All You Need to Know About Chemical Roof Cleaning

If you’ve been too busy to pay close attention to your roof, don’t be surprised to find it filled with all sorts of stuff that shouldn’t be there in the first place. You know that your roof is in dire need of cleaning when piles of leaves, twigs, and other kinds of organic debris begin to block the gutters and trap rainwater on your roof. Other signs that your roofing system needs a little TLC is when moss or algae grows on it or when ugly black streaks caused by the growth of blue-green algae start to show on your roof’s surface or when the overall look of your roof turns dull. If you want a list of HOA's tha require roof cleaning, check this article.

We also published the definitive guide on removing roof stains which you can read. Unless you want to start saving up for an impending roof replacement project, stop ignoring your roof. The water that’s retained on the roof due to the accumulation of organic debris that’s blocking the gutters will eventually cause your roofing material to rot. When the integrity of your roofing system becomes compromised because of damaged shingles, this could spell disaster in the event of a heavy rainstorm. Furthermore, if you live in a region where the weather is mostly wet and cold, you can expect moss to grow quickly on your roof. When moss creeps into your roofing system, its uncanny ability to increase wear and tear will ultimately shorten the lifespan of your roof. If you fail to do something to fix this moss issue, moss growth will cause water to get trapped on your roof’s surface until the sealing on its shingles begin to weaken and they become dislodged. Furthermore, failing to deal with the black streaks of algae on the surface of your roofing system will ultimately penetrate your roof deck when considerable damage to the shingles and wood is left unattended. Even if your roofing system doesn’t have moss growing on it or isn’t riddled with zebra stripes of blue-green algae, a dirty and dull-looking roof won’t only make your home look old, ugly, and uninviting, but it will also significantly diminish its curb appeal.

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What is Chemical Roof Cleaning?
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When various types of roof-staining organisms that include moss, algae, and lichens may have found their way into your shingles. Perhaps unsightly mold growth has invaded your siding. With the help of professional roof cleaners, you won’t have to spend a fortune on roof replacement. 

Professional chemical roof cleaners In Boca Raton, FL can make your roofing systems shine and sparkle by conducting mechanical or chemical procedures. While mechanical roof cleaning involves power washing and brushing to get rid of all forms of roof growth, chemical roof cleaning makes use of specially-formulated chemical solutions that are designed to kill and remove anything that shouldn’t be settling on your roof. However, high-pressure washing is not ideal for cleaning shingles because this method can potentially remove the shingles’ granular surface and cause significant damage to them. Furthermore, having your roof shingles pressure-washed can possibly void the roof manufacturer’s warranty as well.

Strictly speaking, chemical roof cleaning refers to the process of spraying these chemicals on your roofing system in order to keep it clean and free from dirt, moss, mold, mildew, algae and anything else that Mother Nature would want to leave behind. 

Although various chemical solutions are being used by certified roof cleaning professionals, the most common type of chemicals used for cleaning roofs is a low concentration of chlorine bleach that contains additives that include TSP, an enhancer, alcohol, and surfactants. The chemicals are sprayed onto your roofing system with the use of a pressure pump that’s usually not more than 100 psi.

While most homeowners are concerned about the safety of the vegetation around their property, hiring a pro with a solid track record ensures that your flowers and grass will be kept safe throughout the entire roof cleaning process. Moreover, they make it a point to water your plants before, during, and after they spray the roof cleaning chemicals on your roof. In other words, you can expect the experts to make sure that only those that are growing on your roof, and nothing else, will be eliminated. 

In case you’re wondering, the cost of roof cleaning services depends on the size of your house, as well as the amount of work that the entire process requires. To give you a general idea, the average cost of a typical roof cleaning service is only a fraction of what you might be spending when you decide to have your roof replaced. When done right, getting your roof cleaned this way for about a few hundred dollars can cause you to get results that are nothing short of dramatic. To say that you’ll be getting your money’s worth for choosing chemical roof cleaning is definitely an understatement.

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What are the Different Chemical Roof Cleaning Methods?
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Gone are the days when people use roof shingles that are exclusively made of asphalt. During the past three decades, more and more manufacturers have incorporated additional components into the ordinary roof shingle. Aside from the small amount of asphalt, they added fiberglass, limestone, and some specialized paper in order to produce the laminated shingle of today. Thanks to these chemical roof cleaning solutions, your modern-day roof shingles are going to look as good as new. 

• Sodium Hydroxide
  

Did you know that one of the very first chemicals that make up roof cleaning solutions is sodium hydroxide? This is a cleaning product that is classified as high alkaline is often referred to as caustic soda or lye. When very high concentrations of this substance are applied to various types of asphalt, it breaks down the roofing material’s petroleum-based products. If left to sit for a long time on the roof’s surface, it can potentially loosen and even dissolve the bond of the shingles and their granular surface. 

However, it’s important to note that with limited time durations, correct rates of dilution, and proper rinsing with the use of high flow rates (not high-pressure rates), sodium hydroxide can effectively remove the dirt, algae, and mold, while steering clear of any possibility of residual action. In other words, it’s extremely important to make sure that all traces of sodium hydroxide are thoroughly removed from the surface of your roof because even after the chemical substance has already dried up, rainwater can cause activate the chemicals to continue breaking down your shingles’ petroleum-based components. Experts agree that sodium hydroxide is the product of choice for homeowners who want to clean their concrete, tile, and the materials of their slate roof.

• Sodium Hypochlorite
  

Another chemical solution that can be used for cleaning your roof is sodium hypochlorite. This substance turns into salt when all traces of water have evaporated. Furthermore, roof cleaners need to make sure that proper dilution rates are made when they’re using this product. Failing to do so will cause your shingles to deteriorate and your property’s surrounding vegetation to be destroyed. If you have plants, flowers, and shrubs that may come in contact with the chemicals, professional roof cleaners will make sure that these plants are thoroughly rinsed before and after the entire roof cleaning process. Should you get a chance to head down to the nearest hardware store, don’t be surprised if you’d get to see a bottle of 12% sodium hypochlorite with a tiny amount of sodium hydroxide.
 

• Sodium Percarbonate
  

You’ve probably heard roof cleaners use the words, “soft washing” plenty of times before. However, this phrase can mean so many things. To give you an illustration, other cleaners use a high pressure per square inch (psi) of water to flush all traces of stubborn chemical residue that may have clung to the surface of your roof. However, for those who want to make sure that the structural integrity of your shingles will not be compromised, it makes much more sense to resort to “soft washing”. They do this by increasing the gallons per minute of water instead of the psi to rinse all the chemicals off. Others may refer to soft wash as a low-pressure wash. For this reason, roof cleaning contractors may refer to themselves as soft or low-pressure washers even if they use sodium hydroxide or sodium hypochlorite. Furthermore, other cleaners believe that soft washing doesn’t have anything to do with water rinsing. Their concept of soft washing involves spraying the chemicals onto the roof and letting it sit until natural air moisture or rain will rinse the solutions off. 

However, the idea of soft washing begins with the use of sodium percarbonate. This is an oxygen-based chemical solution that will only work if it has been thoroughly mixed and correctly applied with water onto the surface of the roofing system. Unlike the other sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite, sodium percarbonate doesn’t need to be rinsed off because it has the ability to stop the carbonated action as soon as the chemicals react with water. Moreover, sodium percarbonate is the best choice for cleaning asphalt shingle and wood shake roofs. Roof cleaning contractors who make it a point to use green products opt for this product because of its eco-friendly properties. 

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What are the Benefits of Chemical Roof Cleaning?
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If you’re one of those homeowners out there who put “roof cleaning” down to the bottom of their home maintenance checklist, you’re setting yourself up for a 5-digit expense on roof repairs or a total roof replacement down the road. Before you even think about remodeling your home’s interior, it’s best to check if its exterior – in this case, the roof that serves more than just an aesthetic purpose – needs to get more attention than the other areas you have in mind. 

Keep in mind that your roof provides you and your family much-needed defense against heat, rain, wind, snow, and hail. Thanks to your roof, your home will not be exposed to these harmful weather elements. For this reason, it’s extremely important to keep your roof clean so that it can serve you well for many years to come. When you get rid of the dirt and debris that have accumulated on its surface, you reduce the chances of vegetation and moisture buildup that will eventually cause your roofing system’s cover material to deteriorate. 

Compared to other roof cleaning solutions, chemical roof cleaning processes are highly recommended by experts. Unfortunately, other people always seem to find fault with the idea of using various chemicals for cleaning the roof. These people need to understand that the problem lies in the careless performance of the entire chemical roof cleaning process – and not on the chemicals that are being used. When chemical roof cleaning is done right, you’ll experience the following benefits without ever dealing with the downsides:

• It Enhances Curb Appeal
  

You might be surprised to find out that chemical roof cleaning can make it possible for your old roof to look like it has been recently installed. Since your roof is one of the first things that prospective buyers will notice, an ugly and dirty roof can quickly become a huge deal breaker. Conversely, if your house comes with a roof that’s been thoroughly cleaned and looking good as new through the use of a chemical roof cleaning process, you can increase your home’s resale value straightaway. 

• It Protects Your Roof from Damage
  

Since chemical roof cleaning doesn’t require the use of high pressure, the strength, finish, and color of the roof will be preserved. Plus, the entire process won’t cause your roofing system to suffer erosion. 

• It Provides Longer-Lasting Clean
  

One of the best reasons why people opt for chemical roof cleaning is the fact that the process provides them with a longer-lasting clean. You can finally say goodbye to the unsightly moss, mold, and mildew growth, as well as the black streaks of algae because the chemicals that are used can effectively kill all forms of organisms that tend to thrive in the microscopic pores of various roofing materials. These roofing materials may include plain concrete, coated concrete, clay, mortar stucco mix, and painted elastomeric coated roofing systems. What makes chemical roof cleaning a better choice compared to high-pressure washes is the fact that the chemicals won’t deepen and widen the pores that are found in your roofing material. On the other hand, since high-pressure washes do the opposite, they can provide mold and mildew with a much better stronghold in your roofing system.


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