Which starter system is better? - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Doug G · Junior Member

Which starter system is better?

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Both good companies.
If you use AC's products, just buy everything from Powerwashstore. He stocks AC's products.
Powerwash store is always supporting AC's events and constantly traveling to UAMCC events.
I usually buy my stuff from J. Racenstein only because he is closer.
All 3 companies give great service.
I like the twin pump. there are a few things they can add-on and price will be about same.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Or maybe this one The Softwash Rogue sold exclusively at J. Racenstein. $2,999.00 but they are getting ready to do a spring special for $2,499.00. This is not a SoftWash Systems piece of equipment but it is however an AC Lockyer endorsed & designed system. 100% ready to spray everything to spray a roof except chems and a battery.

Chemical resistant 6061 Aircraft Aluminum Skid with Fork Lift Pockets & Tailgate level reel stand.
50 Gallon Poly Tank.
Shureflo 3gpm 45 psi pump with cooling fins.
Titan 18" Aluminum & Stainless Manual Reel w/ 200' of Clear Braid 1/2" ID hose.
Dual flow plumbing system with poly choice valve for spray or recirculate operations.
12 Volt wiring system & Switch.
Poly Trigger Gun.
00/20 & 40/20 stainless steel couplers with brass spray tips and quick connects.
Rear compartment can be sealed against the tailgate when closed keeping weather and thieves out of your stuff.

AC

-- Edited by AC Lockyer on Thursday 30th of January 2014 03:05:13 PM

-- Edited by AC Lockyer on Thursday 30th of January 2014 04:12:14 PM

-- Edited by AC Lockyer on Thursday 30th of January 2014 04:43:44 PM

Doug G · Junior Member

AC....I'm willing to listen but help me understand the extra $1000 cost;

The Softwash Rogue has a Shureflo 3gpm 45 psi pump

The Power Wash unit has Dual 4.7 gpm 60 psi pumps......two of them and more GPM's and PSI

The other differences are somewhat of a "wash" (no pun intended)

I can get a 100 gallon tank locally.

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Why such a small pump on the sprite system. That would be geared more for applying sodium hydroxide for deck cleaning.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Charles Trins wrote:
AC....I'm willing to listen but help me understand the extra $1000 cost;
The Softwash Rogue has a Shureflo 3gpm 45 psi pump
The Power Wash unit has Dual 4.7 gpm 60 psi pumps......two of them and more GPM's and PSI

The other differences are somewhat of a "wash" (no pun intended)
I can get a 100 gallon tank locally.

Well you do have to mount that tank. Skid for tank to sit on, stainless hardware, stainless straps, chafe guards for straps, bulk head fittings for tank, fill spout for legally adding water to tank, When you look it all over and add your time adding a tank correctly is a $500 item.

Also our system wont tip over. Look at some of the systems on the market that are top heavy with the reel atop and no reinforcing skid below and no tank counterweight.

Biggest thing is anything I design has been designed by a roof cleaner with 24 years experience and not by an equipment supply company that likely has never cleaned an entire roof let alone over 70,000. Trust me the Rogue is TURN KEY. What is your time worth?

AC

Mike Wedge · SoftWash Systems Master Certified Applicator

Charles all three systems would work fine.Also I think your time now that your just starting does not count as money spent. You probably won't even be paying yourself the first year. It counts as a necessity. Even if you had to spend three days figuring out how to get it all together chances are you don't have any jobs scheduled for the day after it arrives. Also your local fabrication shop or welder can build you a skid for less than $200(4x6 w 3"aluminum or stainless channel, 4 crossmembers and 1/4" plate). Also go with the two 55gallon tanks form PWS They come with all brackets, straps and mounting hardware and all plumbing with Banjo Fittings.( I use one for straight Bleach and the other for mix. And the twin pump system allows me to use the extra pump as a transfer pump) Or a 70and 30 gallon set up. 100 gallon tanks don't leave you much room as most states have a maximum storage requirement (usually around 110-120)that will often require you to have a special license in your state.

I am positive that AC's boys designed a great system that looks very professional, but you can be certain you will be walking a lot of roofs with that pump. I have the Gen 2 from PWS and it still cant fan spray more than 20' of course you could use the 0'tip if you wan't to dump copious amounts of mix on the roof and money thru the gutters. The ideal situation for me is to be able to fan as much as possible and than 0' what I cannot reach. I personally always start at the bottom and work my way up. this allows me to see exactly the amount of coverage I am laying down and be certain that all areas are coated. It also allows the new flow to disperse evenly where they meet.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Mike Wedge wrote:
Charles
I am positive that AC's boys designed a great system that looks very professional, but you can be certain you will be walking a lot of roofs with that pump.

Actually that pump Mike is the pump I built Mallard Systems my three branch 4.8 million dollar a year company on. The fact is even with the Flojet 7 gpm 80 psi pump we use on our Cradle Skid the operating pressure at the reel for spraying is 45 psi at 3.5 gallons a min. The system shown above shoots with a 00/20 tip at about 35 to 50 feet depending on wind etc. This is also the same pump Mallard Systems is using today and that series pump has been used for cleaning roofs as a bedrock for over 20 years now. It's a great pump!

AC

Vic Irish · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

AC Lockyer wrote:
Or maybe this one The Softwash Rogue sold exclusively at J. Racenstein. $2,999.00 but they are getting ready to do a spring special for $2,499.00. This is not a SoftWash Systems piece of equipment but it is however an AC Lockyer endorsed & designed system. 100% ready to spray everything to spray a roof except chems and a battery.
Chemical resistant 6061 Aircraft Aluminum Skid with Fork Lift Pockets & Tailgate level reel stand.
50 Gallon Poly Tank.
Shureflo 3gpm 45 psi pump with cooling fins.
Titan 18" Aluminum & Stainless Manual Reel w/ 200' of Clear Braid 1/2" ID hose.
Dual flow plumbing system with poly choice valve for spray or recirculate operations.
12 Volt wiring system & Switch.
Poly Trigger Gun.
00/20 & 40/20 stainless steel couplers with brass spray tips and quick connects.
Rear compartment can be sealed against the tailgate when closed keeping weather and thieves out of your stuff.
AC

So we don't need an accumulator?

-- Edited by Vic Irish on Friday 31st of January 2014 02:42:18 PM

Mike Wedge · SoftWash Systems Master Certified Applicator

AC, my assumptions were merely based on the specs Charles supplied and the results I get with a Larger pump. I also factored in the experience I had with a SoftWash Skid that could not reach the top of a twenty foot roof from the gutter line. Also, If you read all the post you will see that I am not the only one that commented on the smaller pump, yet you chose to single out me. Not cool Boss, I was not trying to say it wasn't a good system in fact I said it's a good system. I was merely stating my opinion based off experience. I know none of us have the track record you do, but this is a forum where we try our best to help each other out. And sometimes people won't say it to your face but they don't have the money to purchase Everything from you. Your prices are out of a lot of peoples range and that's fine. If they're the best they should cost more, I just feel a responsibility to help provide them the same opportunity I was given to get to the point where they can upgrade. SoftWash Systems is not a franchise, these are individual companies where people are excited and just wanting a chance to better their lives. Building a company that does 4.8 million dollars is amazing, you are truly a pioneer and I owe you a great bit of gratitude as a huge portion of my success is directly related to you and this forum. But, You tell the story of your start up and how you had a beat up old truck and pressure washer and turner it into this amazing company, yet you fail to realize that the people starting out are usually where you were at that time. Broke, afraid and looking for answers.

That's just my thoughts and where I was coming from AC. I am not trying to talk bad about anything you put your name on, just providing options.

Sorry if I pissed you off as it was not my intention.

Aloha

Mike Wedge

Doug Rucker · UAMCC Officer

I have 3 of the dual roof pump systems from powerwashstore.com and love them. Been using them for 3 years now and wouldn't use any other electric system. They are pretty much bullet proof. Easy to set up and use, easy to change out the pumps WHEN they fail, and backed by the finest customer service team you will ever find at powerwashstore.com By the way, I once had a fat boy, but had nothing but problems with it.

The dual pump system is also so much easier for transferring your SH from one tank to another whether on the job site or at the warehouse. We use one pump for transferring and the other for cleaning. I actually laugh at the term applied to this system as a "starter" system. Makes no sense to me. I have been in this business over 25 years. and you won't find a better value for your exterior cleaning business than this one. Whether your starting or experienced.

Hope this helps. Feel free to call me anytime with questions.

Doug G · Junior Member

Doug Rucker wrote:
I have 3 of the dual roof pump systems from powerwashstore.com and love them. Been using them for 3 years now and wouldn't use any other electric system. They are pretty much bullet proof. .......

......... I have been in this business over 25 years. and you won't find a better value for your exterior cleaning business than this one. Whether your starting or experienced.

I was sold based on Mike Wedge's reply but.....BOOM...that's an answer that's like fully cured cement boots!

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Vic Irish wrote:
AC Lockyer wrote:
Or maybe this one The Softwash Rogue sold exclusively at J. Racenstein. $2,999.00 but they are getting ready to do a spring special for $2,499.00. This is not a SoftWash Systems piece of equipment but it is however an AC Lockyer endorsed & designed system. 100% ready to spray everything to spray a roof except chems and a battery.
Chemical resistant 6061 Aircraft Aluminum Skid with Fork Lift Pockets & Tailgate level reel stand.
50 Gallon Poly Tank.
Shureflo 3gpm 45 psi pump with cooling fins.
Titan 18" Aluminum & Stainless Manual Reel w/ 200' of Clear Braid 1/2" ID hose.
Dual flow plumbing system with poly choice valve for spray or recirculate operations.
12 Volt wiring system & Switch.
Poly Trigger Gun.
00/20 & 40/20 stainless steel couplers with brass spray tips and quick connects.
Rear compartment can be sealed against the tailgate when closed keeping weather and thieves out of your stuff.
AC

So we don't need an accumulator?

-- Edited by Vic Irish on Friday 31st of January 2014 02:42:18 PM

Accumulators are really only used when pumps are mis matched for the fluid dynamics of the system. If you are using appropriate inlet plumbing, outlet plumbing, hose ID and tip oriface sizes you dont have to use the accumulator. Here is the truth. Manufactures of these pumps wont warranty them in general, but they need excuses. One excuse is "you messed with the pressure switch" another "you didnt rinse out the pump" another "you used too strong of bleach" Truth is the pump on the Rogue system is about $150.00 and will clean easily for 4 months before needing replaced. Trash it and buy another pump.

The accumulator only allows the pump to have a small reservoir after the pump to fill so that the pumps pressure switch doesnt turn the pump on and off in a short cycling fashion. That burns up motors. Actually all you have to do is adjust the set screw on the bottom of the pressure switch so that the pump turns on when you open your wand and shuts off when you close. The switch needs to be adjusted because as you add more hose you add more head pressure and as you go up a story or two or three on a roof this also adds head pressure. Just adjust for that.

Everyone have gotten into adding accumulators to these systems because they are trying to use too big of pumps for the application of the chems. Because of the vast experience of this network and my 24 years in the biz we know "less is more" and technique allows you to clean a roof with less chem. Many of these systems have been built for the Duke Nukem mindset of the contractors that want more LOVE on the roof. More LOVE equals more cost and more dead plants.

Please dont take this wrong but the fact is the companies I have owned, this network and my self personally have cleaned more roofs that everyone else in the country combined total. That experience should mean something when buying reliable equipment.

AC

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Mike Wedge wrote:
AC, my assumptions were merely based on the specs Charles supplied and the results I get with a Larger pump. I also factored in the experience I had with a SoftWash Skid that could not reach the top of a twenty foot roof from the gutter line. Also, If you read all the post you will see that I am not the only one that commented on the smaller pump, yet you chose to single out me. Not cool Boss, I was not trying to say it wasn't a good system in fact I said it's a good system. I was merely stating my opinion based off experience. I know none of us have the track record you do, but this is a forum where we try our best to help each other out. And sometimes people won't say it to your face but they don't have the money to purchase Everything from you. Your prices are out of a lot of peoples range and that's fine. If they're the best they should cost more, I just feel a responsibility to help provide them the same opportunity I was given to get to the point where they can upgrade. SoftWash Systems is not a franchise, these are individual companies where people are excited and just wanting a chance to better their lives. Building a company that does 4.8 million dollars is amazing, you are truly a pioneer and I owe you a great bit of gratitude as a huge portion of my success is directly related to you and this forum. But, You tell the story of your start up and how you had a beat up old truck and pressure washer and turner it into this amazing company, yet you fail to realize that the people starting out are usually where you were at that time. Broke, afraid and looking for answers.
That's just my thoughts and where I was coming from AC. I am not trying to talk bad about anything you put your name on, just providing options.
Sorry if I pissed you off as it was not my intention.
Aloha
Mike Wedge

I didnt single you out Mike I merely quoted your text and answered the question it brought to light. Sorry.

AC

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Doug Rucker wrote:
I have 3 of the dual roof pump systems from powerwashstore.com and love them. Been using them for 3 years now and wouldn't use any other electric system. They are pretty much bullet proof. Easy to set up and use, easy to change out the pumps WHEN they fail, and backed by the finest customer service team you will ever find at powerwashstore.com By the way, I once had a fat boy, but had nothing but problems with it.

The dual pump system is also so much easier for transferring your SH from one tank to another whether on the job site or at the warehouse. We use one pump for transferring and the other for cleaning. I actually laugh at the term applied to this system as a "starter" system. Makes no sense to me. I have been in this business over 25 years. and you won't find a better value for your exterior cleaning business than this one. Whether your starting or experienced.

Hope this helps. Feel free to call me anytime with questions.

Agreed, starter system is prob not the best phrase to use. These are lower volume or lower production systems. Maybe component systems. But we all need to remember the delivery systems is not what makes softwashing special its the chemicals. I can clean a roof with softwash water balloons one blast at a time.

AC

Mike Wedge · SoftWash Systems Master Certified Applicator

No AC, What you said was "Actually that pump Mike is the pump I built Mallard Systems my three branch 4.8 million dollar a year company on." It is a direct singling out of me. If it wasn't you would of said something along the lines of Actually guys or actually gang this is the pump I built Mallard Systems my three branch 4.8 million dollar a year company on. I am sorry if I overreacted or mis interpreted your words, but I am coming out of twenty years of construction and we don't let people openly disrespect us, It was just my imbreded instics I guess.

Im working on myself so please bare with me.

Micheal Pumphrey · Junior Member

What does the rogue do that the twin pump system doesn't?

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Micheal Pumphrey wrote:
What does the rogue do that the twin pump system doesn't?

Rouge's main feature is that it is 100% ready to spray just add chems and a battery. No assembly, no buying extra parts, no plumbing.

AC

Matt Jennemann · Junior Member

I run the twin pump system and like it a lot. I had a pressure switch failure and switched pumps in a matter of minutes. My replacement switch cost me under $50 shipped and came in 2 days and took 20 min. to replace. Saved me from having to stop the job half way through. That's a great selling point if you ask me having a spare pump wired and ready to go and have used it for mixing while spraying with the other pump. My 65 gal. tank cost me $169 and my 35 gal. was$79 at Tractor Supply and there in stock all the time. $18 for ratchet straps and tie down anchors and $5 for 1/4 " tech screws to anchor everything down. I can remove everything myself from the bed of my truck in about 10-15 minutes depending on how a long day I had. Just my 2 cents for what it's worth.

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

AC,

Can the Rouge be ordered with / accomodate a larger tank?? If so, what is the largest tank that will fit on that skid?

Thanks,

Mark

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Mark Fermoyle wrote:
AC,

Can the Rouge be ordered with / accomodate a larger tank?? If so, what is the largest tank that will fit on that skid?

Thanks,

Mark

Mark,

It is a 50 gallon tank just like on the full size SWS skid. Most every roof can be cleaned with 50 gallons or less. There really isnt much more room on the Rogue system.

AC