Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Steve H on February 21, 2022, 08:16:20 pm
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Hi Guys,
Just asking if anyone on here has got onto doing roof scraping (rather than pressure washing it!) Im looking at adding it to my list of jobs, as i already do the gutter clearing (gutter vac) some of these roofs are awful.
Im only looking at doing bungalows (and garages etc) low level stuff, so no need for scaffold. Just wondered whos done any of it and if its worth it?
Also, if spraying with a biocide afterwards, do you need a licence to spray these chemicals?
Any help much appreciated.
Cheers
Steve
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Did it once - never again - slow - painful and not rewarding
Pressure wash every time - quick - easy - much better return ££££
Darran
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I thought scraping was only really used on roofs with thick moss initially and then chemicals applied.
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Saw someone doing one the other day I’m sure he was sandblasting it.
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Never tried it because it looks tedious, time consuming and boring.
Get the pressure washer out ;D
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Was that a question Nigel ?
if it was you really need to P/W or scrape before chemical treatment - very light moss/lichen ok with chemical only.
Yes there are people who sandblast roofs - I'd not recommend it tho.
Darran
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Did it once - never again - slow - painful and not rewarding
Pressure wash every time - quick - easy - much better return ££££
Darran
Exactly what Darren said.
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Make sure your fully sured overspray with any chemical your leaving your self wide open watched a video just yesterday where a chap wiped out a complete pond full of koi cost him 14k plus jet washing roofs is not recommended buy the manufacturers..one of my customers had there extention roof done it took all the coulor pigment off the tiles..to say she was not happy is an understatement I've been asked a few times but knocked it back
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With regard to tiles with colour pigment in - these are tiles of a certain age and basically if the roof has lichen and moss it’s compromised the pigment already
Darran
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Make sure your fully sured overspray with any chemical your leaving your self wide open watched a video just yesterday where a chap wiped out a complete pond full of koi cost him 14k plus jet washing roofs is not recommended buy the manufacturers..one of my customers had there extention roof done it took all the coulor pigment off the tiles..to say she was not happy is an understatement I've been asked a few times but knocked it back
Have you got a link to the video?
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More like it took the tiles back to the original colour what do customers think when you clean up to 40-50 years worth of crap off them,oh they are now a different colour lol I would get everything in writing ✍️ like you need to do with the smallest things these days it’s a blame culture we are living in.
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Did it once - never again - slow - painful and not rewarding
Pressure wash every time - quick - easy - much better return ££££
Darran
I've heard mixed stories on this. Some Roof cleaners saying softwashing safest way to do it, then others like yourself saying pressure washing is quicker and looks better(it does). My only concern is how do you arm yourself with the experience to know how to clean a roof pressure washing without risking causing damage to roof tiles? Im sure there must be risks pressure washing a roof that could lead to damage? I've always loved the thought of expanding into roof cleaning but i can't get my head around pressure washing it i would be terrified you could cause leaks in the house or do some serious damage.
I'm guessing maybe you did roof cleaning courses to learn the proper way?
Interesting....
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It’s logical really most tiles are concrete or concrete mix nearly 3/4 inch thick - go buy a couple and blast them as hard as you can - you just can not damage them even older tiles and pin tiles can not be broken with a pressure washer ( well ok if you drop the actual p/w on them from a great height )
The biggest danger to a roof is human and walking on it
I think there may have been claims in the past but what has happened is there are broken tiles under moss that are already broken - cleaning just exposes this ( like going to the dentist for a tooth clean and he finds a cavity - the dentist didn’t cause this just highlighted the problem )
I looked at some roof cleaning issues/myths and a lot come from the US where roofs were felt and wood shingle roofs were pressure washed - that’s the equivalent of doing your garden shed and of course you’ll damage that
Darran
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1645876105_256C601C-4E5B-45A6-9E94-1CED3BA351BF.jpeg)
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1645876125_5EEC06D4-4767-4E58-A4DF-DB0345F279B8.jpeg)
One of 3 cleans this week
Darran
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Nice job that what would that cost the customer.
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sorry Nigel as you know I don't discuss prices - but its 4 figures
Darran
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sorry Nigel as you know I don't discuss prices - but its 4 figures
Darran
How long is your warranty?
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how long is your warranty for cleaning windows?
I'm paid to clean the roof - as you can see its clean - job done
Darran
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Fair enough Darren I see you’re point what do you do them from a lift or roofing ladder.
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1645876105_256C601C-4E5B-45A6-9E94-1CED3BA351BF.jpeg)
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1645876125_5EEC06D4-4767-4E58-A4DF-DB0345F279B8.jpeg)
One of 3 cleans this week
Darran
Nice job Darran , did they forget the chimney ??😂😂😂
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Fair enough Darren I see you’re point what do you do them from a lift or roofing ladder.
The vast majority of that job could be done from the ground.
I do a few roof jobs on an annual basis and would use a scaffold tower on that job to ensure it’s all done to the required standard.
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Spider lift - I hate roof ladders/scaffold etc…
Darran
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Do you just jet them or do you apply a product first or after.
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This is what I use, a little different to Darren who jets them I believe.
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1645908957_9B8354A7-6DC7-44F1-A686-66AA40739879.jpeg)
I also now use a turbo nozzle to tidy up stubborn lichen on roofs.
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Always biocide after - if not the moss etc will be back inside 18 months
Darran
Slacky - is that the exact one you use ? what size is it
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Yes it is. It’s the size of a large frying pan.
Of course it depends how badly soiled the surface is but I’d expect to get across that roof in your pics in a day quite easily with that. And clean out the gutters/fascias etc after before the end of the day.
Turn the uploader valve down with one of these otherwise she’ll fly…
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I don't want one for roof cleaning - I'm looking for a good 12" ( like the Mrs ;D ) for plastic decking - I do approx 120 decks in a holiday park and the FSC works like a charm but they are 15" and a bit bulky so a more compact jobbie is just the thing - any chance of a link ?
if not now when you return home
Thanks
Darran
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www.acpressurewashers.co.uk
This is the one Smudger.
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300 ml is the one.
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cheers
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1645876105_256C601C-4E5B-45A6-9E94-1CED3BA351BF.jpeg)
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1645876125_5EEC06D4-4767-4E58-A4DF-DB0345F279B8.jpeg)
One of 3 cleans this week
Darran
Nice job Darran
When you pressure wash a roof do you always use high heat and low pressure?
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Cold
We reduce pressure down 150 Bar
Darran
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Cold
We reduce pressure down 150 Bar
Darran
Do you reserve using heat for just particularly bad/ filthy jobs regardless of the type of surface?
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I use heat when the job calls for it like brick cleaning (low pressure high temp) graffiti removal - gum removal
I've yet to find cold struggle with standard type pressure watering no matter how dirty it is
Darran
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Try using a long length lance at more than 150 psi, it's hard work!
Goes everywhere,
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2 meter is fine - that’s why we use access machine to avoid things like long lances
Darran
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Thanks for all the info guys, lots of comments and advice on there, much appreciated.
I think the scraper is out for me as it looks proper tedious. Pressure washing better option no dou,bt but i think only on certain jobs where you can gain access via a cherry picker or spider lift, as Darren said (dont want to be clambering on top of roofs for sure). Might leave it alone for now!!
Darren, do you have your own spider lift or hire one, what sort of cost to hire? and do you need a licence?
cheers
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I have considered buying but one machine does not fit all - we have sometimes only needed 12 meter m/c others the old genie 80/60
Generally I use Hinowa 20 for most domestic work which runs £190 per day - most roofs are done in a day
Darran
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I have seen this done with the scraping method and it looks very hard work saw some guys using Darren’s method the whole house was done from a spider lift in a day,it didn’t look like he was using a jet wash though more like sand blasting.
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there was a guy around here that sand blasted them (about 16 years ago) but I don't think he made a go of it - veery messy and that did damage tiles
Darran
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I’m pretty sure he was sand blasting this particular roof from a spider lift,I must admit they do look like they’ve been taken back a bit the tiles that is.