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Diamond Roof Cleaning New Jersey (1-800-Roof-Clean) wrote:

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Gary fortunately we are not robots and most have strong opinions that are voiced. Just because you go to someones house dosent mean that you have to agree with them all the time and kiss their ass.

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 Nobody said you did. But if they have rules you should respect and abide by them. Just disregard my last post.

gutterdog wrote:

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Central Iowa Roof Cleaning wrote:

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gutterdog wrote:

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Cedar roofs aint all that.

I asked you for help Bruce.

Nothing.

AC taught me how to do it.

I dont know why you didnt act like a brother?

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 I am glad you got some help and that it is working for you. I am sure you did ask, as have "many" others. If I didn't respond it wasn't out of disrespect. Most likely the e-mail got lost given I am on the road alot during the season. I clean about 100 cedar roofs a season plus all the other types of roofs we clean. Anyway, no harm right, you have the process down now. Given AC taught you it is most likely better than my process anyway.

How about sharing some of your jobs i.e. pictures. I'd like to see them. I enjoy cleaning them because not only does it extend the lifespan of the roof but also the results are like art work, wouldn't you agree?

Here are a few I have done. Look forward to seeing yours. Thanks.

 

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 I dont know how to push ceadar roofs.

 

You found a nich inside of a nich!!!

 

And done very well!!

 

Good eye, man!

 

The pics are awesome, and the right angle before and after.

 

These are prob your best before and afters. Great Pics!!!!

 

Ive only done 2 roofs. Cedar.

 

Maybe these were older roofs. what I did. That black stuff. You cant get rid of it.

 

It's in the wood.

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 Thanks. Yes it is a niche within a niche. It took me over two years or seasons to really figure out how to softwash and get results. It is not just the mix but the process of cleaning them also. That dark brown to black color you see is what is called brown rot fungi. The two most deteriorating infestations to cedar roofs is white rot and brown rot fungi.

Fungus is a plant that lack chlorophyll. Unable to manufacture its own food, it feeds off of cells in the wood. The fungus secretes enzymes that break down the wood into usable food. Fungi will significantly reduce the strength of the wood, if the condition continues over a period of time.

White Rot Fungi:

White rot breaks down all major wood components (cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin) more or less simultaneously, and commonly causes rotted wood to feel moist, soft and spongy, or stringy and to appear white bleached. Wood affected by white rot normally does not crack across the grain and will only shrink and collapse when severely degraded. The strength of the infested wood decreases gradually until it becomes spongy to the touch and stringy when broken.

Brown Rot Fungi:

Brown rot primarily decays the cellulose and hemicelluloses in wood, leaving a brown residue of lignin, the substance which holds the cells together. Wood affected by brown rot is usually dry and fragile, readily crumbles into cubes because of longitudinal and transverse cracks (tending to crack across the grain). Infected wood may be greatly weakened, even before external evidence of decay can be seen. Brown rot is generally more serious than white rot. Old infestations of brown rot which have dried out will turn to powder when crushed. They are often labeled as "dry rot". This common term is deceiving, because dry wood will not rot. Actually, wood kept dry will never decay.

Though moss and lichen are common on cedar roof, moreso those roofs that have tree cover and/or alot of shade, these fungi will cause more harm if not properly treated thus in most cases causing a roof replacement within half life of the roof. Most cedar roofs if maitained will last anywhere from 40 to 60 years and should be cleaned every 5 to 6 years.

When cleaning cedar the goal should be to return the cedar to a healthy state by removing all the algae, moss, mold, mildew, lichen and fungi's so the cedar can properly breathe again. The shakes need to breathe, that is why they are spaced so they can contract and expand. They want to be returned to a dry state, but not a bleached state, which there is a fine line in doing that, but very dueable. You want the shakes to be like water on a duck, when it rains the water just runs off and the shake dry's properly. When infested they hold moisture thus deteoriation of the shakes.

With a cedar roof there are two components, the cedar shake and the underlying felt or what some call water barrier. The felt protects the roof and the shakes protect the felt. Most felt is 30# and will last for many years if protected. The most damaging element to the felt is UV or sunlight. Any exposed areas should be covered with either new shakes or you can use cedar shingles as shims to cover the exposed areas.

I would recommend you use this information in your pitch to sell a cedar cleaning. What I have found that selling a cedar roof cleaning sells itself once you educate the home owner. Most cedar shakes home owners tend to be in upper or high end locations and tend to be professional/educated people. Once you explain or educate them, they get it.

I am starting to feel off topic on this and do not want to take away from gary's post. Maybe this subject should have it's own thread. I have stayed away for sometime, but do agree with Chris's post above, that more can be gained to sometimes just agree to disagree but move forward for the better of the industry. I am taking a watch and see approach coming back here. One thing I have learned is everyone has something to bring to the table, if we as professionals could ever figure out how to bring each element together collectively there is no limits to where this profession could go.

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gutterdog wrote:

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I got this. Her roof looked like her neighbors.

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 Good job Mike.

Roof Cleaning Long Island N.Y 516-763-4108 wrote:

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Hey Dave first you should know what your talking about before posting. #1 Be a man and mention the person and post from another board so you don't look like a Bitch. Second if it was my post I said nothing about Gary, just that I didn't like the road RCIA was taking and maybe I needed a new home.#3 Garyu is well liked on here and the majority wants him to stay and he knows it! So again Dave you going to start some shit with your post then fucking man up and mention the member, I would expect more from a Texan!

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