I got an e-mail today that had a few great questions. I decided to repost a few here for all to benifit.
AC
Hey AC,
Love your products and videos and need some help.
I have cleaned 5 roofs using your Soft Wash techniques and additives and have a few questions. All but one of the roofs have come out perfect! but I have one that is light colored and came out blotchy.
My questions are
#1) how much do I have to water plants after a cleaning so I do not get plant damage. we spent more time watering and using plant wash then our cleanings and I think I am doing too much.
When you call to confirm with the customer the schedule the day before ask them to run their sprinkler system through overnight or set up a hose and sprinkler to water sensitive plants. It is important that the soil and plants are not dry. Dry plants will soak up the first moisture they encounter, you don't want that to be diluted chemical solution!!!!!
Rinse the plants according to the Plant & Property Protection Module at SoftWashSystems.com/page_certifications.htm
As a FINAL rinse use the Plant Wash.
#2) I get 90% of my customers with gutters some with gutter guards and wanted to know how much I should flush out gutters, and will it hurt screens or mesh.
I've bagged down spouts, but did not rinse, will this be ok? should I rinse?
DO NOT BAG THE GUTTERS THIS IS A FAILED TECHNIQUE! The only way I have had 100% success dealing with gutters is to plug the gutter downspouts with plastic or a nerf ball and FLOOD the gutters with water using a SWS Gutter Cane. ALL CHEMICALS MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE GUTTERS BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE JOB.
#3) on a light colored roof it came out blotchy and want to know how to make it 100% I used 12% sh at your 3% mix chart, did 3 coats letting each sit for a bit and rinsed. how can I do light roofs and not have this issue. I have attached photos for your review.
Light grey roofs need a little rain. The dead algae should be bleached completely clear or a LIGHT orange color. NO DARK ALGAE SHOULD REMAIN! Do not subscribe to the "it will rinse with the rain" mentality. That is fine with some residual algae ash but be absolutely sure the chemical has completely moved through the algae body. You may need to bump up to a 4% solution on light grey roofs that are bad.
Danny Cronauer said
May 11, 2012
Great post, very informative. I think the plant question varies so greatly, depending on the geographic region of your business. Its hot down in florida, lots of tile roofs, not as many gutters. Up North we have gutters on everything,and mostly shingles. We typically get some soaking rains. We may get a little mist on the plants, but they have already been prewet and continuously watered. Since our gutters are typically diverted away from plants and into grass, the grass would be our main concern. So we flood that like crazy too. Then hit everything with the plant wash, so we know we can sleep easy.
I got an e-mail today that had a few great questions. I decided to repost a few here for all to benifit.
AC
Hey AC,
Love your products and videos and need some help.
I have cleaned 5 roofs using your Soft Wash techniques and additives and have a few questions. All but one of the roofs have come out perfect! but I have one that is light colored and came out blotchy.
My questions are
#1) how much do I have to water plants after a cleaning so I do not get plant damage. we spent more time watering and using plant wash then our cleanings and I think I am doing too much.
When you call to confirm with the customer the schedule the day before ask them to run their sprinkler system through overnight or set up a hose and sprinkler to water sensitive plants. It is important that the soil and plants are not dry. Dry plants will soak up the first moisture they encounter, you don't want that to be diluted chemical solution!!!!!
Rinse the plants according to the Plant & Property Protection Module at SoftWashSystems.com/page_certifications.htm
As a FINAL rinse use the Plant Wash.
#2) I get 90% of my customers with gutters some with gutter guards and wanted to know how much I should flush out gutters, and will it hurt screens or mesh.
I've bagged down spouts, but did not rinse, will this be ok? should I rinse?
DO NOT BAG THE GUTTERS THIS IS A FAILED TECHNIQUE! The only way I have had 100% success dealing with gutters is to plug the gutter downspouts with plastic or a nerf ball and FLOOD the gutters with water using a SWS Gutter Cane. ALL CHEMICALS MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE GUTTERS BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE JOB.
#3) on a light colored roof it came out blotchy and want to know how to make it 100% I used 12% sh at your 3% mix chart, did 3 coats letting each sit for a bit and rinsed. how can I do light roofs and not have this issue. I have attached photos for your review.
Light grey roofs need a little rain. The dead algae should be bleached completely clear or a LIGHT orange color. NO DARK ALGAE SHOULD REMAIN! Do not subscribe to the "it will rinse with the rain" mentality. That is fine with some residual algae ash but be absolutely sure the chemical has completely moved through the algae body. You may need to bump up to a 4% solution on light grey roofs that are bad.
Then hit everything with the plant wash, so we know we can sleep easy.