Pressure Cleaning a Roof - A Crazy Question

[smidsy]

If a mod thinks of a better place for this I'd appreciate it being moved.

I rent in a five year old duplex with a colourbond roof
I'm getting sick of pressure cleaning the paths after every rain but the owner won't spring for a roof clean - I have pointed out to him that all the crap he sees on the paths is going through the water pump.
For a limited time I have access to a good ladder which will get me to the roof but I can't go on it - especially not a wet roof.

Has anyone made or seen a trolley or some set up that allows you to put the karcher on a trolley or cradle and move it up and down the roof with sections of pole. I'm thinking 40 or 60mm retic pipe in 1000 or 1500mm sections would do for the pole, and I have some rollers from a sectional garage door that I think would work as wheels.
It would be a two person job as I'd need someone to feed the hose and power leads, but that's the same as if someone was going on the roof - this is just going to take longer and be a workout.

Any thoughts or ideas?

[rwbuild]

Harsh answer but NOT YOUR PROBLEM. DO NOT DO IT. If you doubt me, talk to the agent and your solicitor and I know what they will both say.
If anything happens to you or damage to the roof or leak, you will wear the consequences. Property maintenance is the responsibility of the owner or via the managing agent.
Your responsibility is to keep the place clean and tidy and not abuse/damage it.

[Beardy]

What Ray said ^^^^^
Is there anything actually wrong or is it your clean freak tendencies driving this?

[Chesand]

What they said and more so. It is NOT worth the risk.

[cava]

Don't go anywhere near it - it can backfire on you dramatically.

[ian]

[DaveTTC]

I agree with what the others said but if you feel the overwhelming desire or need to clean it anyway I would expect just using the pressure washer from gutter height should dislodge everything. If the roof is only 5 years old it should be relatively easy to clean unless you are under a tree and there is sap and other sticky residue all over the roof.


Sent Dave TTC
The Turning Cowboy

Turning Wood Into Art

[rustynail]

You mention the water is going through a pump. If this means the water from the roof is being used, the Landlord is responsible for the supply of potable water. The use of a pressure cleaner on an iron roof may well lead to leaking and surface degradation. If these were to occur, you would be liable. Clean neat and tidy are your only responsibilities. As a Landlord myself, I wouldn't want a tenant taking maintenance into their own hands.

[Bob38S]

Agree 110% with all of the above = Don’t.

Apart from the obvious dangers associated with being on a (wet) roof, imagine the high pressure water blaster taking off the tiniest piece of colour bond or a abrading the colour. You did it therefore, it’s your fault and the roof now needs painting or worse replacing, particularly as it is only 5 years old.

Not your problem, don’t make one.

Just my 2% of a dollar’s worth.

[smidsy]

Okay guys thanks for the info, it was just an idea - not one of my better ones it seems.

I'm not anal about cleaning, far from it, but I do like the front paths clean so I hit them with the Karcher every three months or so.
However it does bug me that I have to do it every three months, if the roof was clean and didn't dump crap all over the paths it would be a once a year job.

In terms of the pump, this is a split system that Lib/Nat introduced and then Labor removed.
The gutters are hooked up to two tanks, about 1k litre each I think, the tanks are also on automatic mains water top up.
The washing machine, cistern and outside taps run off the tank via a pressure pump and the rest of the house is on mains water.

[TermiMonster]

Why would a five year old roof be causing the paths to be dirty? Or am I missing something?
Surely the solution lies elsewhere?