Discussion on roof mix - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Doug G · Junior Member

Discussion on roof mix

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

That satellite dish isn't going to work in that position.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Your likely getting weak or even stepped on bleach.

AC

Doug Rucker · UAMCC Officer

Michael Derose wrote:
That satellite dish isn't going to work in that position.

LAMO.......

Doug Rucker · UAMCC Officer

Agree w AC...your SH is weak. I will also add that we never have nor never will shoot a roof, except maybe the occasional really bad tile, at a 50/50 mix. Thats just to strong, IMO.

Eric Owen · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Doug,

You should have SCP or Pool Corp in your area SCP is the distributor for Pool Corp and they sell a lot ! of SH at most of their stores.

It sounds like you are getting weak SH even though the label reads 12.5% Check them out SCP.

Doug G · Junior Member

Had not thought of weak SH......comes from PoolSure and is supposed to be fresh in the delivery truck.
Hmmmm

The sat dish was altered into a hair removal device.......if you look at my ground guy, its working just fine.

Huey Miller · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Doug I get mine from Univar.......smoking hot

John Aloisio · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Agreed, weak or stale SH. And we switched to Univar mini bulk this year and it is fresh and Hot.we can clean most roofs with a 2% mix and only using 3 gallons for house mix. My guys noticed the difference the first day back to work this year.

Chris Wegner · Junior Member

Doug....im in the same boat as you spraying heavy/light, extra green wash, 3-4% and im still doing 3-4 coats. Im noticing that it doesnt matter if the roof is Black or not so maybe our SH is not hot enough. My supplier gets deliveries once to twice a week and it is suppose to be 12%.

Does anyone know if there is a way to test the strength of the SH to make sure it is 12%.

Kristofer

Doug G · Junior Member

Huey Miller wrote:
Doug I get mine from Univar.......smoking hot

Guess that's my first phone call this morning since we are neighbors..........Kinda sucks though. My delivery guy never pays attention and they don't use a meter so I always get more and pay for less.......But if the stuff is cut, stale or weak.....I'm paying more and getting less.

Ray Burke · Community Member

there is no reason that rood should no have cleaned up with 3% with 2 coats MAX, especially if you were using greenwash.

I'd look at the SH strength.

Lee Kendall · Junior Member

univar all the way

Zach Maynard · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

3% max for sure on a roof. less for cedar of course.

Steve Salley · Junior Member

We are buying our SH from Univar and this year the stuff is smokin hot!

We run 12-15 gallons SH in our 55 gallon mixes and are cutting back from there on many roofs and getting great results.

We are waiting for our mini bulk tank to be installed, but right now we are running with 300 gallon totes.

Interestingly, we had SH left over from last season and it still cleaned great the first couple weeks of our season. That impressed us because it was still cold outside, yet it worked fine with a little Fresh N Clear sprinkled in the mix.

So, check your SH Doug.

50/50 would scare me that's for sure. My mission is to find how to use less, not more

Bill Booz made a point about application amounts, as has Doug Rucker and this guy named AC... All of them make it clear, proper application will not only save you money, but prevents a lot of issues with runoff in the gutters and ultimately on the ground somewhere. That's liquid profit running into the gutters if excess product is used.

Doug Rucker has taught me the value of patience while the chemical does it's job on the roof. I can shoot most roofs first coat in under 30 minutes, so it is easy to try to beat chemistry by adding more mix. It does not work like that. The time we used to spend fighting excess runoff is now spent enjoying the view from the top-- which usually includes watching the ground guy work! Just kidding

Doug G · Junior Member

Steve Salley wrote:
We are buying our SH from Univar and this year the stuff is smokin hot!

We run 12-15 gallons SH in our 55 gallon mixes and are cutting back from there on many roofs and getting great results.

We are waiting for our mini bulk tank to be installed, but right now we are running with 300 gallon totes.

Interestingly, we had SH left over from last season and it still cleaned great the first couple weeks of our season. That impressed us because it was still cold outside, yet it worked fine with a little Fresh N Clear sprinkled in the mix.

So, check your SH Doug.

50/50 would scare me that's for sure. My mission is to find how to use less, not more

Bill Booz made a point about application amounts, as has Doug Rucker and this guy named AC... All of them make it clear, proper application will not only save you money, but prevents a lot of issues with runoff in the gutters and ultimately on the ground somewhere. That's liquid profit running into the gutters if excess product is used.

Doug Rucker has taught me the value of patience while the chemical does it's job on the roof. I can shoot most roofs first coat in under 30 minutes, so it is easy to try to beat chemistry by adding more mix. It does not work like that. The time we used to spend fighting excess runoff is now spent enjoying the view from the top-- which usually includes watching the ground guy work! Just kidding

Awesome reply Steve.......yea, the ONLY reason I was considering 50/50 was because 30 and 40% were not working. I will buy my first batch from Univar tomorrow and shoot it Monday.....that will certainly tell me all I need to know.

Thanks for all the replies....never crossed my mind about the SH being stepped on....duh....

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Well being born and raised in Miami we think about many things being stepped on. Just ask Croket and Tubbs.

AC

Schall Bradley · Sophmore Member

Sounds like weak SH you should not need to apply that many coats at that high of %

Hank Timmermann · Junior Member

Doug,

How did this(Univar) work out for you?

Hank

Doug G · Junior Member

It came out a ton better. Still had to re-shoot a few areas but no where near as bad as before. I could tell the difference shortly after shooting and watching the GM melt. I'm officially a Univarian.......:}

Hank Timmermann · Junior Member

Doug,

Glad to hear everything is working out. Our normal mix is 65/35. When I first started I was an impatient sort. Now that I've been doing it for several years I've learned that I have to let the mix do it's job. The other thing I learned is more is not better. This applies to mix as well as surfactant. Our sh supplier gets 10,000 gallons a week and their price is the same as Univar. Don't get me wrong Univar is a good company but my supplier really takes care of me.

Again I'm glad the fresh SH is working for you.

Hank

Doug G · Junior Member

Thanks Hank,

Univar is actually even cheaper than my other supplier but will be a pain only because its all 55 gal drums. I need to go get my Hazmat endorsement as well because they will only allow me to take one drum at a time. They don't like to deliver to residential either (my shop is in a rural residential area). They need to d a site survey but they didn't sound to hopeful and they don't offer the mini bulk here.

Jeff Thompson · Junior Member

I would check again with Univar Doug. It's been quite a while, but when I started I bought either two 15 gallon drums or two 30 gallon drums.....can't remember for sure....but I know there were other options rather than just 55 gallon drums.

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Check out renting a storage unit. Cost savings may pay rental plus a more potent SH which is more savings

Zach Maynard · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Doug back when I used to have to pick up my supply I would buy a 55 gallon drum and 2 15 gallon dels so I would still be under the limit.

Zach Maynard · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

I used to have to drive there every other day and it was an hour drive each way. (uphill in the snow)

Brandon Vaughn · SoftWash Systems Pro Staff

Zach Maynard wrote:
I used to have to drive there every other day and it was an hour drive each way. (uphill in the snow)

My Dad used to tell me stories like this - and it was uphill each way too.....

Doug G · Junior Member

Zach Maynard wrote:
I used to have to drive there every other day and it was an hour drive each way. (uphill in the snow)

With no shoes on I bet!

Zach Maynard wrote:
Doug back when I used to have to pick up my supply I would buy a 55 gallon drum and 2 15 gallon dels so I would still be under the limit.

I'll check into that......They are about 35 minutes away and load out is pretty fast so not a big deal if I do need to go every other day.

Micheal Pumphrey · Junior Member

Pm me your cell number and I will forward you the guys number we use at univar. If your home is on the route it's not a big deal. If they have to go out of the way they don't like that.

They have smaller drums than 55 to