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Things You Should & Shouldn’t Do In Roof Cleaning
14th July 2021
Identifying The Problem
Certain areas of your roof may start to appear dark and also discoloured. The first thing that may come to your mind would be the mould developing on the surfaces of your roof shingles. But the black streaks are actually colonies of the blue-green algae. You have a moss problem on your roof if you start to notice thick green patches instead. Here, the north, shady, and west regions are most prone to these moisture nuisances.
How Does Algae & Moss Occur?
The animals and winds are responsible for carrying the algae and moss spores from one place to another. Moss poses a serious threat to the asphalt shingle’s performance. It causes them to curl up and proceed in blowing off, causing water leaks. So even though algae don’t cause harm to your roof, it does affect the aesthetic of it all.
Plus, if you constantly climb on your roof to clean off the growth, you will damage your roof. It does so by loosening all the granules, causing a shortened lifespan. So, you need to know the do’s and don’ts before cleaning your roof.
The Do’s
- Use a garden hose by attaching a sprayer to it. It should be filled with water and chlorine bleach in equal parts. If your roof has asphalt shingles, this method would be the best technique to clean your roof. After you use the mixture for spraying the roof, then enable it to sit or lay on the surface between 15-20 minutes. You need to do this before fully rinsing it with water.
- You need to use plain water for thoroughly wetting the shrubbery and plants before you cover them with plastic. After that, you need to rinse them again. You should do this after applying the bleach solution to the roof.
- Sometimes the subsequent storms will wash away all the algae. Here, the moss will start to loosen up, and you can use a leaf blower to remove it.
- Choose a calm or cloudy day for cleaning your roof. You should avoid cleaning on a windy day because it won’t end well.
- You should only clean your roof after knowing that it’s walkable. If your home has multiple stories or a roof with a steep slope, then you should hire a professional. But if you are cleaning it by yourself, then you need to pick slip-resistant and well-fitted shoes.
- Start trimming the overhanging branches of your trees. It is for exposing your roof to the sunlight. You should also clear off all the leaves, debris, and branches on your roof using a leaf blower.
The Don’ts
- You shouldn’t utilise a pressure washer because it will loosen the shingles and cause damage to your roof.
- You shouldn’t ignore your surrounding area and landscape. The bleach solution will harm them.
- Don’t assume that the solution will instantly remove the containments in your roof. You need to be patient and reapply the solution after it works.
- Avoid cleaning your roof on sunny days. It will cause your bleach solution to start evaporating quickly. It will limit the cleansing effects.
- Avoid cleaning the roof without taking the right safety precautions.
- You should never wait for the algae and moss to grow to clean it. It is always best to prevent their growth.
