Looking for pictures of damage to metal roofs caused by pressure washers. - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Texas Pressure Clean · Freshmen Member

Looking for pictures of damage to metal roofs caused by pressure washers.

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Metal roofs do take a little pressure to clean them..

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Truth is it takes allot to damage a metal roof. Most pressure and or chems are fine. HOWEVER galvinized metal roofs (tin or grey color) can be seriously damaged by high concentrations of any caustics, acids, etc including BLEACH. Low and slow goes for more than BBQ.

AC

Texas Pressure Clean · Freshmen Member

Yes but these folks want no chems and all pressure.

Doug Rucker · UAMCC Officer

Cleaned a metal roof last week end, using no pressure at all. I have found that a couple applications, heavy rinsing. followed by a nice applicaton/final rinse of Bleach Wash cleans them up very nicely. For heavy stained ones, a couple nice rainfalls takes the "fuzz" right off. the Bleach wash really adds a nice shine to them. I would never do a metal roof that I didn't apply Bleach Wash as the final rinse.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Texas Pressure Clean wrote:
Yes but these folks want no chems and all pressure.

Id walk away then. Sorry.

AC

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Same here let the next contractor have all the headaches.

Chad Peal · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

AC, I want to thank you for issuing the galvanized metal roof warning. Of the 3 leads that I have received (I've been here for only two weeks) 2 of them have been galvanized metal roofs. I am cleaning a store front tomorrow with galvanized metal.

For cleaning galvanized metal roof what percent would you start with and what percent would be your max? (I was thinking start at .75% and possibly work up to a 1.5%) In your experience what concentration dulls zinc coating? How many coatings can I expect to have to apply?

Also, on the house I quoted the home owner is not happy with a new section, he says the new section gets moldy way quicker than the old sections. I told him it probably doesn't have as much zinc. I believe I read somewhere that EPA (I believe) concluded that higher levels of mercury in rivers was caused by the zinc on galvanized metal roofs.

Anyway, should I be timid of doing a job where the homeowner already mentioned a lawsuit against the roofing manufacturer or just fill out a preinspect, take a couple of pics and proceed.

Thanks, again truly grateful to know about the galvanized metal before hand.

Also, I read you said keep it between 6 - 8 on the PH scale. How do you test PH?

Chad Peal · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Finished photo of the store front job

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Only there two weeks and already scoring great jobs? Start a new thread and tell us about how your doing moving from NC to Ft Meyers, FL to start a soft wash biz cold turkey.

AC