When first renting or buying a pressure washing machine we are excited to start it up and get going, we hook up the water supply line, connect the high pressure hose and get the much needed cleaning chemical detergents ready and on stand by. We then come to be stumped by the different colored tips that come with the pressure washing machine. Not to worry as we will lay in all out why the different colors and what are their intentions in getting the best results possible. Let us first start with why the pressure cleaning tips are colored, this is simply to remind us of the varying shooting degrees. The various degrees are four main sizes. 0 Degrees, 15 degree, 25 degree, 40 degree and last but not least the 60 degree soap tip. The different degree of spray patterns can also affect the pressure being used on any surface. The widest degree is the softest on a surface for cleaning and has much room for error. The thinnest degree is the strongest because the force of water is being concentrated into one small point. When it comes to choosing the best pressure cleaning tip for the best results and safety of the surface we choose to go with the white tip, this allows for proper flow to the surface and an even clean without sacrificing those though to reach gum stains. The strongest tip of the bunch is the red tip. We very rarely use this tip although we still keep it on the truck in case of any situations where its power will be called on. The red tip has a 0 degree opening allowing for a straight very high pressure force to come out. In most scenarios this tip is used for taking out tough gum or glue marks as well as paint. Please use this tip with a high degree of caution. Do not use this on a house siding, windows, wood, any painted surface or roofs. The power from this tip will at first appear to be cleaning but what will be left being is scaring on any surface it touches. Up next we have the yellow tip that gives us a 15 degree spray pattern. Although not as harsh as the red tip it is still a force to be reckoned with. Handle with caution as this pressure cleaning tip can also leaving being scaring depending how close you are the surface and what PSI is being used to complete the job. This tip is best used for tough cement on concrete driveways and pavers that was not cleaned up correctly and needs some added pressure to be knocked down. Next we have the two tips we mainly use in everyday pressure cleaning to ensure the best results. The famous green tip and white tip. The green tip comes in a 25 degree spray pattern and the white tip comes in a 40 degree spray pattern. When used with a high flow and high PSI pressure washer we can create exterior cleaning magic. Last but not least the 60 degree soap nozzle. This is a low pressure soap nozzle used with a down streaming kit that pulls soaps and detergents to spray on any surface at a low concentration. The downstreaming tube is placed in a bucket or tank to siphon and mixed into the high pressure line. The dilution is typically 2% to 3%. This is perfect for house washing and as a pretreat on driveways and patios. Please note that after applying any detergent please watch out for any plants and rinse all your equipment out for the next use. This will prolong its life and maintain stead results for the next cleanings. Here is an example of what the various pressure cleaning degree look like A few words of caution when buying new pressure washing tips. Make sure the tips are rated for your pressure washers PSI and water flow, being 4,5 6, 8, 10 or 12 GPM. Failing to do so can result in injury or damage the pressure washers pump.
For more information feel free to check out more of our Blogs If you would like a quick quote for your home please call us at (561)-305-8154 Visit us on Facebook for the latest completed projects. We service Boca Raton, Delray, Parkland and the surrounding areas. Today we will go over the process step by step into how to perform a house wash. A house wash is the exterior sanitation and brightening of the home exterior walls, trim, gutter faces and windows. When done properly and with detail in mind we get amazing results that last for months to come.
First off we will start with what is a house wash? At first it sounds like a big house taking a bubble bath. In part that is right! A house wash is the application of cleaning with detergents and low pressure to rinse, leaving behind clean windows and a bright curb appeal seen from the street. Some detergents used to clean a home exterior can vary from sodium hypochlorite (pool shock or bleach), LA Awsome, House Wash Mix from home depot or lowes. These and other detergents when mixed with surfactant built for specifically cleaning a house are the key to great results. In our company we used a mix of sodium hypochlorite and a high quality surfactant that sticks to the surface for a deep clean and leaves a clean non streaking shine on the exterior windows. The ratio used is a 2% concentrated mix that is strong enough to kill the organic growth on your home but not damage any surrounding landscape in the process. (Although we recommend you highly to rinse the plants and landscape before starting to ensure no plants are harmed or withered. When performing house wash it is not a good idea to just start without taking precautions. When first starting it is best to make up a plan. For example, we will start from the furtherest part of the house or the longest distance our hoses allow. After this stage we inspect the heavy organics that are sticking to the homes surfaces, noticing what may need a stronger concentration or light pressure as encouragement to get off and stay off. Next we will cover exposed light sockets and areas we dont want wet with a tarp, tape or move to an area where water and chemicals wont reach them. We call this the "safe zone". Look out for open windows and areas that are hard to reach. Once it is all planned and protected you may start with your plan in mind. Apply the detergent to the house preferably from the bottom up to the top to avoid clean streaks unless the wind does not allow. In cases where the wind does not allow it is acceptable to spray from the top down as long as we all the detergent to dwell on the surface for a longer period of time. With applying our detergent we want to make sure to get all the details and not let the chemical dry on the surface. It is best to move section by section so you can hit the details such as any insect droppings and nests. Once the section is covered and has dwelled for long enough we want to rinse off with low pressure and high volume. If not rinsed well enough the chemical solution can cause oxidation or create more oxidation on top of what was there to begin with. Continue this process until you have finished the house and all is cleaned up well. Lastly we want to give a final rinse off to the plants not only for dilution of the plants but also so stop the harsh smell of cleaning chemicals on the property. In this informative article we will go over a few tips and tricks the pros use to cleaning residential roofs. Before we get started we must understand why we are wanting our roof to be clean and remain so for as long as possible yearly. A proper roof cleaning can provide longer roof shingle lifespan, remove organic organisms eating at your roof and lastly exposing the shingle true bright colors. Most asphalt shingles are a shade of dark brown, to light brown, grey and dark grey. In the field we may see the occasional red or even green colored asphalt shingled roof. In terms on barrel tiles we see them in shades of red, orange and grey as well. When the roof is covered with dark organic stains and growth it can be difficult to see what color it is. Many homeowners forget the color shade of the original shingles. Examples of the dramatic changes a residential roof cleaning can make The first tip we have is to hire a professional who has a solid reputation and is insured. When it comes to roof cleaning it is a dangerous task depending on various factors such as height, weather conditions, how dirty or the roofs pitch. Although a roof is completely flat as a homeowner we still run the risk of falling off if he miss our footing or trip over the air vents.
In the event of a accident an we fall off, we are badly hurt and our roof still isnt cleaned up the way we want. A professional Roof Soft Washing company will carry general liablity insurance and take the proper precautions so a tragedy does not occur. Our next tip is if we do choose to take on the project ourselves, do not underestimate the amount of cleaning solution you will need. This varies on the size of our roof, the equiptment being used and how thick the organic growth is on the roof. It may be best to measure your roof. Do a test spot and calculate how much cleaning solution you specific roof will need to get the job done right. Next tip is to use protective gear especially when spraying a strong harsh chemical solution. Proper protective gear such as a mask respirator to filter out the harmful toxins from chemical heat vapors and safety goggles to cover your eyes incase the wind picks up a cloud of chemical solution and throwing it back your way. If this happens we reccomend you carry a small towel to wipe off any cleaning solution that touch your skin or face. If the chemical continues to burn or itch, please stop drop what you are doing and run over to a source of fresh water. A near by garden hose may be your best bet. To continue our small tips for residential roof cleaning we suggest you have a friend or family member use a garden hose to water the surrounding landscape and plant vegetation to prevent the chemical from burning plants. The best way to do this is by first drenching the plants with water then carefully making sure to water while the cleaning solution is sprayed above. Once the roof is coated and cleaned, have your family member or friends go for another round of fresh water spraying on all the plants even the ones you think have not be touched with chemical just to be sure the job is done and completed the right way. As homeowners we do our very best to keep the home we worked so hard for clean and up to date. A homes roof can tell surrounding neighbors or guests just how well we take care of the homes interior. If the exterior of the home is not looking its best we can only imagine how bad the interior looks. A dirty roof can put on old dingy look to even a newly constructed home. The black stains caused by organic growth and take away from the freshly painted walls, clean windows and newly planted landscape. For these various we want to keep the roof clean and up to date from damages to prevent future leaks. Now we all understand how daunting it can be to give the work to somebody who we do not know, who calls themselves "experts". After giving them to work to be done, we pay the contractor and think we have done well. Later to realize the roof is leaking because the pressure cleaning contractor used high pressure to clean the delicate asphalts shingle granuals and removed most of them and leaving exposed holes in the roof. Many homeowners can not physically go up on their roofs and very little contractors show before and after pictures to put the customers concerns at rest, now that they have seen the full picture. This is one more reason why we should hire not only licensed and insured companies but also those who have an outstanding reputation. As homeowners we should request the contractor take pictures of areas of the roof where we can not see unless standing on the roof. If the exterior cleaning refuses to share pictures this can be a red flag that you may not have had the job complete all the way or done poorly. Sadly we can not tell as homeowners until a problem such as a leak arrives or the Home Owners Association sends us another letter stating we need our roof done. When the contractor only cleaned the visable areas of the roof to you. But from across the street at your neighbors home we can see the dark organic spots are still there and continue to grow. A true professional exterior roof cleaning professional will know how to properly and effectivly clean your roof for years to come why also protecting the landscape below. The true professional will also understand how to describe the process to you at every stage to help us know we are in good hands. When we arrive to do a roof cleaning project we first talk to the customer on how the roof will be clean, what to expect and what are the measures taken to protect the landscape. We will then get all our tool and equipment out needed to do the job and set up a plan to attack this project. Next we will begin slow and steady to ensure all the roof is coated, working section by section and even recoating to kill ALL the mold and mildew eating away at your roofs fillers. Once finished we will reinspect to check for missed spots, if all is complete we come down from the roof and continue to water the landscape vegetation. The processes of water is carried on throughout the cleaning process as well as any plants that need to be tarped or moved to a safer area. This is in a nutshell how we handle the roof cleaning process day in and day out. Before cleaning a roof yourself you must ask a list of questions
- What equiptment do I need? - How much cleaning solution do I need for this project? (varies by size, roof type and amount needed to clean) -What safety risks can I run when on the roof? -What if I fall? -How much time will it take? Above are the main questions we should ask ourselves before taking on this task. It most cases it is best to hand off the work to a reputable professional. For more information feel free to check out more of our Blogs If you would like a quick quote for your home please call us at (561)-305-8154 Visit us on Facebook for the latest completed projects. We service Boca Raton, Delray, Parkland and the surrounding areas. The most common organic growth on the exterior of a homes roof, house siding and driveways are primarily algae, moss, mildew (often called mold) and lichen. Each of these bacteria have slight variations in color and look. The way to take notice is by the colorful typically green appearance on a homes exterior. When standing from far away the bacteria appears to have a slight haze or dripping look often caused by water running down. Upon closer inspection we notice the growth has spores and is in fact a living growing organism. Most bacteria growth comes from days in constant sunlight, water, humidity and exposure to the outside environment. Out of the four main bacteria's mildew is the only one that does not need sunlight to produce its energy and live on, instead they feed off the organic matter they are attached to. Meanwhile the other three bacteria's algae, moss and lichen use photosynthesis to combine sunlight and water into their own food to thrive on. Photosynthesis is a process done by plants where they use light energy, water and carbon dioxide to fuel their growth structure. As a byproduct of this process oxygen is made. At a quick glance it may be difficult to say which is which, but when we look at what features are present we can better tell what bacteria we have at hand. Generally lichens look like this Moss generally look like this The differnanciation from mildew and algae is their feel when touched. Lichen and moss feel prickly and like an actual plant forming. The mildew and algae do not have this outward appearance, their look is thin on its surface. Moss and lichen do not have roots exactly but they do have a root like structure with lichens being much more stubborn to pull off. Moss can be determined by its fuzzy appearance and color variation of green, yellow and at times brown. Lichens come in green or light green with a almost barnicle like look. Here are a few examples on algae and mildew In conclusion these are the most common bacterias found on a homes exterior.
For tips on cleaning these please refer to our website articles. If you would like a quick quote for your home please call us at (561)-305-8154 Visit us on Facebook for the latest completed projects. We service Boca Raton, Delray, Parkland and the surrounding areas |
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