Introduction

My house is my fortress of solitude! When people step their feet inside it, they are mesmerized by the cleanliness. One thing that my wife always complains about is how dirty our roof is when it is seen from the roof of the building situated beside us.

For a lazy person like me, it is a tiresome job to clean the roof all by myself, and I intend to make my life easier by hiring a professional to do the job for me.

Now, that got me thinking! What are the consequences of not cleaning a roof? If this task is not done every year, severe algae or fungus can grow on the roof, which creates an unhygienic condition to live in.

I heard roof pressure cleaning is the most suitable method to choose from various mentioned names. We are going to talk in detail about how to pressure wash a roof and the expenses to bare regarding this matter.

What Do You Understand by Roof Cleaning?

What is there to know about roof cleaning? It is a process by which you get rid of any growing fungus, algae, or debris from your roof.

Why do we need roof cleaning? Well, you do not want to live in a jungle now, do you? Cleaning the roof once or twice a year upgrades the outlook of your house.

Additionally, roof cleaning on a regular basis improves the curb appeal, and it also helps to increase the lifespan of the roof. Now that you have a clear idea about roof cleaning, there are certain benefits in this task you also should have some knowledge, down goes the elaboration.

So, what is roof pressure cleaning? This method uses hot or cold water projected at a pressure of 4000 PSI on average. The pressurized water exerts a significant force on the stains and dirt and forces them to leave the surface.

Benefits of Roof Cleaning

Prevents Buildup of Bacteria

Algae and moss commonly develop beneath shingles, mostly hidden from view while gradually deteriorating the roof’s bricks and sandpaper. 

Shingles seem rough when they are thin and damaged, but they might ultimately come off after proper cleaning. Regular roof cleaning keeps shingles and tiles in excellent condition and reduces the likelihood of premature deterioration.

Upgrades The Outlook

A complete roof cleaning will help bring back your house’s original color and brightness, giving it a fresh new look. A clean roof also makes it easy to assess for problems like loose shingles or flash visually.

Clears Debris

Rain, snow, severe winds, and pollutants are the worst enemy of a roof. Due to the frequent collision with the surface, the condition of the roof deteriorates gradually. Roof cleaning removes dispersed debris like leaves and twigs, as well as any filth and grime that has formed over time.

What Are the Types of Pressurized Roof Cleaning?

The roof cleaning method varies according to the type of roof, and if you do not handle them with care, the process might damage the roof’s outer layer. There are two types of forced roof cleaning: low pressure and high pressure cleaning.

So, here are some methods that you should choose while deciding to clean your roof. So, down goes the intensive research regarding these two-roof cleaning techniques.

Low Pressure Roof Cleaning

Low pressure roof cleaning is another name for soft washing, and many professional roof cleaners suggest this method. All you need is a perfect biodegradable solution to use as a solvent on the dirt.

After several minutes of gentle rub on the surface, the solvent will dissolve with the algae or fungi making it soluble. Then, all you need to do is apply gentle pressure to water pipes to remove the residue.

One disadvantage about this method is that low pressure cleaning requires five to six hours of time. If your roof has a large area and if you do not have the manpower, I’d suggest not to soft wash your roof.

High Pressure Roof Cleaning

This method involves throwing water from a hosepipe at a very high pressure to remove the debris that are stuck to the surface forcefully.

While performing high pressure roof cleaning, make sure to know your cleaning surface very well. If the surface is made up of wood, then there is a high chance of damaging the roof from the pressurized water.

On the other hand, this method is quite efficient over tiles or ceramic surfaces. Check the compressive strain value of your roof, and then go for a suitable method.

If you are too weak to do that, call an expert who can guide you to choose between high pressure and low pressure cleaning.

Tips To Follow During Pressure Cleaning the Roof

Though roof cleaning sounds so fun and efficient, the above-mentioned processes might get dangerous if you do not perform the operation carefully. Accidents like damaging the roof surface can occur, or one of your neighbors might slip from all the water flowing around.

So, it will be a good practice to know some of the essential tips and rules before you throw yourself into the joy of cleaning the roof.

Clear Out the Gutter

Before firing some water from your hose, make sure to clean the gutter and remove any dry leaves or stones that are left out in your roof. If you skip this part, the trench will be full of debris, and some gutters may not be durable enough to hold such weight.

Also, the highly pressurized water can lift a stone in the midair, which might hit someone, and they will end up getting hurt.

Try Not to Use Any Chemicals

One of the most remarkable things about pressure washing is that no detergents or cleaning chemicals are required. You can easily remove all the spots and dirt after splashing water at a very high speed.

Do not worry about any hazardous chemicals’ leakages into your garden or stormwater. I know you are excited to use a chemical cleaner for extremely persistent stains, but it is not always a necessary step!

Do Not Pressurize the Water All the Time

Normally, people think that applying more pressure on the hosepipe will make the cleaning process more efficient and less time consuming. But this is always not the case! If you turn the knob of the hosepipe to the maximum pressure, you will put the infrastructure of your roof plus the gutter arrangement of the top in danger.

If some spots are very hard to remove, hold the nose more closely to the stain instead of increasing the water pressure, and you will get the desired results.

Consider the Well-being of Neighbors

The use of high pressure cleaning might result in a lot of splashes. When mixed with dirt, algae, and other particles, the polluted water may make a huge mess. If you don’t watch where you point the high pressure cleaner, you can end up spraying your neighbors’ walls and windows, which will create an unbearable living situation.

Safety Comes First

When working on the roof, be cautious. Some roof surfaces aren’t built to withstand your weight. Make sure you are constantly walking on the supporting pillars. You should also make sure you have all the essential safety gear, such as goggles and gloves, work boots with good traction, safety harnesses, and roof anchors.

Other Types of Roof Cleaning Method

Though the above-mentioned methods are pretty effective and widely used, there are several other ways to keep your roof clean, and my job is to shower you with extreme knowledge.

So, here are two additional methods of roof cleaning:

• Roof cleaning using eco-friendly products
• Roof cleaning using Chlorine

Roof Cleaning Using Eco-Friendly Products

Most people suggest toxic chemicals for cleaning the roof. These hazardous chemicals might get mixed up with your daily used products and will create an unhealthy situation to live.

You do not want your fresh vegetables on the roof to get contaminated with bleaching powder or any phosphate ion compounds. Although this process is fast, it will also face the color of your roof, and it might lose the charm it used to have before.

Why don’t you use eco-friendly products to do the cleaning? Many experts commonly use roof cleaning shampoo.

This cleaning method uses a low pressure rinse system and is quite good at totally removing algae, moss, and lichens. For asphalt roof shingles and clay tiles, my advice will be to use eco-friendly roof cleaning method.

Because asphalt shingles are sensitive, washing them with other components increases danger. Though the process is expensive, it provides a non-hazardous environment, and safety should be the topmost priority.

Roof Cleaning Using Chlorine

If you think that roof cleaning is not worth any minutes of your time, then you choose a fast method- using bleaching powder to clean your roof!

The chemicals used in the procedure are reasonably priced. Furthermore, there is no need for specialists to climb onto the roof for cleaning or inspection. As a result, this procedure is very cost-effective.

However, the chemicals have a strong stink, and you will not see the side-effects right away. Additionally, the fumes emitted by the cleaning products may be harmful to pets and humans, and they are also harmful to trees and plants, causing irreversible damage.

Bleach is highly corrosive, and it may cause metal gutters to rust. It also neutralizes the compounds that are used to keep termites away. So, make sure to again apply that compound after you are done bleaching.

How Much Does It Cost in Roof Cleaning?

The cost of cleaning your roof is dependent upon its slope, size, and design. The more complicated the invention, the more expensive it will be. Roof cleaning costs are also affected by the height of your roof, as it takes a lot of work for specialists to transport their equipment.

Roof cleaning costs around 450 dollars on average. If you reside in an area where you are expecting sleet or snow, the charges will increase even more. If a house is surrounded by trees, then due to the lack of UV rays from the sunlight, its roof will develop a heavy moss growth.

Moss causes the wood to deteriorate by keeping the roofing material moist for an extended period. Greater amount of moss results more expenses to clean the damn roof.

If your house is located in a seaside region, then the roof cleaning cost will increase to a certain factor. It is preferable to hire a professional to clean your roof, and this is due to the fact that experts utilize heavy gear to remove the trash and moss.

Some people use power washers to remove tough stains, while others utilize handheld brushes and cleaning chemicals. Some methods are already explained briefly above, so take your pick!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can we use a pressure washer to clean the roof?

We do not recommend using a pressure washer while cleaning the roof because the washer produces a tremendous amount of pressure in the water, which might damage the roof’s construction.

Additionally, the pudding might fall off the roof, and water can enter through the holes and flood the interior of the house.

What is the average time taken to pressure wash a roof?

If you choose to soft wash your roof without sufficient helping hands, the process might not end in a day. Usually, soft washing takes 5-6 hours on average if there is enough physical support.

On the other hand, if you use extreme water pressure, the whole task will be completed in 1-2 hours. So, to conclude, high pressure roof cleaning is advantageous in terms of time consumption.

Why is high pressure roof cleaning not recommended in Australia?

In Australia, most of the houses that are built contain roofs made of wood. Applying too much water to wood will damage the texture. Plus, if an additional force is applied to the surface, the surface might break and create an accident.

First, a durability test is performed on the roof, and if the result comes positive, then the expert will recommend you to perform roof pressure cleaning.

What is the safest method for roof cleaning?

And the answer is soft washing! Because it uses detergents and ionic solvents to clean off the dirt from your roof. It is harmless for the construction of the roof, and the whole process is very cheap.

What are the chemicals used for roof cleaning?

Roof cleaners still apply bleach or sodium hypochlorite as their most common ingredient for roof cleaning, and ARMA, the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, has chosen it as their preferred chemical.

One primary drawback of this chemical is that it gives you an unpleasant smell and can harm your children or other family members while you roam around on your roof in the evening.

Do I have to heat the water before using it to clean the roof?

Yes! We recommend you to use hot water instead of cold water to clean your roof. Some stains or algae in the roof may not be soluble in cold water, so pressure cleaning method will not make any difference.

Research shows that high pressure cleaning using hot water has much more cleaning efficiency than using cold water.

How to pressure wash a roof that consists of metal?

If you own a pressure washer, it is the most suitable equipment while cleaning your metal roof. We will suggest using the washer that has a 40-degree tip.

Organisms like algae, mildew, mold, and other detritus can be removed quickly and effectively. To clean a metal roof, you don’t need a lot of pressure, so we recommend not to apply the pressure that will damage the roof.

How to remove roofing tar that is located in a metal roof?

One way to remove tar from the slate or the tile of your roof is to use a razor scraper. Apply the same technique to metal roofing, be careful not to scrape the metal and cause a leak. If a protective covering is removed from metal roofing, make sure to patch it using metal primer and paint.

Conclusion

Like other cleaning tasks in your household, roof pressure cleaning should be included in the chores. It is not a frequent operation to perform. Just do it once or twice a year, and you can host parties anytime you want.

If you continue to keep your roof neat and clean, its lifespan is extended to 10 to 20 years. We did show you different methods to clean your roof.

In my opinion, the most effective method will be highly pressurizing hot water to remove dirt. So, next time someone asks you, “How do you keep your roof so clean?” Make sure to recommend our article to them so they can increase their knowledge.