A roof wash is an excellent way to remove stains from your home’s exterior. It also kills and removes algae, moss, and mildew. This can help increase your home’s value and curb appeal. Learn more by clicking here.
It uses low-pressure rinsing to clean the dirt. This method does not damage shingles or the surrounding landscape.
High-pressure washing
Pressure washing is an effective roof wash technique for removing dirt, mold, mildew, and moss. It also helps extend the life of your roof and improve its ability to reflect heat, resulting in lower energy costs. However, it is important to use a low psi setting when using a pressure washer on metal roofs.
High-pressure cleaning can damage shingles and tiles, and may even crack chimney stack bricks. Moreover, it can strip the protective granules from the surface of the shingles. As a result, the shingles can absorb moisture and become soft and crumbly.
A clean roof can increase your home’s curb appeal and make it look newer. However, cleaning your roof is a dangerous task and requires professional help. BSCs, facilities teams, and roof-washing companies must invest in proper equipment and safety gear to avoid injuries. They must also train their employees in safe and efficient washing techniques. Also, they must ensure that their clients are fully informed about the risks of roof washing.
Low-pressure washing
Low-pressure washing is a safe cleaning technique that uses chemical solutions and moderate PSI levels to wash away dirt buildup, black roof stains, and other surface debris. It is an excellent choice for shingle roofs, slate roofs, and other durable roofing materials. It is also a safer option for your plants, pets, and other outdoor surfaces than high-pressure washing.
This method is highly effective and affordable, requiring less time and labor than traditional high-pressure washing. It is the preferred method for cleaning asphalt shingles and can eliminate mildew, fungus, and other discoloration without damaging the shingles or the surrounding surface.
A professional who uses soft-washing techniques will use a specially formulated algaecide that kills the fungus on contact and prevents future growth for up to two years. In addition to the cleaning process, the Algaecide will protect against weather damage and reduce your energy bills by reducing air temperatures around the home. In addition, the cleaning solution will sterilize exterior surfaces, making them safe for children and animals.
Chemical cleaning
While bleach kills organic matter like lichen, mildew, and mold, it requires dwell time to do so. It can also damage the shingles and kill the plants surrounding your home.
Many cleaning companies use a combination of chemicals and water to clean a roof. These cleaners can be low-pH detergents, hydroxides (such as sodium carbonate or washing soda), caustic soda, or sodium hypochlorite.
Chemical cleaning is a gentler way to clean your roof, and it’s safer for the environment. These environmentally friendly cleaners are free of perfumes, fragrances, and petroleum distillates. They also don’t have the high psi of traditional power washers, so they won’t damage your roofing materials or damage the plant life below your home. They can also be used to clean a range of other surfaces, including brick, stone, and mortar stucco. Chemical cleaning involves a series of reactions — hydrolysis, saponification, solubilization, dispersion, and chelation — to break down the foulants and recover membrane permeability.
Soft washing
Soft washing is the preferred roof cleaning technique for areas that can’t withstand pressure washing, such as painted surfaces; materials adhered with mortar and sand, including brick, paver, and tile; wood panel siding; and other structures. It uses a high concentration of cleaning solutions and a lower volume of water — usually no more pressure than what comes out of your garden hose – to loosen, absorb, and transport dirt and contaminants away from the surface.
It also uses mild surfactants to seep into crevices, cracks, and undersides of shingles and tiles to dissolve the built-up residue. It’s a safe, effective way to get rid of mold, mildew, algae, and moss without damaging your roofing materials.
To do a soft wash, you need to prepare the area by covering plants and shrubs that can’t withstand water pressure. You’ll also need a pump, hose, and nozzle that can be adjusted to the right amount of water pressure. Read on to find out!
