Cleaning Contractors reveal Pride and Ambition

I met the men who would clean my roof separately. The first one to come to my home was the business owner-manager who carried a clipboard. I had spoken by phone with his enthusiastic wife earlier and she explained generally what I could expect and scheduled this appointment. Pete was stocky of build and cordial in manner. He listened carefully to what I wanted and then proceeded to walk around my home looking at the roof from every different angle. I had indicated that there was a second question that I would pose after he finished his survey. He anticipated my query and pointed out that along with the roof my chimney needed cleaning.

He gave me a quote that seemed reasonable but that wasn't my primary concern. I was worried about any possible risks to the roofing structure that would be involved. For example, i wanted to know if they would just work with a spray from their ladder or would they have to mount and walk on the roof' surface. Pete responded that they use very hot water but it is not under high pressure. He went on to explain that they would have to spend time walking all about the roof but he had full liability and insurance coverage.

I asked about the entire process that would be used and Pete was positively delighted with my expression of interest and proceeded to fill me in on the steps that would be taken, including the final step of applying a final protective compound that would prevent any subsequent buildup of mold or lichen for five or six years. It was a product that he himself had developed, he boasted. He was proud to relate how well his business was going. They completed some 600 jobs last year and this year was off to a gang buster start. He was in the process of constructing a large new office building in a nearby town. His entire demeanor radiated pride of ownership. Up to now he has been operating out of his home office. He assured me with evident confidence I would be, more than pleased with his service, I would be absolutely surprised at how well it would turn out. I agreed to his terms and he to my expectations.

A couple of weeks later his white truck, crowned with multiple and different length ladders, swung into my gravel driveway. Pete, was not part of the two man crew. They had arrived somewhat later than anticipated and explained they had run into a complication on their previous job. It had something to do with ornamental trees growing right up against the house and branching over the roof.

Steve and Phil had a couple of things in common. They both were wirey in build and lived in relatively large urban city's. Both loved to make small talk about roof cleaning and about themselves. In Steve's case, he talked as if he had a close business or investment relationship (it wasn't clear) with Pete the owner and he had associated with the business longer than Phil. When I talked to him about the protective compound he explained that as a matter of fact he played some role in the utilization of that compound. It seems it was related to a chemical that had been used by a previous employer of his as a weatherproofing product. He was obviously excited about how well the business was doing and joked about a ficticious gym for working out that would be included in the new facility.

Phil, described how they did two roofs a day and he put in 70 hours a week. He lived in Middletown and when I mentioned that my wife and I liked the wide array of restaurants concentrated within a three block area there, he smiled broadly and said he had worked as a cook at the very same Italian restaurant I mentioned was one of our favorites. Phil made it clear that he too was excited by the prospects of future growth they saw ahead for their firm. For example, because the business was seasonal there had been some talk of opening up a second operation in Florida. Phil really liked that prospect.

As I watched them set up shifting ladder and rope placements initially to mount the roof, then to be able to navigate across what would soon become a wet slippery surface I came to appreciate the sheer physical demands of doing this kind of work many hours a day. Now I know from experience how difficult it is to move a fully extended tall ladder from one location to another. Moving the sheer weight of it without having it deviate from the vertical takes up much of my strength. Then I saw Steve carrying a fully extended ladder upright, a coupe of feet off the ground and with the top angled widely from the bottom. I was impressed.

The rest of the job was all about spraying. The first application was to kill and loosen up any mold and lichen. The third spraying was the protective waterproofing. They were both easy and quick. It was the intermediate spraying that was time consuming but (for me) truly fascinating to watch. It was a hot water spray under pressure. They had branching rake like attachments to their hoses. The multiple streams of water could be directed at a foot wide section of the roof at a time. They continued the penetrating dousing until that section had been cleared, not only of mold and lichen, but also of 30 years accumulation of dark colored debris that had fallen from surrounding trees. They persisted systematically with this process, section by section, until every square inch of the roof had been washed clean. To my great and pleasant surprise, underneath it all was revealed the original red colored roof that I long since had forgotten. My 30 year old roof looked like new. I expressed my delight with the outcome and came to understand the pride they took in what they were doing.