How We Protect landscaping While Cleaning A Roof

S

SullivanRoofCleaning

New member
This question comes up a lot, more so, from the new people. Most roof cleaners already know what to do. If you have a ground person landscaping should never be an issue. If you don't then I recommend you consider covering with plastic when needed. I am attaching a video of our process. Also the links to buy the materials needed for the downspout runoff system. The links are: http://rainguardusa.com/downspout-extension-tubing/50ft-extension-tubing/rainguard-50ft-extension-tubing-green.html and http://www.menards.com/main/building-materials/roofing-soffits-gutters/gutters/gutter-accessories/downspout-extension/p-1470143-c-5812.htm . Again this is what works for us with very good results. Here is the video.
 
Just be careful with plastic . Over heating plants is worse than a little chemical burn . You make nice video's !

I haven't killed a plant yet in 20 years I've pressure cleaned. Burnt some foliage a few times. I've had two customers completey kill a whole bunch of plants with plastic coverage. The roots turned black. Jap maples will loose there leaves from watering in extreme heat and customers with think it's from the chems.
 
Diamond Jim said:
Just be careful with plastic . Over heating plants is worse than a little chemical burn . You make nice video's !

I haven't killed a plant yet in 20 years I've pressure cleaned. Burnt some foliage a few times. I've had two customers completey kill a whole bunch of plants with plastic coverage. The roots turned black. Jap maples will loose there leaves from watering in extreme heat and customers with think it's from the chems.
Click to expand...
Yes, a good point!
Completely Tarping all parts of the plant can turn the insides of the Tarp into a Gas or Death Chamber, or at least a Microwave to steam the plants!
We find it best to cover only the TOPS of the plants, and allow some air in, and the heat to escape.

Right now, I am working on (experimenting with) a plant protection scheme so revolutionary, that if it is successful, it will change the ways many of us clean roofs!
But, for right now, it is Top Secret.
 
I agree about plastic. Need to be careful if you'll notice in the video it was more a big bush we covered there. Jap maples for sure. LOL We don't cover plants and if so we use painter plastic very light and only for a very short period. Thanks for the feedback.
 
SullivanRoofCleaning said:
I agree about plastic. Need to be careful if you'll notice in the video it was more a big bush we covered there. Jap maples for sure. LOL We don't cover plants and if so we use painter plastic very light and only for a very short period. Thanks for the feedback.
Click to expand...
I wish my lungs were not so damaged, and I could work again.
I see your Girl and you out working together, and it reminds me of what I used to do, with many of my past girlfriends.
I am sort of "in between" girlfriends right now.
But back when I was able to work, here is what I did.
I would place an ad for a female/male groundsperson wanted (of course, I only hired the girls, and only the cute ones).

I easily made over a thousand dollars cleaning roofs most days, and once the new Ground Girl I hired saw what kind of money I made, they would say "Chris, you are a nice looking guy, are you single, by choice" LOL

The Tile Roofs we see here in Tampa hardly ever have gutters on them it seems.
And, many people have tons of expensive landscaping to boot.

Some customers will literally Crucify you, and your companies name, if you so much as yellow a few leaves on a shrub!
This forces you to work slow, and really take your time.
 
Apple Roof Cleaning said:
I wish my lungs were not so damaged, and I could work again.
I see your Girl and you out working together, and it reminds me of what I used to do, with many of my past girlfriends.
I am sort of "in between" girlfriends right now.
But back when I was able to work, here is what I did.
I would place an ad for a female/male groundsperson wanted (of course, I only hired the girls, and only the cute ones).

I easily made over a thousand dollars cleaning roofs most days, and once the new Ground Girl I hired saw what kind of money I made, they would say "Chris, you are a nice looking guy, are you single, by choice" LOL

The Tile Roofs we see here in Tampa hardly ever have gutters on them it seems.
And, many people have tons of expensive landscaping to boot.

Some customers will literally Crucify you, and your companies name, if you so much as yellow a few leaves on a shrub!
This forces you to work slow, and really take your time.
Click to expand...
I know what you mean. LOL Maria is my girlfriend. I never thought about the no gutter thing. Up in MN. doing cedar we ran into no gutters and we had to tarp things off. Good point. Also I have done a post on here on how to improve the forum thread at top called "posting" read when time allows and see if you can offer solution. Others or at least one other has the same problem.
 
SullivanRoofCleaning said:
I agree about plastic. Need to be careful if you'll notice in the video it was more a big bush we covered there. Jap maples for sure. LOL We don't cover plants and if so we use painter plastic very light and only for a very short period. Thanks for the feedback.
Click to expand...

Yes Bruce limit coverage in direct sun to 10 min or less and out of direct sun to 20 min or less. I dont personally use or endorse the use of plastic however I do endorse taking extra steps to ensure the best service for all customers.

AC
 
Apple Roof Cleaning said:
Yes, a good point!
Completely Tarping all parts of the plant can turn the insides of the Tarp into a Gas or Death Chamber, or at least a Microwave to steam the plants!
We find it best to cover only the TOPS of the plants, and allow some air in, and the heat to escape.

Right now, I am working on (experimenting with) a plant protection scheme so revolutionary, that if it is successful, it will change the ways many of us clean roofs!
But, for right now, it is Top Secret.
Click to expand...

Chris is right if you cover just the tops of plants. We do this and even on really hot days it works really well. We always cover the tops of bushes and shrubs when working with tile roofs with no gutters. Its just too much run off not to. Certain plants like Plumbagos and topiary trees are EXTREMELY sensitive and no matter how much you water them they will burn with even the smallest amount of SH exposure.

I found an awesome deal on tarps at Sam's club. These tarps come 2 per pack and are 12x16. We fold them long ways when covering rows of hedges so they are 3x16 or 6x16 and they are nice and heavy so they don't blow off easy. They also have a waxy water repellent coating on them that helps when your rinse the roof mix off of them. Best of all they are silver on one side so we use that side because it reflects the sunlight and helps not create as much heat under the tarp. 12x16 tarps are usually $25 or $30 a piece at Lowes or HD but sam's club has these 2 for $25 and they are WAY better quality than the lowes or HD ones.

Here's the link

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/extra-heavy-duty-tarp-12-x-16-2-pk/106214.ip
 
HavertysRoofCleaning said:
Chris is right if you cover just the tops of plants. We do this and even on really hot days it works really well. We always cover the tops of bushes and shrubs when working with tile roofs with no gutters. Its just too much run off not to. Certain plants like Plumbagos and topiary trees are EXTREMELY sensitive and no matter how much you water them they will burn with even the smallest amount of SH exposure.

I found an awesome deal on tarps at Sam's club. These tarps come 2 per pack and are 12x16. We fold them long ways when covering rows of hedges so they are 3x16 or 6x16 and they are nice and heavy so they don't blow off easy. They also have a waxy water repellent coating on them that helps when your rinse the roof mix off of them. Best of all they are silver on one side so we use that side because it reflects the sunlight and helps not create as much heat under the tarp. 12x16 tarps are usually $25 or $30 a piece at Lowes or HD but sam's club has these 2 for $25 and they are WAY better quality than the lowes or HD ones.

Here's the link

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/extra-heavy-duty-tarp-12-x-16-2-pk/106214.ip
Click to expand...
I will check them out Matt. We get ours from Harbor Freight, they are silver.
Small cheap wooden clothespins also do a good job of holding tarps, on windy days.
 
Apple Roof Cleaning said:
I will check them out Matt. We get ours from Harbor Freight, they are silver.
Small cheap wooden clothespins also do a good job of holding tarps, on windy days.
Click to expand...

On sturdy trimmed bushes like indian hawthorne and such I just throw a couple 2 ft 2x4's on top and it does a good job holding them down. Clothespins always come loose on me.
 
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