Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Roof-Da-Side

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Hey Art,..if I remember ,..this product is copper sulfate. It's a terrible roof "cleaner" if instant results are desired,..but in my limited experience with copper sulfate,..it is a very good growth inhibitor. Stays in place a long time and is deadly on just about anything that grows.

The biggest problem with copper sulfate for us contractors is speed,..copper sulfate will get rid of roof stains,..it just takes too long to work and make it possible to take a check home the same day. But it does work. As a treatment I would put it over liquid hypo all day long,..CH may have close the same longevity,..and believe it or not CH dissolves easier than copper sulfate. But copper sulfate doesn't leave a white haze all over everything it touches. So pick your poison!!

Jeff

Roof Cleaning Virginia · Approved Exterior Cleaner

http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Product.jsp?REG_NR=06667500004&DIST_NR=081322

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

If you watch the video's theres a guy power washing a tile roof.

william morris · Exterior Cleaner

Maybe it would be good to have a gallon on board and proof that the product has been used for those that think our methods (bleach) is dangerous. Im sure these people are out preaching there method then when you run into a home owner dead set on this method then sell it when in Rome act like a roman. Hypocritical right

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I think they use a Pitch Witch with this stuff or a Power Washer

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Yea, the funny thing is,..if they would sell it for what it is it would be another way to clean a roof. As it is,..they put it on,..and then blast away,..completely nullifying the reason for using copper sulfate,... they can do what they're doing with any soap,..if they're just looking for visual affect of applying a cleaner.

Copper Sulfate needs time,..and what these guys are doing is a waste of the product.

I've thought about targeting new unstained shingles,..and using Copper Sulfate as an inhibitor. Then customers would never even see the stains.

Jeff

william morris · Exterior Cleaner

You will not catch me using high pressure on a roof.

Fred W · Guru

The business model is to sell application every few years.......yet they talk about the need to re-clean if we use bleach.......too funny.

william morris · Exterior Cleaner

Jeff are you saying the copper suflate using as inhibitor would offer longer results on a non stained roof than applying a weaker bleach solution if the copper last longer and you could warranty that then thats worth talking about

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Hey William,..yes,..I am saying without a doubt that copper sulfate will outlast liquid hypo when it comes to keeping a roof clean. Even calcium hypochlorite will outlast liquid hypo by a few years,..no doubt! That is not guessing,.that is a fact.

Jeff

william morris · Exterior Cleaner

What kind of warranty could you offer with the copper sulflate 5 year

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I don't offer warranties on cleanings at all,..but yea,...If I were doing a preventive application with copper sulfate rather than a cleaning application with liquid hypo,...I wouldn't be afraid to give a 5 year warranty on a preventive application.

Jeff

william morris · Exterior Cleaner

Thanks Jeff

SprayWash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

also, coffer sulfate will seriously kill landscaping and nuke the soil !

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

SprayWash wrote:
also, coffer sulfate will seriously kill landscaping and nuke the soil !

Copper Sulfate can be controlled with dilution,..just like liquid hypo. It is actually used in fish ponds with fish still in them,..again though,..it's a PPM thing. And from my experience with it killing weeds,..once it dries,.. it doesn't just rinse away out into the landscape,..it sticks.

I've seen DIY homeowners' roofs done with it and they were clean. And from my recent research,..multiple resource are saying 1/2 OZ. per 10 gallons for prevention,...but for cleaning it was 1 OZ. Per Gallon.

Ha,Ha,..the few times I used it years ago,..I guarantee it was mixed stronger than that. Maybe that's why I had such a time dissolving it,..too much in too little water. Also,..the addition of a light acid (Vinegar),...is supposed to make dissolving easier.

As a cleaner I wouldn't use it,..but as a preventive,..and expectations of longevity,..I would use it over liquid hypo.

Jeff

-- Edited by Jeff Wible on Tuesday 22nd of July 2014 06:27:05 AM

Dave O · Retired Member

According to GAF, copper will help to inhibit algae growth but will not eradicate existing algae.

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Dave O wrote:
According to GAF, copper will help to inhibit algae growth but will not eradicate existing algae.

They're wrong! I've not only done it,..but have also seen home owners used it, and it works,..no questions asked! Just too slow to market as a "cleaner"

But,.it will kill it dead.

Jeff

william morris · Exterior Cleaner

Jeff are you saying that u would apply Copper Sulflate after a hypo clean to give more of a kick of life to combat algae growth.Reason I ask is Roof a cide says the use of hypo voids there warranty I think its a crock but not for sure. Thanks for the knowledge. Live long and prosper.

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Hey William,..no I'm not saying that. What I'm referring to is treating an unstained fairly new roof with copper sulfate. A roof just cleaned will have decent longevity anyhow. The idea would be to apply a low dose of copper sulfate every 3-5 years so as to never see the stains to begin with.

Or you could clean a roof with hypo, and then in a few years do the treatment with copper sulfate.

I believe A low dose of copper sulfate would be more effective than a low dose of liquid hypo as a preventive application.

Jeff

william morris · Exterior Cleaner

10-4 Jeff Thanks

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Heres a Roof Stain Blocker

DEFY Stain Blocker for Roofs

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Product Datasheets

MSDS
Product Data Sheet

Prevent black roof stains from returning as quickly. DEFY® Stain Blocker for Roofs is an effective way to block many stains from reoccurring. It helps maintain the appearance of recently cleaned asphalt roof shingles, tile roofs, cedar roofs, and more. Once the roof has been properly cleaned and rinsed it should be treated with DEFY® Stain Blocker.

Maintenance coats should be re-applied about every 2-3 years or at the first sign of the stains return. This product is also effective on nearly any exterior painted or unpainted hard surface once stains have been removed.

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- See more at: http://www.saversystems.com/products/roof-cleaning-products/defy-stain-blocker-for-roofs.html#sthash.Jx9RB2ad.dpuf

william morris · Exterior Cleaner

Hey Art my guess is this is copper sulflate based. Interesting find sir.

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Although I can see the benefit of treatments,...But preventive cleaning as a much tougher sell than a cleaning with visual results. And I can't blame anyone for not getting something done "before" it seems to need done. I'm really not much of a salesman though.

With that said,.. As stated I'm not much of a salesman, I don't really care to be,..I don't want to sell anyone anything they may not already be interested in,...I may go as far as mentioning a moldy roof or concrete being cleanable but that's where it ends if they don't show any interest. I don't know there financial situation,..and don't want to be a PITA. In fact I used to tell customers with "clean" houses that their house didn't need cleaned and they wouldn't see much of a difference. Then I had a lady tell me she wants it done anyhow so she NEVER have to see dirt and she still wants it done,..made sense to me. And since then,..there are lots of regular customers' houses we wash every year,..and there really isn't much visible dirt on the house,..but people like to have them done yearly so they never have to see dirt.

Roofs are kinda' overlooked by customers,..if someone has a clean roof,..they may think there's will never get moldy,..so they'll wait.
Customers in an area with lots of trees may be an easier sell,..especially if their neighbors' house's are covered. And with enough drive I think a preventive service could work with new houses.

Jeff

Dave O · Retired Member

What about moss? I have a customer asking how to prevent moss from growing back. Does anyone know of a product that truly inhibits growth of moss?

SprayWash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff - I agree with you, I think that'll be a really tough sell. Just really can't even imagine what the sales call would be like.

"Hi Mr. customer we want to treat your roof for a problem that hasn't developed yet and you can't see and may or may not ever effect your shingles. By the way the service will cost several hundred dollars".

I do see it as being good upsell for a roofing company however during the initial install process

AC Lockyer · Approved Exterior Cleaner

In the hort / nursery industry we used copper fungicide allot. Infact it is the fungicide of choice on citrus so we use tons of it in Florida. It will kill the existing algae and the rain / weather will wash the dead algae away over time. Actually the 3M granuals they add to shingles to make them fungal resistant are made from copper. Copper does stain and turns things green so you need to watch how you apply it. It also reacts with some paint tints as well. However I can not knock its use because it is a proven fungicide and safe to use.

AC

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff Wible wrote:
Although I can see the benefit of treatments,...But preventive cleaning as a much tougher sell than a cleaning with visual results. And I can't blame anyone for not getting something done "before" it seems to need done. I'm really not much of a salesman though.

With that said,.. As stated I'm not much of a salesman, I don't really care to be,..I don't want to sell anyone anything they may not already be interested in,...I may go as far as mentioning a moldy roof or concrete being cleanable but that's where it ends if they don't show any interest. I don't know there financial situation,..and don't want to be a PITA. In fact I used to tell customers with "clean" houses that their house didn't need cleaned and they wouldn't see much of a difference. Then I had a lady tell me she wants it done anyhow so she NEVER have to see dirt and she still wants it done,..made sense to me. And since then,..there are lots of regular customers' houses we wash every year,..and there really isn't much visible dirt on the house,..but people like to have them done yearly so they never have to see dirt.

Roofs are kinda' overlooked by customers,..if someone has a clean roof,..they may think there's will never get moldy,..so they'll wait.
Customers in an area with lots of trees may be an easier sell,..especially if their neighbors' house's are covered. And with enough drive I think a preventive service could work with new houses.

Jeff

Well, back to the "Hooked On Phonics" tapes.

Jeff

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

This was a good thread

Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

Ted Saunders

Founder, American-ProTech

DEFY Stain Blocker for Roofs

Clear Protection To Prevent Black Roof Stains From Returning