ladders with and without stabilizers and caution is always needed, no matter what, stabilizers can fail too. They also make getting back on the ladder a bit harder, as the ladder is not tight to the roof, but sticking out a foot or so.

I am have been a licensed painting contractor since 1978 too-I just hate painting now, so I only do a dozen houses a year, that I hand pick for easy and fast jobs.

When spraying interiors, I wear a mask. What I notice, is that the mask-as would goggles, build up a lot of whatever you are spraying around the edges, so with paint, you have the shape of the mask / goggles clearly imprinted on your face.

With SH, you have skin holding excessive amounts of SH on your face. I have always thought, that would probably hurry skin cancer along that outline?

I still think a mask is good to use, but here in SW Florida, not too practical.

It's like 80 out at 7am and 94 at noon, 96 at 2pm, often with little breeze until late afternoon. If I had to wear a mask, like I said, I'd go back to being a brain surgeon! biggrin

These 50 point things should all be personal choice-not mandatory rules to be called up on. That is unless employees or home / homeowner damage are in question. I have no employees and never had a home / homeowner problem related to those 50 points. smile

RCIA Founder

Diamond Roof Cleaning New Jersey (1-800-Roof-Clean) wrote:
We are allowed to disagree with you chris and I do. A stabilizer bar is the safest way to work on a ladder. Also wearing a mask is for your own protection and once that chemical hits the asphalt roof allot of gases rise up. Hey you guys can do what you want but i want to be around in 40 yrs without carrying an oxegyn bag on my back.

If you guys dont like the 50 piont standard than talk to chris and the moderators and work out a 10-15 piont standard you can live with. Not all of the 50 pionts are pertaining to the job.

Disagreement with me is allowed, and encouraged. You are correct, it is better to use a respirator and a ladder stabalizer. As you see in the video, we don't use them. I don't wear seat belts either, or a helmet when I ride Motorcycles. These were "Spur of the minute" videos made when Michael Hinderliter came to see us on a personal visit.

This is how WE do it, how we clean small shingle roofs everyday. I can't get my Son to wear a respirator for a shingle roof

For us to have put one "on for the camera" would have been hypocritical, I thought at the time. In retrospect, I wish we would have.

A Motorcycle Helmet can help keep your brains from meeting the concrete, but ask a real Biker to wear one, LOL

On the BIG homes we do with shingle roofs, we do wear respirators. And, remember it was very windy that day, so that was a factor.

Durham Roof Cleaning · Guest

Hey Chris thanks for making the videos much appreciated its nice to see how other roof cleaner's do there job!Maybe some of the other pro's should make a video of how they do their everyday roof cleaning biggrin By the way what size of spray nozzle are you using in the video!

Cheers!

Guest

chris i do want to say thanks for making the videos other than the small things that have been listed they were very informational.

aaron61 · Guest

Love he vids Chris.As you know I make quite a few,just not as instructional as yours.
WOW! Bunch of roof nazis here. We never use the stabalizer bars except with my other company when we need to push out from the house to paint fascia. Been doin that other gig for over 30 years and never had an issue with someones gutters.

Aug 25, 2011

Same here Aaron, I have been a licensed painter since 1978 and the standoff I have on one of my ladders, is mainly for painting. I don't like painting anymore and my son hates it, so I only do a dozen, hand picked, jobs a year anymore and only if I'm slow. I have never had a ladder slide on a gutter etc, nor made a mark in a gutter.
I think it's an imaginary problem!

aaron61 · Guest

And I walk roofs too.Rarely shoot from the ladder.Just not my thing.

RCIA Founder

aaron61 wrote:
And I walk roofs too.Rarely shoot from the ladder.Just not my thing.

Ours either. Too much work moving ladders all around the house, just get on the GDam roof and spray it biggrin You would be surprised at how many chicken chit people there are scared to get on a roof. Now, this is not aimed at our cleaning brothers up North, faced with really steep, unwalkable roofs. But if you can walk it safely, walk it.

Guest

I walk 90 % off the roofs we do. With that said the stabilizer bar gives some added security and keeps from scratching the top of the gutter. Also it prevents the ladder from moving left to right when pulling up the hose. Most homes are pitched at least 8/12 and up they are not always fun to walk. You can call me what you want but i know im doing it the safest it can be done. If you chose not to use a bar then thats your choice. And Yes it will dent and scratch the gutter without one.

Aug 25, 2011

In all the years I've been doing this I can probably count the roofs that we couldn't walk on. We always walk them.

Guest

Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 wrote:
I have never had a ladder slide on a gutter etc, nor made a mark in a gutter.
I think it's an imaginary problem!

you have been very lucky then.

Ugly Shingles LLC · Aug 25, 2011

I usually walk the roofs to clean them, did this one yesterday. I think it is easier, safer and don't miss any unseen areas.

Aug 25, 2011

Bob you are clearly out of your mind. Lol... My legs were shaking just watching that.

RCIA Founder

Ugly Shingles wrote:
I usually walk the roofs to clean them, did this one yesterday. I think it is easier, safer and don't miss any unseen areas.

You left out the magic words we always say when we get on top of a steep roof like that .

" I Own This Mother Funker"

Aug 25, 2011

Diamond Roof Cleaning New Jersey (1-800-Roof-Clean) wrote:
Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 wrote:
I have never had a ladder slide on a gutter etc, nor made a mark in a gutter.
I think it's an imaginary problem!
you have been very lucky then.

Working on roofs since 1978-that's not luck, it's caution and experience.

Luck doesn't run for 33 years straight. Apparantly fear of heights does. biggrin

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