By Here is a great video about roof cleaning, and why you need to have it done. Our own page about no pressure roof cleaning services highlights homeowners having their insurance policies cancelled because of roof algae. Most people don’t notice black streaks on their roof until they get a letter from the insurance company or home owner’s association.
Many neighborhoods require roofs to be kept clean by residents, just like insurance companies. They know that algae spores spread through the neighborhood, making homes look bad, driving down property values, and damaging property. Don’t waste your money having your roof replaced, and don’t waste your money having it cleaned improperly.
This video does mention one thing that’s incorrect, and it’s possibly just because the homeowner who says it is a little confused about the process. The homeowner in the news report mentions that the cleaners “scrub” the roof. This is incorrect and should never be done under any circumstances. Scrubbing a roof is a sure fire way to remove the granules, which are paramount to a roof’s ability to protect your home.
The reporter has it right when he says hiring a professional is the safest way to clean your roof. The reporter has done a good service to the roof cleaning industry, because he mentions that blasting your roof with a pressure washer or garden hose you can cause serious damage. There are roof cleaning companies out there that use pressure washers to clean roofs, so be very careful who you hire.
There are also companies who use unapproved methods like using caustic soda (NaOh) or sodium hydroxide to clean roofs. This can seriously damage asphalt shingles, metal roofs, remove paint from gutters, drip edge, and damage plants. Overspray from caustic soda can cause breathing problems, and serious burns to anyone it may come in contact with. See our roof cleaning page for a link to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturer’s Association’s recommendation for cleaning roofs. Caustic soda is not the recommended practice for properly cleaning your roof.
If you have roof cleaning questions, click the link to the right to fill out our contact form, or simply give us a call and we’ll help you get your roof cleaned the right way.
