Knowing how to clean roof stains can help you prevent damage and maintain the beauty of your roof. A store-bought commercial cleaning solution that uses gentler ingredients, such as baking soda or zinc salts, can clear roof stains without damaging the surrounding environment or creating additional damage to your house.
For metal roofs with algae or moss growth, a commercial solution can easily repaint the roof after the growth has been removed for aesthetic reasons. For older metal roofs, however, it may be necessary to hire a professional to do the job. Regardless, hiring a professional can save you time and money in the long run.
Commercial roofing service providers can also help homeowners avoid damage that may occur during roof cleaning. Many homeowners mistakenly believe that regular roof cleaning and waxing will protect their roof from leaks and other problems.
Regular roof cleaning will indeed help keep your roof clean. However, roof cleaning and waxing are not the best way to protect your roof from leaks and other hazards. Asphalt shingles are most vulnerable when wet, while clay and rubber tiles are more resistant.
Washing your roof is often not enough to keep them free of built-up dirt, moss, or algae. Professional roofers know how to properly remove built-up debris and contaminants using a variety of techniques, including washing, rinsing, and vacuuming.
The type of washing agents used by professional roof cleaners will depend on the type of roof and its location. If you live in an area where rainfall occurs frequently, regular washing using a soapy solution with a mild detergent is recommended.
If your roof is often exposed to heavy rainfall, you’ll need stronger cleansers that are less harsh on the environment and more abrasive on the roofing shingles. Mildew and mold may appear as small white patches or dark brown patches on your roof.
Molds and mildew can form on your roof after heavy rain, and the only way to tell if you have mold or mildew is to get a sample. You can purchase mold testing kits at home improvement stores, and mildew testing kits can also be purchased online.
An experienced roofer should be able to determine whether or not you have mold or mildew based on the type of roofing material and the age of the structure. You can also prevent roof problems by regularly rinsing your roof with a garden hose.
A garden hose can remove organic materials like fallen leaves and branches, bird droppings, and dirt easily. To avoid water damage, it’s not recommended to run the garden hose directly onto the roof. Instead, use a sponge or brush to soak the roofing material and then run the hose over the surface with a garden hose until the water runs clear.
Using a regular household sponge to clean the surface of your roof twice a year will help keep your roof clean from mold and algae. If you’re trying to avoid damage from algae and mildew while cleaning your roof, you should skip using harsh chemical cleansers.
Power washing your roof may make the material lose its protective granules, but it will damage the integrity of your roof and possibly cause additional damage. This is why it is highly recommended that you partner up with a certified roof cleaning service since they will know how to handle it more accordingly. Power washing should only be used on your exterior walls, and not on your gutters or eaves.
Power washing can also make your gutter and eaves slippery so be very careful when doing this task. For metal roofs that aren’t easily washed off, you can use a pressure washer to wash them down.
This is a great option for homes with a metal roof because pressure washers are designed to agitate the water and strip away dirt, grime, and grime without causing damage to the roofing material.
To protect metal roofs, you should always rinse them down before using any power washing product, especially if you’re using a power washer. The pressure from the washer will wash away any of the residues from the power washing, and it will also help keep metal roofs in good shape.
You should always check for mold and algae on your roof before you start washing it, even if you think you’ve washed it down and the damage hasn’t occurred. You don’t want to damage your roof further by washing it too early.
After all, cleaning your roof once a year doesn’t cost much, but you might be paying off some serious roofing damage by avoiding future problems.