I just wanted to start out by saying that I received my certificate for Master Certified Applicator this past week and I'm really excited to have that achievement in my pocket.
I tackled my first aluminum roof Friday and I had an issue I'm hoping someone can help me with. I posted a picture to show what I'm asking about. There was these black streaks that I assumed by taking the modules that I'd hit with a 2% SH solution, let it dwell, then come back and hose it off. I hit them three times and it wasn't coming off. I then agitated it and I got some more to come off but not all of it. I upped my SH to 3% and hit it again and it hardly helped. I tried gutter zap with agitation and it helped but couldn't get all of it. Then I tried barkeepers friend and with a lot of scrubbing I finally got it to come off. When I was scrubbing on it there was a dark red almost purple hue to it. Can anyone tell me what this stuff was and maybe give me some suggestions on how to handle this? We have a lot of aluminum roofs down here in SW Florida and I'm sure to come across this issue again. Thanks for your help
We really don't get it that bad in the NorthEast, especially on metal, but I know the Florida & Caribbean guys might be able to chime in better. Looks like really funky GM and algae. I would bump up the mix and the Green Wash slightly and just increase dwell time.
What percent SH are you using???
Is it stale??
Bob Riddick said
Feb 2, 2015
Ryan, like John said. Try Ray Burke at Spray Wash. He's Pro Staff there in Fl. and knows tons about soft washing metal.
Hopefully you haven't "over treated" this metal. Ray or AC would know better.
David Rhodes said
Feb 2, 2015
Ryan,
You may be buying SH that has been cut down a few times. This is extremly common in S Florida. Try a new supplier.
It also appears in your picture there is a flat roof just above the stains. Could be a non organic stain leaching down from the flat roof.
Not sure if Terra Wash would have any adverse effects on the metal but this may be the route to go.
David
-- Edited by David Rhodes on Monday 2nd of February 2015 11:55:08 PM
-- Edited by David Rhodes on Monday 2nd of February 2015 11:59:06 PM
Ryan Harder said
Feb 4, 2015
I'm using 10.5% SH but I purchased it from a new supplier and I'm not sure if it was fresh to them. I had bought it the day before I tackled this job. I never had an issue with 10.5% when I use it to make a 4% mix to spray tile roofs. I'll get in touch with Ray Burke and ask him. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
AC Lockyer said
Feb 6, 2015
Great advice David!
AC
Eric Owen said
Feb 6, 2015
Ryan, ask your supplier how many times a week they get refilled you should here twice a week or more if they sell a lot of SH.
Ryan Harder said
Feb 7, 2015
I've been having nothing but issues with the new SH supplier. I'll be trying a new SH supplier soon.
AC Lockyer said
Feb 8, 2015
Ryan Harder wrote:
I've been having nothing but issues with the new SH supplier. I'll be trying a new SH supplier soon.
Golden Gate is who we use to use back in the day when we cleaned in the South West of Florida.
AC
Derek Fontenot said
Aug 10, 2016
I know this is old, but does anyone know if it was ever resolved? Was it a weak SH issue, or a non organic stain?
AC Lockyer said
Aug 18, 2016
Derek Fontenot wrote:
I know this is old, but does anyone know if it was ever resolved? Was it a weak SH issue, or a non organic stain?
Weak SH.
AC
Troy Layman said
Aug 26, 2016
Is there a quick little test available for testing SH strength? Something like testing your anti-freeze in your car?
John Aloisio said
Aug 26, 2016
Stick your finger in it and if it warms up and turns white when you pull it out, it is good. If not, it is weak.
Greetings Everyone,
I just wanted to start out by saying that I received my certificate for Master Certified Applicator this past week and I'm really excited to have that achievement in my pocket.
I tackled my first aluminum roof Friday and I had an issue I'm hoping someone can help me with. I posted a picture to show what I'm asking about. There was these black streaks that I assumed by taking the modules that I'd hit with a 2% SH solution, let it dwell, then come back and hose it off. I hit them three times and it wasn't coming off. I then agitated it and I got some more to come off but not all of it. I upped my SH to 3% and hit it again and it hardly helped. I tried gutter zap with agitation and it helped but couldn't get all of it. Then I tried barkeepers friend and with a lot of scrubbing I finally got it to come off. When I was scrubbing on it there was a dark red almost purple hue to it. Can anyone tell me what this stuff was and maybe give me some suggestions on how to handle this? We have a lot of aluminum roofs down here in SW Florida and I'm sure to come across this issue again. Thanks for your help
Ryan,
We really don't get it that bad in the NorthEast, especially on metal, but I know the Florida & Caribbean guys might be able to chime in better. Looks like really funky GM and algae. I would bump up the mix and the Green Wash slightly and just increase dwell time.
What percent SH are you using???
Is it stale??
Ryan, like John said. Try Ray Burke at Spray Wash. He's Pro Staff there in Fl. and knows tons about soft washing metal.
Hopefully you haven't "over treated" this metal. Ray or AC would know better.
Ryan,
You may be buying SH that has been cut down a few times. This is extremly common in S Florida. Try a new supplier.
It also appears in your picture there is a flat roof just above the stains. Could be a non organic stain leaching down from the flat roof.
Not sure if Terra Wash would have any adverse effects on the metal but this may be the route to go.
David
-- Edited by David Rhodes on Monday 2nd of February 2015 11:55:08 PM
-- Edited by David Rhodes on Monday 2nd of February 2015 11:59:06 PM
AC
Golden Gate is who we use to use back in the day when we cleaned in the South West of Florida.
AC
Weak SH.
AC
Stick your finger in it and if it warms up and turns white when you pull it out, it is good. If not, it is weak.