What is the right way to clean it?

Not all pressure washing is the same. We use roof cleaners specifically designed to attack the roots. Our ProPressureClean^SM roof cleaning process is safe on your roof materials and all the metal surfaces around your home. You do not have to cover your plants or wet them down to prevent any hazardous chemicals from burning them. We utilize low-to-high pressure washing systems and offer a full array of residential and commercial pressure washing services.

WHAT IS THE BEST CLEANING METHOD?

Typical roof cleaning methods involve either pressure cleaning or chemical solutions containing Chlorine Bleach or Sodium Hydroxide. If used properly, these methods will clean the roof with minimal adverse impact - but the effects can be very temporary and will generally have to be repeated every 6-18 months in order to maintain the appearance of the roof.
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

A chlorine and water solution can be used followed by a thorough rinse. Of course, since chlorine can be toxic to people and plants, proper care should be taken to protect employees and the surrounding property from over spray and runoff. The benefits to using chlorine include a much faster cleaning process and minimal rinsing as compared to other methods. This translates into much less wear & tear - particularly asphalt shingle roofs.

Sodium Hydroxide based cleaners are generally advertised as safer for the landscaping, but sodium hydroxide is caustic, very toxic, and care should also be used to protect employees and surrounding property. Sodium hydroxide is also a very effective de-greaser. So high levels of sodium hydroxide in a cleaning product can cause irreversible damage to an asphalt shingle roof. In addition, these products generally require much more rinsing than the chlorine method. The rinsing process is not only time consuming, but it can also be potentially damaging to the roof if not done correctly. A quality sodium hydroxide based product should not require any more than 100 psi to effectively rinse - and even then some granule loss should be expected.

Pressure cleaning is an option that should only be used on concrete, barrel tile, or metal. Pressure cleaning has the advantage of not requiring chemicals, which eliminates most of the landscaping and chemical exposure concerns. The down side to pressure cleaning is that it is very time consuming and it exerts tremendous force on a surface that is not really designed to handle it. In addition, repeated pressure cleaning can wear away the surface of some tiles that are only covered by a thin layer of coloring. When this happens, the gray concrete color starts to show through and the roof must be stained or painted.

By comparison, roof cleaning products made with Chlorine, Bleach or Lye, can create problems like:

• Altering the color of the roof tiles
• Pitting, damaging or even removing the finish on aluminum window door frames, gutters and downspouts, exterior light fixtures and ceiling fans and pool cages
• Staining painted surfaces
• Killing or damaging plants and grass
• Presenting health hazards for your pets, children and anyone with respiratory problems

Roofs are a prime example. If properly installed and maintained, a quality roof should be expected to last at least 25-30 years – and in some cases, up to 50 years. Unfortunately, many roofs are in need of replacement after ONLY 12-15 years – or roughly 50% of the expected life of the roof!

Why? This usually happens when there is no plan of regularly scheduled inspection and maintenance to find and fix small problems before they become much bigger problems. Another reason is repeated cleaning using high pressure and/or harsh chemicals. While effective if done correctly, repeated use of these methods can damage the roof surface and, more importantly, can cause extensive damage to the underlying weatherproofing.

With each cleaning, the chances of broken tiles, shingle damage, roof leaks, and premature replacement of the roof are increased. Reasons for cleaning your roofs include aesthetics, property values, energy efficiency, and increased longevity of the roof - but if the roofs are being damaged during the cleaning process, not much is gained. Whatever the reason for cleaning, if it is going to be done, it is in your best interest to know what choices are available in order to avoid damage to property, unnecessary repair costs, and the premature replacement of the roof.