Ok, here's the job we did today. DEFINITELY a learning curve on this one. Thought I'd share my experience.
First job with the new SWS skid.
First off, I hit with a 2% mix of CH. Strained through a paint sock and basket strainer. I had no CH leftover in the basket after I ran water through. (Don't know if that's supposed to happen, but it did to me.)
Added GW a little on the heavy side since it was a 14/12 pitch. Non-walkable.
The thick cedar shakes GUZZLED the solution. I hit the whole thing 2x.
The job took me 8 hours from start to finish. If I were to do it again tomorrow - it would take me 6.
I didn't realize the battery on the SWS cradle skid would die so quickly - I only had one. I have used my old Pressurewashstore.com special pump for 3 days on 1 battery charge, but the SWS skid motor eats batt juice for breakfast! So I had to go and buy batteries in the middle of the job. Also realized later that I didn't need to beach wash until the end of the job. I was doing one zone at a time, then bleach washing immediately after. Wasted a ton of time doing that.
I am going back tomorrow to scrub/wash 3 skylights and a window (probably a gutter or two as well). They have terrible CH residue splatters on them, despite my best attempts to keep them rinsed constantly. I had less problems with CH residue this time, but still need to dial it in.
Maybe I'm crazy for doing this, but I used my 100 gallon tank to "one-batch" my CH. I had the 100 lb pail of CH and mixed in the amount for each load. Then, once I realized I bought the wrong venturi style hose end sprayer for my bleach wash (not enough flow to stream tip the top of the roof) - I loaded my 50 gallon tank with BW mixed.
It seemed to work pretty well, except for the time it took for the bleach to clear the hose and switch to BW and back again. But on the upside it was SUPER easy to simply run my 50 gallon tank through my system at the end of the day, wash down the truck and leave it in there to keep it bleach neutral.
Anyone else do this? Am I crazy to lean toward keeping BW in my 50 gallon tank permanently??
Overall, I was impressed with the total clean results about a 7 out of 10. There was still a lot of staining and spotting on the cedar that it didn't seem to cut fully - especially when you got up close (see pics). Homeowner was happy, but I told her I'd still come back in a few weeks and check on the progress and re-treat if it wasn't coming as clean as I'd like. I'm pretty anal about how something looks with my name on it. I want it to look AWESOME. When I was done - it just wasn't quite there.
Anyways, hope my experience helps someone new out there someday.
Try using the Gilmour 362 hose end sprayer. You will get more distance with BW. We bleach wash as we go. I wouldnt wait until the end of the day to bleachwash. The cedar will turn silver again in a few months. Manage customer expectations. Wood has many different natural graining/streaks. It takes the longest to rinse, and that is where the booster pump helps. Keep the batteries charged or you will increase GW usage.
Danny Cronauer said
Sep 10, 2013
Well I hope we figure out why it doesn't look perfect, I have my first cedar job on Thursday. I think its the only cedar roof in 50 miles.
AC Lockyer said
Sep 10, 2013
Brandon,
The color you got back out of the roof after soft washing looks great! Just needs a little rain now.
AC
Brandon Vaughn said
Sep 10, 2013
AC, I'm happy with color, but the spots, and stuff on the last pic - normal? No problems?
AC Lockyer said
Sep 11, 2013
Yes that inconsistancy will rinse away.
AC
Alejandro Riojas said
Sep 11, 2013
what would you do if there was no rain like in south texas ac? Today finally we got some but these are rate occurrences haha
Dan Dykstra said
Sep 11, 2013
1. I run one battery on my system and have not had a problem with it, I have an onboard charger and I plug in every nite after work so there is always a full charge and I also have it set up so if my SWS battery is running low I can throw a switch and add the truck battery (just remember to run the truck every couple of hours when you do this)
2. skylights/windows - I have found that about the only thing to clean them once they have sat so long is vinegar and water mix. anything else and your wasting your time.
3. I only use the 100 gallon tank for straight bleach and mix in my 50 gal. I always bleach wash each section as I clear it. Gilmour 362 hose end sprayer works great.
4. When you go back tomorrow I think you will be happy with the way it looks.
I did a garage today that had cedar shake, turned out pretty good. I use a 1.5% mix - dwell 10 minutes then rinse like crazy. I do pre-wet the cedar before applying the mix. I did each side of this garage in 4 sections.
Nice job. The rain will even out the spots. We used to carry 2 group 27, marine batteries, run in parallel at all times, but I have switched over to 12 volt Trojan golf cart batteries. One can last like two days. We carry a backup marine battery just in case, but they are worth the extra 50 bucks. They just weight around 92 pounds each which is heavy.
Brandon Vaughn said
Sep 11, 2013
Dan - THANK YOU for the advice and reply.
John, do the golf cart batteries charge easily? Do you carry one or two now? Do you have the stealth charger on them?
Ok, here's the job we did today. DEFINITELY a learning curve on this one. Thought I'd share my experience.
First job with the new SWS skid.
First off, I hit with a 2% mix of CH. Strained through a paint sock and basket strainer. I had no CH leftover in the basket after I ran water through. (Don't know if that's supposed to happen, but it did to me.)
Added GW a little on the heavy side since it was a 14/12 pitch. Non-walkable.
The thick cedar shakes GUZZLED the solution. I hit the whole thing 2x.
The job took me 8 hours from start to finish. If I were to do it again tomorrow - it would take me 6.
I didn't realize the battery on the SWS cradle skid would die so quickly - I only had one. I have used my old Pressurewashstore.com special pump for 3 days on 1 battery charge, but the SWS skid motor eats batt juice for breakfast! So I had to go and buy batteries in the middle of the job. Also realized later that I didn't need to beach wash until the end of the job. I was doing one zone at a time, then bleach washing immediately after. Wasted a ton of time doing that.
I am going back tomorrow to scrub/wash 3 skylights and a window (probably a gutter or two as well). They have terrible CH residue splatters on them, despite my best attempts to keep them rinsed constantly. I had less problems with CH residue this time, but still need to dial it in.
Maybe I'm crazy for doing this, but I used my 100 gallon tank to "one-batch" my CH. I had the 100 lb pail of CH and mixed in the amount for each load. Then, once I realized I bought the wrong venturi style hose end sprayer for my bleach wash (not enough flow to stream tip the top of the roof) - I loaded my 50 gallon tank with BW mixed.
It seemed to work pretty well, except for the time it took for the bleach to clear the hose and switch to BW and back again. But on the upside it was SUPER easy to simply run my 50 gallon tank through my system at the end of the day, wash down the truck and leave it in there to keep it bleach neutral.
Anyone else do this? Am I crazy to lean toward keeping BW in my 50 gallon tank permanently??
Overall, I was impressed with the total clean results about a 7 out of 10. There was still a lot of staining and spotting on the cedar that it didn't seem to cut fully - especially when you got up close (see pics). Homeowner was happy, but I told her I'd still come back in a few weeks and check on the progress and re-treat if it wasn't coming as clean as I'd like. I'm pretty anal about how something looks with my name on it. I want it to look AWESOME. When I was done - it just wasn't quite there.
Anyways, hope my experience helps someone new out there someday.
Try using the Gilmour 362 hose end sprayer. You will get more distance with BW. We bleach wash as we go. I wouldnt wait until the end of the day to bleachwash. The cedar will turn silver again in a few months. Manage customer expectations. Wood has many different natural graining/streaks. It takes the longest to rinse, and that is where the booster pump helps. Keep the batteries charged or you will increase GW usage.
The color you got back out of the roof after soft washing looks great! Just needs a little rain now.
AC
AC, I'm happy with color, but the spots, and stuff on the last pic - normal? No problems?
AC
what would you do if there was no rain like in south texas ac? Today finally we got some but these are rate occurrences haha
1. I run one battery on my system and have not had a problem with it, I have an onboard charger and I plug in every nite after work so there is always a full charge and I also have it set up so if my SWS battery is running low I can throw a switch and add the truck battery (just remember to run the truck every couple of hours when you do this)
2. skylights/windows - I have found that about the only thing to clean them once they have sat so long is vinegar and water mix. anything else and your wasting your time.
3. I only use the 100 gallon tank for straight bleach and mix in my 50 gal. I always bleach wash each section as I clear it. Gilmour 362 hose end sprayer works great.
4. When you go back tomorrow I think you will be happy with the way it looks.
I did a garage today that had cedar shake, turned out pretty good. I use a 1.5% mix - dwell 10 minutes then rinse like crazy. I do pre-wet the cedar before applying the mix. I did each side of this garage in 4 sections.
Brandon,
Nice job. The rain will even out the spots. We used to carry 2 group 27, marine batteries, run in parallel at all times, but I have switched over to 12 volt Trojan golf cart batteries. One can last like two days. We carry a backup marine battery just in case, but they are worth the extra 50 bucks. They just weight around 92 pounds each which is heavy.
Dan - THANK YOU for the advice and reply.
John, do the golf cart batteries charge easily? Do you carry one or two now? Do you have the stealth charger on them?
Apologies for the interrogation... ;)