[CLIVEDONNISON]

Hi
I am considering adding Roof cleaning / moss removal.
Can anyone give me advise on the best way to go about this and any pit falls to avoid and prices to charge

Many thanks for your help

[chris scott]

It's quite expensive and the pitfalls...it hurts when you fall off.

[Shane O Neill]

It's quite expensive and the pitfalls...it hurts when you fall off.

was this meant to be funny 
He's looking for help and a bit of business advice...

There is a lot on youtube clive the yanks are really up to speed on it
also over at soft wash uk he and the guys are very helpful and try and help out

http://www.softwashing.uk/softwashingforum.html

[Plankton]

It's quite expensive and the pitfalls...it hurts when you fall off.

was this meant to be funny 
He's looking for help and a bit of business advice...

There is a lot on youtube clive the yanks are really up to speed on it
also over at soft wash uk he and the guys are very helpful and try and help out

http://www.softwashing.uk/softwashingforum.html

I thought it was funny..... Still do

[chris scott]

It's quite expensive and the pitfalls...it hurts when you fall off.

was this meant to be funny 
He's looking for help and a bit of business advice...

There is a lot on youtube clive the yanks are really up to speed on it
also over at soft wash uk he and the guys are very helpful and try and help out

http://www.softwashing.uk/softwashingforum.html

Actually he is an absolute tosser who does not have a clue....If you follow his advice you will soon be in trouble.
I cannot even start to go into detail on here as to how to effectivly and safely start to clean a roof. There are so many variables. Spraying corrosive chemicals whilst stood on a ladder is not one of them ala Mark Cave (softwashing.uk).

Clive ...Phone me if you wish 07973216502. We do a bit of roof cleaning.

[Mike Halliday]

Looking at that link........Is there a 'national association of softwash '

how do I join?

[Smurf]

Chris did join Mark Cave  forum and promptly got banned.... I wonder why 
I agree with what Chris is saying regards to H&S.

Mike regarding your question  there is a directory listing on that  forum I've seen that has no other so say professionals listed apart from the owner of the site. That just goes to show how popular the site is I suppose 

[M Roberts]

It's quite expensive and the pitfalls...it hurts when you fall off.

young chris, how you doin buddy 

[Smurf]

I'm guessing very carefully within the working at height directive etc so he don't get taken to court by H&S and fined heavily for unsafe working practises and/or sued by customers etc. Not forgetting a possible hefty fine by the water utility company as well 

[chris scott]

It's quite expensive and the pitfalls...it hurts when you fall off.

young chris, how you doin buddy 

Doing ok...I think. I have a bed for the night and the cupboards are full of food. I own everything I've got... I have with no debt to anybody .
"I started out with nothin..and still have most of it left."

[Kev Martin]

It's quite expensive and the pitfalls...it hurts when you fall off.

young chris, how you doin buddy 

Doing ok...I think. I have a bed for the night and the cupboards are full of food. I own everything I've got... I have with no debt to anybody .
"I started out with nothin..and still have most of it left."

Yep all true!  But now you got me as well

[M Roberts]

It's quite expensive and the pitfalls...it hurts when you fall off.

young chris, how you doin buddy 

Doing ok...I think. I have a bed for the night and the cupboards are full of food. I own everything I've got... I have with no debt to anybody .
"I started out with nothin..and still have most of it left."

I felt I should.. maybe .. apologise to you.. I may of been slightly harsh  to you on  a certain face group page    a while back.


However, you may of said the same about me 

[chris scott]

It's quite expensive and the pitfalls...it hurts when you fall off.

young chris, how you doin buddy 

Doing ok...I think. I have a bed for the night and the cupboards are full of food. I own everything I've got... I have with no debt to anybody .
"I started out with nothin..and still have most of it left."

I felt I should.. maybe .. apologise to you.. I may of been slightly harsh  to you on  a certain face group page    a while back.


However, you may of said the same about me 

Maybe you mistook me for someone who cares ?
No offence taken.

[clarkson]

Actually he is an absolute tosser who does not have a clue....If you follow his advice you will soon be in trouble.
I cannot even start to go into detail on here as to how to effectivly and safely start to clean a roof. There are so many variables. Spraying corrosive chemicals whilst stood on a ladder is not one of them ala Mark Cave (softwashing.uk).

i hope thats a joke as well chris. i find Mark very helpful and he does enough of it to know what he is doing.

i have watched your you tube video and you are using exactly the same methods as him? maybe he shouldnt use ladders but thats his decision . thousands of trad window cleaners will clean gutters today at the roof line on ladders same difference.

we all spray on hypo and soap and rinse it of , end of . its not brain surgery. the way you lot go on here you would think you have done a degree in chemical engineering.

and kevin i positively forbid you to come on and say honing powder no.17


john

[M Roberts]

Actually he is an absolute tosser who does not have a clue....If you follow his advice you will soon be in trouble.
I cannot even start to go into detail on here as to how to effectivly and safely start to clean a roof. There are so many variables. Spraying corrosive chemicals whilst stood on a ladder is not one of them ala Mark Cave (softwashing.uk).

i hope thats a joke as well chris. i find Mark very helpful and he does enough of it to know what he is doing.

i have watched your you tube video and you are using exactly the same methods as him? maybe he shouldnt use ladders but thats his decision . thousands of trad window cleaners will clean gutters today at the roof line on ladders same difference.

we all spray on hypo and soap and rinse it of , end of . its not brain surgery. the way you lot go on here you would think you have done a degree in chemical engineering.

and kevin i positively forbid you to come on and say honing powder no.17


john

I think Chris uses a fungicidal wash for roof cleaning which is completely different from spraying Hypo.

Personally I don't believe many guys use Hypo for roof cleaning due to the problems it could cause, attacking lead valleys, spray drift etc but hey ho maybe I am wrong.

[Plankton]

Hi
I am considering adding Roof cleaning / moss removal.
Can anyone give me advise on the best way to go about this and any pit falls to avoid and prices to charge

Many thanks for your help

At this time of year you have less enquires for roof cleaning and less day light hours to carry out the work and the job is more miserable.... Hence all the I'll scratch your back and you stab mine cheerful posts about soft washing/roof cleaning.

[Smurf]

Hi
I am considering adding Roof cleaning / moss removal.
Can anyone give me advise on the best way to go about this and any pit falls to avoid and prices to charge

Many thanks for your help

At this time of year you have less enquires for roof cleaning and less day light hours to carry out the work and the job is more miserable.... Hence all the I'll scratch your back and you stab mine cheerful posts about soft washing/roof cleaning.

And tiles are quite slippery when wet too....The falling bit is easy but the sudden stop at the end hurts like hell

[clarkson]

Actually he is an absolute tosser who does not have a clue....If you follow his advice you will soon be in trouble.
I cannot even start to go into detail on here as to how to effectivly and safely start to clean a roof. There are so many variables. Spraying corrosive chemicals whilst stood on a ladder is not one of them ala Mark Cave (softwashing.uk).

i hope thats a joke as well chris. i find Mark very helpful and he does enough of it to know what he is doing.

i have watched your you tube video and you are using exactly the same methods as him? maybe he shouldnt use ladders but thats his decision . thousands of trad window cleaners will clean gutters today at the roof line on ladders same difference.

we all spray on hypo and soap and rinse it of , end of . its not brain surgery. the way you lot go on here you would think you have done a degree in chemical engineering.

and kevin i positively forbid you to come on and say honing powder no.17


john

I think Chris uses a fungicidal wash for roof cleaning which is completely different from spraying Hypo.

Personally I don't believe many guys use Hypo for roof cleaning due to the problems it could cause, attacking lead valleys, spray drift etc but hey ho maybe I am wrong.

Hi  of course there other options  I use biocides and other stuff.  My issue wasn't the methods or even the criticism of another  set up,  it was the absolute tosser remark, for someone who helps a lot of people get started.

[chris scott]

He is a tosser....I stand by my statement.
He is only interested in "start ups" that are unaware of the 8ullpoop he is telling them. Most of the people in the "trade" are banned from any of his Forums,facebook pages ,training etc.

Has he actually ever cleaned a roof?

I never spray bleach. The x-jet video is Quats at about 50:1 .

[Smurf]

Chris pray tell what his remarks were that got you so upset?

[chris scott]

Chris pray tell what his remarks were that got you so upset?

He has not upset me with his remarks...as he won't speak to me.
He has banned me and others from his forums's ,facebook pages etc  for questioning his products and metheods . Last count there were about 10 of us banned....I might be a bellend but 10 of us cannot be wrong?
The app for instance...2% 4%  softwash recipe etc..
Scenario....
It's summer ,it's you first render cleaning job. You calculate your softwash mix useing the expensive App. 2% softwash receipe you spray the render  (from your ladders !)....What could go wrong?
The water evaporates nearly instantly as it does  (hot pourous render). As it does You are then spraying the customers wall/garden/window frames with neat bleach .
Whats the point in people relying on the app ,to many variables ?....Banned
I could go on.

[Smurf]

Interesting Chris…

I'm confused and it doesn’t take much. So what you are saying if you use a hypo based softwash mix that is already watered down to say 2%. Then you apply by either brushing in or spraying it onto a hot surface like render pray tell how can it revert back to its original strength as the hypo in the water I would have thought would also evaporate too surely?

If not does that also mean when you're using the likes of algoclear pro (40%) watered down to say 2% that also will revert back to 40% strength when the water evaporates?

[chris scott]

What I am saying the the App is only applicable until you use the mixture...after that anything can /will happen.
People coming into softwashing would rely on this APP as being fool proof....it's far from it.
When dealing with evaporated Quats whilst it still happens "I consider" it far safer.

[M Roberts]

I didn't know there was an app , I got banned way before that, all I asked is, how many commercial tiled roofs has he cleaned using hypo ?and what happens to the lead valleys, flashing etc didn't get answer .... banned 

App is a minor detail ... firing hypo up a roof from the gutter line looks like a great idea 

[chris scott]

Ok thats two votes for Mark being a bellend 

[Smurf]

I've not been banned yet as I never post anything nor it look like anyones else does for that matter as his forum is dead as a dodo   

I've  also joined a few closed group bookfarce pages but never post on those either.

[M Roberts]

My god what a day ...soft washing a roof, seriously,  As an op it must be the most unrewarding job going.  As for the drivel I see posted ref less clambering around on roofs then pressure washing  total rollocks. 
The tiles were Redland double romans due to the profile each tile had to be hand scraped to remove the moss before treatment with the fungicidal wash. 
We only did this job as we was recommended  to the customer and pressure washing was not feasible....
Never Never again , I would of had more fun inserting a hedgehog up my ar88

[Smurf]

The hedgehog bit did make me laugh lol

Do you normally use steam?

[BDCS]

The hedgehog bit did make me laugh lol

Do you normally use steam?

I find diesel is better cos you don't have to get up so early 

[M Roberts]

The hedgehog bit did make me laugh lol

Do you normally use steam?

My name is not Chris...  I don't do anything with hedgehogs .. and I certainly wouldn't use steam with them .. sicko    

[John Peacock]

I was looking to get into roof cleaning, have my doubts now after reading this thread, still i learnt a lot from it, and other forums, especially about some of these firms selling chems and equipment....

@Chris, looking/reading a USA forum and watching some YT videos, you would think this roof cleaning business is easy, and easy money!

sure would like your opinion on rating this type of work, against other forms of cleaning.

Thanks in advance.
Kind regards,
John.

[Smurf]

Unless you are capable/experienced at working on roofs so clambering on roofs is you thing then I would say no stay well clear.
Don't matter what access equipment/methods you may want to use you will still have to get on a roof at some point.

That's why I don't offer roof cleaning as I know my limitations. For me it's more of an age related thing as my body is fooked. Mind if you fall off a roof yours will be too 

On a serious note I've known 3 experienced roofers personally over the years that went to work but never came home. All 3 died in separate incidents doing a job to put food on the table for their wives and kids. Makes you think don't it?

[Smurf]

Going by the working at height directive How many would cost in the job for  full scaffolding erected around a property just to clean a roof. Not many I'm thinking 

This is how most cowboy roof cleaners operate http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2613480/Idiot-roofing-worker-caught-camera-standing-house-roof-pressure-washed-image-cost-firm-thousands-pounds-safety-breach.html

[John Peacock]

@Smurf

Thanks for your reply.
If you had to move to a new area in the UK - and start again, could only use 1 type of cleaning service for maximum profits what would that specialized cleaning service be?

Thanks in advance.
Kind regards,
John.

BTW, The above dailymail.co.uk link isn't working?

[Smurf]

Something like the big nozzle does maybe?
https://www.youtube.com/user/BlastAwayManchester/videos

[John Peacock]

Something like the big nozzle does maybe?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6uGqco6i7spfOi1cUHCV1w

THANKS!

What about if you could ONLY do residential houses?
What specialized cleaning service you you go for?

[Smurf]

What cleaning services have you done in the past?

[John Peacock]

I did residential windows for a couple of years, got fed up with some custys not answering the door when the moola was due.
So went back to an office admin job, which i now hate!
I was thinking about gutter cleaning, using a vacuum and long carbon poles, as seen something like this for sale on ebay.

[Smurf]

Guttervacs have their uses but are not all what they are cracked up to be.
You will also need to work from ladders etc for some domestic jobs where a guttervac don't cut it or for repairs etc.
Unless you can price well then gutter clearing is not worth the hassle.

[John Peacock]

emm, may well start a window round, this time only target the rich areas lol!

[M Roberts]

Guy near me runs a fleet of vehicles ex builder all he does is gutter cleaning 

[Smurf]

Not Ben's gutters by any chance?

[Smurf]

3 times this week I was asked  if I clean moss from roofs.  There is not a week goes by that at least one requests a quote.
God knows why as I don't advertise or do bloody roof cleaning as I'm way too old and knackered  for all that malarky

[M Roberts]

Not Ben's gutters by any chance?

Steves

[John Peacock]

theres a guy a fews doors down from me, he had new roof tiles done on his 3 bed semi, and when i spoke to him about it, the only reason he had it done was cos he got a deal on the tiles (4K) the old tiles were ok, other than old, dirty, bit of moss & bird poop. i asked what he would pay to have had the roof cleaned? the dude didn't even know you could get the roof cleaned! so i said what about 700 quid? he said if you did it for £500 he could even get the neibour to do theres as well, so there you have it an easy £1K !

if only someone could invent a drone or something to take a hose up to those roof tiles, and clean em!....we be millioniares by next year! i'm sure i could get customers from both sides of semis for £500 each! an easy £1000 day in day out!

[Plankton]

2 bed semis (up and over) at £300 takes around 30 min to set up, 2 hours max for the clean and 30 - 45 min to clear up, so half a shift. 3 bed up and over isn't much more and I would charge £350-400 pack up and go home for an easy shift. That's alright if the works coming in consistently but when folk are quoting less there's no work. If your getting £700 down south for 3 bed semis at around 75sqm that's 40% more. If any one is nocking work back on a weekly basis at the above prices give me a shout

[JetVac Cleaning]

I carry out lots of roof cleans in the south East and would happily agree a percentage deal with anyone to pass detail onto me.  Email jetvaccleaning@hotmail.co.uk if you want to discuss

[John Peacock]

@JetVac Cleaning @Alan Ritchie

If the roofs are only dirty, have the odd bit of moss , & bird poop,
can it be cleaned only using the SH & softwash method?
do you guys still go onto the roof?

My understanding is that jet-washing removes the coating of tiles & damages them?
is this correct?

i have spoken to anther person that lives down the road, they would pay £500
i'm waiting on him to let me know if his neibour would agree to it as well,
@JetVac Cleaning what sort of percentage deal would you be happy with?
btw. i'm in farnham hampshire.

[JetVac Cleaning]

I would pay 10% of total job price for roof cleaning works. Jetwashing can damage a roof yes but done professionally by someone who knows what they are doing is ok. I personally don't pressure wash roofs anymore because I prefer the softwash method. SH is not the only chemical used in softwashing so there are many options available. £500 for a simple up and over roof is a bit cheap. We generally price standard roofs from £750 upwards. If there was 2 semi roofs attached then I would probably agree to do them together for £1000 but would request pictures ect first. You can email me jetvaccleaning@hotmail.co.uk  if you want to discuss further

[John Peacock]

@JetVac Cleaning

my aim would be to get both house holders (2 semi roofs ) £599 each for the roof cleaning.
if i got you regular 2 semi roofs for say £1,198 would you be ok with paying a 20% commision?
btw, what do you mean by: 'simple up and over roof'?
thnx.

[JetVac Cleaning]

Yes can do 20% on that figure. What I mean is if there's garages and porches or bigger properties which require more work it would push the price up ect.