I need some advise, RE: Softwashing a dock - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Paul Freeman · Junior Member

I need some advise, RE: Softwashing a dock

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Paul. Call me in the morn.

AC

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Power wash it with no chemicals.

Paul Freeman · Junior Member

Michael, thanks, but I don't think that's an option. I only have a couple of hours to get this done (due to my own schedule). EFC-38 is also not going to work for me. I can see all that brown goop on the nice white sand now...

This is going to require bleach (or something), that won't make a mess which would take longer to clean up than the washing. Gonna call AC in a little bit.

Doug Rucker · UAMCC Officer

Yep power wash w no chems. Dont use bleach over water.

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

With all do respect i would make time to do it right or reschedule. Using chemicals over water is a big no no. Its your business you do what you want but think about what your doing before you do it and be responsible.

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Without seeing a photo, if its in rough condition, sell him new deck boards. Go with a PVC deck called Gorilla Deck. It installs quick. Just remove the old boards, leave the frame and install. www.longevityvinyl.com. You should be able to buy for around $2.20/lf. The going rate to reface a treated deck in midatlantic area with this product is about $20/sf

Paul Freeman · Junior Member

If there was water under the dock I wouldn't have even entertained the idea of using chems; see my first post. There was no chance of SH getting into the water, not even overspray.

As it turned out, soft washing didn't do the job. It looked better, but it wasn't clean, in my opinion. So, i rearanged rearange my schedule, and pressure washed it. Now it's clean, but it will also have some fuzzy on it which will excel the graying cycle all over again.

I like Tim's idea, that would definately be the way to go.

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

I guess i mis understood you when you said you were worried about pollution. Now that its power washed it will be ready for a good sealant to prevent that graying.

Doug Rucker · UAMCC Officer

The fact that there is water there or not, if the dock extends to where water is, was, or could be again, or rain could push your chems to the river. well, just be careful is all I have to say.

Paul Freeman · Junior Member

Doug Rucker wrote:
The fact that there is water there or not, if the dock extends to where water is, was, or could be again, or rain could push your chems to the river. well, just be careful is all I have to say.

Doug, so what are you saying, the life span of SH is infinate?

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

No doug is saying be careful spraying chems near or around water. The fact is dont pollute our water with chemicals.

Paul Freeman · Junior Member

Here's the dock. The before shot isn't great as far as showing how dirty it was (and a final piece of plastic was added beneath the dock before soft washing started), but both shots cleanly show the dock is not in water.

I found out yesterday that the reason this lake is so low is because it's been drained in order to do dam repairs.

As I said earlier in this thread: First I soft washed the dock, then I perssure washed it because I wasn't satisfied with the results. Before pressure washing it, I neutralized the SH on the entire dock and plastic below. Then, I allowed it to dry while I cleaned some other stuff for this customer, Then, I pressure washed it.

As an added precaution I used a 1505 tip to soft wash the dock. That allowed me to have much more control over the mix at the gun. Any overspray was probably dry before it hit the ground and there was very little drippage from the deck.

Finally, I put the bug in the HO's ear about replacing the toprails and deck boards. The good news is that he didn't outright reject the idea, but he wasn't pleased with the price I gave him to do it. I'm not worried about it, because since the last time I was there, they've added about 3-4K worth of Palm trees to the landscape around the house (which wasn't very heplful to me because I had to wash the house that day too).

Edit: Added a 3rd picture. It doesn't give a good perspective on the proximity of the water to the dock, but it shows how big this place is. The distance from the back of the house to the retaining wall at the end on the yard is about 160ft. The house is 95ft long, and the front yard is about 250ft long. I've cleaned everything at the place except the roof which didn't need to be cleaned. I'm not sure I want to keep working for this guy. Just getting equipment to the back yard is a mammoth task. I needed 300ft lines to get to the end of the dock and to clean that walk. What a PITA.

-- Edited by Exterior Cleaning NW Florida on Sunday 15th of April 2012 08:37:23 AM

Doug Rucker · UAMCC Officer

Michael is right in what I am saying. We all know that it would be perfectly safe to spray that with our SH mix. However, the neighbors and the local governing authority may not. Just saying be very careful spraying chems around or neat a body of water is all. I do lot's of them around here and all I ever use is water and they clean up fine.

Paul Freeman · Junior Member

michael derose wrote:
No doug is saying be careful spraying chems near or around water. The fact is dont pollute our water with chemicals.

I'm ALWAYS careful. Thanks for the insight on Doug's thoughts, but my question was regarding the life span of SH. I thought SH went inactive once it dried up. If I'm mistaken on that, I'd REALLY like to know.

Doug Rucker · UAMCC Officer

Paul you used plastic...that's great. Using plastic you should have no worries. Great Job.

Garrett Bosqui · 5 Star Professional

So I guess I shouldn't just Softwash my dads 41ft Marinette sitting in the dock on the river? Its just covered in mold from sitting all winter. I figured a 1% mix would clean it right up and be much faster than how we normally clean it(Bucket and a brush).