Roof Cleaning Question

heykellymichelle · 10-01-2008, 08:10 AM

Hi everyone,

We were thinking about annexing the family business (Tom Archibald Builders) to include roof cleaning as well, and I was wondering if anybody had any thoughts or advice or experience to share? Cleaning products, techniques, etc, you could recommend? We're still in the research stage and we wanted to hear what they're using out in the field. We're general contractors now but would like to expand, and this is one area we were looking into.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Robja · 10-01-2008, 10:00 AM

One thing to look at is the Workers Comp is more expensive when you do any kind of roof work.

gottaflylee · 10-01-2008, 10:09 AM

I clean ours with good ole water and Clorox in a low pressure sprayer, let sit and rinse with water. NO hi pressure. 4/12 pitch and 28 years on the same singles...

eyefish2good · 10-01-2008, 10:22 AM

Depends on where you live and the type you are cleaning. I had a pressure/roof cleaning business in S. Fl. for about 6 years and did it for 5 before opening my own.
If you have more specific questions I'll be more then happy to help.

wtownflyfisher · 10-01-2008, 10:25 AM

Cleaning what types of roofs? Steep slope (residential shingles/wood/tile) or Low Slope (pvc/tpo/etc), if you're cleaning shingle algae(black streaks or moss) there's a bunch of products on the market that you could use with a low pressure washer. Not sure what the market is for it is though.... the best business opportunity would be in the cleaning and power washing of energy star approved flat roofs on commercial/industrial buildings. Most owners/prop. managers forget that they loose most of the value of a solar reflective roof surface if they don't clean it yearly.

heykellymichelle · 10-01-2008, 11:14 AM

We were thinking residential, mostly shingles, going after the black mold and algae that are running rampant in this area (Jersey).

Eye, thanks for the offer, I know my Dad has been making calls (I'm doing the web legwork) so I'll get him to get a hold of you.

Some places we've looked have rallied against the bleach and the chlorine because it kills the vegitation, some have espoused eco-friendly products, some have said go with the hydro-solutions, some have said bleach is the only thing that works, some have said the bleach will reduce the life of a shingle by years, some have said the solutions are junk. So at this point we're shaking the trees looking for experience and advice from the field.

Definitely appreciate all the feedback you guys! Definitely take more if you have it!

~K

Wahoo184 · 10-01-2008, 06:12 PM

I just attempted to clean my roof last weekend. Green shingles with a lot of black algea. I used a solution recommended by a sales guy at Lowes. Needless to say it did not work. I do know bleach works but I am worried about all of the vegatation around the house.

rarhomes · 10-01-2008, 07:13 PM

We use a service called Roof Bright, they come once a year and charge $65.00 for 500 sqs of shingles. All they do is spray it from the ground ( I have an 8/12) they don't want to get on it. I can't tell you what they are using but the roof looks like brand new and it doesn't kill the grass or shrubs. It must be their own concoction's.

Beatsworkin' · 10-01-2008, 08:00 PM

I have been offering roof cleaning for a number of years now.
Seems like very few people care what their roof looks like.
They never look up..
Google>>> Spray & Forget >> Also Shingle Shield.

I have done a few. Not real happy with results.
Don't quit your real job.
Regards.

eyefish2good · 10-02-2008, 01:11 AM

I'd have to say roof cleaning ranks as the #1 dangerous job I ever had. I nearly fell off on more than one occasion and spent 2 years recovering from a direct lightning strike. Needless to say, I sold the business.

On the other side of the coin, money is good and the work relatively easy- most of the time.

10-01-2008, 10:22 AM	#4
eyefish2good #1 Croaker Hunter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: I live in S, Florida for over 20 years. Posts: 102 Credits: 667.0 Home Port: Port everglades Best Catch: 43 permit - 73 black grouper- 24 mutton snapper Occupation: I work at various boat and fishing shows around the USA selling my line of custom lures	Depends on where you live and the type you are cleaning. I had a pressure/roof cleaning business in S. Fl. for about 6 years and did it for 5 before opening my own. If you have more specific questions I'll be more then happy to help. __________________ Owner of TamerProducts.net Makers of fine offshore lures, cutomized gear, and terminal tackle.

10-01-2008, 11:14 AM	#6
heykellymichelle Yep, your gonna need stitches Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cape May, NJ Posts: 88 Credits: 1,442.0 Home Port: Cape May, NJ Best Catch: 22 Occupation: Hinch Marina	We were thinking residential, mostly shingles, going after the black mold and algae that are running rampant in this area (Jersey). Eye, thanks for the offer, I know my Dad has been making calls (I'm doing the web legwork) so I'll get him to get a hold of you. Some places we've looked have rallied against the bleach and the chlorine because it kills the vegitation, some have espoused eco-friendly products, some have said go with the hydro-solutions, some have said bleach is the only thing that works, some have said the bleach will reduce the life of a shingle by years, some have said the solutions are junk. So at this point we're shaking the trees looking for experience and advice from the field. Definitely appreciate all the feedback you guys! Definitely take more if you have it! ~K __________________ KellyMichelle --------- "Friends, haven't you any fish?"

10-01-2008, 07:13 PM	#8
rarhomes Crab mustard is good Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 827 Credits: 1,854.8	We use a service called Roof Bright, they come once a year and charge $65.00 for 500 sqs of shingles. All they do is spray it from the ground ( I have an 8/12) they don't want to get on it. I can't tell you what they are using but the roof looks like brand new and it doesn't kill the grass or shrubs. It must be their own concoction's. __________________ Capt. Rick Happy That The Bad Things In Life Are Only Temporary.

10-01-2008, 08:00 PM	#9
Beatsworkin' "If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving" Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Haverford Pa. Posts: 123 Credits: 1,375.9 Boat: Beatsworkin Home Port: Ventnor, NJ Occupation: Roofing Consultant & Solar PV Installer	I have been offering roof cleaning for a number of years now. Seems like very few people care what their roof looks like. They never look up.. Google>>> Spray & Forget >> Also Shingle Shield. I have done a few. Not real happy with results. Don't quit your real job. Regards. __________________ CMCPCBA , NACO

10-02-2008, 01:11 AM	#10
eyefish2good #1 Croaker Hunter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: I live in S, Florida for over 20 years. Posts: 102 Credits: 667.0 Home Port: Port everglades Best Catch: 43 permit - 73 black grouper- 24 mutton snapper Occupation: I work at various boat and fishing shows around the USA selling my line of custom lures	I'd have to say roof cleaning ranks as the #1 dangerous job I ever had. I nearly fell off on more than one occasion and spent 2 years recovering from a direct lightning strike. Needless to say, I sold the business. On the other side of the coin, money is good and the work relatively easy- most of the time. __________________ Owner of TamerProducts.net Makers of fine offshore lures, cutomized gear, and terminal tackle.

10-01-2008, 08:10 AM	#1
heykellymichelle Yep, your gonna need stitches Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cape May, NJ Posts: 88 Credits: 1,442.0 Home Port: Cape May, NJ Best Catch: 22 Occupation: Hinch Marina	Roof Cleaning Question Hi everyone, We were thinking about annexing the family business (Tom Archibald Builders) to include roof cleaning as well, and I was wondering if anybody had any thoughts or advice or experience to share? Cleaning products, techniques, etc, you could recommend? We're still in the research stage and we wanted to hear what they're using out in the field. We're general contractors now but would like to expand, and this is one area we were looking into. Any thoughts? Thanks! __________________ KellyMichelle --------- "Friends, haven't you any fish?" Last edited by heykellymichelle; 10-01-2008 at 08:27 AM.

10-01-2008, 10:00 AM	#2
Robja I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,387 Credits: 4,020.6 Boat: Whoever needs help with fuel Home Port: Southport Best Catch: 150 lb Tarpon & 65 lb Dorado	One thing to look at is the Workers Comp is more expensive when you do any kind of roof work.

10-01-2008, 10:25 AM	#5
wtownflyfisher #1 Lurker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ma Posts: 4 Credits: 1,316.7	Cleaning what types of roofs? Steep slope (residential shingles/wood/tile) or Low Slope (pvc/tpo/etc), if you're cleaning shingle algae(black streaks or moss) there's a bunch of products on the market that you could use with a low pressure washer. Not sure what the market is for it is though.... the best business opportunity would be in the cleaning and power washing of energy star approved flat roofs on commercial/industrial buildings. Most owners/prop. managers forget that they loose most of the value of a solar reflective roof surface if they don't clean it yearly.

10-01-2008, 06:12 PM	#7
Wahoo184 #1 Lurker Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Beaufort, S.C. Posts: 2 Credits: 1,265.0 Boat: 29 Ocean SS Home Port: Beaufort, SC	I just attempted to clean my roof last weekend. Green shingles with a lot of black algea. I used a solution recommended by a sales guy at Lowes. Needless to say it did not work. I do know bleach works but I am worried about all of the vegatation around the house.

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