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For some, cleaning a roof with foam is the holy graille of roof cleaning/

Here is an email from a company I have been working with, that has a foam roof cleaning system!

Hi Chris,

It has been awhile since we spoke but I continue to get calls from roof cleaning companies looking for the “perfect method” to apply foam chemistry.  We may have come close with our precision foaming technology. This was originally developed for the hood/vent commercial kitchen cleaning application and has been quite successful with labor and chemical savings as well as an improved finished product results.

We have taken that concept and made it roof worthy.  The typical setup for use with this system is a contractor with trailer and tank of pre-mixed chemical.  It is delivered through an air diaphragm pump which most of them already have in place.  Ready for use chemistry can be delivered to the roof in any length hose but for the sake of discussion we are using 200 ft. total length to a trigger gun with foam applicator wand.  This system allows the individual to adjust the foam texture to shaving cream if desired.   Foam throw is limited to about 10 ft. from end of wand so the ideal candidate is one who gets on the roof.  When he does he will literally be able to lay a carpet of foam on roof sections, eliminating runoff, reducing usage and improving results through dwell time. That’s where the word “precision” comes in.

The attachment above is the existing hood vent model but the gives you the general idea.  Roof version with 200 ft. hose will cost about $790 using the client’s existing air diaphragm pump.  Please let me know If this overview sounds compatible with some of the guys you talk to. 

Because of the kind of person I am, I "have" to look at all potential advances in roof cleaning. I think as the owner of the RCIA, I am sort of expected to stay on top of stuff. But even more so, I just can't stand the thought of someone cleaning roofs a better way then me!

I am not totally sold on Foam for roof cleaning, but then, I really have not given it much of a chance, out in the field.  Maybe I will ?

I hear ya Tom, but this foamer is awesome! PWI used to be FULL of Hood Cleaners (a roof cleaners first cousin).

I used to post on several other boards (besides PWI). I was actually "warned" not to  go to PWI, or hang out there much, because of all the "Greasers" who used to make up PWI. Greasers is the Industry Name given to Hood Cleaners. 

The Greasers on PWI back then were known as some crazy motherfunkers, and fights, bad language, personal threats all used to go down there, I was told.

However, I did go to PWI anyway because I form my own opinions about people! I had zero problems with the Greasers on PWI ! In fact, they recognized that a roof cleaner is their first cousin, because unlike power washers, us roof guys clean chemically only, just like them! 

In fact, them old PWI Greasers welcomed me with open arms, because of my chemical and pump knowledge. I helped several of them improve their cleaning concoctions, and find more compatible pumps, and equipment.

Plus, they soon discovered that I was one crazy, fun loving, foul mouthed, and opinionated motherfunker, just like them! 

In the hood cleaning industry, Foam has become THE cleaning standard. Think about this, if foam will allow 6 inches of baked on old rancid Chinese Grease to clean up w/o using any pressure, we can be SURE it will also clean a roof!