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opie451 · Oct 18, 2011

first house softwashed

Oct 18, 2011

I don't think you " soft washed " properly. Although I really just wash roofs I have done a handful of soft washes of homes I found it to be very quick, easy and rinsed right off. Maybe some one on here may have a suggestion for you.

Roof Cleaning West Chester PA · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

i use more chem on the softwash but the job goes a lot quicker and the job sells at a premium since the competition uses high pressure

Roof Cleaning Cleveland (216) 323-0552 · Oct 18, 2011

I only use my power washer for doing siding.

bnkeenan · Guest

So, why can't you soft wash with a pressure washer? It called down streaming, using a low pressure soap tip putting out about 100 -200 psi....still low pressure. Not sure how you are doing it such that you are running out of mix.....but, you should only need about 3 gals of 12.5% sh to 97 gals of water to make a 100 gal mix. That would be more than enough for a 1500 sf house - I'm not talking about using a pressure washer, but rather a 12v pump or Aod pump......

aaron61 · Guest

We soft wash with a pw all the time.Soaker tip & low pressure.Alsl use an extension wand & a Venturi for the high stuff.You should knock that out in about 2 hours with set up & clean up

Guest

using your roof set up to wash a house is way to slow. If you are downstreaming you are soft washing using a power washer. I use a power washer on every house i wash and i consider it to be soft washing. The reason its faster is becuase you can actually rinse twice as fast, two story house takes no longer that an hour and 1/2 from set up to break down. Simple-roof wash=roof pump, house wash -soft wash=power washer downstreaming= less time on job and more money in your pocket.

Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD · guest

I agree, Mike. My first time softwashing I wasted a lot of time learning when to switch the tips to get the chemical out of the line, but now I love it. The only thing that takes a long time once in a while is if I have a house that requires realllly low pressure and then I keep running back to the bucket to pull the chemical injection tube from the bucket so I can keep using the soap nozzles to rinse with.

Guest

i use a ball valve inbetween the injector and bucket. just turn the valve and in ten seconds you have fresh clean water to rinse with. I only use my soap fan tip and 0 degree soap tip for the whole job. I soap usually two sides then walk back to the trailer, turn the ball valve off and by the time i walk back its ready to rinse. Its so easy even a caveman could do it.

opie451 · Oct 19, 2011

This vinyl house was really covered in green and even at the mix I used I had to go over some spots a couple times. Applying the chems was quick and easy it was the rinse that took forever. I don't have another 55 so I had to rinse with the garden house and it sucked. Especially when I tried to use the F-13. That stuff just suds forever. I still think next time I'll just use the PW and rinse with the chem tip and save money.

Only thing is the customer was really impressed I was able to clean his house with no pressure.

But while I have everyone's attention. I was thinking of filling my water tank(when I get one) straight out of my lake rather then my or the customers well. Any thoughts??? I figure I would have to add a little SH to purify the water.

Oct 19, 2011

I don't know, wouldn't you be rinsing a clean house with dirty water?

Guest

i would not do that becuase of all the impurities that would work its way into the tank. Do you have a belt drive PW or gear driven. That plays part in the use of a water tank.

Roof Cleaning West Chester PA · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

i put it on with the roof set up and rinse with the pw, that's a good idea adding the ball valve there Mike

Art O · Guest

I always use my PW to put the soap on and I rinse from about 15' from the house. I have to go over some spots every so offen. Plus PW is good for cleaning out the dirt in the J channels. Average house costs about $5 to clean plus gass.

opie451 · Oct 20, 2011

yeah thats why I figured if I add SH to purify the water. They fill pools with local water that gets treated.

Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD · guest

Mike, what's the difference of the ball valve vs just taking the tube out? Maybe I am missing something??

Guest

less mess and just easier im all about making life easy. Its definetly cleaner to becuase when you pull the hose out you get sh everywhere. Plus it dosen't allow air to get into the system when you are using the soap nozzels.

Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD · guest

Good point. I always wet the area where my bucket is because of that. I've never even thought about air getting in the system, though!

Apsurfacesolutions · Guest

I don't understand why you are pulling injector hoses or using ball valves. Go to Pressure tek buy the jbar setup with 4 nozzles soap high, soap low, rinse high, rinse low. You never have to walk back to your machine.

Guest

clark is your high rinse and low rinse using alot of pressure or is it still using low pressure.

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"