I see a few roof cleaners advertising "NO WALK ON ROOF CLEANING"
Not walking on the roof has some obvious advantages-not breaking a tile, and not falling through a rotten roof.
I have a WHOLE DIFFERENT LINE OF THOUGHT ABOUT WALKING ON THE ROOF IF YOU ARE A PRO AND CAN WALK A ROOF WITHOUT DOING DAMAGE. This is it:
We have operated our pressure washing business here in Charlotte and South Sarasota County since 1989.
We pressure wash houses, manufactured homes, pool enclosures, decking, concrete - driveways, walks, docks, parking lots. We just don't pressure wash roofing, because it's the wrong way to do it, according to the manufacturers.!
As to "NO WALK ON" YES, we can do that as easily as anyone else. The question is, is that truly beneficial? If a roof cleaner is a true professional, with years of experience, there is more benefit in having a professional walk on your roof, than there is in not. If your roof has a soft spot [unknown leak] by walking on it, we can inform you. Also, with a shingled roof, if there are potential leak areas showing, we can spot them and usually for about $20.00 repair them. So, NO WALK ON, may not be a true benefit to a homeowner? If you want "NO WALK ON" we certainly do them that way upon request. In fact, we did one today!!
As to roof cleaning: Are you willing to test a new "green" product on your roof? Blast it clean with a Pressure Washer? Allow a dangerous, damaging, Cement Surface Cleaner on your roof? {LOOKS LIKE A FLOOR BUFFER} Or have an after- coating applied to it, so it may, as those who sell them suggest, stay clean for 1-2 years? Or instead, besafe and stick with the roofing manufacturers instructions? Cleaning with their instructions generally lasts 3-5 years. No need for any after-coatings. In fact the manufacturers specifically say not to use ANY AFTER COATINGS!
Below is the manufacturer "non-pressure" gentle dispersion and chemicals we use at
Chuck Bergman Roof Cleaning.
Your roof is expensive and you probably don't want to have any new chemicals or methods tested out on your roof? By now, most consumers also know that pressure washing is the wrong way to clean a roof. Pressure washing is great for everything except your roof! WE HAVE BEEN PRESSURE CLEANERS SINCE 1989
Non manufacturer cleaning methods may void your roofing warranty, according to the information in their links below, so we just clean them as the manufacturer says to.
The main manufacturer recommended chemical is chlorine bleach.
Is bleach green and eco-friendly?
Yes I would say it is. Chlorine bleach is Sodium Hypochlorite [look at the ingredients in Chlorox etc] and is made from common salt. It bio-degrades back into salt when it dries up.
Chlorine is something we all drink from our tap water, soak in it in our showers and tubs and swim in it in our pools.
AT LEAST WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH, WHEN IT COMES TO CHLORINE. NOT SO WITH UNKNOWN CHEMICALS CALLED "GREEN" "Environmentally Friendly" ETC ETC
The only real danger from chlorine, is if an unqualified roof cleaner does not care for your plants, directly below a roof edge, he can burn a line in your vegetation. We take professional precautions, before, during and after cleaning all roofs, so this does not happen.
HERE ARE THE FACTS FROM THE MANUFACTURERS ETC: Below are the only manufacturer suggested chemicalsI have been able to find on any roofing manufacturer website, bulletin, etc. Some *alternative chemical users* claim "Approved" but do not supply manufacturer links to prove it. The below info and links, prove how those who manufacture and warranty your roofing actually approve of cleaning them!
Below is a partial "cut and paste" excerpt from the above link: GAF Roofing Manufacturers, on how to clean a roof:
"If a new roof is not an option, GAF recommends cleaning the roof with a special mixture. That mixture is: 4 gallons of water, 1 gallon of bleach and 1 cup of TSP" "What NOT To Do! Do not power wash the shingles to clean the shingles. Some roof cleaning companies offer this service. However, it is not recommended."
From ARMA roofing manufacturers Association-how to clean roofing.
Below is a partial excerpt cut and pasted below from ARMA:
Algae discolorations to remove from roofing surfaces, applying a solution of chlorine bleach, trisodium phosphate, {TSP}and water. Solutions for these ingredients depend on the amount of discoloration. Solutions range to one cup TSP and 2.5 gallons each of bleach and water. First, gently disperse this solution on the roofing surface. Avoid scrubbing the surface, as this friction may loosen and remove granules. Caution! High pressure washing systems for algae removal should not be used.
Owens Corning Roofing Manufacturers say the same thing:
"USE CHLORINE and TSP" "DO NOT USE A PRESSURE WASHER"
YOU WILL NOT HEAR A PRESSURE WASHING MACHINE START UP WHEN WE CLEAN YOUR ROOF. YOU WILL NOT GET THE "BUT WE TURN THE PRESSURE WAY DOWN" STORY. We will not claim "No Pressure" and then use a cement surface cleaning maching [ These look like a floor buffer and falsely claim to be a gentle shampoo-far from it! They just blast the dirt and algae off along with shingle granules or tile glazing, paint and soft cement up the ridge-caps. We will only clean with the specified manufacturer method.
We are certified roof cleaners, through the Roof Cleaning Institute of America. The RCIA is made up of professional roof cleaners, with a membership of aprox 2400.
We have also operated our pressure washing business here in Charlotte and South Sarasota County since 1989. We just don't pressure wash roofing, because it's the wrong way to do it!
I hear ya loud and clear Chuck! Many of these no walking roof cleaners are little more then chicken chit little punks, who are scared to get on a tile roof, afraid they might fall, and hurt one of their piercings! Scared to even get on a tile roof, they spray from a ladder, and try to scare customers.
We remind customers that their tile roofs were not put on from a ladder.
And we also tell them what you do, about how we can't inspect a roof for loose or cracked tiles/soft spots, from the ground!
Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:
I hear ya loud and clear Chuck! Many of these no walking roof cleaners are little more then chicken chit little punks, who are scared to get on a tile roof, afraid they might fall, and hurt one of their piercings! Scared to even get on a tile roof, they spray from a ladder, and try to scare customers.
We remind customers that their tile roofs were not put on from a ladder.
And we also tell them what you do, about how we can't inspect a roof for loose or cracked tiles/soft spots, from the ground!
I really enjoyed reading your post!
Chris
Thanks Chris, ya, I think it's just one more method, new guys use to get up there with us long time experts.
It's either "GO GREEN" "ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY" OR WE DON"T WALK ON YOUR ROOF" Anthing to give a non-professional an edge!
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Serving Englewood Rotonda North Port Cape Haze Venice Port Charlotte Punta Gorda Boca Grande Charlotte and Southern Sarasota Counties in Florida.
Bad makes us OLD non-walking roof cleaners feel loved.
Gary---COF
Chuck and I are in Florida. Up north, where you are, most of the roofs I would NEVER even try to walk on.
They are extremely steep, and dangerous.
But there is absolutely no reason a non steep pitch modern tile roof like the ones here in Florida can not be walked on. We have been doing it nearly 20 years.
I respect Gary and Marcus, I should have been more specific. First off, as Chris just said, up north there are almost all shingled roofs and many are steep.
If you "could" walk on them, I'm sure you would agree that you would find soft spots, damage etc for the customer.
I have seen some of the jobs Marcus has done and they too are not walkable.
Actually, what brought this on, is a local advertiser or 2 who specifies in Craigslist ads "NO WALK ON ROOF CLEANING"
That statement kind of puts those of us who do walk on, "all the walkable ones" in a bad light, like it's of great advantage NOT TO walk on a roof.
My post was meant [as is my Craigslist post] to refute that thinking and help a homeowner realize, walking on their roof, if you are a professional, with years of experience, can be more to their benefit, than detriment.
I apologize to any of the pros here, who practice a "no walk on policy"
Both methods have their merit.
For instance, the attached photos were of a 1960's roof that I knew would result in many broken tiles, no matter how carefully I walked on it.
I will have to brush up on the singing part. It was the SH in my lungs...lol I will try not to sing again in my next video. Do you like classical music?
Nice video Chris and the music was much better.
Chuck no offense as I walk most roofs when possible. I have found that I use less SH that way. At least I walk the mild pitch roofs and shoot down on the steep ones like this composite roof cleaned in Richmond Texas.
I also prefer to walk roofs if possible. It seemed like it was taboo here. To me it just makes sense. I'm not fat and know how to properly walk on a roof, It does use less chems and it provides better results. Good post and comments.
From a ladder you will most certainly use more roof mix than when you are right on top of the project.
Nevertheless, as I said, when local competitors use "WE DON'T WALK ON YOUR ROOF, SO THERE IS NO DAMAGE" I have to advertise back the benefits of having a professional inspection of the roof done, while walking on it, plus in my ads I always say, "If you really want a roof cleaned without walking on it, anyone in this business can do that and we will too, upon request"
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Serving Englewood Rotonda North Port Cape Haze Venice Port Charlotte Punta Gorda Boca Grande Charlotte and Southern Sarasota Counties in Florida.
I will have to brush up on the singing part. It was the SH in my lungs...lol I will try not to sing again in my next video. Do you like classical music?
Nice video Chris and the music was much better.
Chuck no offense as I walk most roofs when possible. I have found that I use less SH that way. At least I walk the mild pitch roofs and shoot down on the steep ones like this composite roof cleaned in Richmond Texas.
Good!
I do the same and only shoot from a ladder as a last resort.
That was a good video!
Say, right before the end, the ground man did a quick little dance or something?
What was that? Looked like it was actually a "I aim to please jump to it move"
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Serving Englewood Rotonda North Port Cape Haze Venice Port Charlotte Punta Gorda Boca Grande Charlotte and Southern Sarasota Counties in Florida.
Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 wrote:
Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 wrote:
I will have to brush up on the singing part. It was the SH in my lungs...lol I will try not to sing again in my next video. Do you like classical music?
Nice video Chris and the music was much better.
Chuck no offense as I walk most roofs when possible. I have found that I use less SH that way. At least I walk the mild pitch roofs and shoot down on the steep ones like this composite roof cleaned in Richmond Texas.
Good!
I do the same and only shoot from a ladder as a last resort.
That was a good video!
Say, right before the end, the ground man did a quick little dance or something?
What was that? Looked like it was actually a "I aim to please jump to it move"
lol New employee trying to please but forgetting the rules at the last moment. His instructions were, on a signal he was to walk to the left out of view of the camera and while out of view, turn the camera off. Needless to say that on cue he started to run straight to the camera and then remembered that I had told him not to. The end result was too funny.
Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:
Chuck, I have faced dirty lying competitors like this before up here in Tampa.
They will blow you out by scaring the customers, then turn around and walk on the roof themselves.
They will spray some from the ladder, then say " Mr Customer, I can't clean the other parts of the roof from the ground"
I know. I see all the little things that have cropped up, meant to direct the general public's thinking away from proper roof cleaning.
It's either the scare tactic of "No damage = no walk on roof cleaning"
Or "Environmentally Friendly Cleaning solution, safe for pets and children" {as though the rest of us are going to spray down the kids and dog! }
Or "Go Green Roof Cleaning" Meant to prey upon those of the "save the planet" mentality. In the end, they pressure wash the roof.
Probably, the most prevalent, is advertising "High Low and No Pressure Roof Cleaning" by pressure washers with no "NO PRESSURE" equipment. They say they use their pressure washers' chemical injector and then lightly rinse the roof. YA RIGHT!
I tested 14 chemical injectors on my 18hp 5.6 gpm pressure washer one day-counting the number of seconds it took each one to suck up 2 gallons. I had an Allison Super Suds Sucker [ actually new that day and the reason for the test, as they claimed 23% ]
I had 2 Double Gulp injectors and 10 cheap injectors of all different brands.
The end result was that they all sucked up about 10-13% and the super suds sucker was not among the top 3. ALL were just a little different by at least a few seconds. Point is, you can't clean a roof with a chemical injector on a pressure washing machine! SO, Those guys are simply lieing to the customer and then pressure washing the roof!
The most extreme damage I have seen, was just last month.
This guy [according to my customer across the street from one of the pressure damaged roofs,] spent 2 days cleaning each roof!
The end result was instead of a coral colored roof, they now had a pinkish, VERY FADED looking roof. The 1st pictures are his work, the last is the roof I did. It was in Oyster Creek Development in Englewood.
-- Edited by Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 on Sunday 8th of July 2012 01:59:49 PM
Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 wrote:
Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 wrote:
I will have to brush up on the singing part. It was the SH in my lungs...lol I will try not to sing again in my next video. Do you like classical music?
Nice video Chris and the music was much better.
Chuck no offense as I walk most roofs when possible. I have found that I use less SH that way. At least I walk the mild pitch roofs and shoot down on the steep ones like this composite roof cleaned in Richmond Texas.
Good!
I do the same and only shoot from a ladder as a last resort.
That was a good video!
Say, right before the end, the ground man did a quick little dance or something?
What was that? Looked like it was actually a "I aim to please jump to it move"
lol New employee trying to please but forgetting the rules at the last moment. His instructions were, on a signal he was to walk to the left out of view of the camera and while out of view, turn the camera off. Needless to say that on cue he started to run straight to the camera and then remembered that I had told him not to. The end result was too funny.
It was a well made video and that didn't hurt it one bit. It was just funny, how quickly he fixed his mustalke!
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Serving Englewood Rotonda North Port Cape Haze Venice Port Charlotte Punta Gorda Boca Grande Charlotte and Southern Sarasota Counties in Florida.
We get requests from time to time from clients asking if we can clean their roof without walking on them. In most all cases its because the roofing tiles are old. Can't blame them for being concerned. I would be too if it were my roof being walked on. In these cases, we are normally able to shoot from a ladder as long as we can see it, touch it or feel it. Sometimes there is just no getting around it though and we have to walk a small portion of the roof. most of the time it's due to a pool enclosure in the back of the house. Those are a bit tough to shoot over. The occational steep roof comes into play once in awhile but for the most part, pretty much all of the Tile and Shingle Roofs in our area are not that steep.
Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 wrote:
That's another large factor!
From a ladder you will most certainly use more roof mix than when you are right on top of the project.
Nevertheless, as I said, when local competitors use "WE DON'T WALK ON YOUR ROOF, SO THERE IS NO DAMAGE" I have to advertise back the benefits of having a professional inspection of the roof done, while walking on it, plus in my ads I always say, "If you really want a roof cleaned without walking on it, anyone in this business can do that and we will too, upon request"
I have seen competitors do that Chuck. They do it to steal jobs away from us honest roof cleaning professionals.
The CLAIM they don't walk on tile roofs, and scare customers into using them.
But, they DO walk on the roofs Chuck. There are parts of the house you just can't get to, any other way.
Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:
Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 wrote:
That's another large factor!
From a ladder you will most certainly use more roof mix than when you are right on top of the project.
Nevertheless, as I said, when local competitors use "WE DON'T WALK ON YOUR ROOF, SO THERE IS NO DAMAGE" I have to advertise back the benefits of having a professional inspection of the roof done, while walking on it, plus in my ads I always say, "If you really want a roof cleaned without walking on it, anyone in this business can do that and we will too, upon request"
I have seen competitors do that Chuck. They do it to steal jobs away from us honest roof cleaning professionals.
The CLAIM they don't walk on tile roofs, and scare customers into using them.
But, they DO walk on the roofs Chuck. There are parts of the house you just can't get to, any other way.
Ya, usually back by the pool cage you have to get up on the roof and sometime in other inaccesable ares as well.
I feel I am offering the customer more by walking their roof and being in a position to not only clean it more perfectly, using less mix, but also to spot existing or potentiol problems.
I like to get a decent price for my work and offer the most in return.
If I find and cracked tile, I also will repair up to a dozen for free-replace them, if they have spares and if they slide out easily.
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Serving Englewood Rotonda North Port Cape Haze Venice Port Charlotte Punta Gorda Boca Grande Charlotte and Southern Sarasota Counties in Florida.