Pat started a thread about foam shingle cleaning and rinsing and I'd like to comment on rinsing with normal Soft Wash applications.
In the past, we have laid down a pretty heavy coat of Soft Wash mix when cleaning roofs without rinsing (with awesome results). The run off was somewhat heavy but we irrigated vigorously to dilute the mix as not to harm any vegetation, specifically at the downspouts.
After Soft Washing roof shingles, we never rinsed unless it was for a realtor who had a showing that weekend or a photographer to take pictures for a listing. When we didn't rise, it was very common that there was a light brown residue from the dead algae. On some residential homes, the light brown haze was noticeable on the roof shingles that had heavy algae infestation after we finished and the conversation to the homeowner was that after the first good rain it will wash away. Was this a "splash and dash" tactic? Absolutely not. It is a fact. After a solid rain event, the final results from our Soft Wash cleaning was crystal clear!
This year, we started applying two light Soft Wash coats instead of one heavy coat. It has been done in the past by other contractors and we tried it this year and it works! We use less Soft Wash solution, we have minimal runoff and the light brown residual color from the dead algae is non-existent when we drive away.
To those not doing this, give it a try on a small roof when your day is not booked solid and post your results here.
-- Edited by Capital Roof Wash on Friday 5th of September 2014 02:05:34 AM
Michael Wedge said
Sep 5, 2014
That is exactly how we clean our roofs. It may take a little longer, but the cost in chemicals more than makes up for it. We will go to the bigger tips to get the hard to reach places. This along with a 12' aluminum extension wand keeps us off of 75% of the roofs we do. That percentage is low because 20-30% of the roofs we clean are those flat to little pitched roofs that have been coated with those white elastomeric s of some sort to deflect heat.
Jeff Wible said
Sep 5, 2014
That's how I've done it for years Pat,..it does work better,..that "extra" application is basically what would run off if all the coats were applied all at once. So making an extra application makes better use of the product.
*Here's the thing to, be PATIENT,..let the stuff work,...don't just keep spraying because it doesn't look like it's working,..give it a few minutes. Believe me,.. I'm about the most impatient person,..but I've learned over the years to just wait. I've seen those REALLY REALLY, dark streaks seem like they aren't going to budge,..but then I go clean the sidewalk,...and that's when you learn that time is an amazing thing.
Jeff
John Aloisio said
Sep 5, 2014
We pretty much always hit everything with an extremely light fan coat, then if needed another one. It works great, even for white three tabs. The more you flood a roof, you are actually wasting mix. Bleach needs oxygen to work and too much just doesn't let it breath and oxygenate. On most jobs we can get it light enough that very little even makes it into the gutters.
Doug Rucker said
Sep 5, 2014
Thats the way we been doing for years. I agree with Jeff, trust your mix and give it time. In fact, when I teach guys I teach them that "if it's still wet, it's sill cleaning" BE PATIENT, and to spray only enough so that the roof is nice and moist, not flooding.
Art O said
Sep 5, 2014
You guys are GOOD!
Eric Schnaible said
Sep 5, 2014
What Doug said is what we have always done.
Gary said
Jul 22, 2015
Why not just spray the ridge line and let it slowly work its way down the roof? You can minimize run off and chemical used. Like Doug said once the first coat is on be patient and let the chemical do its job. Then you touch up as needed. I guess you could also spray a little more once the roof is dry to thin out the brown streaks. But nothing clears the roof better then a good hard rain.
Pat started a thread about foam shingle cleaning and rinsing and I'd like to comment on rinsing with normal Soft Wash applications.
In the past, we have laid down a pretty heavy coat of Soft Wash mix when cleaning roofs without rinsing (with awesome results). The run off was somewhat heavy but we irrigated vigorously to dilute the mix as not to harm any vegetation, specifically at the downspouts.
After Soft Washing roof shingles, we never rinsed unless it was for a realtor who had a showing that weekend or a photographer to take pictures for a listing. When we didn't rise, it was very common that there was a light brown residue from the dead algae. On some residential homes, the light brown haze was noticeable on the roof shingles that had heavy algae infestation after we finished and the conversation to the homeowner was that after the first good rain it will wash away. Was this a "splash and dash" tactic? Absolutely not. It is a fact. After a solid rain event, the final results from our Soft Wash cleaning was crystal clear!
This year, we started applying two light Soft Wash coats instead of one heavy coat. It has been done in the past by other contractors and we tried it this year and it works! We use less Soft Wash solution, we have minimal runoff and the light brown residual color from the dead algae is non-existent when we drive away.
To those not doing this, give it a try on a small roof when your day is not booked solid and post your results here.
-- Edited by Capital Roof Wash on Friday 5th of September 2014 02:05:34 AM
That is exactly how we clean our roofs. It may take a little longer, but the cost in chemicals more than makes up for it. We will go to the bigger tips to get the hard to reach places. This along with a 12' aluminum extension wand keeps us off of 75% of the roofs we do. That percentage is low because 20-30% of the roofs we clean are those flat to little pitched roofs that have been coated with those white elastomeric s of some sort to deflect heat.
*Here's the thing to, be PATIENT,..let the stuff work,...don't just keep spraying because it doesn't look like it's working,..give it a few minutes. Believe me,.. I'm about the most impatient person,..but I've learned over the years to just wait. I've seen those REALLY REALLY, dark streaks seem like they aren't going to budge,..but then I go clean the sidewalk,...and that's when you learn that time is an amazing thing.
Jeff
We pretty much always hit everything with an extremely light fan coat, then if needed another one. It works great, even for white three tabs. The more you flood a roof, you are actually wasting mix. Bleach needs oxygen to work and too much just doesn't let it breath and oxygenate. On most jobs we can get it light enough that very little even makes it into the gutters.
What Doug said is what we have always done.
Why not just spray the ridge line and let it slowly work its way down the roof? You can minimize run off and chemical used. Like Doug said once the first coat is on be patient and let the chemical do its job. Then you touch up as needed. I guess you could also spray a little more once the roof is dry to thin out the brown streaks. But nothing clears the roof better then a good hard rain.