HOW TO: "Soft Wash" a Cedar Roof

Hi folks, here's a quick illustration of a process I commonly use when washing a cedar roof. This roof cleaning method utilizes sodium hypochlorite (SH) as the algaecide and fungicide, and a low-pressure water rinse. So, this is a "soft wash" process versus a "pressure wash" process. This video was shot at a property I worked on in Brewster, MA.
Here's the document referenced in this video:
Installation, Care, and Maintenance of Wood Shake and Shingle Roofs
www.cedarbureau.org/cms-asset...
Here's the mighty Proportioner:
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All-Flo 1/2" Air Diaphragm Pump
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If you want to hear what I have to say about cleaning cedar or to learn more about my services, please check out these links:
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Thanks for watching!

[@hillshepardson9537]

A great guy that knows his stuff!

[@aaronbailey3640]

Great presentation and thank you for telling % of S.H.

[@OutsideCleaners]

Thanks for watching

[@PatrickGodreault]

Love the last situation of this video, Thank you, for your information!😉

[@jayslo914]

Thanks for the content and how to! I have a cedar roof in RI to do.

[@johnhanselman6371]

Great content. I have not seen a Cedar roof in many years. You definitely made it look better.

[@OutsideCleaners]

Thanks for watching, John. Different regions have their typical roofs, don't they? Here in very Eastern Massachusetts, cedar roofs are common but we don't have many slate or metal roofs.

[@glennlienhop342]

Great information Job well done 👍

[@OutsideCleaners]

Thanks for watching!

[@fullmylegroundsllcmyles970]

Great content 👌 👍

[@OutsideCleaners]

Thanks

[@everzamora9031]

Right on. Did you spray on a brightener like oxalic?

[@OutsideCleaners]

No, just what was shown; just per the document referenced.

[@SodBustersMetalDetecting]

So if you have heavy moss on a cedar roof what % SH can I use without causing damage?

[@OutsideCleaners]

I’m not trying to be evasive, but the devil is really in the details: age and condition of the roof, pitch of the roof, extent of the moss, what’s “downstream” under the roof, etc. Ask 10 different roof, cleaners and you’ll get 10 different answers, but without knowing more more about the situation, I can tell you that for red cedar roof shingles in otherwise good condition, and heavy organic growth, this is a process I have had good success with over the years: HOW TO: Wash a Cedar Roof with Cedar Wash by WashSafe kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIucfmVmgbxjobs

[@athanasiosbilis5198]

Hi Nate great contend! if I can ask, how much do you charge per sqft for cedar wash?

[@OutsideCleaners]

I don’t go by square foot. I go by the time it will take to do and how much materials (chemicals) will be needed. I figure that out and then give the customer a price. The reason is, there can be huge variation in how long it takes to wash and how much materials it takes to clean two different roofs of the same size.

[@tomalley798]

Is your next vid tackling that monster roof. That would be awesome if you do.

[@OutsideCleaners]

Sorry, no

[@tomalley798]

@@OutsideCleaners it is what it is. Cheer up. She’ll be right mate. Thanks for the advice and content.

[@tomalley798]

What surfaces could H2O2 in liquid form be used on for cleaning. We use it down here for cleaning beer lines. Is it any good as a brightener for anything.

[@junioracevedo839]

Did you do service on hyannis ? I need a estimate ?

[@OutsideCleaners]

I’m sorry, I do not.

[@brycelittle7239]

Do you re-wet with diluted solution or water during the 15min wait period?

[@OutsideCleaners]

Don’t let it dry. Re-wet with SH solution if needed.

[@dev_vg]

Hey Nate, thanks for the videos. Im in the south shore, if you are looking for a helper I am very interested!

[@OutsideCleaners]

👍🏼 i’ll keep it in mind. Thank you.

[@ranmangolf]

Do you recommend using oxalic acid on the cedar roof after it has been cleaned?

[@OutsideCleaners]

I do not.

[@organicvids]

5:44 where is the vid on that roof cleaning?

[@OutsideCleaners]

lol THAT roof was beyond all hope. But here's some vids on other ways to clean a cedar roof which has more than just a little algae upon it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIucfmVmgbxjobssi=Y6T8SNRx-TahHdGC kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2LHlZKVl8msqdUsi=jgSg3aSRgM4fNi1a

[@organicvids]

@@OutsideCleaners why not have owner sign waiver n do "inspection clean"?

[@ProCleanServices]

Are you supposed to also use oxalic acid, then a sealer? Or even just a sealer?

[@OutsideCleaners]

Lots of ways to clean cedar but this was just done per the referenced document, just SH and rinse. Sealers: Don't get me started! I'll personally never seal cedar. There's lots of money in it but in my opinion it's not in the best interest of the property or homeowner.

[@ProCleanServices]

@@OutsideCleaners gotcha 👍. So in your opinion, Cleaning with just SH is the proper method?

[@OutsideCleaners]

@@ProCleanServices there is no single best method for every cedar roof. The method illustrated here was fine for this roof, which had good gutters, painted siding, was minimally affected with algae, etc. Again, there is no single best method for every situation.

[@ClassicCleanPro]

Only one real professional way to clean all cedar . Chlorine is definitely 10000% not one of them. Don't care what you claim...

[@ClassicCleanPro]

Only one real professional way to clean all cedar . Chlorine is definitely 10000% not one of them. Don't care what you claim...

[@rogerpatry8342]

That’s only 1% SH?

[@OutsideCleaners]

2:41 I recommend always starting out light, give the chemicals time to do its thing. That avoids the typical stuff I see whereas guys shoot it hot and the red cedar roof turns downright white…

[@rogerpatry8342]

@@OutsideCleaners loved your video. Would it be alright to oil the roof with a pump sprayer when done?

[@OutsideCleaners]

@@rogerpatry8342 no. No. Washing as illustrated in this video will make it look much better and will get it a bit cleaner at first and then more as time goes by, but in my view this is definitely not the way to clean cedar if you’re going to be putting a stain, sealant, or oil on it afterwards. For that, you definitely want to give it a deeper clean. Lots of ways to give a deeper clean, one of which I show here: HOW TO: Wash a Cedar Roof with Cedar Wash by WashSafe kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIucfmVmgbxjobs

[@ClassicCleanPro]

Hate to ruin day but that's not how you clean a cedar roof. You just ruined the cedar. Cedar Roofs have a 3 step process. And one step is a special voil to maintain the moisture in the cedar. Unreal.

[@OutsideCleaners]

Thanks for your comment and for watching. No worries, you haven’t ruined my day. As mentioned at 0:11, there’s lots of ways to clean a cedar roof, and this video illustrated the method advised by the documents referenced.

[@SodBustersMetalDetecting]

So what is the proper way? I would be interested to hear

[@OutsideCleaners]

@@SodBustersMetalDetecting do some looking around online and you’ll find that within the cedar roof cleaning industry, there are a couple vocal factions advocating different “best” ways to clean a cedar roof. The camps tend to be very outspoken and critical of anyone who hasn’t drank their particular Kool-Aid. Within these factions, I’ve found little to no acknowledgment that red cedar is different than white cedar, shakes are different than shingles, moss is different than algae, very steep roofs are different than nearly flat roofs, some houses have gutters and some don’t, etc etc…. not to mention the profound difference among customers and their budgets and expectations. In other words, some within the industry carry a proverbial hammer and try to treat every problem like a nail. Personally, over the years I’ve found it best to acknowledge the very real differences that exist between different types of cedar and different properties and different customers, and carry a full compliment of cleaning options to best match the need. The method illustrated here uses an algaecide (sodium hypochlorite) to address algae on the red cedar shingles and is one of the methods recommended by the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau.

[@jamesa5720]

Seems like you would want to share those 3 steps, you being so smart and such.

[@adamtweedie2580]

Lol😂 so why are you here? Kick rocks weirdo