Quick tip: It's always good to check the material of the slates because some older man-made slates include asbestos, which would require use of a suitable protective mask - and pre-wetting the slates with fresh water - before scraping the tiles. Newer man-made tiles are fine but anything pre 1970 should be checked for asbestos. A sample can be sent away to a lab to be tested. We check every job before scraping, although the danger is very slight given the open-air conditions and that the tiles are wet most of the time. On this particular job the customer assured us that he had had the tiles checked and that there was no asbestos in them.
Yes, the coating comes off due to natural weathering. There's no way of stopping it that we know of but the slates can be repainted to make them look better.
I believe you can but it is not something we have ever done, I would have thought it to be quite time consuming. I would still treat with Bio Cleanze to kill any remaining spores after steam cleaning.
Greta video Just about to tackle a Welsh slate roof. Can you tell me how to get the pressure from my pump or how I can rig up a water fed pole to my diesel pressure washer please. I can’t get the algae off using my brush and water pump not enough pressure Thanks
Hi Sean, we suggest asking your pressure washing machine supplier. We use a dedicated pump for applying our chemicals and have never used a pressure washer to apply chemical through a water fed pole. Although we do not, as yet, sell soft washing pumps you will find some helpful info on our Soft Washing Equipment Guide: www.benzsoftwash.com/pages/soft-washing-equipment
In our experience the structure of most slates will usually remain sound. Although there are many different manufacturers, so it's impossible to generalise for them all. What many people do is have them repainted with slate paint, which makes them look better and ensures they are water proof.
@@BenzSoftwash I see I have these fibre cement slates on a summer house I built with zinc ridges, does zinc stop the formation of moss and algae etc or is that just copper? I think a main issue with the moss attaching it holds water on the slate and come winter the water inside the moss freezes and cracks the slate
@@michaelcollins5308 Zinc and copper can both retard moss growth as they leach out oxides that are poisonous to moss. However this usually impacts only 3-5 courses of slates. Yes, moss build-up can lift the slates, hold moisture and freeze. This can damage slates and/or let water in.
is it possible to clean this type of roof with a low pressure cleaner around 80 bar and then do an after treatment with the bioside? or will there be a too greater risk of damage?
I've never done it but have seen it being done. Pressure washed from the ridge down using a cherry picker. Times I've seen it done it has been in preparation for re-painting.
Good question but we do not advocate sealing surfaces because of the long-term problems that can arise. We've found that regular, quick and effective re-treatments are the best approach. Click this link to read our Trade Tips post that covers the topic of applying sealers: www.benzsoftwash.com/blogs/trade-tips/29908097-do-water-repellent-sealers-help-control-biological-growths?_pos=1&_sid=d7518b1ed&_ss=r
Pre-scraping is advisable and does the best job for your customer. If the worst of the moss is not scraped off prior to treating, the gutters and downpipes can fill up with chemical-soaked sludge, which is highly unpleasant to remove. Read this Trade Tips post, which clarifies the situation from our experience: www.benzsoftwash.com/blogs/trade-tips/scrape-moss-from-a-roof-prior-to-softwashing?_pos=3&_sid=93bcb390c&_ss=r
how can you tell the difference between man made slate and natural ones ? also do you always use nylon scraper with man made slates only or all man made tiles? thanks
We always use a nylon scraper on slates - both natural and man made. With experience you'll be able to tell just by looking at the slates, so to start with find examples of each and compare. Real slate looks "natural" - rough edges - which makes sense when you see them. Artificial, man-made slates are uniform, unlike anything in nature. If you are not sure, tap them with something, gently. The difference in sound between natural slate and fibre cement is marked. Click this link for more info about softwashing slates: www.benzsoftwash.com/search?q=slate
Hi I scrape a fibre tiles a few months back and used treatment it did turn white I stopped now only scrape them is there any other way around it thank you
We can give you a free pricing guide so you can work out how to price any soft washing job: Click here to download it: www.benzsoftwash.com/pages/all-posts
Hi Ben. Great work. I’m slightly concerned though about removing the slate coating. I’m a builder by trade and I’ve seen how pours slates get without their protective coating. Would you recommend re coating with slate paint??
Theoretically yes, if the product was used strong enough. We've tried doing that but it brings the problem of dealing with the chemical soaked mush that clogs gutters and downpipes. In our experience a far better job is to scrape the worst of the moss before treating.
Same way we treat porous clay tiles. Click here for general info on our approach: www.benzsoftwash.com/pages/softwashing-cleaning-roofs Click here to read Trade Tips posts on soft washing roofs: www.benzsoftwash.com/pages/technical-articles#softwash%20roofs Click here and scroll down to find our roof cleaning videos: www.benzsoftwash.com/pages/softwash-video
Yes if chemically compatible, hard to understand what you are trying to do through the skylight. Bio Cleanze is our preferred solution to treat a roof.
Quick tip: It's always good to check the material of the slates because some older man-made slates include asbestos, which would require use of a suitable protective mask - and pre-wetting the slates with fresh water - before scraping the tiles.
Newer man-made tiles are fine but anything pre 1970 should be checked for asbestos. A sample can be sent away to a lab to be tested. We check every job before scraping, although the danger is very slight given the open-air conditions and that the tiles are wet most of the time.
On this particular job the customer assured us that he had had the tiles checked and that there was no asbestos in them.
Is there anyway to stop the coating on these slates coming off? is this a big part that moss, algae and litchen play a part in?
Yes, the coating comes off due to natural weathering. There's no way of stopping it that we know of but the slates can be repainted to make them look better.
Great video.
Could I use low pressure steam machine mate?
Thanks
I believe you can but it is not something we have ever done, I would have thought it to be quite time consuming. I would still treat with Bio Cleanze to kill any remaining spores after steam cleaning.
Greta video
Just about to tackle a Welsh slate roof. Can you tell me how to get the pressure from my pump or how I can rig up a water fed pole to my diesel pressure washer please. I can’t get the algae off using my brush and water pump not enough pressure
Thanks
Hi Sean, we suggest asking your pressure washing machine supplier. We use a dedicated pump for applying our chemicals and have never used a pressure washer to apply chemical through a water fed pole. Although we do not, as yet, sell soft washing pumps you will find some helpful info on our Soft Washing Equipment Guide: www.benzsoftwash.com/pages/soft-washing-equipment
when the coating fails on these slate does that mean they are not water proof now and will absorb water?
In our experience the structure of most slates will usually remain sound. Although there are many different manufacturers, so it's impossible to generalise for them all. What many people do is have them repainted with slate paint, which makes them look better and ensures they are water proof.
@@BenzSoftwash I see I have these fibre cement slates on a summer house I built with zinc ridges, does zinc stop the formation of moss and algae etc or is that just copper? I think a main issue with the moss attaching it holds water on the slate and come winter the water inside the moss freezes and cracks the slate
@@michaelcollins5308 Zinc and copper can both retard moss growth as they leach out oxides that are poisonous to moss. However this usually impacts only 3-5 courses of slates.
Yes, moss build-up can lift the slates, hold moisture and freeze. This can damage slates and/or let water in.
is it possible to clean this type of roof with a low pressure cleaner around 80 bar and then do an after treatment with the bioside? or will there be a too greater risk of damage?
I've never done it but have seen it being done. Pressure washed from the ridge down using a cherry picker. Times I've seen it done it has been in preparation for re-painting.
is there a way to clean these slates and seal them after it? if such thing exists on the market?
Good question but we do not advocate sealing surfaces because of the long-term problems that can arise. We've found that regular, quick and effective re-treatments are the best approach. Click this link to read our Trade Tips post that covers the topic of applying sealers: www.benzsoftwash.com/blogs/trade-tips/29908097-do-water-repellent-sealers-help-control-biological-growths?_pos=1&_sid=d7518b1ed&_ss=r
@@BenzSoftwash thank you for that when the paint does come off the slates do they stay waterproof? or is the paint the water proofer
@@michaelcollins5308 Yes, the slates will usually remain sound and waterproof for some time after the surface coating has gone.
If I use this product do I still have to remove the moss
Pre-scraping is advisable and does the best job for your customer. If the worst of the moss is not scraped off prior to treating, the gutters and downpipes can fill up with chemical-soaked sludge, which is highly unpleasant to remove.
Read this Trade Tips post, which clarifies the situation from our experience: www.benzsoftwash.com/blogs/trade-tips/scrape-moss-from-a-roof-prior-to-softwashing?_pos=3&_sid=93bcb390c&_ss=r
how can you tell the difference between man made slate and natural ones ? also do you always use nylon scraper with man made slates only or all man made tiles? thanks
We always use a nylon scraper on slates - both natural and man made. With experience you'll be able to tell just by looking at the slates, so to start with find examples of each and compare. Real slate looks "natural" - rough edges - which makes sense when you see them. Artificial, man-made slates are uniform, unlike anything in nature. If you are not sure, tap them with something, gently. The difference in sound between natural slate and fibre cement is marked. Click this link for more info about softwashing slates: www.benzsoftwash.com/search?q=slate
Hi I scrape a fibre tiles a few months back and used treatment it did turn white I stopped now only scrape them is there any other way around it thank you
How much could it cost to clean a roof of 25 squares more or less how much could it charge the clients
We can give you a free pricing guide so you can work out how to price any soft washing job: Click here to download it: www.benzsoftwash.com/pages/all-posts
Hi Ben. Great work. I’m slightly concerned though about removing the slate coating. I’m a builder by trade and I’ve seen how pours slates get without their protective coating. Would you recommend re coating with slate paint??
That is exactly what some people do yes. There are a few different types. Tegral do a good one.
Can this work with out cleaning the moss off
Theoretically yes, if the product was used strong enough. We've tried doing that but it brings the problem of dealing with the chemical soaked mush that clogs gutters and downpipes. In our experience a far better job is to scrape the worst of the moss before treating.
Good advice Ben. Thanks for all the info.
You are welcome. Glad you found it helpful.
how do you clean a concrete tile roof
Same way we treat porous clay tiles. Click here for general info on our approach: www.benzsoftwash.com/pages/softwashing-cleaning-roofs
Click here to read Trade Tips posts on soft washing roofs: www.benzsoftwash.com/pages/technical-articles#softwash%20roofs
Click here and scroll down to find our roof cleaning videos: www.benzsoftwash.com/pages/softwash-video
Is it possible to use a pressured water sprayer as have access though skylight.. What solution is recommended for welsh slate tiles..
Yes if chemically compatible, hard to understand what you are trying to do through the skylight. Bio Cleanze is our preferred solution to treat a roof.
Hi, what pump and biocide do you use and also what surfactant?
We mostly treat roofs with Benz Bio Cleanze: www.benzsoftwash.com/products/benz-bio-cleanze-ddac-softwash-biocide?variant=1153167549
You may find our webpage dedicated to soft washing roofs helpful: www.benzsoftwash.com/pages/softwashing-cleaning-roofs
For info on pumps and other equipment: www.benzsoftwash.com/pages/soft-washing-equipment
great video dude where can i get the roof cleaning tools
our website: www.benzsoftwash.com/products/roof-moss-scrapers-professional-rapid-moss-removal
is that scrapper plastic?
Hi Ric, Its Nylon
Click this link to explore our range of softwash roof moss scrapers: www.benzsoftwash.com/products/roof-moss-scrapers-professional-rapid-moss-removal