TSP & pressure washer - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

**Teetorbilt** · 04-03-2007, 04:12 PM

I assumed that y'all apply TSP with a pressure washer, is there a ratio different than what is on the package for use with a PW?

The reason that I ask is that I started with a bottle of KrudKutter for PW's and switched to TSP. The KK seemed to remove much more than the TSP when mixed to the indicated ratios.

Brushslingers · 04-03-2007, 04:32 PM

Actually I apply tsp and/or chorine with a pumpup, when I go back with a p/w I will use whatever I used for the first soak in the pickup. TSP is really only good for deglossing imo.

Workaholic · 04-03-2007, 04:48 PM

When i used to do a lot of exteriors we used the garden sprayer, and ran a bit ahead of the pw

4thGeneration · 04-03-2007, 04:58 PM

Did you make sure the water with the tsp was warm water? Thats the best way tsp will work. I always used bleach, tsp and soap powders as the soap powder always activated all the available chlorine in the bleach.

PlainPainter · 04-03-2007, 05:04 PM

Krudkutter has ingredients like sodium hydroxide in addition to TSP. I use 1/4 Cup TSP to one gallon of applied house solution - if your downstreamer is 10:1. You will have to put 2-1/2 cups dissolved into a gallon of water. I dissolve it straight into a bottle of bleach, you will have to put the bottle of bleach into the sink full of hot water or something. Or pour into larger container and use a paddle mixer. Add a little sodium hydroxide to the mix if you want - like a degreaser, i.e. Castrol's super clean. Pretty soon you will have a cleaner that will knock the socks off of KrudKutter, and will effectively clean gutters right up! Just curious what recipe were you following, Teetor?

**Teetorbilt** · 04-03-2007, 05:44 PM

4th, where I am all that we get is warm water. I mixed it in a dark blue pail and it was close to 100* when used. Solar energy is great!

Plain, I just followed the directions on the box and used the PW to apply, same as the KK. Mold and algae are not an issue, chlorine worries me on a number of levels.

PressurePros · 04-03-2007, 06:20 PM

Teetor, there are pre-made contractor strength cleaners out there that will outperform TSP alone. Certain chemicals are synergistic. My housewash/prep includes sodium metasilciate, TSP, sodium hypochlorite and some other goodies like surfactants and rust inhibitors. I downstream the mix up to 45 ft in the air and never leave the ground.

Take a pek at my pic portfolio for some housewashes done with this method and cleaner.

http://www.pressure-pros.com/index/portfolio.html

**Teetorbilt** · 04-03-2007, 06:29 PM

How about PM'ing me the mixture? This thing has to be done by the 27th and I'm doing it in my spare time. I'll rally the troops if I get caught in a jam but would prefer to DIY this one and suprise everybody. It's a complete color change.

4thGeneration · 04-03-2007, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PressurePros

Teetor, there are pre-made contractor strength cleaners out there that will outperform TSP alone. Certain chemicals are synergistic. My housewash/prep includes sodium metasilciate, TSP, sodium hypochlorite and some other goodies like surfactants and rust inhibitors. I downstream the mix up to 45 ft in the air and never leave the ground.

Take a pek at my pic portfolio for some housewashes done with this method and cleaner.

http://www.pressure-pros.com/index/portfolio.html

Looks good, but down here people do not know about quality and therefore downgrade any service put before their eyes. They think HD and Lowes is king as well as the people who work behind those counters. The most used product I hear from homeowners as well as fence installers is a splah of behr stain for color. They actually think that parafin wax and spirits will last!!!

PressurePros · 04-03-2007, 09:36 PM

4th, remember this.. Only one in five people buy on price. That means 80% of the people out there will buy quality if you can present it as a benefit to them. A house is a person's largest investment, a new deck isn't a sneeze either. Do they really want to play Russian Roulette and risk expensive fixes to save a few hundred bucks? The good customers are out there, you have to know how to target them.. regardless of where you live.

4thGeneration · 04-03-2007, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PressurePros

4th, remember this.. Only one in five people buy on price. That means 80% of the people out there will buy quality if you can present it as a benefit to them. A house is a person's largest investment, a new deck isn't a sneeze either. Do they really want to play Russian Roulette and risk expensive fixes to save a few hundred bucks? The good customers are out there, you have to know how to target them.. regardless of where you live.

Is direct mailing postcards every other month a good idea combined with doorhangers? Should I mail geared to the upper high end homes because alot of them are cheap also. I know I have to pitch quality, but what would be a attractive way?

PlainPainter · 04-04-2007, 06:47 AM

Teetor - Ken is right about synergy between chemicals - although I have had good luck with TSP, note that I have to put lots of it in comparison with others' products. But one thing you cannot absolutely leave out is the Bleach, if you were trying to remove mildew with TSP minus the Bleach - you were missing out on that first order of synergy TSP/Bleach. Although not as advanced as certain products with multiple components of chemicals. Bleach and TSP is a simple recipe that works like gangbusters! I don't know much about krudkutter - but I suspect it's alot like Mi-T-M's house and deck wash - where they don't give you directions to add bleach. But bleach is still all important in housewashing. Either use bleach or don't bother with house washing - it's that simple.

gary lee · 04-04-2007, 01:29 PM

So if I wanted a simple formula/receipe for a good house wash that i can mix and put in a hudson/garden sprayer what would it be? If I wanted to buy a premixed one what brand and where would I get it.

Gary

Joewho · 04-04-2007, 01:33 PM

Ammonia and bleach? J/K.

don't ever mix ammonia and bleach, it and it's fumes are poison.

Workaholic · 04-04-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joewho

Ammonia and bleach? J/K.

don't ever mix ammonia and bleach, it and it's fumes are poison.

I almost freaked on that one

MakDeco · 04-04-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joewho

Ammonia and bleach? J/K.

don't ever mix ammonia and bleach, it and it's fumes are poison.

Don't say that some knucklehead is bound to try that out and say I saw it on contractor talk!

gary lee · 04-06-2007, 12:17 PM

I have a client whose exterior of the building is dirty. The exterior is EFIS. What would be a good solution (Cleaner) that would take off the dirt and grime but not hurt the EIFS? We would use a pressure washer but keep the pressure low as not to cause any damage. What precautions should I take?

Thanks
Gary

**Teetorbilt** · 04-06-2007, 02:34 PM

I have a brother that nearly died as a kid while playing 'chemist' in the garage with household products. Ammonia and Chlorine were the culprits.

4thGeneration · 04-07-2007, 06:49 AM

Why would using pressure on a roof cleaning be bad and void the warranty when in Florida we have hurricanes and the roofs are hirricane rated? Sounds like a hitch scare anybody off from cleaning roofs so the roofers can replace them instead of maintain them in my opinion.

PressurePros · 04-07-2007, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4thGeneration

Why would using pressure on a roof cleaning be bad and void the warranty when in Florida we have hurricanes and the roofs are hirricane rated? Sounds like a hitch scare anybody off from cleaning roofs so the roofers can replace them instead of maintain them in my opinion.

The life of asphalt shingles is in the granules protecting it. Even 200 psi can start damaging the shingles. Roof cleaning should be done "no pressure" all chems and low/no pressure rinse.