O SH## - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

O SH##

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Dan make a liter mix and spray the whole thing. That looks like composite. Then after you spray let dwell for about 7 minutes then tinse off with a hosr. U will be fine.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Agreed easy fix, just clean the rest.

AC

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

I'm going to speak with the HO first, I thought the original color was suppose to be grey, if I clean the whole thing, it doesn't look like it will be grey anymore?

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

Well, I went back to the house to receive payment and the wife, is all smiles saying the roof looks great. Mind you it is covered in dead lichen. I am still sick to my stomach at this point. She hands me the cash, I tell her lets walk around back I have to show you something. I show her the spot on the deck. She instantly says "don't worry about it, who is looking at the deck, look at the roof!"

I don't have to spray it again, don't have to replace any boards. Being young and handsome works every time.

Moral of the story, this woman had no idea there was even a spot on the deck. I could have taken the money and not said a word. Instead I did the right thing and it all worked out perfectly.

Dan

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Dan you could of upsold that deck for another 150-300 depending on the size. That deck needs a good cleaning anyway.

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

michael derose wrote:
Dan you could of upsold that deck for another 150-300 depending on the size. That deck needs a good cleaning anyway.

I professionally cleaned my first roof in march, I am still learning the limits of SH(MY BIGGEST FEAR is Damaging something) and plant life scares the heck out of me. I always think I am going to kill something. The perfect example vinyl siding, I am spraying 20ft up in the air and my mix is landing right next to these plants. I think I am going to kill em everytime. My ground guy is great, and then I throw some plant wash on for good measure. I am still learning to trust the love and the process.

Dan

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Maybe we should create a new product and call it "O SH"

AC

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

That can be the new name for the bleach wash. Call it O SH** Wash. Haha

Bill McMahon · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Dan: I'm a new guy too. I've been in and around the home improvement industry for many years and yet I feel all of the same anxiety you are experiencing about this business. I have yet to clean my first roof but that will change soon as my cradle skid system is due to ship anytime. I want you to know that you (and many others here) are an inspiration to me. So much so that this post encouraged me to post my first message. Thanks for being so humble and honest in sharing your experiences. They are a learning opportunity for others. Lastly, I commend you on the way you handled this situation with the customer. You are a true professional who cares about the quality of the service he provides and the satisfaction of his customer. That's a rare combination these days. Your reputation will soon preceed you and I believe you will be very successful.

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

Welcome Bill, glad to have you come on board, establishing some friends on the forum, is a GREAT way to diminish any of the anxiety you may be having. I'm glad my failures could shed some light. Its a learning experience and accidents are going to happen. Hopefully AC makes some of that O SH** wash and we won't have to worry about a thing. Personally I want to get where Mike (Diamond Roof Cleaning) is currently in his business. The less I am spraying the less I have to worry about personally doing some kind of damage. Feel free to send a message or give me a call.

Dan

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Dan thanks for the compliment. Honestly it took a hard and long 5 yrs for me to get to this piont and remove myself from the wand. I must say it was the best decicion i have made. Now dont get me wrong im not sitting at my house lounging and sipping on margeritas everyday. I am out hustling and soliciting work to keep my weeks full and booked heavy. It was a scary decision but the right one. I owe alot to AC for the business plan and encouragement that he gave me to move to this piont in my business. I have tripled my growth since doing the excursion with AC. Right now we on our way to have the busiest month of the year and we are finally making some real money as a whole so far. The best advice i can give is make sure you hire the right lead tech and you will be golden.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Thanks for the compliment Mike!

AC

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

That's great Mike, and definitely my number 1 goal. I am trying to expedite the 5 year process, that is why I am on this forum, trying to learn from the best.

Roof Cleaning Tallahassee · Freshmen Member

I agree with Mike, that deck is pretty dirty.

1.) I would have given the entire deck a light application with the house wash (if you can't upsell the deck). If you don't have a batch, transfer some of the roof mix into a 5 gallon bucket and dilute it down to a house mix. Also remember, when you are switching over to another mix, put your feeder hose in the bucket, spray in the same bucket until the roof mix is purged from your hose. I use 200' of hose so I run it for about a minute or so.

2.) Again, if you can't upsell the deck and arent able to give the deck an application, have the ground guy keep water on the deck from the time you start spraying to the time it stops dripping off the roof / gutters.

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Tallahassee on Wednesday 13th of June 2012 11:34:00 AM

Ryan Freidline · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

A light house wash would have blended the spots, but the roof mix is stronger so there still would have been a difference. It's hard to clean composites because too much SH and they're faded when your done, not enough and it won't come clean. I very much dislike composites because there is no way for a consistent result. There are different brands and at different ages will stain differently and once a knucklehead gets out there and starts blasting it with a pressure washer; forget it after that! They are a pain!
We wet everything down to prevent this from occurring, but it still happens, its a clean spot, don't worry it will go away :)

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

All great info, thanks guys.

Chris Madden · Lead Tech Certified

+1 on keeping the deck wet and rinsed.

I always keep any surrounding surfaces wet,

and rinse as soon as possible when either a

roof or house wash mix is introduced to the

surface.

Chris

Roof Cleaning Tallahassee wrote:

I agree with Mike, that deck is pretty dirty.
1.) I would have given the entire deck a light application with the house wash (if you can't upsell the deck). If you don't have a batch, transfer some of the roof mix into a 5 gallon bucket and dilute it down to a house mix. Also remember, when you are switching over to another mix, put your feeder hose in the bucket, spray in the same bucket until the roof mix is purged from your hose. I use 200' of hose so I run it for about a minute or so.
2.) Again, if you can't upsell the deck and arent able to give the deck an application, have the ground guy keep water on the deck from the time you start spraying to the time it stops dripping off the roof / gutters.

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Tallahassee on Wednesday 13th of June 2012 11:34:00 AM

Brian Friel · Sophmore Member

Dan,

I had the same thing happen my first year. I thought I ruined the deck as well. You will encounter plenty of things along the way that happen just like this. If you take the time to learn about how to clean each type of surface you encounter, you will be able to fix just about any accident without much aggravation.

Composite decks are a good money maker if you know how to clean them. I upsell them all the time. Look at these pictures if you have doubt about them coming clean.

Brian

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

WOW Brian PICS speak 1000 words. What are you doing with the squeege?

I am currently learning how to clean all the surfaces, I started with roofs, moved into siding (vinyl and aluminum) looking towards gutters and concrete after to speaking to Mike from Diamond. Maybe I need to add window cleaning on there too.

Steve Salley · Junior Member

Call Doug Rucker and ask him about BT200 It will amaze you on composite decks and zero worries about plants, decks, furniture etc. the microbes just keep on working long after you leave and when you stop by in a day or two, just be sure you bring your camera.

We will post our results of my CPA's office deck, furniture and table soon and you will see why we are bullet proof on this stuff.

Then when you learn how to use it to clean greasy oil stained concrete, you can upsell the garages too.

By the way, she powerwashed hers and then mentioned that to her friend who is a rep for composite materials and she told her that will void the warranty and do significant damage.

Brian Friel · Sophmore Member

Squeegee was simply to move the dirty standing water off of the deck. The deck boards were so tight in spots that it wouldn't drain and standing pools of water mess up the cleaning mix strength. I use squeegees on every flat surface that we clean. It just makes it easier.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Every Soft Washing truck should have a push broom onboard.

AC

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Sort of had a similar story. SoftWashed a customer's home one day who had severa different areas of wood deck attached to the home.

Came back to do a gutter face renewal and a demonstration on the roof shingles. Not long after we pulled up he asked me, "Mark, what was it you used to clean my house that was able to make all my decks so clean within the first couple feet from my siding?!?"

Trying to get away from doing decks, but looks like a good "tie-in" sale to quickly clean them followed by a good dousing of Bleach Wash???? Then PW the surrounding landscape.

Just not sure I want to get back into decks again though. Just got done letting everyone know I'm not doing decks anymore, just roofs and houses. Need to spend more time with my family. Nice to know if this is an option though.