7 Tips for How to Clean the Roof of Your House
What is Roof Cleaning?
Roof cleaning involves removing material from the surface of your roof including roof moss removal, algae, and debris. While these objects may not seem harmful at first glance, leaving them on your roof not only minimizes the appearance of your home but puts your roof at risk in the long term when left unchecked.
Why is Roof Cleaning Important?
Routine roof cleaning is a key way to maintain the lifespan of your roof and its efficiency. Neglecting proper roof maintenance puts your home at risk for leaks, foundational/structural issues, and insulation damage.
Prevents Damage
Proper maintenance protects your roof from moisture that can cause rot and decay. Without proper cleaning, your roof can develop algae, moss, and lichen that traps moisture and leads to leaks, water damage, and overall structural damage.
Enhances Curb Appeal
Clean and manicured roofs greatly improve the aesthetics of your home. Not only does regular maintenance improve roof appearance for your enjoyment, but it also increases the resale value of your home if/when you consider selling.
Extends Roof Lifespan
Most roof’s have an average lifespan of 20-25 years. However, environmental factors, severe weather and improper maintenance can limit your roof’s lifespan. With proper cleaning, you can prolong the lifespan of your roof by routinely removing harmful debris and bacteria from the roof’s surface.
Maintains Energy Efficiency
An efficient roof is key to protecting your insulation, which is key to maintaining the interior temperature of your home. If not properly cleaned, your roof can grow algae and moss that retains heat, causing your roof to absorb more sun than normal.
7 Ways to Prepare Your Roof
A newly installed roof will help your home look brand new. However, roof’s become discolored and grow moss or algae on the surface overtime without proper cleaning. To keep your home looking fresh and clean, it’s important to wash off debris and organic material on your roof.
Understand the Issues With Your Roof
It’s important to hire professional roof cleaners to manage the maintenance of your roof, because they know how to look for things that might otherwise go undetected. It’s key to know what you are dealing with prior to cleaning, so that you can try to prevent it from coming back later on.
Pick the Right Cleaning Equipment
While many homeowners might think their pressure washer is the best way to clean a roof, they’d actually be doing more harm than good. Pressure washers loosen shingles, ultimately putting your home at risk for leaks and structural damage. Instead, garden hoses with sprayer attachments filled with equal parts chlorine bleach and water is better.
Don’t Forget About Your Yard
It’s important to remember that a functioning roof creates water run off that will most often then not wash off into your lawn. If choosing to DIY your roof cleaning with the bleach and water solution, that will run off into surrounding areas of your landscaping. If you have potted plants, it will be important to move them out of the way.
Have Patience
It’s key to know going into the task that washing your roof takes time. Moss and algae doesn’t come off easily, and though you may be tempted to spray the same part of your roof with the solution repeatedly, DON’T. This will damage your roof and impact its color. Give the bleach a decent amount of time to kill off the growth.
Pick the Right Weather to Clean Your Roof
Though a sunny day sounds like the best time to clean your roof, the sunlight will actually cause the bleach solution to evaporate too quickly. A cloudy, dry day is better, specifically a day without the threat of wind and rain.
Be Safe When Cleaning
Working on roof’s is dangerous. It is important that you are comfortable and secure working on it prior to cleaning it. Wearing non-slip rubber-soled shoes and the proper eye and skin protection will help limit possible accidents from occurring.
Take Steps to Prevent Moss and Algae
If you want to try and mitigate the growth of moss and algae on your roof, trim nearby trees if they are too close. This keeps the roof clear and prevents animals from running across trees onto your roof, spreading debris.
Why Hire a Professional
DIY roof cleaning is a cost-effective way to maintain your home’s appeal, however, hiring a professional comes with a variety of advantages:
Expertise
Many professional roof cleaning companies hire technicians with years of experience and knowledge. They also have the proper equipment for your roof type, ensuring your roof gets cleaned while simultaneously preventing damage.
Safety
Any kind of roof work can be dangerous, especially roof cleaning. Roofing specialists are trained in best practices on how to walk across roofs. Not only do they have safety equipment to keep them safe but the knowledge of safety protocols to follow.
Quality Results
Professional roof cleaners use specialized cleaning equipment, solutions, and techniques to deliver premier results that minimize long term roof damage.
Time and Convenience
Roof cleaning can be a costly, demanding, and time-consuming process. When you hire a professional, you not only save a lot of time and effort, but potentially save yourself from a dangerous safety mishap.
Warranty Preservation
When you hire a professional, you ensure your roof is cleaned in accordance with manufacturer guidelines, which preserves warranty coverage.
How Often Should You Clean Your Roof?
Each home’s roof will need to be cleaned at varying times due to the roofing material used. Climate and surrounding vegetation also play a role in how often you should clean your roof.
Moderate Climate
Moderate climates with limited rainfall and vegetation can clean their roofs every 2-3 years depending upon how much debris and algae has accumulated.
Humid Climate
Humid climates with consistent precipitation and vast amounts of vegetation need more frequent cleaning every 1-2 years. This is necessary to prevent algae, moss and lichen growth buildup.
Surrounding Vegetation
If you live in an area that is surrounded by trees or in close proximity to vegetation, you will need more frequent cleanings as you are more susceptible to accumulating roof debris and organic growth.
Maintenance Tips for Your Roof
While routine cleaning is a great way to maintain the integrity of your roof, there are a couple of others ways you can prolong its lifespan:
- Inspect Regularly
Hire a professional roofing contractor to conduct annual roof inspections, checking for signs of damage, leaks, missing shingles and cracks. The goal is to address issues quickly to prevent long term damage.
- Cleaning Gutters
Clean gutters are just as important to roof maintenance. Regularly clean your gutters and downspouts to prevent water backups and clogs that can lead to roof damage and water infiltration issues. If you are need of professional help, Westchester Gutter Cleaning offers the following roof cleaning services and gutter cleaning services:
- Gutter Cleaning & Maintenance
- Gutter Installation
- Gutter Repairs
- Gutter Face Cleaning
- Gutter Guard Installation
- Dryer Vent Cleaning
- Trim Trees
Regularly trim overgrown trees and branches to limit the amount of debris on your roof and to limit shade-promoting moss and algae growth.
- Address Moss and Algae Promptly
If there is an indication of algae and moss growth on your roof, quickly take steps to address it to limit spreading and damage. You can apply zinc and copper strips onto your roof to limit future growth.
- Professional Inspections
The best way to ensure your roof stays in top condition is to conduct annual roof inspections. You can do so by hiring a qualified roofing contractor that not only assesses the physical condition of your roof, but also looks to see if there are any potential issues impacting the structural integrity of your home.
Call on the Experts
A clean roof is paramount to a safe home. With over 20 years of roofing experience, Westchester Gutter Cleaning is ready to help you manage any and all roofing issues you come across. We guarantee best results for your property by using safe and effective roofing processes.
