[steve@sjb]

HI
WAS WONDERING IF ANYBODY COULD GIVE ME A BIT OF ADVICE ON PRICING A JOB. I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO GIVE A PRICE ON CLEANING MOSS FROM A ROOF OF A BUNGALOW AND ALSO CLEAN GUTTERINGS THE ROOF IS APPROX 60 SQUARE METRES AND HAS QUITE A LOT OF MOSS GROWTH NOT SOMETHING I GENERALLY DO BUT HAVE BEEN ASKED BY A REGULAR CUSTOMER IF I CAN DO IT. I HAVE ALL THE EQUIPTMENT TO DO THE JOB BUT DONT KNOW WHERE TO START WITH A PRICE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE ANYONE HAS TO OFFER
MANY THANKS
STEVE

[preston powerblast]

I work roughly on a 10 quid a square metre, then I take into consideration chemicals used, any extra equipment needed cat ladder, or if on a big place I use a cherry picker. sometimes hot water is all that is needed.
But its more of a skilled job than it sounds.
What you have to watch for is all the motar on the ridge tiles, generally its good practice to re-point it all afterwards.
Always work from top to bottom and never direct your lance under the tile as it can lift them.
But there is a lot of mess afterwards and you must include an extra couple of hours afterwards for cleaning up and washing down.
I do quite a bit of sub contract work for various double glazing firms and they charge an absoloute fortune.

[REVIVE-A-DRIVE]

preston
what chemicals do u use and do u think the cat ladders is a safe way to clean a roof,
i've done a couple of roofs just using the pressure washer from a cherry picker but would like to no any better ways of cleaning the roofs.

[preston powerblast]

A strong degreaser or diluted brick acid.
Depending on the type of tile and the degree of soiling, but I always do a little test area first.
Cat ladder is fine on a small bungalow.
But now these extending lances the job is getting easier.
But most I have done hot water is the thing.

[steve@sjb]

thanks for your advice i have roofing ladders and pressure washer with 20 metre lance / hose, would pressure washer be enough on its own to get rid of moss or would i be better off using some sort of degreaser?and would cold water do the job

[preston powerblast]

Has your washer got a burner?

[steve@sjb]

no, can run chemicals through it but nothing to heat water.

[preston powerblast]

Thats going to be a problem mate, I have found that there is nothing better to remove moss than very high pressure hot water.
My machine heats it up to 90 degrees C.
But most roofs I have done, and i have done a good few have needed nothing but hot pressure washing.
You could try and experiment, but in all honesty hot washing is the best way i have found to remove moss.
It brings up terracotta tiles like new.

[carloso]

questions to be answered please
when it is stated  in previous posts "very high pressure" hot water to clean the roof , does this not ruin the tile by removing the top particle and cause the rain to run off at speed over the gutter?

 is it not illegal to contaninate storm drain with chemical ( i.e de greaser etc)?

is brick acid not just that,  brick acid, it is not a cleaner ?
 it is not an algeanate, or fungicide or even a biocide, it is however again a product that is illegal to run to storm drain?

so can anyone now answer this
how do you clean roofs safely, legally,and profitably?

[preston powerblast]

What is high pressure hot water?
Steam.
This job, is all down to practice.
Go on a roof and start blasting away, then you are looking for trouble.
With practice you know what nozzle to use, how close you can get to the tiles.
Get old roofing tiles from demolition sites tips etc and practice on them.
Learn about roof tiles, how they are made.
You will not damage a single tile if you know what what you are doing.
Most chemicals today are biodegradable and will not harm the enviroment.
Most chemicals to day are diluted to at least ten to one.
By the time they reach the drain they have been diluted at least a thousand to one, thus causing no harm to the enviroment whatsoever.
I very seldom use any sort of chemical.
I bought the best machine for the job.
I have worked in this business a long time on and off.
As I have said previously its a skilled job and shouldnt really be attempted by just anyone.
It is legal and can be profitable.
But you really do need to know what you are doing otherwise you will cause damage that can be very expensive.
Also liability insurance is an absoloute must.
If you are thinking about doing the job then you have to gear up for it.
40m + hoses, hose clamps etc.