I have a customer that wants his lake homes steel roof cleaned but there is no way to stand on it (and stay there) I would like to try and keep from renting a large lift if I can to keep the costs down. I am wondering if anyone has [B]successfully [/B]softwashed a steel roof before? If so what solution have you used? Any ideas? Thanks:confused:
Some people set up a repelling rig to clean roofs.
I’m not set up for that, and I have no rapelling experience as well.
Thanks
Just out of curiosity, why softwash. It’s a metal roof right? Why not power wash with gated pressure to do it from the ground? I have a PW’ing pole that extends 24’ for high reach situations. If this isn’t an option, we can discuss another way to get up there.
I have experience doing that, but on a commercial setup (Whataburger stores) and was painted sheet metal, we used bleach and soap after applying a lot of degreaser around the exhaust area., the cleaned with pressure water, sometimes using hot water. Bleach shouldn’t be used since is corrosive and is going to rust the metal, even if painted.
A picture of what you need to clean will help a lot.
I use a rapel method too, not the same style as Swat teams, but if your going to do a good bit of stuff like that it would be worth learning. The local snorkel lift here wants $500 a day (if you can get around the house, and be wary of weight on the surfaces, sink it in the yard and your on your own)
Harness, GriGri, Ascender and Dry Rope, Miller D-Ring anchor, Couple of Carabiners= $400 or less. More than likely check a local outdoor store or climbing gym and somebody would be glad to teach you the ins and outs.
Also we try to plan ahead and work backwards, keeping dry footing available for as long as possible, and this is one time where working in the sun will eventually be in your favor, if things get too slick, hold your position usually on the raised screws and the sun will dry the roof pretty quick;)
This is a standing seam roof where the fasteners are hidden so there is nothing to keep your footing on, but the more I think about it this might be the best option, as I could use the equipment on other jobs as well. What pitch can you usually work off of with this method, this one is roughly 9-12 or 37 degree. That should still be do-able should’nt it?
I have washed 9/12 10/12, and worked on my cabin which is closer to 12/12 tightening the screws back down on the pro panel. The higher the pitch the more you will use the harness and lean back to create downward force on your feet. You have to take into account your anchor points, and the pendulum effect, meaning the more you walk left or right of center (anchor center), the more rope you have allowed to swing to the opposite side, so change your anchor points if the house is long.
Like I said, try to work backwards, most of the time I am washing the logs of the house so I have to wash above me, so I try to work side to center backwards and then opposite side to center, leaving a semi dry center roof, where I can then finish the center and work down the roof without having a risk of pendulum swing.
You could do similar or if you have the rope fixed (anchored both sides of the house) or anchored to a center point on top of the roof, you could work from the bottom of the roof upward and then cross over to the other side of the roof. ONLY if fixed or top anchor, remember if you have anchored to a post on the North side, you work the South side, because if you then try to crawl over top there is no anchor to prevent you sliding down that North side!
Watch for any wear areas, edges of the roof will be sharp so try to anchor out away from house rather than something below the roofline. If you know any firefighters see if you can get a worn out hose, use it to sleeve your rope in high wear prone areas.
The rope should preferably be double dry (dry treated core and sheath), the choice between dynamic and static is yours, dynamic will stretch to decrease injuries falling off of things, roofs, rocks. It is a little more difficult using ascenders and descenders because it is stretching. Static will not give, so you could use equipment easier but if you fell off the roof and the rope caught you ten feet off the ground, it would be a sudden stop and could cause whiplash or worse injuries because your body will absorb that energy. I stick with the dynamic for my setup, there are shock absorbing additions that you could use if you wanted a static rope.
You would definitely want someone to walk you through precautions, or be on the site to help you through, and train at lower heights or at a gym so you could see the principles behind the technique, but I think it is a very valuable skill, and you get to do things that your mother never would have allowed as a kid:D
Right now I’m Mainly Using SteamMops With their Long Handel we can easily clean up the Roof or roof fans or any thing which is not easily reachable,this steamMops are very easy to handel and it clean up very quickly and neatly.
