Concrete/Asphalt - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Paul Freeman · Junior Member

Concrete/Asphalt

Roof Cleaning San Antonio Texas · Sophmore Member

Your pick-up is in the shop? how would you softwash it you would have to haul chemical?

Patrick Clark · Authorized Professional

Pre Wet the asphalt and rince after you will be fine.

Paul Freeman · Junior Member

I have a 4x8 trailer and a hitch on my business car. As long as I don't need a big ladder I can soft wash all day with that little trailer.

Doug Rucker · UAMCC Officer

Your not on the hook, until AFTER you have started the job. In my opinion.

Paul Freeman · Junior Member

Thanks for heads-up Patrick. Wetting the asphalt down and rinsing sounds like a good plan. I might still lay some Bleach Wash down just to be on the safe side. I love that stuff. Plus, it will probably clean up the lane lines too.

I hear that Doug, but I blame myself for not asking the guy if there was a water spigot. He was standing outside waiting for me when I pulled up and we got to chit chatting about other properties he manages and it just slipped my mind. I'm going to eat it on this one and hope for some future business from the guy. The good news is that the job is only about 5 miles down the road from me, on Industrial Blvd, (I'm sure you know the area) so I can haul an extra 50gal of fresh water and go back to the house to get more if I need too.

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Well, I'm glad to be learning so much about Soft-Washing here. Unfortunately it is too late for one job I lost. I was called to submit an estimate in the country for a house wash, retaining wall, sidewalks, patios, composite deck, gazebo, and a remote mini-barn structure. The barn was the deal breaker. She had no water source out there for me to use. She needed it done the most of all the other projects since they were getting ready to paint it. Had I learned I could SoftWash it, perhaps I'd have secured the job.

Now I'm ready for the next time!!!!

Doug Rucker · UAMCC Officer

Prepping for paint and soft washing are two different animals.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Remember Soft Wash chems will clean whatever they touch. You will do several things,

1. On older asphalt you will leave clean streaks causing you to treat the entire parking lot. Follow Pat's advice.

2. On new asphalt the bleach will interact with the new oil. This is also the same on freshly black topped lots or drives. The areas where the chem runs onto the black top will turn gold. BAD NEWS!

WATER, WATER, WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AC

Chris Francis · Sophmore Member

Please do not use your business car to do this job think about your image that your putting off when you pull trailer with car. What will your customer think about when you pull up with car and trailer.

Paul Freeman · Junior Member

The job was done on Sunday, in an industrial area of town that's pretty much a ghost town on weekends.

I didn't use the car or the softwash rig anyway. I requisitioned a truck, stuck the magnetic signs from my car on it, and hauled the pw rig over there with 500 gallons of water on board. I was concerned that active bleach (with no neutralizer, IE: Bleach Wash) on the asphalt, which was really dirty, would have made a mess that I would have had to clean up. The guy didn't want to pay for the lot to be cleaned. As it was I still rinsed off the parking lanes and low pressure/steam cleaned the lane lines for him.

I have used the car on a couple of softwash jobs in residential areas. Nobody seems to mind and it actually looks pretty good. I don't carry alot of equipment or ladders any bigger than an 8ft step ladder, just the softwash skid I made, 2 50gal tanks, and my hose. IF we need ladders my brother-in-law helps out by bringing them in his 1/2 ton PU - with my signs on it.

I realize this isn't a good situation, but my truck was suppose to be out of the bodyshop weeks ago. So, while it was getting a facelift, I started the seasons advertising campaign because I trusted (my buddy?) at the bodyshop to get my truck done as promised. He's dropped the ball and left me handing. If the dude won't get that truck painted today I'm pulling it out of there. I'll just have to find some time to paint the thing myself.

Doug Rucker · UAMCC Officer

YOu gotta do what you gotta do....important thing is help up your committment. Customers appreciate that. I know I would.

Chris Apple · Freshmen Member

Sounds like you got it done the right way.

Paul Freeman · Junior Member

I went to the account early this morning to get my check (as agreed on) and noticed the curb around the island behind the red truck stuck out like a sore thumb. So, I went home and got the pw rig since I still had a truck and came back and cleaned the curb around it. It cost me a few extra bucks, but the property looked a lot better with that island cleaned. The customer was happy, so it's all good.

I had to pull my truck out of the bodyshop this afternoon. I've got to block it out, re-prime any final repairs, and paint it. I figure it's 12 - 16 hours work for one guy, but I have to work that in around taking care of the wife - who had a bad accident recently.

Brian Deamer · Freshmen Member

AC, is applying lots of water enough to protect new asphalt or do you agree with Paul about putting down some bleach wash first? We have nothing but asphalt up here and I'll be in trouble fast if I don't get this right.

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

One of our first jobs the asphalt was about a month old i think. I had a guy constantly watering but we still got the gold stripes where the hose caused the SH to to not rinse well. Unless the homeowner must have an immediate clean have them wait, and schedule cleaning later. The other option is to note the the newer blacktop and raise your price. We carry a sprinkler for blacktop near garage.

Vic Irish · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

AC Lockyer wrote:
Remember Soft Wash chems will clean whatever they touch. You will do several things,

1. On older asphalt you will leave clean streaks causing you to treat the entire parking lot. Follow Pat's advice.

2. On new asphalt the bleach will interact with the new oil. This is also the same on freshly black topped lots or drives. The areas where the chem runs onto the black top will turn gold. BAD NEWS!

WATER, WATER, WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AC

Are you saying we can still softwash older driveways?

Always have to be concerned with C.W.A. if it's by a storm drain.

Tarps could protect asphalt, where needed, no?

What is the best way to clean an asphalt driveway, anyway?

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

I've cleaned a few older asphalt driveways if they have moss. use brush to push run off onto grass or spray towards grass, don't rely on tarps, focus on rinsing and use buckets or 10" drainage pipe to move water from downspout. If its a new driveway I try to wait 2 months before cleaning near drive. I wouldn't pursue cleaning asphalt driveway. If its dirty, it should probably be recoated.

Vic Irish · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Tim Teed wrote:
I've cleaned a few older asphalt driveways if they have moss. use brush to push run off onto grass or spray towards grass, don't rely on tarps, focus on rinsing and use buckets or 10" drainage pipe to move water from downspout. If its a new driveway I try to wait 2 months before cleaning near drive. I wouldn't pursue cleaning asphalt driveway. If its dirty, it should probably be recoated.

Hey Tim,

Isn't pushing the runoff onto and spraying towards the grass asking for trouble (i.e. killing the grass), or are you saying it is diluted enough to not hurt it?

If water is diluted before it drips out of gutter, and very weak, I wonder if it can still damage the asphalt?

Great point on recoating driveway, and waiting to treat around fresh asphalt. I never would have thought of that.

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

We try to park on street when possible in case we get drips when we work around newer asphalt. We always tell homeowner there will be browning of grass 3-4" in from edge. It will comeback. you may get spots dripping from downspout if it empties right on driveway. Its mostly a matter of managing expectations.