Regular roof cleaning preserves the life of a roof’s shingles. Soft roof washing also referred to as roof shampoo, safely cleans algae, lichen, mold, mildew, and black stains from your roof, restoring its color and efficiency. Roof washing is vital for homes in areas such as Westchester, New York where there is high humidity and your home experiences the effects of the changing seasons.
Westchester Power Washing knows how to get your roof clean while increasing your home’s curb appeal and possibly its appraised value. A dirty roof makes the roof and home appear unkempt and in need of costly repairs. Hence, the appearance of your roof, even though it may just be dirty, can lower your home’s appraised value affecting your ability to sell or refinance your home for the best price.
Getting your roof cleaned is essential and must be done by someone with experience. Hiring discount roof washing companies can lead to your roof, home, siding, and even landscape needing to be repaired. Attempting to save a few hundred dollars can end up costing you thousands of dollars for home repairs. Structural, your roof is the most important element of your home. Do not trust your roof to inexperienced, uninsured, and unprofessional day workers. As you will see below, roof washing is not an easy job but it is necessary and worth the expense in the short and long run.
Here are five things every homeowner should know about residential roof washing:
- Roof washing is not for Dot It Yourself- it takes skill and the right equipment.
- Roofs are best cleaned with a soft wash system.
- Moss and algae are not just unsightly, they cause severe damage to shingles.
- Debris does not need to be visible from the ground to be severe enough to damage your roof.
- Roof washing is not an overpriced service, it is an investment in the condition of your home.
1. Proper Roof Power Washing Is Not a DIY Job
Getting your roof safely, properly, and professionally clean requires more than renting or buying a pressure washing machine. In fact, at Westchester Power Washing, we do not use a pressure washing machine to clean your roof, We use our centralized Roof Soft Washing System- which is the absolute best and safest way to wash your roof. Yes, other companies still use a pressure washing machines, but pressure washing machines can destroy your roof shingles (and siding). There are many reasons why properly cleaning your home’s roof is not a DIY job; here are a few reasons:
- Trying to balance on a roof is dangerous on its own; trying to manage a clumsy and powerful pressure washer while standing on a sloped and slick surface is very difficult, and virtually impossible for those not experienced in roofing. Falling off a roof can result in serious injury if not even a fatality. In fact, you should never stand on your roof or put a pressure washing machine on your roof either. And no roof cleaning company should stand on your roof or use a pressure washing machine as well.
- A proper and thorough roof washing takes some skill and expertise, to reach dirt and debris hidden between the cracks and crevices of roofing shingles, or disguised by the dark color of those tiles. You cannot watch “how to clean roof shingles” videos and learn all there is to know about roof washing! A professional pressure washing contractor like Westchester Power Washing knows how to clean around chimneys, vents, flashing, and other such features of a roof, thoroughly without causing damage.
- Using high water pressure loosens the granules on shingles, causing them to become thin and brittle. You can even loosen shingles and blow shingles off your roof using a pressure washing machine.
- using the wrong chemicals on your roof can also damage your roof and your health. With more than 32 years of cleaning roofs, Westchester Power Washing uses eco-safe cleaning solutions that get your roof clean and is safe for the environment, your health, and your pets.
Ready to get your roof professionally washed and free of black streaks, mold, mildew, and lichens?
To get a free estimate or to book an appointment, call or text 914-490-8138, and Peter Salotto, owner of Westchester Power Washing and a retired police officer, will answer all your questions.
2. Roofs Are Best Cleaned With a Soft Wash System
A soft wash cleaning begins with the application of particular surfactants or detergents. These cleansers seep into the pits and pores of a home’s roof, working their way along the undersides of roofing tiles and shingles as well as around flashing and other roof materials.
Our Soft wash System uses low water pressure to soak your roof your our eco-friendly cleaning solution. Afterward, we rinse off your roof with soft water. A pressure washing machine blasts water as much as 4,000 psi. Our soft wash system is set to gently spray your roof at only 117psi. (By, the way, we also use our soft wash system to clean your siding as you should never use a pressure washing machine on your siding or roof.)
This pressure is similar to the water sprayed from you a garden hose. Low-pressure rinsing won’t loosen shingles or damage your roof.
3. Moss and Algae Damaging Roofs
Moss and algae are especially damaging to a home’s roof. These contaminants hold extra moisture against roof shingles and roof paper; this added moisture causes shingles to get soft and crumbly and can cause roofing paper to tear, leading to water leaks.
Unlike other debris on a home’s roof, moss, algae, mold, and mildew continue to grow over time continuing to damage your roof further. These contaminants can work their way under a home’s roofing shingles and eventually dislodge those tiles as they continue to spread.
Never assume that you can ignore moss, algae, and other such growth on your roof, as overlooking needed washing can lead to a damaged roof and dangerous interior water leaks.
4. Don’t Wait Until Algae and Other Debris Are Visible to Schedule Roof Washing
A homeowner should never wait until they see lines of algae or moss along roofing shingles or roof edges to schedule power washing for their home. Note why that is, and when you should have your home’s roof washed:
- Algae, moss, mold, and mildew grow best in damp, dark spaces, away from air and sunlight. For a residential roof, these spaces are typically under and around roofing tiles and shingles, in areas unseen from below or during casual visual inspection.
- Once algae and other such debris begin to form, they will grow and spread, dislodging and softening roofing tiles. The more humid the environment, the faster these contaminants will increase so that a roof then suffers quite a bit of damage in a short amount of time.
- Consistent washing of a roof will remove wet leaves, twigs, seeds, and other debris that can cause algae, mold, and other contaminants to grow in the first place! Regular roof soft washing can help prevent damage to the roof and ensure it always looks its best.
5. Hiring a Professional Roof Cleaning Company Is an Investment in Your Home
Regular, professional roof power washing will restore the overall appearance of your home’s roof, removing built-up soot, grime, dust, and other debris, as well as various stains and areas of discoloration. Roofing shingles and tiles will then look fresh and vibrant so that your entire home seems cleaner and newer.
A soft wash system will also remove algae, mold, moss, and mildew that is typically unreachable with a standard hose or pressure washer. The detergents and surfactants used during a soft pressure washing are meant to penetrate all nooks and crannies of a roof, dissolving dirt and debris trapped under shingles and around roof eaves. Low-pressure rinsing won’t strip away loose tiles or granules on the shingles themselves, while still protecting those tiles from damaging storm residues.
To get a free estimate or to book an appointment, call or text Westchester Power Washing at 914-490-8138.
Since 1990, Westchester Power Washing has been one of the leading home exterior cleaning companies serving Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess, County, New York. Our home exterior cleaning services include:
ROOF SOFT WASHING
Soft roof washing removes black stains from mold, mildew, lichen, pollen, algae, moss, and fungi growth. We clean all roofs- asphalt, shingle, slate, tile, and cedar.
HOME & SIDING SOFT WASHING
We wash all types of siding: vinyl, wood (painted and stained), aluminum, stucco, stone, brick, and more.
WALKWAYS PRESSURE WASHED
We clean all types of patios, walkways, and pool decking (stone pavers, concrete patios, brick, tile, Bluestone, Flagstone, and slate).
DECK & PATIO WASHING
All deck and patios cleaned/restored: wood, composite, Trex, Timber Tech (pressure treated, cedar, mahogany, and other wood decking).
STONE PRESSURE CLEANING
Pressure cleaning for stone, brick, concrete, slate, composite and wood walls, and fences.
FURNITURE CLEANING
We clean furniture and offer waterproofing with sealers and stains for wood. We use a special cleaning process that won’t damage your property.
