Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

I'm not giving advice here. I'm not even saying I would do this, really more just thinking out loud. But if I HAD TO CHEMICALLY wash a roof like that I'd probably put a 50/50 mix in a pump up with a healthy dose of a eco friendly surfactant and LIGHTLY mist it on the roof to the point there was NO run off. Then I'd tell customer it's up to the rains now.

You also need to have a really fat check ready in case a neighbor reports you to a regulatory agency.

Ha! Well, I'm not cleaning the roof. It's the gutters/soffit down both sides, plus the gable on the end with all the windows. It's covered in spider webs and algae. Anything I sprayed there is dropping right in the water.

Do a search and see what comes up that "claims" it is bio friendly and will clean algae. Go the the training page and see if there is anything in the EPA sheet I posted that would be helpful. When people clean their boats, I promise... 90% use whatever they can find that works. What light SH you would use doesn't come close the the salt that gets in the lake after a snow event. There is a fine line here and you want to be right on top of it for fear of that one person who feels they need to make a call and ruin your life.

"The food additive sodium lauryl sulfate may be safely used in food in accordance with the following conditions: (a)the additive meets the following specifications: 1. It is a mixture of sodium alkyl sulfates consisting chiefly of sodium lauryl sulfate and 2. it has a minimum content of 90% sodium alkyl sulfates. It is used or intended for use: 1. As an emulsifier in or with egg whites whereby the additive does not exceed the following limits: egg white solids, 1000 ppm; frozen egg whites, 125 ppm; and liquid egg whites, 125 ppm. 2. As a whipping agent at a level not to exceed 0.5% by weight of gelatine used in the preparation of marshmallows. 3. As a surfactant in fumaric acid-acidulated dry beverage base whereby the additive does not exceed 25 ppm of the finished beverage and such beverage base in not for use in a food for which a standard of identity established under section 401 of the Act precludes such use. As a surfactant in fumaric acid-acidulated fruit juice drinks whereby the additive does not exceed 25 ppm of the finished fruit juice drink and it is not used in a fruit juice drink for which a standard of identity established under section 401 of the Act precludes such use. 4. As a wetting agent at a level not to exceed 10 ppm in the partition of high and low melting fractions of crude vegetable oils and animal fats, provided that the partition step is followed by a conventional refining process that includes alkali neutralization and deodorization of the fats and oils."

Source:
chemistryzone.blogspot.com/2009/08/sodium-lauryl-sulfate-food-additive-and.html

Bryan P wrote:

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Maybe if I pressure washed it with just water first to get all the big stuff of, then went back with light mix to kill the algae. I'll keep thinking on it. Thanks for the input so far. One of the hard things is access on that gable end. He said the last tied himself to the post and leaned out over the water. 

-- Edited by Bryan P on Tuesday 28th of June 2016 11:28:04 AM

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 Bryan, if you do the rope thing will you please post a pic, I'd love to see that trick performed lol

Pinky wrote:

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I would use Sodium Per-carbonate and Dawn. It won't kill it completely and make it disappear like SH but it seems to cause it to release it's bond from the structure and can be lightly power washed off. When I am doing a deck I also spray the siding above the deck (because why not I am there.Plus I like doing extra for customers) and clean it. Comes right off. A touch of Sodium Metasilicate wouldn't hurt either.

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 Thanks David.  I think this might be a good approach.  Gonna read all the info on Sodium percabonate.  I have 10 lb of it here already. 

What does the Sodium Metasilicate do?

I have a similar situation,..I have a little bridge to clean,..fairly new,..so Sodium Percarbonate or even just water will do. But this guy also wants it sealed with an oil based sealer. I typically don't seal or stain wood,..but this guy is a really good customer and wants me to do it,..so I agreed.

The little bridge runs over a small 5' wide stream on his property and into a pond . We have a local company here in Central, Pa that specializes in oil spills,...they make absorbent socks that sucks up oil,..but not water. I emailed them and am waiting for a response,..but my plan is to place these across the stream and trap the oil based sealer before it gets to the pond. Waiting to see what they say about that idea.

The reason I mention it is because they also sell matting and socks that will suck up chemicals,...something to maybe have on hand for water type issues. Costly,..but these people who have projects that require special provisions have to pay the cost to have the work done responsibly.

https://www.newpig.com/

Jeff

EDIT:  After further thought,..not sure how these socks could work on chemicals that are water soluble? 

 

-- Edited by Jeff Wible on Tuesday 5th of July 2016 06:31:37 AM