Sorry to sound so foolish but I really do not know the answer…
When cleaning/ soft washing a roof, do you always need to be up on the roof? Or can majority be done from the ground…
Also I contacted Bob at Pressure tek and got a few things on order. I am in Dayton Ohio and having a heck of time finding the 12.5 bleach everyone talks about. I should know this but really dont, Is regular house hole bleach the same as 12.5 ( I assume not ) and can you mix regular bleach with the cherry cleaner?
I don’t clean roofs, been researching for a while now and will start doing it on of these days.
Check THIS link, and see if you find any of those familiar. You should be able to get your sodium hypochlorite at 12.5% at chemical suppliers in your area. you can get 10% sometimes at the pool supplies store, but is not cost effective at all. You can use household bleach if in a pinch, but that is only 6% with luck, meaning you have to double the amount.
About cleaning technique, you can go on the roof if is walkable, but most people shoot from the gutter line, safer but less control on your coverage. Go get some more reading, there’s a lot to be learned on that subject.
Wow, try a roof cleaning forum?? But I’ll help ya out as I have been cleaning roofs for years.
If you are looking to brighten a roof the way most cleaners are, than yes, you need 12.5 pool bleach (sodium hypochlorite) to do that. However, if you have NEVER used it, and never been trained in it, BE VERY CAREFUL. AS YOU WILL DAMAGE/CLAIM ANYTHING IT COMES UN-INTENTIONALLY IN CONTACT WITH.
Regular store bought bleach has (on the label) 6.5% sodium hypochlorite in it and with the right mixture, that will be enough to kill mold/mildew, algae, etc… Do your homework/research before applying this and you’ll save time, money, effort and a bunch of unnecessary headaches.
And yes, guess I have to answer your question without reading between the lines; you can mix it with simple cherry. Even Pressure Tek has the answer in their FAQ about their simple cherry product. Of course, you could just call them. They are a bunch of nice and knowledgeable guys over there and are always glad to help out.
Store Bleach will not clean a roof, unless you have a week to apply it every day and wait.
You need 12.5 percent Sodium Hypochlorite, and it must be fresh.
Here in Florida, it is easily obtained.
Up in Ohio, I dont know ?
We have several Ohio Roof Cleaners on the roof cleaning institute forum you could ask.
This is my first post, and haven’t filled out my signature yet.
If you need SH, call people listed under “chemicals” and the like in the yellow pages. If they don’t carry it themselves, they’ll usually know who does. Be careful though, SH is SERIOUS, and very dangerous if mixed with the wrong chemicals.
Thanks for the Welcome!
Several of my Roof Cleaning Institute of America guys may be interested in Window Cleaning as an add on to roof cleaning ?
Feel free to post on our Forum, and tell them about this place ?
Or, I can create a window cleaning section for you, if you like ?
Chris
Chris, can I ask you a question. I know nothing about roof cleaning … apparently we Brits like flora and fauna attacking our roof’s.
You said up top that a 12.5% solution is the best. Elsewhere I recall seeing your recipe for ‘Apple Sauce’ where you add water and some other measures of chems to keep the end result cleaner for longer.
My question is: Is it the 12.5% solution that you use, and dilute, in the ‘Apple Sauce’ or, have you evolved your recipe and now use the 12.5% solution neat?
I ask because I decided to clean my garage roof and used 3% (yes, yes, you can laugh but thats it over here) and the only result I got was my son asking why the garden smelled like a swimming pool.
No Worries Alex, you have cleaned your roof if you coated the entire roof.
The bleach will kill the plant growing there, IF you allowed enough dwell time ?
IF you rinsed right away, not good.
The rain eventually will rinse the dead plant on your roof away, but it can take 6 months or more!
The recipes for Apple Sauce and Apple Cider are on the website in my signature.
Just plain 12.5 percent SH and water mixed 60/40 will clean a roof.
WE feel both Apple Sauce and Apple Cider clean even better, and last longer.
IF all you can get is 3 percent bleach, here is what i suggest.
Add 1/2 cup of TSP per gallon to kick the PH up a bit ?
Use straight 3 percent bleach with 1/2 cup TSP added per gallon.
Allow at least 1 hour dwell time, and keep applying, until it cleans!
Eventually, it will clean, or at worst, will kill the plant, and the rain will eventually rinse it away.
You NEED some stronger 12.5 percent Bleach old Chap, perhaps Tony Blair has some stashed, LOL ??
I looked for your reciepes on you attachment and can not find the Apple sauce and Apple cider mix?
I did today finally locate the 12.5% bleach and have read and re read the mixture ratio for the CHERRY BOMB? But I have to admit i am nervous about all vegitation… should I be nervous or is just watering everything down enough to make these worries go away?
I know I am in the UK and it’s different but, US lawyers have well worn paths to their front doors for litigation. Here I would need to have a fully documented risk assessment for each job as each is unique (once you have the template its not too difficult). Then, for working with chemicals I would need to put measures in place and for working at height I would need to put measures in place.
Personally, if I was playing with chems and at height I would not want to rely on Mrs. Goodbody, the client, if I have an accident. I would rather have a trained co-worker assisting who can lift and shift as needed and importantly administer first aid if needed.
But I have to admit i am nervous about all vegitation… should I be nervous or is just watering everything down enough to make these worries go away?
I recall Chris said pre-wetting and using tarps. Not for roof cleaning but for something else I have used spanned tarps to keep liquid off areas. I used the method I learned in the Army where you attach a metre length of shock cord on each corner to pull the tarp taught and into position in seconds.
It don’t seem to hurt as bad when you fall off a roof when you have a second person there. They seem to always be able to call 911 when you are paralyzed … Seriously, it is always better to have a second person.
