What product is best to use for a "gutter brightener"? They usually come clean with the washing of the house and seem to do well when hit with the Bleach Wash. Is there something different I should be selling the customer on?
Josh Scavetta said
Sep 27, 2012
gutter zap or gutter gernade... look on google and buy
Chris Madden said
Sep 27, 2012
mikeparis wrote:
What product is best to use for a "gutter brightener"? They usually come clean with the washing of the house and seem to do well when hit with the Bleach Wash. Is there something different I should be selling the customer on?
I use F-13 Gutter Granade. Best stuff I have used to date!!!
Buy it from Bob at Pressure Tech.
Buy this brush from Paul at Power Wash Store dot Com. It is by far the best brush I have used.
you can also try purple power. We use it all the time and have great results.
Jason Heath said
Sep 28, 2012
I've used gutter zap quite a bit and I like it. I rinse the brush out each time before dipping it again to get the oxidation out. The solution turns milky if I don't and then it seems to get pretty weak by the end of the job. Rinsing the brush out keeps it good and strong for me. Do you have the same thing happen with the f-13, Chris?
Michael Hickey said
Sep 28, 2012
We use battery powered backpack sprayers to pre spray the gutters etc with chemical and then use telescopic poles connected to the mains water to scrub and rinse at the same time. Works very well and the chemical we now use leaves a lovely shine. We use " Gardiner Pole Systems " light weight poles and brushes. Not a plug but very light and durable
Michael Derose said
Sep 28, 2012
Gm what chemical are you using that creates a shine?
Tim Teed said
Sep 28, 2012
Chris what ratio are you using with gutter grenade
Chris Madden said
Sep 28, 2012
tjteed wrote:
Chris what ratio are you using with gutter grenade
8oz. per gal.
Chris Madden said
Sep 28, 2012
PreferredSoftWashing wrote:
I've used gutter zap quite a bit and I like it. I rinse the brush out each time before dipping it again to get the oxidation out. The solution turns milky if I don't and then it seems to get pretty weak by the end of the job. Rinsing the brush out keeps it good and strong for me. Do you have the same thing happen with the f-13, Chris?
I use whats in the bucket till it is gone. It gets all nasty and black but it still works.
I talked with Bob at Pressure Tech on the phone about the F-13, and he said it will keep forever
when mixed with water, just do not mix with SH, as it will weaken the mix. I will use the same
bucket of F-13 mix till it is almost gone. Sometimes it is weeks and it still works just as good as
the day I mixed it. It may be black and look nasty, but it still cleans the gutters.
Here is my process:
- Spray siding on one side of home with house wash.
- Dip brush in bucket of F-13 and run down the length of gutter.
- Work my way back to were I started, working the brush back and forth
- Rinse gutters, and then the siding all the way to the ground.
No extra equipment or steps. I do it right along while I'm washing the
siding.
Chris
Mike Paris said
Sep 28, 2012
Thanks to all of you for the info. Will get some of these items today.
AC Lockyer said
Sep 28, 2012
GM Services wrote:
We use battery powered backpack sprayers to pre spray the gutters etc with chemical and then use telescopic poles connected to the mains water to scrub and rinse at the same time. Works very well and the chemical we now use leaves a lovely shine. We use " Gardiner Pole Systems " light weight poles and brushes. Not a plug but very light and durable
DO NOT USE BACK PACK SPRAYERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF THEY LEAK ACID OR ONE OF THESE CHEMS YOU WILL GET SERIOUSLY BURNED. SOME OF THESE PRODUCTS WHEN ABSORBED IN YOUR SKIN CAN KILL YOU OVERNIGHT.
AC
Dan Signor said
Oct 7, 2012
Folks if your cleaning gutters as part of your exterior cleaning services then LISTEN TO CHRIS! I purchased the F-13 last week and tested it yesterday while doing roof & exterior cleaning. WOW, WOW, WOW!!! This stuff is fantastic! Gutters looked new, home owners absolutely loved the entire package.
This home we cleaned the roof, exterior & concrete. We cleaned the roof and then diluted remaining solution down and cleaned exterior leaving gutters to last. So from photo you can see what was left from house wash and then the difference of using F-13 made. It's so easy too, dip and lightly brush. We then sprayed exterior and gutters with Bleach Wash and rinsed. Chris, thank you buddy!
Everything we cleaned yesterday we used the F-13 on the gutters and had the same results....
Folks if your cleaning gutters as part of your exterior cleaning services then LISTEN TO CHRIS! I purchased the F-13 last week and tested it yesterday while doing roof & exterior cleaning. WOW, WOW, WOW!!! This stuff is fantastic! Gutters looked new, home owners absolutely loved the entire package.
This home we cleaned the roof, exterior & concrete. We cleaned the roof and then diluted remaining solution down and cleaned exterior leaving gutters to last. So from photo you can see what was left from house wash and then the difference of using F-13 made. It's so easy too, dip and lightly brush. We then sprayed exterior and gutters with Bleach Wash and rinsed. Chris, thank you buddy!
Everything we cleaned yesterday we used the F-13 on the gutters and had the same results....
Very Nice Dan!!!
You guys will get use to using the pole with some experience.
It is a cake walk for me now.
Chris
Dan Signor said
Oct 16, 2012
We have completed 11 homes since our F-13 arrived on the 5th and each and every home owner has commented on how great the gutters looked after we were done. Thanks again Chris!
AC Lockyer said
Oct 17, 2012
HP Pro Clean wrote:
We have completed 11 homes since our F-13 arrived on the 5th and each and every home owner has commented on how great the gutters looked after we were done. Thanks again Chris!
Great add on!
AC
Michael Hickey said
Oct 17, 2012
Michael,
We use Citrus Fresh from a company called Mistral. www.mistral.ie should get the home page for you to look at. Its a germicidal hard surface cleaner, degreaser. You could look at the site and get something similar over in the States. There is another chemical on the site called Task Force but it seems to react with the dirt on pvc guttering when left on for a few minutes and leaves an orange stain. Pity because it is really good at dissolving baked on dirt, fungus etc.
AC how can using the backpack cause these burns or worse death? I have been using them for the last 4 years or so. I don't wear them, just sit them on a trolley or haul it around by the straps. Lately we just use the manual pump up ones. One guy pumps the other sprays the guttering using the extended pole, a little slower but no messing with batteries etc.
Michael
AC Lockyer said
Oct 18, 2012
Michael,
Yes dont wear them that solces them all.
AC
Peter Blau said
Nov 2, 2012
Yeah F13 is great. When I added this service I started out using Gutter Zap. It's an OK product, needed to much to clean. F13 like Chris said can be used over and over and over again. Another product I now use is Purple Power. For me, it gets the same results as F13, can be used again and again as well. And it's about 1/3 of the cost as F13. I get the Purple Power from an Auto Zone near me that always carries it (around $25 per 5 gallon). So I not only save on cost per 5 gallon, I save on shipping costs as well and don't have to wait for it to be shipped. In a pinch I can also get it at Walmart (cheap).
Chris Madden said
Nov 2, 2012
CEC wrote:
Yeah F13 is great. When I added this service I started out using Gutter Zap. It's an OK product, needed to much to clean. F13 like Chris said can be used over and over and over again. Another product I now use is Purple Power. For me, it gets the same results as F13, can be used again and again as well. And it's about 1/3 of the cost as F13. I get the Purple Power from an Auto Zone near me that always carries it (around $25 per 5 gallon). So I not only save on cost per 5 gallon, I save on shipping costs as well and don't have to wait for it to be shipped. In a pinch I can also get it at Walmart (cheap).
Do you use the Purple Power straight, or do you cut it with water?
If you do cut it, what is your dilution?
Thanks
Chris
Brian Friel said
Nov 8, 2012
Just remember whenever you are cleaning gutters that sometimes the darkness on the gutters is not caused by dirt but lack of paint underneath. You can get really burned if you are not careful. I have found many gutters that have had the darkness of aluminum showing through the paint that gets worse when you try to clean it. Just like anything you are cleaning, make sure that you test a small area before you do the whole front of the house. Gutter Grenade is the best stuff I have ever used, but it will remove paint on bad gutters.
Brian
-- Edited by PA Roof Cleaning Company on Thursday 8th of November 2012 12:49:05 AM
Tim Teed said
Mar 28, 2013
My guys did some gutters today. The gutter zap works best in these colder days 40 - 60 degree days. gutter grenade doesnt do much in the cold weather. We will go back to gutter grenade if it warms up.
Lee Kendall said
Mar 28, 2013
Michael Derose wrote:
you can also try purple power. We use it all the time and have great results.
Purple power here as well! Same as f-13 and you can get it at walmart or autozone for like 13 bucks
Danny Cronauer said
Mar 29, 2013
Glad this came up, I am going to mix the gutter grenade heavy for these colder days.
Tim Teed said
Mar 29, 2013
Matt Lancaster had said he spoke with Gutter Grenade guys and was told it won't work under 60 degrees, so its not a matter of making it stronger. We tried a gutters saturday with gutter grenade and it didnt do anything, today and a little colder, Zap worked great. Upper 40s and blowing wind.
Mark Fermoyle said
Mar 29, 2013
Lee Kendall wrote:
Michael Derose wrote:
you can also try purple power. We use it all the time and have great results.
Purple power here as well! Same as f-13 and you can get it at walmart or autozone for like 13 bucks
Lee,
Do you dilute the Purple Power or use it full strength? Do you simply spray it on and rinse off, or do you have to brush it on and then rinse??
Jeff Thompson said
Apr 2, 2013
Gutter Grenade. It was the first product I ever used for gutters and have never had a reason to look for anything else.
Peter Blau said
Apr 7, 2013
Chris Madden wrote:
CEC wrote:
Yeah F13 is great. When I added this service I started out using Gutter Zap. It's an OK product, needed to much to clean. F13 like Chris said can be used over and over and over again. Another product I now use is Purple Power. For me, it gets the same results as F13, can be used again and again as well. And it's about 1/3 of the cost as F13. I get the Purple Power from an Auto Zone near me that always carries it (around $25 per 5 gallon). So I not only save on cost per 5 gallon, I save on shipping costs as well and don't have to wait for it to be shipped. In a pinch I can also get it at Walmart (cheap).
Do you use the Purple Power straight, or do you cut it with water?
If you do cut it, what is your dilution?
Thanks
Chris
Hey Chris how have you been? I tried getting in touch with you in Feb and March. I see your pic is off the top of the page. Eveything alright?
Sorry for the late reply. I usually use it straight because it can be reused over and over and it's cheap.
Matthew Spyker said
May 18, 2013
Just tried some gutter grenade in a small patch on my gutter and it seems to be turning a bit green? This normal or paint-interaction problem? I diluted well with water.
Mark Fermoyle said
May 18, 2013
Are your gutters painted brown, Matt?
Matthew Spyker said
May 18, 2013
Nope, white. Had some crusty black streaks and thought I'd give it a shot. Maybe I didn't dilute enough? Just put it in a little spray bottle to test.
Mark Fermoyle said
May 18, 2013
Hmm, not sure then. I've heard of interactions with brown and red pigments in paint, but that was in conjunction with the use of SH. Did it remove the streaks? Perhaps you're right, it wasn't diluted enough. Did you agitate it with a brush and rinse well?
Matthew Spyker said
May 18, 2013
Probably didn't brush as well as I should but I washed it well with a garden hose. I cleaned the house yesterday and tried this out today. I wouldn't think there would still be an interaction with the SH but who knows. Guess I'll see in the AM if it still looks greenish.
Mark Fermoyle said
May 18, 2013
Yea, I've never heard of the gutter cleaners interacting with the gutter paint before. The product concentrate is green though, right? Perhaps it needs more dilution. Hopefully someone else on the BB who has experience with GG can shed some light on it for you?
Barry Landis said
May 18, 2013
Is it sort of a lime green color? If so, I've had this happen on gutters that have been repainted. I stopped as soon as I seen what was going on, now I'm very cautious with repainted surfaces and always do test spots.
Steve Salley said
May 18, 2013
F13 We have tried to other products mentioned, but the consistent results we get with F13 is what we are looking for. I very much dislike the process anyway, but the end results are customers raving about their gutters. I have only had to climb up and hand clean two sections of gutters this season, so that pays for the product cost in safety alone.
It is amazing how enhanced roof cleaning looks when the gutters are brightened.
I also want to keep bumping up the price of this service, so we are going to use a "professional" gutter brightening products designed specifically for gutters...
You get the idea. Pays better.
Barry and others, thanks for the reminders to be aware of repainted gutter surfaces.
Tim Teed said
May 18, 2013
we dilute gutter grenade 1 cup to 1 gallon water. We're still using the gutter zap from the cold weather and it works well
Danny Cronauer said
May 18, 2013
Unless the gutters are 1 story, I don't do them anymore. Its always good to have some F-13 on hand.
Matthew Spyker said
May 18, 2013
Barry, yes its a lime green color. I don't know though if they were painted. Bought in 06. The paint around the gutters and everywhere else is untouched. Just gutters....
Zach Maynard said
May 18, 2013
Post a picture it should be very easy to tell if they were painted or not.
Matthew Spyker said
May 19, 2013
Zach - They were painted. Lucky I tested this on my own home first....Now I know what to look out for.
Barry Landis said
May 19, 2013
It seems certain paints and or freshly painted surfaces which haven't quite cured completely will react with the high PH levels in our cleaning compounds. I won't do a job if there was recent painting done for this reason, at least not for a few months after the painting.
Gutter grenade will also turn some white vinyl (like window and door vinyl) a yellowish color but it eventually turns back white.
AC Lockyer said
May 23, 2013
I miss Chris!
AC
Matt Jennemann said
Jun 22, 2013
Just bought 5 gallons of Gutter Grenade from Bob and was wondering what the best mix ratio you guys have found to use for it?
John Aloisio said
Jun 22, 2013
Matt,
we use a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with 4 gallons of water. I have my guys pour out the F13 into 32 oz Gatorade bottles an we keep two on the trucksanti makes it easier and my guys don't waste time or chemical as much. The 8 oz per gallon works fine, as long as the temps are above that 60-65 degree mark.
Tim Teed said
Jun 22, 2013
1 cup per gallon water. Put into a pail with a cover and keep using until empty. It should last for several jobs. We spray gutters first with SH, let it dwell a little bit and hose off. That works on jobs with dirty gutters. If they have the tiger stripes we get out the gutter zap or grenade. Don't oversell the results. Sometimes the gutters are too far gone to get all of the streaks off, and we don't know until we are on job.
What product is best to use for a "gutter brightener"? They usually come clean with the washing of the house and seem to do well when hit with the Bleach Wash. Is there something different I should be selling the customer on?
I use F-13 Gutter Granade. Best stuff I have used to date!!!
Buy it from Bob at Pressure Tech.
Buy this brush from Paul at Power Wash Store dot Com. It is by far the best brush I have used.
Loaf Shape Heavy Fill Multi Position Brush #4516
Loaf Shape Heavy Fill Multi Position Brush #4516
Get this pole from Home Depot
Unger 8ft - 20ft Telescopic Pole - Aluminum 3-Stage with Connect and Clean - Locking Cone and PRO Locking Collar
It will get you all the way to the gutters on a two story home.
If you need to get higher, buy the 30' Unger pole from WCR.
- Mix your gutter cleaner in a 5 gal bucket with a water tight lid.
- Use as needed and secure lid to store till required again.
Chris
Here is one of the best before and afters I got for my gutter cleaning.
Used F-13
Chris
Do you have the same thing happen with the f-13, Chris?
8oz. per gal.
I use whats in the bucket till it is gone. It gets all nasty and black but it still works.
I talked with Bob at Pressure Tech on the phone about the F-13, and he said it will keep forever
when mixed with water, just do not mix with SH, as it will weaken the mix. I will use the same
bucket of F-13 mix till it is almost gone. Sometimes it is weeks and it still works just as good as
the day I mixed it. It may be black and look nasty, but it still cleans the gutters.
Here is my process:
- Spray siding on one side of home with house wash.
- Dip brush in bucket of F-13 and run down the length of gutter.
- Work my way back to were I started, working the brush back and forth
- Rinse gutters, and then the siding all the way to the ground.
No extra equipment or steps. I do it right along while I'm washing the
siding.
Chris
Thanks to all of you for the info. Will get some of these items today.
DO NOT USE BACK PACK SPRAYERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF THEY LEAK ACID OR ONE OF THESE CHEMS YOU WILL GET SERIOUSLY BURNED. SOME OF THESE PRODUCTS WHEN ABSORBED IN YOUR SKIN CAN KILL YOU OVERNIGHT.
AC
Folks if your cleaning gutters as part of your exterior cleaning services then LISTEN TO CHRIS! I purchased the F-13 last week and tested it yesterday while doing roof & exterior cleaning. WOW, WOW, WOW!!! This stuff is fantastic! Gutters looked new, home owners absolutely loved the entire package.
This home we cleaned the roof, exterior & concrete. We cleaned the roof and then diluted remaining solution down and cleaned exterior leaving gutters to last. So from photo you can see what was left from house wash and then the difference of using F-13 made. It's so easy too, dip and lightly brush. We then sprayed exterior and gutters with Bleach Wash and rinsed. Chris, thank you buddy!
Everything we cleaned yesterday we used the F-13 on the gutters and had the same results....
Here are some gutter Pics from a job I worked on today.
Chris
Very Nice Dan!!!
You guys will get use to using the pole with some experience.
It is a cake walk for me now.
Chris
We have completed 11 homes since our F-13 arrived on the 5th and each and every home owner has commented on how great the gutters looked after we were done. Thanks again Chris!
Great add on!
AC
We use Citrus Fresh from a company called Mistral. www.mistral.ie should get the home page for you to look at. Its a germicidal hard surface cleaner, degreaser. You could look at the site and get something similar over in the States. There is another chemical on the site called Task Force but it seems to react with the dirt on pvc guttering when left on for a few minutes and leaves an orange stain. Pity because it is really good at dissolving baked on dirt, fungus etc.
AC how can using the backpack cause these burns or worse death? I have been using them for the last 4 years or so. I don't wear them, just sit them on a trolley or haul it around by the straps. Lately we just use the manual pump up ones. One guy pumps the other sprays the guttering using the extended pole, a little slower but no messing with batteries etc.
Michael
Yes dont wear them that solces them all.
AC
Do you use the Purple Power straight, or do you cut it with water?
If you do cut it, what is your dilution?
Thanks
Chris
Just remember whenever you are cleaning gutters that sometimes the darkness on the gutters is not caused by dirt but lack of paint underneath. You can get really burned if you are not careful. I have found many gutters that have had the darkness of aluminum showing through the paint that gets worse when you try to clean it. Just like anything you are cleaning, make sure that you test a small area before you do the whole front of the house. Gutter Grenade is the best stuff I have ever used, but it will remove paint on bad gutters.
Brian
-- Edited by PA Roof Cleaning Company on Thursday 8th of November 2012 12:49:05 AM
My guys did some gutters today. The gutter zap works best in these colder days 40 - 60 degree days. gutter grenade doesnt do much in the cold weather. We will go back to gutter grenade if it warms up.
Purple power here as well! Same as f-13 and you can get it at walmart or autozone for like 13 bucks
Matt Lancaster had said he spoke with Gutter Grenade guys and was told it won't work under 60 degrees, so its not a matter of making it stronger. We tried a gutters saturday with gutter grenade and it didnt do anything, today and a little colder, Zap worked great. Upper 40s and blowing wind.
Lee,
Do you dilute the Purple Power or use it full strength? Do you simply spray it on and rinse off, or do you have to brush it on and then rinse??
Hey Chris how have you been? I tried getting in touch with you in Feb and March. I see your pic is off the top of the page. Eveything alright?
Sorry for the late reply. I usually use it straight because it can be reused over and over and it's cheap.
It is amazing how enhanced roof cleaning looks when the gutters are brightened.
I also want to keep bumping up the price of this service, so we are going to use a "professional" gutter brightening products designed specifically for gutters...
You get the idea. Pays better.
Barry and others, thanks for the reminders to be aware of repainted gutter surfaces.
we dilute gutter grenade 1 cup to 1 gallon water. We're still using the gutter zap from the cold weather and it works well
Gutter grenade will also turn some white vinyl (like window and door vinyl) a yellowish color but it eventually turns back white.
AC
Matt,
we use a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with 4 gallons of water. I have my guys pour out the F13 into 32 oz Gatorade bottles an we keep two on the trucksanti makes it easier and my guys don't waste time or chemical as much. The 8 oz per gallon works fine, as long as the temps are above that 60-65 degree mark.