HomeRevitalized & VitaRoof - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Bill McMahon · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

HomeRevitalized & VitaRoof

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

Awesome work! Did you soft-wash macy's? have any trouble reaching the top ? How did you team up with the builders?

-- Edited by Danny Cronauer on Monday 26th of November 2012 08:10:38 PM

Bill McMahon · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

We teamed up with a local Home Designer to renew the curb appeal of this gateway home. The entire community is infested.

Bill McMahon · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

This is a slate roof we did early in the summer.

Bill McMahon · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

We teamed up with a local Real Estate Broker to enhance the curb appeal of this house.

Bill McMahon · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

This house belongs to a Realtor friend of ours. We did the front pro bono as a demonstration. The entire community is infested.

Bill McMahon · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

The customer was very concerned about the lichen on his garage roof. We were concerned about getting the dark stains out of a white roof but the results were fantastic. The "Before" pic was actually taken after an initial application because I forgot to take the picture when we arrived. It was much, much worse starting out. After a brief wait and a second treatment the roof looked "Like New".

Bill McMahon · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Thanks, Danny. Yes, we soft washed all of these projects including Macy's. I walked through the job with AC ahead of time and he gave me a great tip. I was going to rent an articulating lift but I ended up fabricating an 8' wand which gave me a significant extended reach (and saved me $800!!). It still wasn't enough to reach the top of the wall mostly because of wind so I treated the top from the roof by working over the parapet wall. As for connecting with other professionals, I committed two weeks this summer to doing nothing but networking and relationship building. I visited these people in person, connected with them online and via phone, and laid the foundation for working with them in the future. It was a hit to my wallet but I looked at it as an investment and it is paying off. Since then, I've used social media to stay in constant touch with them.

Josh Scavetta · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

hey bill what have you been doing to keep your equipment from freezing over night and during the day when its close to freezing out

Bill McMahon · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Hey Josh, during the day hasn't been an issue because the SH moves the freezing point lower than 32 degrees. Its hard to say what the freeze point will be for the mix tank but my guess is somewhere around 25 depending on the amount of SH in the mix. The raw SH tank is much lower. According to the manufacturer's MSDS sheet, 12.5% SH freezes at -10 degrees Farenheit. That said, nights are the concern right now. Temps went down to 27 last week. I've read all of the suggestions for winterization from antifreeze to windshield washer fluid. I think those are great for winter storage but I can't see loading and unloading the system every night and morning, contaminating the mix, and so on. What I did was get a couple of braided water lines from Lowes. I attached various fittings, and I've been using my air compressor to clear the lines, hoses & pumps. I set the compressor at 60psi.

AC, I haven't checked off with you on this so please weigh in.......

1) I attach to the end of the wand and blow the hose back into the mix tank (valves in the "Spray The Roof" setting. After the line is clear, I detach the greenwash line from the diaghram pump and the air clears that in two seconds. I leave it detached.

2) I switch the valve to the multi-port setting. I attach the compressor with a quick connect fitting and clear the lines.

3) I turn the bottom valve to the "Recirculate" setting and clear anything remaining.

4) I open up the two filter housings and drain them.

5) I remove the pressure guage and bring it inside.

There is only one hose that I am not able to clear. It runs from the SH tank. I'm not too concerned about it though because it contains only SH and so freezing isn't a problem. I know I'm on borrowed time but I'm trying to squeeze a few more jobs out of the season. Once I pack up for the winter, I'll load the system with antifreeze or windshield washer fluid and pull all of the pumps and the pressure guage and store them indoors.

I should add that I can do all of this in about 20 minutes now that I have a system down.....

-- Edited by wmcmahonjr on Tuesday 27th of November 2012 08:45:04 AM

AC Lockyer · Administrator

wmcmahonjr wrote:
Hey Josh, during the day hasn't been an issue because the SH moves the freezing point lower than 32 degrees. Its hard to say what the freeze point will be for the mix tank but my guess is somewhere around 25 depending on the amount of SH in the mix. The raw SH tank is much lower. According to the manufacturer's MSDS sheet, 12.5% SH freezes at -10 degrees Farenheit. That said, nights are the concern right now. Temps went down to 27 last week. I've read all of the suggestions for winterization from antifreeze to windshield washer fluid. I think those are great for winter storage but I can't see loading and unloading the system every night and morning, contaminating the mix, and so on. What I did was get a couple of braided water lines from Lowes. I attached various fittings, and I've been using my air compressor to clear the lines, hoses & pumps. I set the compressor at 60psi.

AC, I haven't checked off with you on this so please weigh in.......

1) I attach to the end of the wand and blow the hose back into the mix tank (valves in the "Spray The Roof" setting. After the line is clear, I detach the greenwash line from the diaghram pump and the air clears that in two seconds. I leave it detached.
2) I switch the valve to the multi-port setting. I attach the compressor with a quick connect fitting and clear the lines.
3) I turn the bottom valve to the "Recirculate" setting and clear anything remaining.
4) I open up the two filter housings and drain them.
5) I remove the pressure guage and bring it inside.

There is only one hose that I am not able to clear. It runs from the SH tank. I'm not too concerned about it though because it contains only SH and so freezing isn't a problem. I know I'm on borrowed time but I'm trying to squeeze a few more jobs out of the season. Once I pack up for the winter, I'll load the system with antifreeze or windshield washer fluid and pull all of the pumps and the pressure guage and store them indoors.

I should add that I can do all of this in about 20 minutes now that I have a system down.....

-- Edited by wmcmahonjr on Tuesday 27th of November 2012 08:45:04 AM

Looks good. I believe we have a thread on this already. If you plan on keeping the truck outdoors Id get a cheap heating pad and wrap the pumps with it. Put it on low so the pump heads dont freeze. If your down for the whole winter take the pumps off and store them indoors.

AC

AC Lockyer · Administrator

wmcmahonjr wrote:
We teamed up with a local Home Designer to renew the curb appeal of this gateway home. The entire community is infested.

Thats an awesome one!

AC

Ray Burke · Community Member

Great work Bill! Those are some nice jobs to have for the portfolio!

Paul Freeman · Junior Member

Impressive work Bill, and congrats on the networking!

I don't have a SWS skid, my SW rig is homemade. I use a 50/50 antifreeze/water mix which I keep in my PW float tank (it doesn't get that cold for long periods of time in NW FL). To winterize my PW and SW machines, I switch the feeder valve from the buffer tank(s) to the float tank, draw water from each pump into a bucket until it starts turning green (antifreeze), shut the machine off, and relieve the pressure in the line. I also leave a gun connected each line to keep any little critters out. When the 5gal bucket starts to get full, I'll screen it a few times and dump it back into the float tank.