Is it a good idea to clean your roof from time to time? Yes. How about your car? Yes, again.
Over time, every roof will accumulate the kind of dirt, debris, mold, mildew, and algae build-up that looks unsightly to say the least. Worse still, left to its own devices, this kind of grime can actually compromise the strength and integrity of your roof. In other words, it needs to be cleaned, but how should you go about getting the job done?
Make The Call?
Without a doubt, the easiest, safest, and most effective way of getting things taken care of is to hire a professional cleaning company. Exactly how much you can expect to pay will be determined by the specifics of your home and what is needed. We are always happy to give you a free estimate for your home.
Since cleaning the roof means getting up and walking around on the roof, please do not do so unless you are experienced walking on roofs, have a safety-rated ladder, properly secured, and have a roof anchor, rope, lanyard, and harness to protect yourself from an unexpected fall (all falls are unexpected; some falls are predictable). OSHA research indicates that any fall over 6 feet results in high risk of significant injury or even death. That’s something you don’t want to risk.
What You Might Expect in A Roof Washing
Depending on your type of roof: architectural composition, tile, shake, or other, there are some different approaches. If all you are concerned about is loose debris, then simply blowing the roof off with a handheld or backpack blower will suffice. If you want a deeper cleaning, for tile roofs, you may want to have it power washed. Here is a good rule of thumb: NEVER POWER WASH A COMPOSITE ROOF! You will need a new roof, which is a different problem.
For composite and shake roofs, there are a number of different options. For dirt, debris, mold, mildew, and algae build-up, we recommend a soft washing process, using a proprietary cleaner which we call our Gentle Wash. It works extraordinarily well to get a roof completely clean, and is the best solution for roof washing. Another excellent and popular option is our Green Clean, an organic oxygen-based low pressure wash and rinse. It is very environmentally friendly.
If you are dealing with moss on the roof, that really takes a different solution, which we discuss more here.
After the roof is clean, make sure your service provider cleans your gutters and downspouts as part of the process, otherwise you may end up with clogged downspouts from the debris on the roof.
Pressure Washing
Although pressure washing can be an extremely efficient tool, we only recommend it for tile roofs. For shake roofs we recommend either our Gentle Wash or Green Clean methods. The cedar shakes are subject to deterioration and wear, and pressure washing can be tough on them.
Note Damage and Defects
Last but not least, an experienced service provider should take a good look at your roof, your gutters, and your downspouts for signs of damage or defects. Minor roof repairs carried out at the earliest possible stage have the potential to save you a small fortune on major repairs and the replacement of structural products.
Finally, never forget that the most effective, safest, easiest, and possibly even cheapest solution is to have the professionals clean your roof. Even if it’s a job you’re confident you can tackle yourself, sometimes it’s better to spend the weekend with the family enjoying the beautiful Oregon weather.
Get a free estimate for washing your roof by clicking the button or giving us a call at (503) 407-3346.