Composite Deck Cleaning - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Always SoftWash · Freshmen Member

Composite Deck Cleaning

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

YYou have to use a little sh to clean the composite deck. Use a 1.5 % solution on the deck and a 2% solution on the house wash.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

John,

Yes you can just down stream Green Wash onto the deck and LIGHT pressure wash it if that is what you are set on. Mike's recommendation is SOLID as well.

AC

Steve Salley · Junior Member

Call Doug Rucker and ask him about BT200. I am not trying to take anything away from AC's products, just another safe way to clean composite decks etc. We have used it with great success and no worries about ruining the materials.

Get a premium price for the work, and take time to gently clean the deck and the results will surprise you and your customers.

By the way, we used BT200 on a greasy oily garage floor yesterday and within hours you could eat off the floors! It really does have a place on your trucks.

No, I do not get any money for my endorsements... It is just that this group of guys has given us so much, we want to give back. Anything we can offer our customers to add to the value of our services is money in the bank.

Doug has a way to accelerate the cleaning ability of the BT200 in concrete that will amaze you. Call him.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Steve,

BT200 is a wonderful product on concrete for sure!

AC

Christopher LaGrasta · Sophmore Member

hey steve when you use the bt200 for composite decks how do you apply it and how do you remove it thanks chris lagrasta

Steve Salley · Junior Member

Sorry Chris to have taken so long to respond

If I was not busy enough one of my 60 foot stately pine tress was blown apart by a direct lightening hit on Monday night and then yesterday I found out it traveled back to my well head and destroyed the pump at the bottom... and another one on the system in the basement. Two large trees in 3 years same line of sight...

So at 7:00 am I was on a backhoe and in mud all day to restore my water supply so we can function as a family and exterior cleaning company...

Here is what we do:

With a plastic 2 gallon pump up sprayer we make up BT200 at 4-6 oz per gallon and then spray it on the composite decks. We agitate it with a stiff brush and then wait 30- 45 minutes for it to do it work. We go about our other area cleaning and then return to the deck with a very dialed down pressure wash cycle to rinse away the dirt etc.

After final rinse, we often will do a light respray of BT200 and leave it on to continue it's work.

Get customer's smi;e of approval and collect a check.

Jeff Thompson · Junior Member

Can anyone comment on BT200 and its effectiveness on spindles, or any vertical surface.....does it have enough cling to do its magic or is it strictly a deck floor or driveway type product?

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

How about cleaning this mess without a pressure washer? SH or should I use BT200? I got a gallon that just came in.

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Sh will clean that right up with a garden hose rinse.

Jeff Thompson · Junior Member

Michael Derose wrote:
Sh will clean that right up with a garden hose rinse.

Would you go 1%, 2% or 3% SH on this....I have two jobs next week just like this.

John Aloisio · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

We clean a couple this week similar with a 2% mix and a rinse. Works fine.

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

I always try a 1% first because of landscape issues. I would rather do 2 coats then 1 heavy coat. Just use your head around sensitive areas.

Christopher LaGrasta · Sophmore Member

THANKS STEVE THAT WILL BE A GREAT HELP. WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE I WANT TO PICK YOUR BRAIN ON ME USING GREEN WASH FOR ROOFS. IM NOT UNDERSTANDING THE PROPER CHEMICALS THATS BEING USED. ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE USING POOL SHOCK (12.5) ON ROOFS AND ARE SWEARING BY IT. WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU USE AND THE PROCEDURE. THANKS ALOT FYI ANYTHING I CAN DO FROM NEW YORK CITY FOR YOU RELATIVES LET ME KNOW.

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

We all use pool shock mixed with green wash or some form of soap.

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Chris if you go to softwashsystems.com you will see a mixology page and that will help you on your ratios and for what surface your cleaning. http://softwashsystems.com/page_mixology.htm

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Tim Teed wrote:
How about cleaning this mess without a pressure washer? SH or should I use BT200? I got a gallon that just came in.

SoftWash and a brush. Then rinse. (maybe a scraper lol)

AC

Christopher LaGrasta · Sophmore Member

THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME MICHAEL. WHAT ABOUT ROOF SNOTS DO YOU USE THAT AT ALL, AND HOW MUCH GREEN WASH DO YOU USE WITH THE POOL SHOCK. WHATS THE RATIO ONCE AGAIN THANKS FOR YOUR TIME

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

I have not tried the roof snot yet. I like the green wash because it helps with the smell and it allows me to use less SH in my mix.

Christopher LaGrasta · Sophmore Member

ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Chris,

Generally for me, the Green Wash is more than enough. I've used the Roof Snot and keep some handy for the really steep roofs. I'll use it in conjunction with the GW on those steep applications and also use an air aspirating wand instead of a conventional fan tip to multiply my suds and get better dwell time.

Other than that, GW is all you'll need. AC once told us that the reason the GW won't foam up as much is so that it can stay within the "Green Boundaries" of containing NO sulfates. (correct me if I'm wrong, AC).

One day I'll post a video of my foam wand in action. Picked it up at Lafferty. It's just another great tool to have in your tool box.

Christopher LaGrasta · Sophmore Member

thank you mark is it possible to wash roofs by your self (i know that you must rinse the heck of of the bushes and grass etc)

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

It's possible, but certainly not preferable. You should always have a wingman to watch your back. It's also great to have that person keeping the plants wet so that you have more piece of mind as far as preventing possible plant damage. Some plants are much more sensitive than others.

Christopher LaGrasta · Sophmore Member

good point thank you

Bill Booz · Junior Member

Jeff to your question earlier about clinging to the rails. You can add surfactants to any cleaner to make it break surface tension and cling better. Just make sure the products are compatible.

Bill Booz · Junior Member

Chris doing roofs by yourself is asking for not only dead plants but for a serious safety issue. Sure you can do it occasionally but if you get cleaning out there every day alone, the fatigue, stress and no one to have your back will eventually lead to an accident.
Now everything else can be done by one guy. especially the flat work, that's all one guy work.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Bill Booz wrote:
Chris doing roofs by yourself is asking for not only dead plants but for a serious safety issue. Sure you can do it occasionally but if you get cleaning out there every day alone, the fatigue, stress and no one to have your back will eventually lead to an accident.
Now everything else can be done by one guy. especially the flat work, that's all one guy work.

AMEN

Steve Salley · Junior Member

Real life experience...

I had a hose disconnect on Thursday prior to starting our day's work. I got roof mix in my eyes and chemical skin burns right now on my face, arms eyelids etc.. (No, I did not have my safety glasses on at the time-- Yes you may preach to the choir!) I immediately doused myself with the Bleach Wash my ground tech grabbed and then washed myself off with water.

Had I not had a helper there to render aid while i was blinded, I am not sure what worse would have happened. I laid around for 4 days now hoping my sight would clear.

It did, and I will never make two mistakes again:

NO glasses ever while working with this mix
Recommend DIY homeowner's go to the local pool supply and buy SH and clean their own. They will have to find that info from someone else.

THIS EVENT SCARED ME A WHOLE BUNCH! What we do has some serious risks...

One good thing came out of this: The house roof, siding and concrete areas cleaned up beautifully. At least I think so, my vision was a bit blurry on Thursday last week. The neighbor was very impressed and said she would have to tell her husband about us.

Please do not repeat this mistake.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

glad to hear you're okay Steve

Zach Maynard · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

I'm glad your ok Steve, it's no joke when it gets in your eyes.

Doug Rucker · UAMCC Officer

Glad to hear your ok and thanks for sharing.

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Hmmm, milk - who knew?? confuse That's a great tip.

-- Edited by Mark Fermoyle on Monday 29th of April 2013 09:52:21 PM

Dan Wanamaker · Freshmen Member

Steve,

Had the same thing happen to me. Was winterizing and one of my valves stuck on my rig.(hard piped in). Depressurized the lines and went to cut the value off.(Back side of the pump) still under pressure. Direct hit to the eyes.....Thank god i was at home, but was all alone. Flushed for 2 days. Got a good tip that I hope I will never have to use....MILK will neutralize the bleach in the eyes.

Glad both of us are OK.

Bill Booz · Junior Member

Yes Milk does!!! Good call.. Glad your okay guys.

Remember wearing safety gear for SH is actually the law. It's on the shipping label. Ask your SH dealer for details.