A well-cared-for roof can last the lifetime of a home. However, climbing on the roof to manually clean it can damage shingles and shorten their lifespan.

Roof Cleaning Summerville SC can use low-pressure washing (around 1,000 psi) to blast away debris and chemical treatments to target stains. They can also safely apply a biocide to inhibit the future growth of lichen, mold, and moss.

Roof cleaning is the process of removing unwanted algae, moss and lichen growth from your home. It can be done in several ways, including using a pressure washer or “soft washing”. Soft washing uses low-pressure water to remove the growth and is often preferred for more delicate roofing materials like shingles. There are a number of different chemicals that can be used to clean your roof, but the most common is chlorine bleach. This is the same kind of chemical that you would use to whiten laundry or scrub a toilet and it is effective at killing off algae and moss spores on your roof.

The first step in the cleaning process is to spray the roof with the bleach solution. After spraying, you must wait a few minutes for it to kill the bacteria. Once the time is up, you can rinse the area with clean water. Repeat the process if necessary to ensure that all of the moss, algae and lichen is dead. After rinsing, you should check to see that there are no lingering chemicals or spores on your roof. If there are, you can reapply the bleach and wait again for it to work.

Once the roof is clean, you should use a biocide treatment to inhibit future regrowth. This will also help to protect your home from any future damage caused by the moss, algae and lichen.

One of the main reasons why roof cleaning is important is that it can reveal damaged areas on your roof. When these areas are cleaned, they can be repaired promptly to prevent further damage and potential leaks. This will help to protect the structural integrity of your home and prolong its life.

Another benefit of roof cleaning is that it can improve the curb appeal of your home. Dirty, moss-covered roofs can make your entire home look dirty and unkempt. A professional roof cleaning will restore the beauty of your home and give it a fresh, clean appearance. This will also help to increase the value of your property. If you are interested in having your roof cleaned, contact a professional today.

When algae, moss, and mildew grow on a roof, they begin to damage the surface of the shingles. This can lead to shingle separation, causing leaks and other problems for the home and its inhabitants. A professional cleaning can remove the growth and prevent future damage.

Preparation is a vital part of roof cleaning because it ensures that the coatings will adhere to the substrate. Any debris, dirt, or other contaminants can cause the coating to peel off of the roof. Cleaning the surface of the roof with a non-filming detergent, as well as rinsing the entire area thoroughly, is important before proceeding.

Typically, the first step of the preparation process is to kill off any fungus or plant growth that is growing on the roof. This is usually accomplished using a chlorine bleach solution. The concentration of bleach used is generally around laundry strength, or pool chlorine. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) recommends a 1:1 ratio of bleach to water to clean the roof. This is the same ratio that is used for whitening laundry.

Some people try to save money by doing their own roof cleaning with a garden sprayer or a pressure washer. However, this is extremely dangerous and should only be done by a skilled and experienced person.

A thorough roof cleaning will also reveal areas of the roof that are in need of structural repair. These areas may be hidden under layers of moss, algae, or soot. By addressing these issues immediately, the homeowner can save money and avoid the expense of replacing damaged or defective shingles.

In addition, a roof cleaning can help to prevent the spread of fungus and mildew inside the home. These organisms can grow and thrive in moist and shady areas, and they can cause a variety of health problems for the household members. A professional roof cleaning can eliminate these problems and make the indoor living area a healthier place to be.

It is often necessary to use a lift for roof access, or at the very least, a ladder set up with anchors to prevent the operator from falling off the side of the house during the process. A skilled and experienced technician will know how to properly anchor the ladder so that the operator can safely and securely climb on the roof.

The first thing a contractor will do is blow off the roof of any debris such as leaves, sticks, and moss. This is typically done by a single technician with a backpack blower, although some less sophisticated companies will climb the roof and use anchors to hang from the edge of the roof (very dangerous).

Next, they will spray sodium hypochlorite on the entire roof surface. This chemical will kill the organisms that cause the black streaks on shingle roofs and also remove any mildew growth on the lower side of the roof. This is a fairly gentle chemical that will not damage adjacent plants and will not harm latex paint or the shingles.

It is very important to remember that it will take a few weeks to several months for the moss and algae (or whatever you have on your roof) to completely kill off. The reason for this is that the chemicals used in soft washing to remove organic growth from a home’s roof are incredibly strong and must be given time to fully kill off the organisms. This is similar to how fertilizer or weed killer works.

Keeping a clean roof will also help to preserve a home’s structural integrity, and it can even reveal areas that need repair such as soft spots or water leaks that might otherwise be concealed under layers of dirt or algae. It can also help prevent the three M’s, mold, mildew and moss, from causing more damage to a home’s roof.

Unchecked moss growth may damage or void some roofing warranties and can cause severe roof leaks in humid areas. This makes regular roof cleaning a smart investment. If you are considering hiring a professional to clean your roof, be sure to choose one who offers safe and effective bleach-based cleaning methods that will kill all of the contaminants on your roof while protecting the granules in your shingles.