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Ugly Shingles LLC · Dec 8, 2012

How to Kill different Moss growing on Cedar Shakes!

waxman18324 · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute Of America

RE: Cedar Shake Roof Cleaning Birmingham, Michigan

Art O · Guest

So Steve tell us about your Certified SoftWash Solution. What is it?

Ugly Shingles LLC · Dec 9, 2012

The system that has been designed integrates various solutions that make up the "Certified Soft-Wash System". As an Ugly Shingles Authorized Contractor, each individual is properly trained and required to meet the necessary standards that we consider to be certified.

Ugly Shingles LLC · Dec 9, 2012

It is a formula that has been engineered to specifically work hand in hand with our system.

Liberty SoftWash · Dec 9, 2012

Ugly Shingles LLC wrote:
It is a formula that has been engineered to specifically work hand in hand with our system.

LOL!

Art O · Guest

and its Certified , By who?

Guest

There's no real secret to cleaning cedar shingles and siding. No matter how complicated and secretive anyone tries to make it sound, a basic mix of sodium percarbonate mixed with a little soap or sodium carbonate for a little stronger punch,... and neutralized with oxalic or citric acid will do the job perfectly. Have to be careful with the oxalic, can turn the shingles silvery,..but not a big deal to mix it proper. On a badly infested roof there is no spray on and simply rinse off method, don't ever be sold on that fact. Each shingle has three sides, and this is where the work begins,..not hard,.. just tedious to get the growth out of the edges, not to mention the surface as well, and also to have the proper apparatus to get "on" your work. On simply weathered shingles a spray on and rinse off method with the above mentioned chemicals will be fine. Just don't let these guys doing these cedar jobs make out like it's a big secret.

The harder part is getting a potential customer to pay what it's worth to do a proper job.

Jeff

Ugly Shingles LLC · Dec 10, 2012

Not to confuse... We were doing a promotional post for Homeowners about roof cleaning. Wow I can see we can't get anything by our roof cleaning seasoned veterans confuse but thanks for all you help. wink

Art O · Guest

Nice job Bob, Steve who ever made the post. You guys need to do a Ugly #1 and Ugly #2 so we know who made the post. On the new forum we should use our real names for the user and the company in the signature. This is off topic, but what ever. Peace Brothers

Guest

The biggest issue with cedar roofs isn't the cost of material,..that's always been fairly cheap,.it's the labor that takes to remove the moss and other growth from the shingles,..especially when it gets on the edges and even under them to a point. Aside from maybe waiting a week to come back,.(which isn't a bad idea),..Even if you're using bleach or something else aggresive to help in loosening it up, it's still hard to cut the labor by 2/3 on the removal of the implanted growth,Although I haven't any interest in pushing cedar,.. not many around here I and others here are probably interested in hearing your process. Just as you learned from others here.

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Tuesday 11th of December 2012 07:27:37 AM

Guest

Also Bruce, you say you're not claiming a breakthrough,..well let me tell ya',..if you can knock 2/3 from an otherwise tedious job,..that is a breakthrough.

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Tuesday 11th of December 2012 09:19:47 AM

Central Iowa Roof Cleaning · Certified Cedar Shake Roof Cleaning Specialist

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
Ok Bruce,..but you must not get the same strain of moss we do here,..Because without using an overly destructive chemical on the cedar, there is no way moss is gonna rinse out of the edges with a garden hose. I haven't done a lot of cedar,.but I've done enough to know that. What you're saying is you're not interested in putting your process out there for others to benefit from.

Jeff

Jeff, You may be on to something. I went to Ohio to train Mark Dye and we ran into what I call grass moss, stringy, some even looked like a mushroom. I still don't know what it really was but it was a hand full. LOL We got it but took use about six hours longer than normal. We have more of the common bed moss here. What does cause work is getting the lichen off at times, because I keep my solution as less caustic as possible. Have to adjust the ph other than SH. We keep the sh down real low, but to do that the temps have to be right, thus we have a shorter cleaning season. We have 5 different ingredients in our solution. The real issue was compatibility in developing.

I agree, if the moss if different, as I have also experienced, than that does change things. We had to use a water booster pump, 1/2 horse pump to 50 psi, which gives true 50 psi out the hose tip verses coming from the house which is alot lower. God forbid if it is well water. LOL

Your point is well made here.

No I am not saying I haven't helped others, I have many times throughout the country, I am selective for business reasons. I just don't post such on the internet.

Nothing personal, just business.

-- Edited by Central Iowa Roof Cleaning on Tuesday 11th of December 2012 09:26:16 AM

Central Iowa Roof Cleaning · Certified Cedar Shake Roof Cleaning Specialist

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
There's no real secret to cleaning cedar shingles and siding. No matter how complicated and secretive anyone tries to make it sound, a basic mix of sodium percarbonate mixed with a little soap or sodium carbonate for a little stronger punch,... and neutralized with oxalic or citric acid will do the job perfectly. Have to be careful with the oxalic, can turn the shingles silvery,..but not a big deal to mix it proper. On a badly infested roof there is no spray on and simply rinse off method, don't ever be sold on that fact. Each shingle has three sides, and this is where the work begins,..not hard,.. just tedious to get the growth out of the edges, not to mention the surface as well, and also to have the proper apparatus to get "on" your work. On simply weathered shingles a spray on and rinse off method with the above mentioned chemicals will be fine. Just don't let these guys doing these cedar jobs make out like it's a big secret.

The harder part is getting a potential customer to pay what it's worth to do a proper job.

Jeff

Jeff, your point is well made about getting the customer to pay the price needed for the process you listed above. That is one reason some have moved away from that process, along with the issues concerning oxalic. When I first started cleaning them a couple years back I ran into the same problem about closing the cost. We have been able to meet the cleaning standard at a thrid of the cost and labor. I do hope more start cleaning cedar from an educational view point. That is, 1). you can clean cedar roofs, 2). you should clean cedar roofs, and 3). there is added value by cleaning cedar roofs. What I have found that many cedar home owners don't know this. The more awareness that gets out there the better it will be for all cedar cleaning service providers. In my area for example, Polk county Iowa, which is a 40 mile radius for me there are 2,152 cedar roofs. Enough work to keep me busy for years. Also visit: www.cedarroofclean.com

You are correct there is no secret to cleaning cedar roofs as it has been around for years. The key is making it cost effective and still get the results. Good Post.

Art O · Guest

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
The biggest issue with cedar roofs isn't the cost of material,..that's always been fairly cheap,.it's the labor that takes to remove the moss and other growth from the shingles,..especially when it gets on the edges and even under them to a point. Aside from maybe waiting a week to come back,.(which isn't a bad idea),..Even if you're using bleach or something else aggresive to help in loosening it up, it's still hard to cut the labor a whole lot on the removal of the implanted growth,Although I haven't any interest in pushing cedar,.. not many around here I and others here are probably interested in hearing your process. Just as you learned from others here.
Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Tuesday 11th of December 2012 07:25:44 AM

Guest

Hey Art, I'm interested in hearing how he cuts 2/3 from the process, especially the growth removal from the edges. I'm doubtful that it's much of a breakthrough process, simply because it needs physically removed if needed done in fairly short order before the shingles begin to start graying out again. I can't see there being many ways to achieve that. I actually hope he proves me wrong.

Jeff

sweetwaterfish · Guest

Art O wrote:

and its Certified , By who?

Art, it's certified by the shingle solution certifiers........duh!

Seriously guys, nice work and very impressive results with the cedar shingle cleaning in Birmingham, Michigan! I'm sure the homeowner was very impressed with those results.

Central Iowa Roof Cleaning · Certified Cedar Shake Roof Cleaning Specialist

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
Hey Art, I'm interested in hearing how he cuts 2/3 from the process, especially the growth removal from the edges. I'm doubtful that it's much of a breakthrough process, simply because it needs physically removed if needed done in fairly short order before the shingles begin to start graying out again. I can't see there being many ways to achieve that. I actually hope he proves me wrong.

Jeff

Jeff, didn't intend to make this an issue. Just trying to make this an open conversation. Your right there is no breakthough and I wasn't trying to indicate such. The process I use works for me and my customers are very happy. Sorry but I won't be trying to prove you wrong. I am more interested in networking and educating the home owners to "our" process, whatever that maybe. Our being all of us.

As to cleaning cedar. That is 95% of my business these days. I won't get into detail about what you maybe referring to as lichen, moss. etc. from the edges. Other than I do everything from a ladder and rinse with garden hose pressure.

As to greying, you are correct over time which is subjective on locations, weather, because the greying is caused by UV damage and cannot be avoided. In that light, the question needs to be asked what is the goal? Is it the proper cleaning of the shakes to extend the lifespan or is it for curb appeal. Our goal is to extend the lifespan and we give the best curb appeal possible. Should it be curb appeal I guess one could do some form of staining. We don't do that. Our customers are more interested in maintaining the roof to avoid premature replacement. We market our service as a cleaning not a restoration. It is nothing more than a maintence program or service.

Everyone can debate processes till the sun goes down. Personally I am not interested much in the processes, I have a process that works for me and my customers, but moreso educating the homeowner, closing the job and building the service.

The video's on our web site shows you how I do it. The before & after pictures have the addresses. The customer reviews has the names and locations. The web site is designed to educate, once educated the service sells itself.

In most cases we can clean a roof in one day, that being about 3,000 sq. ft. give or take. The service charge is well under $2,000.00 on average.

Again, my intent was not to say I have some breakthrough, just wanted to have an open discussion about cedar cleaning.

Whether anyone believes I can do say I say has little meaning to me. What is important that potential customers know. wink

Guest

Ok Bruce,..but you must not get the same strain of moss we do here,..Because without using an overly destructive chemical on the cedar, there is no way moss is gonna rinse out of the edges with a garden hose. I haven't done a lot of cedar,.but I've done enough to know that. What you're saying is you're not interested in putting your process out there for others to benefit from.

Jeff

Guest

Ok Bruce, there may be an actual difference in growth strain,..what we get here is VERY rooted into the shingle,..and as I've stated,..especially the edges,..and it is a bitch to easily dislodge,..But because it's so fine and stringy,..that after it's dead,..if you wait a week it will break loose much easier. I actually have a few cedar gazebos I do every year,..no moss or lichen though,..and they turn out very well,..cedar is nice after it's finished.

Jeff

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