HomeLearning CenterHow Roof Cleaning Works

Summary

Roof cleaning and inspections are part of regular roof maintenance. If you’re curious about the process, read on. This article will detail how roof cleaning is done and why it’s so important to keep roof cleaning on your calendar each year. 

How roof cleaning works?

Roof cleaning and inspections are part of regular roof maintenance. If you’re curious about the process, read on. This article will detail how roof cleaning is done and why it’s so important to keep roof cleaning on your calendar each year. 

What to know about roof cleaning

  1. Roof washing is not a DIY job. It takes skill, and it should be outsourced to a professional. 
  2. Roofs are best cleaned using the soft wash system. 
  3. Dirt, moss, mold, stains, etc. are not just unsightly. They can also do severe damage to your roof. 
  4. You should not wait until debris is visible from the ground to schedule a roof cleaning. It is a good idea to get your roof cleaned about once a year. 

What is the process of cleaning a roof?

At Clear View Softwashing, we use a method of roof cleaning called soft washing. Soft washing is suited for all roof types and great for surfaces that are notoriously hard to get clean. It is a cleaning method that uses a low-pressure washing technique along with a mixture of algaecides, bleach, surfactants, and water. This mixture safely cleans exterior surfaces with organic stains, mildew, and algae. 

When soft washing, our professionals will prepare the surrounding area and protect any plants or grass in the area where they are cleaning. Next, they will prepare the solution described above. Once the solution has been prepared, they will load it into an agricultural sprayer to apply it to the roof. Unlike pressure washing, soft washing runs both water and the cleaning solution through a pump and hose with very little pressurization. The technician will direct the hose at the roof while the water is spraying out. The cleaning solution is often left on the surface of the roof for a little while in order to kill everything down to the roots. 

Why should you soft wash your roof?

Soft washing serves a number of purposes. For one, pressure washing a roof, even at a “low pressure,” can and will void your warranty while compromising the integrity of your roof tiles. 

Furthermore, soft washing is the only method approved to clean asphalt single roofs. Asphalt shingle roofs are the most common type of residential roofs in the United States because they’re low maintenance and have a relatively simple maintenance program. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturing recommends low-pressure bleach or detergent assisted washing as the preferred method of cleaning asphalt roofs in order to prevent damage to shingles. This is exactly what soft washing does. 

Finally, gloeocapsa magma is a common type of algae on roofs that leaves signature black streaks. It thrives in humidity and hot temperatures and is said to take 10 years off the life of a roof. Soft washing is the only way to effectively remove the algae without damaging the shingles or voiding your warranty. By the time your roof is clean, you’ll have forgotten how good it could look!

Final thoughts

Are you ready to get your roof clean? Soft washing is more than just roof cleaning. The products developed for the SoftWash Systems are designed to clean, sanitize, penetrate, and eliminate the issue at its root. Contact Clear View Softwashing for more information.  

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