The Cleaning Doctor

Concrete Sealer

2011-02-14T21:37:00.000-06:00

Some of the best concrete sealers that we have discovered are made right here in the good ole USA in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

We are talking about Wakefield Manufacturing LLC. They have a full line of concrete sealers and concrete stains. As a matter of fact, any of their sealers can be colored to your desire.

Ever want to learn to stain your deck?

2010-12-17T12:38:00.000-06:00

If you ever wanted to learn what it takes to refinish your deck, I have found a lens into the deck staining world at http://www.squidoo.com/deck-staining-tips

Visit there and find out what it is all about. Not only are they talking about deck staining but any exterior wood from fences to log homes.

2010-02-09T08:31:00.001-06:00

All About Roof Cleaning - http://ping.fm/BHbYC

ALL ABOUT ROOF CLEANING - by Dr. Victor H. Morgenroth

2010-02-09T08:15:00.001-06:00

About the author: Dr. Morgenroth is a Keys Gate resident who is a semi-retired, adjunct professor of neurology at UM. He was a principal administrator in the Environment Health and Safety Division of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for 20 years; prior to that he was a Group Leader in the Toxicology Division at the Center for Food Safety and Nutrition in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Previously, he was on the faculty of several medical schools in neurology, pharmacology and psychiatry.

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Having your roof cleaned actually makes sense. I know most of us were slightly put out by receiving a roof cleaning notice from the Keys Gate Management Association. Although it read a little like an ultimatum and you probably wondered who the inspector of your roof was and what their qualifications were, it turns out that roof cleaning is not a bad idea at all.

It isn’t just aesthetics. While people like to say that dirty roofs lower a property’s value and may make it hard to sell, the “dirt” on a roof actually shortens its life span and can even present a health hazard. Furthermore, the “dark stains” on a roof act as a sponge to absorb the sun's heat, which causes a rise in the temperature inside a home or building, creating higher air conditioning bills.

The dirt isn’t just dust – It’s alive. Some of the black or very dark roof stains are caused by a resilient type of algae, Gloeocapsa magma (a type of blue-green algae commonly found in climates with warm, humid summers). The algae grow in standing water, as well as in our lakes and ponds. The algal spores are carried to our roofs from the water sources by the wind and birds, and then from roof to roof where it grows and feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles and the real dirt on tile roofs maybe in some cases the tiles themselves. Worse still, as the algae grow, they retain water and foster the growth of other roof inhabitants.

The black stains are also very likely to harbor a number of molds or fungi. Unlike algae the fungi on our roofs lacks chlorophyll. They are unable to manufacture food from raw materials. So, it must get nutrition from some form of organic matter. To thrive, these heterotrophs, who used to be called saprophytes, also require a warm, humid environment.

Fungi normally begin their life cycle as an airborne spore that settles on roofs, especially the asphalt-shingle ones. The spores on the northern exposure of the roof stand a better chance of survival because that portion of the roof is the last part to dry after a rain or morning dew. This raises the humidity on the surface of the shingle, thus creating a perfect feeding and breeding ground.

The tar used in roofing is fossilized, dead organic matter -- and an important food source for fungi. Asphalt, at the granule base, is normally consumed first. Once these granules dislodge, accelerated deterioration will occur. Ceramic granules represent the outer hard shell that protects against hail and other falling debris. Ceramic granules protect against damaging UV radiation and insulate the roof against extreme heat. So you can understand that their dislodgement by the growing fungal colonies can be detrimental to our roofs’ longevity. Surprisingly, the blue-green algae are also food for the fungi.

While not all mold (fungi) and algae pose a health danger, some are harmful, especially for us older folks, younger children and people who suffer from asthma and respiratory problems. Their spores, which are on your roof, can get inside your home because they end up on the driveway and walkways from rain, and are easily tracked inside. They can even be drawn into our air conditioning systems and eventually populate our ducts.

Different mold species can have varying health effects, but it is important to remember that any excessive mold growth needs to be taken care of, regardless of the species. Any excessive mold growth can lead to increased allergies, toxicity, and house/building structural problems.

For those interested, this box describes some of the most common fungi likely to be found on our roofs and their possible health effects. While “sick building syndrome” has been talked about frequently in the media, it isn’t always reported that this syndrome is often caused by faulty or leaking roof assemblies that result in fungal infestations. It isn’t, as reported, always due to chemicals in carpeting.

Don’t Panic!

Most of us have immune systems that are fully capable of resisting the effects of fungi described below. As a result it would be highly unlikely for any of us to suffer any of the ill effects described. But if fungal colonies are allowed to persist and multiply then the high concentrations of the molds and their volatile organic chemical metabolites might be sufficient to increase the risks from our exposure to them.

Stachybotrys chartarum (atra) molds can thrive on water damaged, cellulose-rich material in buildings such as sheet rock, paper, ceiling tiles, insulation backing, wallpaper, etc. In the majority of cases where Stachybotrys is found indoors, water damage has gone unnoticed or ignored since it requires extended periods of time with increased levels of moisture for growth to occur. Stachybotrys is usually black and slimy in appearance. Events of water intrusion that are not addressed quickly tends to support the growth of more xerophilic fungi such as Pencillium and Aspergillus.

Stachybotrys is another fungi that has the ability to produce mycotoxins, ones that are toxic and can be immunosuppressive. Exposure to these mycotoxins can result through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal exposure. Symptoms of exposure include dermatitis, cough, rhinitis, nose bleeds, cold and flu-like symptoms, headache, general malaise, and fever.

The Cladosporium genera of mold are pigmented dark green to black in the front, and black on the reverse with a velvety to powdery texture. One of the most commonly isolated from indoor and outdoor air, Cladosporium spp. are found on decaying plants, woody plants, food, straw, soil, paint, textiles, and the surface of fiberglass duct liner in the interior of supply ducts.

There are over 30 species in the Cladosporium genus. The most common are C. elatum, C. herbarum, C. sphaerospermum, and C. cladosporioides. These fungi are the causative agents of skin lesions, keratitis, nail fungus, sinusitis, asthma, and pulmonary infections. Acute symptoms of exposure to Cladosporium are edema and bronchiospasm, and chronic exposure may lead to pulmonary emphysema.

Aspergillus is the most common genus of fungi in our environment (it especially likes to grow on corn plants) with more than 160 different species of mold. Sixteen of these species have been documented as causing human disease. Aspergillosis is now the 2nd most common fungal infection requiring hospitalization in the United States.

Aspergillus fumigatus. The most encountered species causing infection. It is seen abundantly in decomposing organic material, such as self-heating compost piles, since it readily grows at temperatures up to 55 C. People who handle contaminated material often develop hypersensitivity to the spores of Aspergillus and may suffer severe allergic reactions upon exposure.

Aspergillus flavus. The 2nd most encountered fungi in cases of Aspergillus infection. It is also known to produce the mycotoxin aflatoxin, one of the most potent carcinogens known to man. In the 1960s, 100,000 turkey poults in Great Britain died from ingesting contaminated feed. Most countries have established levels for aflatoxin in food. However, the risks associated with airborne exposure are not adequately studied and no exposure standards exist.

Aspergillus niger. The 3rd most common Aspergillus fungi associated with disease and the most common of any Aspergillus species in nature due to its ability to grow on a wide variety of substrates. This species may cause a “fungal ball”, which is a condition where the fungus actively proliferates in the human lung, forming a ball. It does so without invading the lung tissue.

Fusarium spp.,common soil fungus and inhabitant on a wide array of plants, this fungi is often found in humidifiers and has been isolated from water-damaged carpets and a variety of other building materials. Human exposure may occur through ingestion of contaminated grains and possibly through the inhalation of spores. Fusarium spp. is frequently involved with eye, skin, and nail infections.

Several species can produce the trichothecene toxins which target the circulatory, alimentary, skin, and nervous systems. Vomitoxin is one such tricothecene mycotoxin that has been associated with outbreaks of acute gastrointestinal illness in humans. Zearalenone is another mycotoxin produced by Fusarium. It is similar in structure to the female sex hormone estrogen and targets the reproductive organs.

Penicillium fungi are commonly found in soil, food, cellulose, grains, paint, carpet, wallpaper, interior fiberglass duct insulation, and decaying vegetation. Penicillium may cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis, asthma, and allergic alveolitis in susceptible individuals.

The genus Penicillium has several species. The most common ones include Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium janthinellum, Penicillium marneffei, and Penicillium purpurogenum.

These fungi have been isolated from patients with keratitis, ear infections, pneumonia, endocarditis, peritonitis, and urinary tract infections. Penicillium infections are most commonly exhibited in immunosuppressed individuals.

In conclusion, during the digestion of substrates, fungi secrete enzymes into nutrients in order to break down complex compounds into simpler compounds that can be taken up by the fungi and used as nutrition. These digested nutrients produce secondary metabolic byproducts called mycotoxins that are released to give the fungi a competitive edge over other microorganisms and fungi. Unfortunately, mycotoxins can also be toxic to humans causing a variety of responses including cold/flu-like symptoms, sore throats, headaches, nose bleeds, fatigue, diarrhea, dermatitis, and immune suppression. Some mycotoxins may also be carcinogenic and teratogenic. Molds that have been known to potentially produce these toxins are Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys.

Even though these molds may potentially produce mycotoxins, they will not do so unless specific environmental conditions exist. Currently, it is unknown exactly what conditions promote the growth of mycotoxin production and more scientific research needs to be conducted on this topic for it to be fully understood.

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For more information or to contact us visit our roof cleaning web site as we are currently the only dual certified professional roof cleaner in the state of Tennessee. We currently hold certifications from the American Roof Cleaners Association and the Roof Cleaning Institute of America.

2010-02-05T21:51:00.001-06:00

Are you a roof cleaner or pressure washer? Add your listing for free. http://ping.fm/4Qmzv

2010-02-04T00:40:00.001-06:00

Cash flow problem? Selling your house? Check out our Real Estate Enhancement program http://ping.fm/0isDS Great first impressions.

Man is it cold

2010-01-07T07:19:00.000-06:00

Woke up this morning to about an inch of snow. No way to clean any roofs in this kind of weather.

From dungeon to ivory tower

2009-12-22T13:42:00.000-06:00

The story is just amazing all should read what dedication these fellows have.

From dungeon to ivory tower

Cold weather is upon us.

2009-12-20T11:18:00.001-06:00

Cold weather is here and the holidays are near and you are not even thinking about exterior cleaning. Companies that specialize in exterior cleaning are prepared for the winter months when work slows down. Now can also be the time to get some deals on your exterior cleaning needs. With the slow down in work it is also possible to get something done quicker because the schedule is not full. Or you may be able to get on the spring schedule and lock in your slot for the spring cleaning. What ever your needs are contact your local cleaning contractor today and set up your appointment. Don't wait for the last minute because weather can also delay projects.

To see all of out cleaning services visit our web site

The Cleaning Doctor launches new real estate cleaning program

2009-11-20T00:41:00.000-06:00

The Cleaning Doctor is pleased to announce the launching of the Real Estate Enhancement Program or REEP for short. Check out the official site for the Real Estate Enhancement Program.

For more information you may contact us at reep@thecleaningdoc.com or by phone at 931-933-5421.

Roof Cleaning - Cleaning agent dangers.

2009-11-09T08:35:00.000-06:00

We have all dont it at one point or another, right? We have mixed household cleaning chemicals together thinking it would clean better? We have been overwhelmed by the fumes and some have even ended up in the hospital.

Now for cleaning your roof the dangers are the same only on a much greater scale, such as this article about an explosion in Tampa

Tampa Roof Cleaning Explosion

or this one about a pressure cleaner that was injured

Pressure Cleaner Injured In Chemical Explosion

Both of these happened out of careless habits and/or no knowledge of the cleaning agents they were mixing.

Roof Cleaning is a serious business and the risks are real. Not just falling off a ladder but the handling of the cleaning agents can pose a danger if done improperly.

An Alert and concientious roof cleaner is what you need working on your home. I'm sure that you don't need a free skylight.

The Cleaning Doctor gets Certified for Roof Cleaning

2009-11-09T00:03:00.000-06:00

The Cleaning Doctor is please to announce that we are the first roof cleaning company in Tennessee to be certified by the American Roof Cleaners Association and the Roof Cleaning Institute of America. We are currently the only Certified Roof Cleaning company in Tennessee.

For more information visit our web site at http://www.thecleaningdoc.com/

Roof Cleaning in Clarksville, TN is alive and well!

2009-05-29T16:24:00.005-05:00

Here is a photo of a roof that we cleaned yesterday in Clarksville, TN. This house also underwent a complete house wash and gutter cleaning.

Several hours later and this home has the look of a new roof. You can't beat the no pressure cleaning procedures used by Great White Technologies.

Roof stain removal is alive and well in Nashville and Clarksville, Tennessee. Please call us for a free no obligation demonstration and quote. We will come to your home and show you how we are able to clean your roof with our no pressure techniques.

For more information and to see the after pictures please visit our main web page.

www.WashMyRoof.com

Clean those roof stains or replace your shingles?

2009-05-26T21:19:00.006-05:00

Decisions Decisions

Every day you are faced with decision after decision about the maintenance of your home. Roofing should be the least of your worries, Right? You bought 30 year shingles didn't you?

You may have even bought algae resistant shingles. Now why do you have algae streaks and stains on your Clarksville or Nashville, Tennessee roof? The answer is simple, the shingles have a 30 year warranty but more than likely the warranty for algae resistance ends at the 10 year mark.

Now that you have the algae stains you now need to decide what to do about it. You have 2 choices, one is to replace your roof and the other is to have the shingles cleaned. Well if you are like me I want to get all that I can out of something before I throw it away. So it is that I would have my shingles cleaned. There is nothing wrong with them except that they are covered with algae.

In the last year from March 2008 to March 2009 shingle prices have risen by 57.5% according to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' Producer Price Index. This year, they went up 3.8 percent from February to March alone.

Now let's look at replacement cost. A typical 1200 square foot house will require roughly 14 squares of shingles (100 square feet per square) and a tear off and new roof installation can cost upwards of $4,000.

Now that we know what it costs to replace the roof let's look at the cleaning costs. For that same roof, the cleaning costs would normally be around 1/10 of the replacement costs. For this specific example the cleaning of your Clarksville or Nashville, TN roof would be approximately $300. That is a savings of $3,700 for the homeowner.

Here is an article from the Seattle Times about the price of roofing shingles on the rise.

Click here for more information on Roof Cleaning and Stain Removal for your Tennessee home.

Off the shelf Roof Cleaning Chemicals. Do they work?

2009-05-25T19:53:00.003-05:00

I know you have seen all sorts of advertising about roof cleaning chemicals. You can purchase these products in the big box stores all day long but there is something they are not telling you. These chemicals are not recommended by the Asphalt Shingle Manufacturers Association (ARMA) for your Tennessee roof. Most of these products are Sodium Hydroxide based and can be very dangerous, as any chemical can be if not applied properly. Sodium Hydroxide can cause chemical burns and other irritations and it is odorless. Thus it gives you no warning to clear the area.

ARMA recommends the use of Sodium Hypochlorite for the cleaning of your asphalt shingle roof, thus removing the roof stains from your Nashville or Clarksville, Tennessee home. Sodium Hydroxide is a degreaser and very good at that. It is used to clean commercial kitchen hoods. Your shingles are asphalt, a very thick type of grease. What do you think will happen to your shingles? People are trying to get a one size fits all cleaner. Well there is none, at least not yet.

You will find sites that state bleach is bad for your plants and your roof. Do you think they now more than the shingle manufacturers? They are correct about Sodium Hypochlorite being bad for your plants, but there again protective measures can be taken. You put bleach in your washing machine don't you? Read the bottle and see what the active ingredient is, Sodium Hypochlorite. What would you rather have used on your home, a chemical with no warning or smell or one that smells like bleach? Most of the sites that bash the use of bleach/sodium hypochlorite for TN roof stain removal will have a product to sell you.

Why don't they put Sodium Hypochlorite in their roof cleaning chemicals you ask? Short shelf life is the answer. Sodium Hypochlorite degrades quickly so it needs to be used quickly or it looses it's strength. The same reason you need to keep putting chlorine in a pool. Time and the sun cause the chemical to degrade quickly.

Yes we are in the roof cleaning business but if you don't use us to have your roof cleaned at least use a roof cleaner that uses non pressure techniques utilizing the ARMA recommended chemicals.

Call Great White Technologies for your free demonstration and estimate at 931-933-5421.

Nashville, TN Roof Stain Removal

Clarksville, TN Roof Stain Removal

How is your curb appeal? Does your home exterior need cleaning?

2009-05-22T15:18:00.007-05:00

How is the curb appeal on your home? Are you thinking of putting your home on the market?

If your roof looks like the one to the right be prepared to receive lower bids. These shingles look like they are going to need replacing soon.

Roof stain removal is possible and inexpensive compared to other home improvement options.

You can lose a buyer before they even pull into the drive way. They may decide to keep on driving and pick another house. Let's say you have the best finished interior home in Clarksville, TN. This will not matter if you can not get buyers in the door. They will drive up and change their minds saying to themselves that the house sure looked better in the photos. Don't let this happen to you. Secondly a home with a clean exterior will bring a higher bid than an identical home next door or down the street.

There are several things that you can do to the exterior of your home to keep the buyers interest. First is well maintained landscaping, trim back or remove those overgrown bushes and for heaven's sake keep the lawn mowed and trimmed. Cheapest thing you can do.

Next you must clean the outside of your home. This includes the roof as that is the largest single expense to replace (unless you have an large expansive deck). It is also the most noticeable. When a husband and wife walk up to a house the wife generally looks at the landscaping first while the husband will look at the roof first.

Then the next item is the gutters, if you have trees growing in the gutters you have just told the potential buyer that I didn't take care of this house. I was so lazy I didn't take the time to clean my gutters or hire someone to clean them. Well maybe you don't have trees growing in your gutter but take a look at the outside. Notice the black streaks? You need to get those off of there but there is a problem, these streaks are the hardest of the items to clean and most times require scrubbing to remove them. From a distance they look ok but up close they are filthy. Want to sell your home faster and for more money? Clean gutters look like new gutters.

Now we get to the siding. On my house the color of the vinyl siding is a yellowish tan color and it does not look bad from a distance but up close it looked terrible. Dusty looking mildew all over it with darker spotting. Well out comes the house wash and now that siding looks like it should. Clean and no mildew.

Probably the most neglected part of a home is the deck and fence because it is in the rear of the home and it has to have constant attention. Depending on the wood and the weather in Clarksville, TN your deck may need attention every year or two. Fences can go longer because (hopefully no one is walking on it) vertical surfaces hold up better because the water drains easily. If you can't afford to have the entire deck finished then at least have that old gray wood brightened. Make the fence and deck look like it was just built.

Doing all the things or at least some of them will greatly increase your chances of selling your home faster. Unless they are bargain shoppers the buyers usually want a house they do not have to put work into right from the start. This is where Great White Technologies comes in, We specialize in the cleaning of the exterior of your home. From roof stain removal to wood restoration and siding/house wash to gutter cleaning.

Make your Clarksville, Tennessee home shine on the outside like a beacon calling the buyers to view the beautiful interior of your home.

The Dangers of Roof Cleaning!

2009-04-29T00:00:00.005-05:00

Roof cleaning can be one of the most dangerous undertakings by the average home owner. Lack of experience and improper equipment are just 2 of the dangers physically without even getting to the chemicals that need to be used. Things such as improperly securing a ladder, wet / loose shingles or improper footwear can cause a fall that could cause serious or even fatal injuries. Hint: Don't wear sandals or loose fitting footwear when on a roof. Is a clean roof really worth taking that kind of risk? What happens to your family if you are injured or worse?

Now with the physical equipment mentioned the biggest risk with cleaning your roof are the chemicals and their compatibility with other substances. How would you like to have a 2 foot hole in your house and get a ride in a helicopter? This actually happened to a man in Tampa, Florida. Check out the story in the St. Petersburg Times and see for yourself. This was a very unfortunate accident but at least the home owner was intelligent enough to hire someone to do the work for him. His mistake was picking the wrong contractor for the job. He hired someone that specialized in pressure washing and not a company that specialized in the application of chemicals to clean roofs.

Your Tennessee home is most likely your largest investment and the roof is the most expensive part of that investment. I have said it before and I probably say it more than you want to hear but it is my opinion that you should leave the cleaning of your roof to a knowledgable, licensed and insured professional. They have the proper knowledge, chemicals, and equipment to keep you and your family safely on the ground. For the sake of your roof, find a contractor that specializes in non-pressure roof cleaning in Tennessee.

For further information about Roof Cleaning in Clarksville and Nashville, TN

How do I make my roof last longer?

2009-04-28T00:44:00.006-05:00

The first thing you can do is - - DO NOT pressure wash the shingles at any time. This will remove the protective granules leaving the underlying membrane exposed to UV Rays which will damage them faster than the algae growing on them.

Now the way to make anything last longer is to implement proper preventive and corrective maintenance procedures. Changing the oil in your car is a preventive maintenance procedure. Getting a tune up could be a corrective maintenance procedure. So it is the same with your home and with the most expensive part of that home, the roof. Proper preventive and corrective measures can increase or at least maintain the lifespan of your roof.

Those black streaks on your roof are often mistaken for mold or fungus but are actually a very hardy algae called Gloeocapsa Magma. The process starts with spores carried by the wind currents being deposited on a roof surface. The algae then attaches itself to your roof and begins feeding. Even though you only have streaks on one side of the house, usually the North side, they are all over the roof surface. They just grow slower on southern facing surfaces. This is why when you have your roof cleaned you need to clean the entire surface.

Without interdiction on your part the algae will eventually start to degrade the integrity of your shingles. About 20 years ago manufacturers started using crushed limestone in the makeup of the shingles and this species of algae actually feed on the limestone. The limestone is a food source allowing the algae to grow unchecked causing the dark streaks that you see.

Take my advice and have your shingles cleaned by a professional. Don't risk your health or worse your life trying to do this on your own, not to mention possible damage to the shingles themselves. Too strong of a chemical mix can do as much damage as pressure washing and too weak is ineffective. With the cost of roof replacement being somewhere in the neighborhood of $5,000 to $15,000 it only make sense to keep it in tip top shape. And what about the danger of working on a roof? Wet roofs become slippery and an inexperienced roof cleaner, such as a typical home owner, are taking unnecessary risks. Before you decide to tackle this problem on your own talk to a roof cleaning professional. They will know exactly what it takes to get your roof clean and have the experience to get the job done.

Visit Roof Cleaning of Clarksville and Nashville for more information

Power Washing or Roof Cleaning Chemicals?

2009-04-27T18:09:00.006-05:00

According to ARMA (Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association) and CASMA (Canadian Asphalt Shingle Manufacturers Association), pressure washing of shingle roofs are not recommended. Why is this you ask? Well pressure, even so called low pressure, can dislodge the little granules on the surface of the shingle exposing the underlying membrane to UV rays. This can cause premature failure of the shingle. It can also be cause for voiding your warranty.

These granules are vital to the health of your shingle. It not only provides the coloring of the shingle but prevents the underlying membrane from damage by the elements. Imaging what a flock of birds would do to your unprotected roof!

There are several roof cleaning chemicals being marketed today and most of them require medium pressure to be effective. What this means is that instead of a 3000 PSI pressure washer with one nozzle they want you to use a device with 3 nozzles that reduce the individual pressure at each nozzle down to some where in the range of 800 to 1300 psi. WOW that is still a lot of pressure. Think about it, at one point or another most of us have cleaned our own gutters and have noticed the little granules in the gutter from the shingles. Now these were removed by RAIN. Just think how many can be removed with a pressure washer even at 800 psi. Heck your garden has less than 100 psi and us usually around 60 or 70 psi and it can remove granules. Try it one day on a scrap piece of shingle and see if you remove granules. Do NOT try this on your roof.

The next time someone tries to sell you one of these products just say no thanks. The best and safest way to clean your roof is with a chemical solution recommended by ARMA that will kill the algae on your roof without the need for any pressure. Just spray on the mixture and then you have 2 options, leave it on for it's systemic value and wait for the rain to do the washing or you can completely rinse the roof with a garden hose. Stay tuned for the next post where I discuss the proper method of cleaning your roof.

Keep in mind that even though these chemicals can be dangerous irritants when handled incorrectly, when handled by a professional the risk are much much lower. Let a professional handle the cleaning as they have the proper knowledge, tanks, chemicals, pumps and insurance. This will be the cheapest option in the long run for the home owner.

Visit our Roof Cleaning Clarksville and Nashville web site for more information and videos.

Why clean your roof?

2009-04-26T11:14:00.007-05:00

You ask your self why should I spend money cleaning my roof? Well there are several reasons you should do this.

The most obvious reason is for curb appeal. Your home is a big investment and you will want to show off that home. You are proud of all your hard work that it took to get that home and if you have the best curb appeal on the block. You can dramatically increase the bid prices if you are attempting to sell your home. The prospective buyer will not think that the roof needs to be replaced. They will think WOW that looks like a new roof and will probably not even ask about the age of the roof.

We all know from our school days that light colors reflect heat and dark colors absorb heat. Well that still holds true. What is the color of the algae growing on your roof? Oh yea, it's black or dark brown and it is absorbing heat. When it does this the temperature in your attic can rise dramatically. As you know proper attic cooling is essential to keeping your home cool. A rise in the attic temperature is going to require that your air conditioning unit run longer and more often to maintain a comfortable temperature. This over use can lead to a premature air conditioning unit failure.

You have a virtual buffet on your roof for these organisms to thrive. The shingles that are produced today have crushed limestone embedded into the asphalt (not the granules you see on top). These shingles hold moisture and organic "bacteria food" material longer than the shingles of 20 years ago. Additionally, these particular algae enjoy the limestone as a food source. Experts within the subject area conclude the bacteria to be harmful, if left untreated, as the growth holds moisture within shingles causing premature aging, rotting, and/or granule loss.

Once the algae/bacteria appear and become noticeable, the problem spreads year after year if left untreated.

For more information visit our Roof Cleaning Nashville web site for information.

2009 what a way to start

2009-04-26T02:04:00.004-05:00

2009 has been a difficult start for my family. With the bankruptcy of Nortel the work has all but stopped. since I have been working on Nortel products specifically, I am not able to gain employment at the same wage I was making.

With every storm cloud there is a silver lining though and I have found mine. With a lot of soul searching and with the help of Google I have found my calling. I am going to get back to working outside just like when I was growing up. What am I doing to do? Well I'll tell you.

I am going to clean roofs, gutters and wash houses. Probably will not be making what I was before but at least I will be the master of my own destiny and be able to serve the community that I live in along with other surround communities.

I must be a few plugs short of a V8 to be going into business for myself but this is something I have dreamed about and now my hand has been forced. Like it or not I am on my way.

Take a look at my web site www.greatwhitetechnologies.com and if you are not in my area just send me an email and I will do my best to locate a RCIA roof cleaner for you.

T1 Troubleshooting explained. Or at least my attempt at it.

2009-03-10T17:55:00.006-05:00

With my many years of experience I have run across a lot of technicians that have trouble in trying to troubleshoot a T1 circuit. This T1 circuit can be either a DTI or PRI circuit.

Now you must be wondering what a photo of a backhoe has to do with a T1 circuit. You will see the symbolism of it as I explain.

A T1 circuit is a digital circuit consisting of 1.544 mb of data bandwidth. This bandwidth is divided up into 24 equal 56 or 64 kb channels depending on the framing format that you ordered. The most common types of framing and coding are ESF/B8ZS or D4/AMI. There can be other combinations but these are pretty much standards with ESF/B8ZS being the most common today. There are some wierd ones out there like ESF/AMI.

For more information on the acronyms click here.

Now for the meat of things. The starting point is the carrier portion of the T1 circuit. What I am talking about is the framing and coding portion of the circuit. These must match at both ends or it will never work, it must also match the T1 circuit that you ordered from the local telco.

Here is where the analogy comes in. Think of the framing and coding of the T1 circuit as the ditch and the individual channels as the conduits you are going to put into the ditch. You have to dig the ditch first.

There are 3 states to what I call the carrier portion of the T1 circuit (the ditch), Red Alarm, Yellow Alarm and No Alarm. The Red Alarm refers to the loss of the carrier. In other words your equipment is not seeing the T1 circuit at all. This can indicate a problem with the T1 circuit or your cabling on site. Yellow alarm indicates that the far end is having a problem. No Alarm is exactly what it means, your equipment can see the circuit and the framing/coding matches the T1 circuit and you are ready to move on to the channels.

Now that you are ready to turn up the channels (conduits), this is where it varies based on the equipment being installed. There are so many different posibilities that I can not cover them all here. Basically these channels must match at both ends also but it is not dependant on the T1 circuit. If you think of these as conduits, the ditch does not care what you put in them but the equipment at the other end does. You can not hook a phone cable to a high voltage transformer and expect it to work. So with that, you can not program one end as NI2 and the other end as Q.SIG and expect them to talk to each other. Just like putting someone that only speaks Swahili with someone that only speaks French and expecting them to be able to communicate with speach only.

That is basically all there is to troubleshooting a T1 but there are numerous ways to accomplish the same task so to each his own. But remember that you have to dig the ditch before you can put the conduits in the ground. To put this analogy into T1 terms, the carrier must be established with no alarm before you can bring the channels into service.

Sometimes it would be beneficial to call a professional to handle service and installation issues. You have to balance the cost of the service call against the cost of the downtime you will experience.

So now does the backhoe make sense?

Air Travel - What are your fears / peeves?

2009-02-20T15:07:00.007-06:00

I am in another airport again and just thought this would be a great topic. I travel on airlines at least twice a month and sometimes more. I have a lot of experience moving through the security and ticketing lines.

The question that I have is two fold - 1. What are your fears about flying? 2. What are some of your pet peeves about flying?

I don't really have a fear of flying other than being worried about my luggage making it when I do. My thinking goes like this.... The 2 pilots are in the front of the plane and if we were to hit anything they would be the first ones to hit. Well I don't know about you but if I were the one up front I would do everything in my power not to let that happen. I am counting on them thinking the same way I would and for them to do all they can to prevent the crash.

Now for the peeves. The first one I have is the baggage charges in excess of the ticket prices. If you need more money then just raise the ticket price. I usually have to check 2 bags, one for my clothes and one for my tools. They will not let me take my tools as a carry on so I have to check them. As for the clothes, I am usually traveling for 1-2 weeks at a time so the bag is too big for the overhead bins so I must check this also. Because of this I almost exclusively fly Southwest airlines. I would rather drive 2 hours to my final destination than pay all the extra fees. Travel day is lost anyhow and at the most I use $10 in gas so it is worth it to me. Besides Southwest also has the best service and on time record in my opinion.

Second peeve is for those that bring everything including the kitchen sink in their carry on bags. Most airlines allow you to check one bag for free. Take advantage of this and let them handle the baggage. I only take one bag (backpack with laptop) and it goes in the overhead bins. This way I have room for my legs to stretch out. There is room on the plane for 2 carry on bags for everyone but the size of the carry on bags has increased thus reducing the amount of available room. I was asked once and only once to put my bag under my feet and I told them no. My response was "My airfare grants me 1 overhead and 1 under seat spot for my carry on baggage. I only brought one on purpose you need to gate check the large carry on bags." That is what they did. The other passenger was not happy but the bag got there the same time they did and I did not have to give up my little bit of comfort because someone else failed to plan. We have little enough rights when we get on a plane and I decided this was one I would not give up.

Probably the largest peeve I have has to do with the other passengers. We have known since 2001 that we need to be at the airport 2 hours before your flight, get your butt out of bed and give yourself the time needed. I always run into people that want the shuttle bus driver to hurry because they are late. I don't want the bus driver to risk my life because some fool could not get to the airport on time. I know there are many legitimate excuses for being late, but what has happened to personal responsibility?

Planes take off all the time, catch the next one. Poor planning on your part does not make an emergency on my part.

Here are some hints

1. Pack the night before so you are ready to go when the time comes.

2. Leave 1/2 hour early for the airport in case of traffic. (your day is wasted on travel anyhow) Use this as time to shop for souvenirs for the family.

3. Make sure to place all metal objects in your carry on bag not your pockets. (i.e. change)

4. Make sure anything that can be considered a weapon is in your checked baggage.

5. Most important is to know the security procedures for clearing the security screening.

Let us all know about your experiences and what you do to make your travel life easier.

MagicJack-- Does it work? You bet!

2009-01-20T15:20:00.005-06:00

I am sitting in an airport as I write this and I thought I would give you my experience with this product.

I purchased this product approximately 6 months ago and I have been very pleased with it. I use it extensively while I am traveling around the country and even Canada. I have used a Dell D610 and now a Dell D810 running Windows XP Pro.

Upon receiving the Magic Jack I read the instructions and then proceeded to install the product. When I plugged in the Magic Jack it did not autorun like the instructions said that it would so I opened the explorer window and located the setup file and opened it. The software installed without any problems. Now when I plug the Magic Jack into my laptop it automatically starts the softphone. There have been 2 updates since I installed the product and both time it has upgraded without any problems.

Since I travel alot, I don't want to carry a phone with me to use the jack portion of the Magic Jack so I use a headset on the laptop instead. I have used the analog headset that plugs into the Mic and Speaker jacks on the PC without any problems. I have now switched to a USB headset as I like the feel of it better than the ear bud I was using. As a matter of fact I am using the Nortel headset that you get when you purchase a i2050 softphone. Call quality has been exceptional and there are no popup windows unless the phone rings.

I am not always at my PC with my headset on so I set the Mic and Sound for the headset and the ringer to alert on the built in speakers of the laptop. This way I know when I get a call and can answer it.

The softphone has a listing of calls that you made and received. It also lets you know if you missed a call. There is a contact list on the softphone and a plugin for Outlook that allows you to initiate a call from your Outlook contacts. Love this feature.

The Magic Jack comes with Call Waiting, Voice Mail, Conferencing and 911 support. With the voice mail you also get an email with the wave file of the message so even if you are not on line you can still get your messages. For 911 support you have to set the location address in your mymagicjack page.

When I know that I am going to be away for an extended period of time I forward the Magic Jack to my cell phone using the mymagicjack page.

I am currently using this for my business and it has only failed one time, when the systems were down due to weather related problems. As of now I do not have anything bad to say about this product and I would recommend that if you are trying to cut costs, give this product a shot. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Nortel files for bankruptcy protection

2009-01-17T21:15:00.004-06:00

Over the last few days there have been many questions surrounding the announcement that Nortel filed for bankruptcy protection. Some are legitimate and some are just a panic knee jerk reaction.

What does this mean?

Well first off this only means that they have requested protection from creditors. This does not mean that the doors are going to close.

Is Nortel going to survive?

That all depends on what the leaders decide to do in the reorginization of the company. There are several things they have done wrong over the last decade that led up to this point. There are going to have to be major changes in the leadership for the company to make a turnaround.

What about my job, is it secure?

In this economy there are no jobs that are secure. With that being said, the enterprise products are not going to go away. The product is to good and there are too many of them already deployed for Nortel to just close the doors. It may be that the product is purchased by another corporation and is rebranded but the base product will remain intact. I for one am not worried about my job even though Nortel is the product that I know. It is all up to you to survive and you must do all you can to increase probability of employment. Spend extra time reading and learning all that you can in order to increase your knowledge. Don't rely on others, it is all up to you.

What about support for my PBX, BCM or Norstar etc...?

Nortel is operating in a business as usual mode for the time being and it is my belief that they will continue to do so. There are also several distributors with their own support organizations that are capable of supporting your products. I would not hesitate to purchase a Nortel product at all even in this time of turmoil. Do not let fear drive your decision of purchasing the best product for your business.

What does Nortel need to do to get things turned around?

Get back to basics with your products. Bring your support back from overseas. Language barriers are the biggest issues with your support. Get back to your roots of providing a superior product backed up by superior service and support. Bring your training back in house and/or have the classes designed to teach technicians and customers to use the NTPs. Right now classes are designed to get you to pass a test. Passing a test is not proof that you know how to manipulate the product, just a confirmation of memory. This is going to be a long and tedious process for Nortel and there will be pains along the way. Remember the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. That is going to have to be the approach that Nortel will have to take inorder to come out of this whole again.

A wise high school auto shop instructor once told me that "90% of what you know is not what you remember but rather what you know how to look up!"

I follow this rule every day and it works. There is so much information in the NTPs that there are few people that can remember even half of them.