[CLEANGLASSUK]

I have been asked to pressure wash a roof to an old peoples home.
Has anybody on here pressure washed a roof before without a cheery picker or scaffolding, is it possible to pressure was a roof from the ground 1 storey and 2 storey

[richywilts]

speak to lee barrow from blastaway on the general cleaning section, it is possible using rope access and cat ladders etc but im not too certain how its looked upon by h n ,maybe use scaffolding

[Toprung]

The pressure washing of roofs (and of many other surfaces) should be discouraged as an outmoded way of doing things.

Speaking as one who used to do quite a bit of it a number of years ago before he knew any differfent, there are better ways of getting rid of the moss, lichens and algae on a roof than simply using a jet washer. The same goes for walls, paths, stonework and decking, the concept is the same, regardless.

Two things will happen if you use a jet washer on a roof, 1) water will get in under the roof tiles (you have to hope that the sarking membrane has no holes underneath the tiles and 2) jet washing doesn't get rid of the problem, it merely moves it to somewhere else.

Far better to use a water fed pole with a low pressure spray adapter on the end of the plumbing and an algecidal solution in ordinary water to kill the problem growth in situ.

When dead (which takes a couple of months) the offending growth shrivels up and in the main will be blown / washed off the roof progressively without blocking the gutter.

The advantage to the customer is that it is far cheaper to do and for the operative, the costs are minimal and the revenue almost completely profit.

The bonus for both is that the algecidal solution also contains an inhibitor which slows the return meaning less frequent cleaning required in future, leaving money in the pocket of a customer and the operative with more time to clean other things for other customers.

You can apply exactly the same algecidal solution to walls, paths, decking and the like using a cheap plastic watering can or a simple garden weed sprayer. So the same effect can be got with next to no outlay and little maintenance to expensive and unecessary machinery. My pressure washer lies largely redundant, good only for removong mud from paths...

[james51174]

never done it myself

but saw it done via cherry picker on an old manour house

it caused over 3/4 million in damages in leaks

but this was a very old building with old tiles

took a few months to realise the damage!!!

[Scott Dean]

I did so happen do a large apex garage roof (4-6 car size) i charged well for it but the time it took was just to long. Plus I was very fortunate to hire a 6.5hp Honda pressure washer with an extra long hose and and a decent lance and a cat ladder. It did the trick but I stress you would need a 10hp with a turbo nozzle to do a better timed job. Which unfortunately you just can't get from hire companies...

[james51174]

just read my post...it looks like im saying dont do it

i have no idea at all about pressure washing roofs

but just saying the damage i saw

[Rob_Mac]

From someone that does clean roofs - of substantial sizes, why is it an outmoded way of doing things, my clients don't want to wait weeks for bits of moss to fall on their customers. 

Any service can be messed up by idiots who don't know what they are doing.

This is a perfectly viable service that has its own problems, that sometimes cannot be accounted for beforehand. A membrane with a hole in it cannot be seen but would never deter me or anyone I employ from keeping the clients happy.

My works are on trading stores and the disruption is minimal.

My experience is current, I know what I am doing and I get a lot of high level recognition.

Rob

[Lee Pryor]

steer well clear mate, my nan just had hers done and the damage and problems it caused are unbelievable! cant get the guy back round to sort it, one excuse after another. We are currently reporting him to local police, trading standards and the tax office, my nans roof is ruined and the bill to sort it is running into thousands!

I have learnt over the years to stick to what you know and say no to the rest even if the paycheck is looking big.

[Toprung]

Good luck to you M Clean UK, but what you say doesn't change the facts. Pressure washers have their place, so do other methods.

And just as pressure washers replaced other methods, so in time, have newer methods come to replace pressure washers and therefore outmode their use in certain types of cleaning.

[Rob_Mac]

I look forward to the day when I can utilise steam at 250 bar with a decent flow rate to do away with any of the associated problems with my methodology.

My clients want to see results, immediately and they pay me very well for them.

Until that day comes along I will continue to excel in all of my services and I will continue giving the client what they want.

Your way is not wrong, neither is mine but they can both be wrong in the wrong hands!!!!!

Rob

[G & M]

Hi Cleanglassuk, we just finished our first roof today and it came up a treat. However it involves a learning curve just like everything else. You must make safety your number 1 priority. We used harnesses and ropes.

This roof was covered in moss and when we started pressure washing it blew moss everywhere so we scraped the moss off then gave the roof a quick rinse and then pressure washed it. A few days later we treated the roof with biocide and today we sealed it with extreme climate from Kingfisher Building Products. When it was dry we poured water on it and it just beaded off, customer was delighted and we now know whats involved.

Check Kingfisher Building Products out, they do a 1 day course and is well worth attending. I attended their course earlier this year but was too busy to really push the roof cleaning.
If you are pressure washing a roof you will take the water resistant coating off of the tiles  so the roof will need resealing or repainting or you could do what we did yesterday for a different customer, we just scraped off the moss and treated the roof with biocide.