Rain - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Doug G · Junior Member

Rain

Eric Owen · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Doug

Shoot the roofs it will work. I have done plenty while raining or after raining.

Lee Kendall · Junior Member

i have done it in the rain,,, then had to go back!

Vic Irish · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Doug Gore wrote:
Two large jobs scheduled on rain days.....Shut down or shoot.....any thoughts on shooting a wet roof?

Hey Doug, another great subject starter!

I think AC said that getting the surface wet before cleaning is good. Like a sponge works when dry, doesn't pick up anything, but use it when it's wet, it will work better. I believe the surface absorbs the chemical better. Wait, why doesn't that work with plants? Hummmm.

I think your good to clean a rain whetted surface, but not when it is still raining. That will rinse it off too soon.

My 2 cents, but I haven't cleaned squat, yet ;)

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Unsafe ans under productive. Postpone and reschedule for another day.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

John Aloisio · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Not worth it. Wait or else you might be making a trip back and cutting your profit margin

Dan Dykstra · Senior Member

Light mist, we clean. Rain, we dont do roofs

Mike Wedge · SoftWash Systems Master Certified Applicator

I agree with Dan. Also, If the roof is too saturated your chems will not absorb and will money will roll right into the gutters.

Ray Burke · Community Member

there are so many different kinds of rains it's hard to get out of an all-inclusive answer here. If it's an all day gully washer, no we just don't clean then. Steady sustained Drip coming off of the eaves then we typically don't clean a roof. If we know we're going to get a heavy pounding rain in the afternoon, then will certainly try to knock out a roof in the morning.

light to medium all day rain, we will attempt to clean siding and windows. Pretty futile to try and clean soasked flat work however. On wet days we use additional surfactant and or Greenwash.

Spring time Fronts that move through and hang around for a day or so, sometimes best to postpone for them.

summertime afternoon showers, will typically wait out in the truck.

our schedule stays too packed to deal with a lot of rain delays, so SOP for spray wash is to report on rain days anyway, unless you hear from me.

quite often times in the summer, we will go ahead and pre-wet a roof to make it easier to clean. I've seen hot roofs evaporate the mix quicker than it can work.

I know that I have got screwed in the past by giving guys the day off because of forecast rain and then having iworkable conditions after rain passes. I rather have the guys at my beck and call, doing maintenance in the shop, or simply playing gin rummy rather than have to reschedule two crews worth of business because of a non-rain event.

it's honestly one of those things that does not lend itself very well to explanation. Experience really is the best teacher in this scenario.

Doug G · Junior Member

Thanks for all the replies......watching the weather.

As always Ray........youd'a man.

Zach Maynard · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Little sprinkle here and there then we try to get it done, otherwise we just reschedule. Because of safety and its less profitable.

Ray Burke · Community Member

Zach Maynard wrote:
Little sprinkle here and there then we try to get it done, otherwise we just reschedule. Because of safety and its less profitable.

Zach does bring up a very good point, rain will make you much less profitable!!!! However, as far as SWEC is concerned, we'd rather be less profitable than behind in the schedule at this point of the year.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

One sure way to have a beautiful day is to call it off due to rain.

AC

Dan Dykstra · Senior Member

Ok we got the rain figured out, what about high winds. Today we 30mph wind with gusts approaching 50. House washes scheduled today have houses close on all sides. Mist will be blowing all over neighbors houses.
We are not cleaning in this high of wind, but what does everyone else do.

Ray Burke · Community Member

Dan...we'll call off quicker for winds than we will for rain. I'll do single story stuff, but anything high is a no go. Too much liability with blowing bleach.

Micheal Pumphrey · Junior Member

Ray Burke wrote:
Dan...we'll call off quicker for winds than we will for rain. I'll do single story stuff, but anything high is a no go. Too much liability with blowing bleach.

Yup. I agre

im not replacing someone's entire landscape due to flying bleach lol

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Call the day if sustained winds are in excess of 20 mph.

I almost walked right off a three story roof two weeks ago because I was coming up the ladder and got smacked with bleach in my eyes while training a crew. The winds were 20 mph gusting to 30. I was dazed and while clearing my eyes almost walked over the apex of the roof to the other side of the roof which was a transition at the apex from 4/12 to 10/12 pitch. At the last minute I realized what I was doing and stopped within two feet of the transition. High winds also pose a serious safety risk.

AC