Topic: rubber roofs

[douseahouse]

i have an opportunity to bid on cleaning a flat rubber coated roof and have never done one before. i did a search and picked up a some info but was wondering if anyone does them all the time and can share their procedure. this roof is probably a year or two old and the roofer told the building owner to have it cleaned annually. the roofer suggested using mops and buckets. from what i have read most people use 12.5% diluted and then rinsed with low pressure. i was wondering if i used a surface cleaner with a set of larger nozzles to lower the pressure if that would aid in the process. also, what psi do you think i may need to stay around in rinsing this roof? thanks all for your input.

rando

[Dynamic Roof Cleaning]

flat rubber coated roof

Rando,

 Can you be more specific about the type of roofing? In the roofing industry, rubber usually refers to EPDM rubber. This type of roofing comes in thin sheets and looks symilar to the inner tube of a bicycle or car tire.
 Some also use the term "rubber" (incorrectly) to refer to modified asphalt roofing.


John Frazo
Dynamic Roofing / Roof Cleaning
Indianapolis, IN

[ALL SURFACE]

Rando, Many of the roofs in mobile home parks down here have those roofs as well as a few homes. I always use a 12% and of course(dawn) on them. Then use your surface cleaner on it followed by a good rinse. You wont hurt the surface as long as you don't let the surface cleaner sit in one spot just as when doing concrete. These people will be amazed at how it will turn out and you will be their hero, trust me!   Remember to be very careful when walking on it once it gets wet. It can get very slippery from the mold until you clean over it. After that it is fine. Hope this helps.

[ALL SURFACE]

flat rubber coated roof

Rando,

 Can you be more specific about the type of roofing? In the roofing industry, rubber usually refers to EPDM rubber. This type of roofing comes in thin sheets and looks symilar to the inner tube of a bicycle or car tire.
 Some also use the term "rubber" (incorrectly) to refer to modified asphalt roofing.


John Frazo
Dynamic Roofing / Roof Cleaning
Indianapolis, IN

 Some roofs are actually coated with an elastameric coating to waterproof the roofs. This type of roof neds to be re-coated every few years or so. A goodcleaning is needed befre applying. Others are vinyl roof over covers which are much more durable but also need cleaning as any other roof will.
http://www.koolseal.com/product_family.asp?family=elastomeric

[Chris]

There is a pvc type also that is fused together with a torch that is like 3mils thick.

You can do the house wash mix and they will clean up good. I have not tried the surface cleaner on the roof yet, probably will not. I am just paranoid about what it would cost if something went wrong.

[ALL SURFACE]

There is a pvc type also that is fused together with a torch that is like 3mils thick.

You can do the house wash mix and they will clean up good. I have not tried the surface cleaner on the roof yet, probably will not. I am just paranoid about what it would cost if something went wrong.

Very true! Stop being so parnoid Lefty... Surface cleaners do a great job on these! Just no hot water! 

[douseahouse]

flat rubber coated roof

Rando,

 Can you be more specific about the type of roofing? In the roofing industry, rubber usually refers to EPDM rubber. This type of roofing comes in thin sheets and looks symilar to the inner tube of a bicycle or car tire.
 Some also use the term "rubber" (incorrectly) to refer to modified asphalt roofing.


John Frazo
Dynamic Roofing / Roof Cleaning
Indianapolis, IN

yes, i would say it is the epdm type.

Rando, Many of the roofs in mobile home parks down here have those roofs as well as a few homes. I always use a 12% and of course(dawn) on them. Then use your surface cleaner on it followed by a good rinse. You wont hurt the surface as long as you don't let the surface cleaner sit in one spot just as when doing concrete. These people will be amazed at how it will turn out and you will be their hero, trust me!  Remember to be very careful when walking on it once it gets wet. It can get very slippery from the mold until you clean over it. After that it is fine. Hope this helps.

how much pressure are we talking about when using the surface cleaner? i'm usually around 3kpsi when i use mine unless i change out the nozzles. is that too much pressure on this type of roof? i'm also assuming that you are using your standard house wash mix on this touching the surface with around 1% shc.

thanks all,

rando

[ALL SURFACE]

I actually use my roof mix. Eats up the mold and mildew like a charm.  My machine puts out 4000psi and I have 2.0 tips. I've never run into any problems using it at full. Like I said though. Just be cautious... It does get slippery when wet  ....Speaking of that...........AHH, never mind! LOL