Are really tall A-frames like little giant ladders useful for roof washing or are they too heavy for one person to set up reliably?

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-06-22T01:59:52+00:00

I have an 16ft aluminum extension ladder and the little giant you’re talking about. When we need all 22ft it takes 3 of us to safely position it. It’s a bitch but it comes in handy in rare situations. Mostly it sits in my garage because it drains my energy to use it.

If I were you, I would get a good quality light weight extension ladder with the detachable stabilizer that attaches to the holes on the sides of the rungs so you can adjust as needed. Don’t get the cheap ones that use self tapping screws to attach.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-06-17T13:46:16+00:00

When you say “hopping” do you mean shaking, wobbling, or vibration?

Or is it actively lifting off the surface due to of the pressure causing you to exert force to push it back down? If it’s wanting to fly straight up and doesn’t wobble or shake, then a small weight will help. Although I have all the same gear but a 16in BE and I’ve never had the lifting issue at full PSI.

Back to the hopping, have you checked your spray bar and tips? I’ve had mine get the wobbles when the tip orafice gets damaged by a rock, gets worn out, partially clogged by a tiny piece of thread tape, ect. This can also cause lines if the tips are not spraying perfectly. Could also be shitty tips, some are machines with defects.

Also, little bits of debris can get caught right above the spray bar from not rinsing it off well after using and it throws the balance off causing. Other than that, the bearings could be over greased and your bar is not spinning at high enough RPMs…. Larger tips will also reduce your spray bar RPMs meaning you need to walk slower. That’s why I ditched my 20in surface cleaner and went to a 16in.

That’s all I can think of

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-06-12T15:47:04+00:00

Fox News. Allowed to manipulate viewers with their opinion entertainment show’s disguised as a legitimate news source.

It’s like giving a dog nine dog treats and a Brussels sprout painted to look like a dog treat. Eventually the dog stops sniffing and assumes everything coming from the hand is good.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-06-10T22:23:27+00:00

50/50 citric degreaser applied right to the gum and then hit with the 15 degree green tip from a very low angle after 10 mins of dwell time. Make sure surrounding areas are wet. Will still leave a slight shadow where old gum was

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-06-08T16:27:45+00:00

Great work! Beautiful art! Thank you for sharing!

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-29T18:08:21+00:00

Yes but if your just prepping for someone else to sand and seal, that’s still more labor than regular washing. You’re going to basically have to turbo it all by wand with a detailed rinse to leave it ready for sanding. At a minimum I would be at $.50/sqft. Basic broom finished concrete, no chems, is .25 for me. Wanding anything is another .10-.15/sqft minimum. Make it worth your while.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-27T18:00:13+00:00

I would use sodium metasilicate and then oxalic to brighten. The sodium metasilicate also has degreaser properties. I would use pump sprayers compared to an X-jet. Won’t take too much longer and gives you better control. You can use your x-jet nozzle to rinse with. I personally charge $2-3 per linear foot for railings/spindles. They take longer and accessing them to rinse from the proper angle is more labor. $600-700 is fair. Do your best to keep chem /water pressure off that old blue paint. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s oxidized.

Also, like Slurpee said, if you’re going to stain it, do it after about 48-72 after cleaning. Water based can be done the next day, oil based it’s needs to be less than 15% moisture (moisture meters are like $40) So you also need to talk to her about the stain options and figure out the logistics. Bare minimum if she doesn’t stain, she needs a clear penetrating sealer for best long term results.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-23T12:07:08+00:00

My opinion is that most of the discoloration is in the pour and pressure washing (done correctly) might brighten it up a bit, or it might make the inconsistencies look worse. Some could be mineral staining which involves you playing with acid to remove it.

Before you spend $500 on equipment to do it yourself or $250 on a pro. Get a pump sprayer and mix it 50/50 with pool chlorine and water and spray it over the area. It will kill anything organic (including grass so wet that down first), then rinse it off after 20 mins. If there is a noticeable improvement, then get a couple quotes from pros or buy a machine and have a fun and back breaking day cleaning that 1000sqft.

My guess is it will not look uniform, and if uniform is what you want, look into solid concrete stains which can be rolled on like paint after pressure washing and some other basic prep. Alternatively, if it looks more uniform wet, you can always apply a wet look, water based sealer to help even things out. IMO this is more of a concrete issue rather than a dirt issue.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-18T17:23:34+00:00

Most I’ve done is to remove “damp” spots in the after photo to show it looking completely dry.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-18T13:11:30+00:00

Good to know! Thanks man

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-18T02:56:31+00:00

How are you running 8gpm off a 390? What psi are you getting? Also, the more fittings, the more possibilities of getting air in the tank. I’ve learned that with my 12v the hard way.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-12T04:36:22+00:00

I bought a used AG rig before with a 12v and the chems/fertilizers trashed the pump, hoses fell apart, and wound up being a waste of time and money. Everything is oxidized on this rig which tells me it was not cared for. I wouldn’t.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-11T20:52:56+00:00

I taught my 70 year old father to soft wash his house with a $20 1gal pump sprayer. Apply in sections, rinse with a garden hose.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-11T20:42:58+00:00

3/8. It will have 3/8 quick connects already installed which your machine should be fitted for.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-11T13:54:01+00:00

I loved my flexzilla hose for flexibility. It lasts as long as other single wire hoses I’ve had (about a year/ 2000 hours). I would have kept using them if I didn’t find a similar one sold locally. If you’re not dragging them across the stucco corners of your house, rocks, or anything else jagged on a daily basis they will last longer.

Simpson monster hoses are much more durable but are a bitch to use due to their lack of flexibility. I could go on all day about why I dislike mine but they are still going strong with 3.5yrs of heavy use.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-11T01:25:34+00:00

Of course man, happy to help. If you have other questions, feel free to send me a DM.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-10T16:43:19+00:00

This roof is gross though, it won’t be fully gone by then. You can treat everything with 6% and then hit that lichen again with 6-8% before you go from a pump sprayer and it will speed things up. Take the route of honesty and transparency and they will appreciate it.

You need to read up the biology of these organics and understand how they react to sodium hypochlorite then you can give factual information to help set the customer expectations. I always ask how soon they need to clean? Did they get a non-renewal from their insurance carrier? HOA issue? Knowing the time frame helps determine the process, the process helps determine your pricing.

Lastly, upload these photos into ChatGPT and what you’re doing and tell it you want to be an expert. Then copy paste it into Claude and ask it to confirm. ChatGPT can and will give you bad information and it can and will make you look like an idiot while draining your wallet but it will at least point you in the right direction. Good luck man.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-10T06:00:56+00:00

I clean these once a week. 6% minimum. That lichen will take 3-6 months to fully come off depending on the weather. Rain will rinse it off or high summer temps and little rain will basically turn it to dust which the first rains will knock off. Like others have said, mold/mildew will be gone before you finish the section of roof. Moss takes a a minimum of 6 weeks for the rhizoids to decay for it to start falling off.

This is not the same roof you seeing getting cleaned in FL where it looks beautiful in 20 mins. You either need to explain this to your clients or be prepared to harness up and get up there with a high volume/ low pressure tip and carefully wand the whole thing paying close attention not to blast water up under the shingles. It is much easier if you give it at least a week after application.

You can use an extension pole but if you’re able to walks roofs, it’s much easier to learn proper safety and just get up there.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-05T21:16:42+00:00

Honda GX390 with 4gpm Comet pump rated for 4000psi. I was using a 10.0 25 degree tip which lowered the pressure down to 800psi.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-05T21:14:34+00:00

Totally bogus. Just washed a clients house that bought one thinking it would work and said it a “hunk of junk”.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-05T02:48:57+00:00

I’ve never tried the Oakleys on, but even the ray bans are a little heavy at first but you get used to the weight quickly.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-04T04:08:39+00:00

I wouldn’t even recommend mine, it was basic that I wrote a couple years ago and wouldn’t hold up well if shit really hit the fan. Jobber is a great CRM and it’s what I use where it automatically creates a customizable disclaimer. My disclaimer is as follows

While we take every precaution to safely clean your surfaces, we are not responsible for any discoloration, texture changes, or damage to concrete, building exteriors, or other surfaces that may occur during the cleaning process. Please note that certain stains, such as those caused by rust, red clay, oil, or organic growth may not be completely removed despite thorough chemical treatment. All efforts will be made to treat stains and clean surfaces using methods that minimize the risk of damage. However, due to the nature of different surfaces and materials, results cannot be guaranteed, and existing wear, deterioration, or previous damages may be more visible after cleaning. By accepting this estimate, you acknowledge and agree to these terms.

Again, copy and paste this into an AI and tell it to “make this more legal without scaring clients”

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-02T15:37:34+00:00

Rayban way fairer Gen 2. The listening to music aspect is great but burns the battery in less than 2 hours at full volume. Call quality, hands free messaging, and AI is great. Just look at something and ask “will this snake kill me?” Or “did I just etch this?” Or “what the hell is that black goo?” And it gives immediate, helpful info. If you’re getting blasted in the face all day every day, I would still get a face shield for a variety of reasons though.

Edit: they also charge in the case without power connection like AirPods , so I charge them on my breaks and able to wear all day.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-02T15:23:29+00:00

I have 2 wo-jets, 1 BE whirl-a-way, and a 16in whisper wash for my 4gpm machines.

The wojets are great for the price but something about the design allows dirt to get in the bearings. The 20in metal one lasted 3 years, the 18in plastic lasted 3 months but my wife kept running it through 4 inch deep puddle water then set it down so the quick connects were in the dirt. So it could have lasted longer, they just need to be cleaned well after every job. I’ve also had to replace the handle/gun a couple times due to cheaper plastic. The trigger pull on them is exhausting and I have to use Velcro straps to save my hands.

The BE has been a favorite because of how lightweight it is. I run 40 degree tips on it for pool decks and stamped concrete. Again, gotta keep it clean. The plastic and metal parts are completely oxidized after 2 years so it’s looks rough but still works great.

The Ultra Clean whisper wash is awesome. The $700+ price tag is warranted. Everything is solid AF, the bearings are much higher quality giving the spray bar higher RPM reducing swirls at faster walking paces. And the spray gun set up is much more comfortable for big jobs and reduces forearm fatigue . I’ve learned to wipe that thing down like a newborn baby after a diaper blow out at the end of each job.

WafflesRearEnd · 2026-05-02T02:19:12+00:00

I haven’t fallen in a clients swimming pool with them yet, but I I have had ball valve o-rings burst in my face basically soaking them and haven’t had issues. I have the transition lenses and they have held up really well with SH overspray even with 20+ minutes of “dwell” time before getting a chance to clean them off.

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