I have never cleaned a slate roof. They have began becoming more popular the last few years. I was asked to quote one today.
Are they harder to clean vs asphalt.? Should I charge more than Asphalt?. I searche'd it but didn't get these answers
waxman18324 said
May 2, 2016
Andy,
We do slate every year and the only difference in our procedures is that we don't use a surfactant. I don't believe they are harder but you'll have plenty of run off to contend with. If I find moss and or lichen we rinse the roof until it's gone. Either way we charge accordingly. I'm sure Eric and Lisa will weigh in on this as well.
Hank
Andy Hinson said
May 2, 2016
Thanks Hank. I thought I remembered seeing something about no Surfactant. Why is that?
waxman18324 said
May 2, 2016
I read it a few years back that it's better not to. The soap might dry on the slate and have an adverse effect if I remember correctly.
Hank
Maverick Contracting said
May 3, 2016
Actually the first job I did was slate and used S/H and water only with no results (85+ degrees) bumped up to straight 12%, still nothing.
Problem was flash evaporation and absolutely no runoff. This was a test situation so third step was to add surfactant for dwell time and BAM, instant results with no discoloration albeit did rinse. Since the hot slate evaporated the water (mix) no runoff. $5k/5hrs plus tips, offered a $2k rebate But he said no, deals a deal.
Every roof is unique so results may vary. We do a lot of slate and is my preferred media 😊
-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Tuesday 3rd of May 2016 07:10:55 AM
Liberty SoftWash said
May 3, 2016
We clean slate a lot of slate and just use SH and water.
Andy Hinson said
May 3, 2016
Thanks Guy's
-- Edited by Andy Hinson on Tuesday 3rd of May 2016 10:36:43 PM
Maverick Contracting said
May 3, 2016
I'm sure cooler Temps whereas the evaporation isn't as fast simple SH and h2o would be fine. Definitely gonna try as I have potentially a slate to do in a few weeks with some interior work so I'll do it on a cooler day. I just always use a little soap cause I hate going back and respraying. Lost time is my biggest annoyance.
BlueRidge said
May 3, 2016
We do a few every year and have always added surfactant. We cool the roof first then clean and rinse in sections. It has worked well with little run off. I charge more than double of asphalt.
True Brett, since it costs 10X to replace than asphalt!
Dan said
May 4, 2016
This has been the thread I've been hoping for!
I have a long-time window customer who needed a price on cleaning their slate roof. It's pretty mossy on 90% of it. The quote I gave was a bit, not drastically, higher that what I'd give for asphalt. The owner seemed floored at the price as he knew of other prices paid. I told him I'd do some research and make sure I was in line with my quote or needed to adjust it. Eventually, I said I felt I really should stick to my price and haven't heard back.
Maybe he's called you, Hank. It's on Lake Wallenpaupack.
waxman18324 said
May 4, 2016
Didn't hear from him.
Hank
Dan said
May 4, 2016
I certainly don't think you'd me much if any lower than me, so I'm not sure what they will do. Hopefully not hire a hack.
waxman18324 said
May 4, 2016
Dan wrote:
I certainly don't think you'd me much if any lower than me, so I'm not sure what they will do. Hopefully not hire a hack.
Anything is possible albeit a shame.
Hank
DirtyRoofcom said
May 4, 2016
I do my share- favorite roofing to clean. i dont see a difference with surfactant or not. just less runoff with it. I only rinse the lead or copper metals.
Heres one i did as the first job of the year. Just needed a nice rainfall to wash slates clean.
I do my share- favorite roofing to clean. i dont see a difference with surfactant or not. just less runoff with it. I only rinse the lead or copper metals.
Heres one i did as the first job of the year. Just needed a nice rainfall to wash slates clean.
Wow! That's a great pic. I can't imagine cleaning that without some skicky stuff.
DirtyRoofcom said
May 4, 2016
Andy Hinson wrote:
DirtyRoofcom wrote:
I do my share- favorite roofing to clean. i dont see a difference with surfactant or not. just less runoff with it. I only rinse the lead or copper metals.
Heres one i did as the first job of the year. Just needed a nice rainfall to wash slates clean.
Wow! That's a great pic. I can't imagine cleaning that without some skicky stuff.
Ive been using it lately pretty much whatevers in the tank from previous roofs. this baby was steep!
Patrick G said
May 5, 2016
Soap is ok to use on slate......it was the alcohol that would leave a stain.................
DirtyRoofcom said
May 7, 2016
Patrick G wrote:
Soap is ok to use on slate......it was the alcohol that would leave a stain.................
are you drinking and cleaning?
Patrick G said
Jun 29, 2016
I thought everyone was?
Maverick Contracting said
Jun 30, 2016
The only problem I had with not using surfactant is in hot weather the chem. had no time to dwell, the SH would flash vaporize before it could do anything. I mean I even used straight SH as a test and it flashed off, as soon as I added surfactant for dwell it was magnificent how fast the slate cleaned up.
I have never cleaned a slate roof. They have began becoming more popular the last few years. I was asked to quote one today.
Are they harder to clean vs asphalt.? Should I charge more than Asphalt?. I searche'd it but didn't get these answers
We do slate every year and the only difference in our procedures is that we don't use a surfactant. I don't believe they are harder but you'll have plenty of run off to contend with. If I find moss and or lichen we rinse the roof until it's gone. Either way we charge accordingly. I'm sure Eric and Lisa will weigh in on this as well.
Hank
Hank
Actually the first job I did was slate and used S/H and water only with no results (85+ degrees) bumped up to straight 12%, still nothing.
Problem was flash evaporation and absolutely no runoff. This was a test situation so third step was to add surfactant for dwell time and BAM, instant results with no discoloration albeit did rinse. Since the hot slate evaporated the water (mix) no runoff.
$5k/5hrs plus tips, offered a $2k rebate
But he said no, deals a deal.
Every roof is unique so results may vary.
We do a lot of slate and is my preferred media 😊
-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Tuesday 3rd of May 2016 07:10:55 AM
Thanks Guy's
-- Edited by Andy Hinson on Tuesday 3rd of May 2016 10:36:43 PM
We do a few every year and have always added surfactant. We cool the roof first then clean and rinse in sections. It has worked well with little run off. I charge more than double of asphalt.
I have a long-time window customer who needed a price on cleaning their slate roof. It's pretty mossy on 90% of it. The quote I gave was a bit, not drastically, higher that what I'd give for asphalt. The owner seemed floored at the price as he knew of other prices paid. I told him I'd do some research and make sure I was in line with my quote or needed to adjust it. Eventually, I said I felt I really should stick to my price and haven't heard back.
Maybe he's called you, Hank. It's on Lake Wallenpaupack.
Hank
Anything is possible albeit a shame.
Hank
I do my share- favorite roofing to clean. i dont see a difference with surfactant or not. just less runoff with it. I only rinse the lead or copper metals.
Heres one i did as the first job of the year. Just needed a nice rainfall to wash slates clean.
Wow! That's a great pic. I can't imagine cleaning that without some skicky stuff.
Ive been using it lately pretty much whatevers in the tank from previous roofs. this baby was steep!
are you drinking and cleaning?
Slate Roof Cleaning
-- Edited by Art O on Sunday 8th of January 2023 05:57:42 AM
Slate roof cleaning
Nice Erik! I don't know why some make it a big deal cleaning slate. It takes a little patience and a bit more time. Once clean, they look new!