The Dangers of Roof Cleaning!

Roof cleaning can be one of the most dangerous undertakings by the average home owner. Lack of experience and improper equipment are just 2 of the dangers physically without even getting to the chemicals that need to be used. Things such as improperly securing a ladder, wet / loose shingles or improper footwear can cause a fall that could cause serious or even fatal injuries. Hint: Don't wear sandals or loose fitting footwear when on a roof. Is a clean roof really worth taking that kind of risk? What happens to your family if you are injured or worse?

Now with the physical equipment mentioned the biggest risk with cleaning your roof are the chemicals and their compatibility with other substances. How would you like to have a 2 foot hole in your house and get a ride in a helicopter? This actually happened to a man in Tampa, Florida. Check out the story in the St. Petersburg Times and see for yourself. This was a very unfortunate accident but at least the home owner was intelligent enough to hire someone to do the work for him. His mistake was picking the wrong contractor for the job. He hired someone that specialized in pressure washing and not a company that specialized in the application of chemicals to clean roofs.

Your Tennessee home is most likely your largest investment and the roof is the most expensive part of that investment. I have said it before and I probably say it more than you want to hear but it is my opinion that you should leave the cleaning of your roof to a knowledgable, licensed and insured professional. They have the proper knowledge, chemicals, and equipment to keep you and your family safely on the ground. For the sake of your roof, find a contractor that specializes in non-pressure roof cleaning in Tennessee.

For further information about Roof Cleaning in Clarksville and Nashville, TN

How do I make my roof last longer?

The first thing you can do is - - DO NOT pressure wash the shingles at any time. This will remove the protective granules leaving the underlying membrane exposed to UV Rays which will damage them faster than the algae growing on them.

Now the way to make anything last longer is to implement proper preventive and corrective maintenance procedures. Changing the oil in your car is a preventive maintenance procedure. Getting a tune up could be a corrective maintenance procedure. So it is the same with your home and with the most expensive part of that home, the roof. Proper preventive and corrective measures can increase or at least maintain the lifespan of your roof.

Those black streaks on your roof are often mistaken for mold or fungus but are actually a very hardy algae called Gloeocapsa Magma. The process starts with spores carried by the wind currents being deposited on a roof surface. The algae then attaches itself to your roof and begins feeding. Even though you only have streaks on one side of the house, usually the North side, they are all over the roof surface. They just grow slower on southern facing surfaces. This is why when you have your roof cleaned you need to clean the entire surface.

Without interdiction on your part the algae will eventually start to degrade the integrity of your shingles. About 20 years ago manufacturers started using crushed limestone in the makeup of the shingles and this species of algae actually feed on the limestone. The limestone is a food source allowing the algae to grow unchecked causing the dark streaks that you see.

Take my advice and have your shingles cleaned by a professional. Don't risk your health or worse your life trying to do this on your own, not to mention possible damage to the shingles themselves. Too strong of a chemical mix can do as much damage as pressure washing and too weak is ineffective. With the cost of roof replacement being somewhere in the neighborhood of $5,000 to $15,000 it only make sense to keep it in tip top shape. And what about the danger of working on a roof? Wet roofs become slippery and an inexperienced roof cleaner, such as a typical home owner, are taking unnecessary risks. Before you decide to tackle this problem on your own talk to a roof cleaning professional. They will know exactly what it takes to get your roof clean and have the experience to get the job done.

Visit Roof Cleaning of Clarksville and Nashville for more information

Power Washing or Roof Cleaning Chemicals?

According to ARMA (Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association) and CASMA (Canadian Asphalt Shingle Manufacturers Association), pressure washing of shingle roofs are not recommended. Why is this you ask? Well pressure, even so called low pressure, can dislodge the little granules on the surface of the shingle exposing the underlying membrane to UV rays. This can cause premature failure of the shingle. It can also be cause for voiding your warranty.

These granules are vital to the health of your shingle. It not only provides the coloring of the shingle but prevents the underlying membrane from damage by the elements. Imaging what a flock of birds would do to your unprotected roof!

There are several roof cleaning chemicals being marketed today and most of them require medium pressure to be effective. What this means is that instead of a 3000 PSI pressure washer with one nozzle they want you to use a device with 3 nozzles that reduce the individual pressure at each nozzle down to some where in the range of 800 to 1300 psi. WOW that is still a lot of pressure. Think about it, at one point or another most of us have cleaned our own gutters and have noticed the little granules in the gutter from the shingles. Now these were removed by RAIN. Just think how many can be removed with a pressure washer even at 800 psi. Heck your garden has less than 100 psi and us usually around 60 or 70 psi and it can remove granules. Try it one day on a scrap piece of shingle and see if you remove granules. Do NOT try this on your roof.

The next time someone tries to sell you one of these products just say no thanks. The best and safest way to clean your roof is with a chemical solution recommended by ARMA that will kill the algae on your roof without the need for any pressure. Just spray on the mixture and then you have 2 options, leave it on for it's systemic value and wait for the rain to do the washing or you can completely rinse the roof with a garden hose. Stay tuned for the next post where I discuss the proper method of cleaning your roof.

Keep in mind that even though these chemicals can be dangerous irritants when handled incorrectly, when handled by a professional the risk are much much lower. Let a professional handle the cleaning as they have the proper knowledge, tanks, chemicals, pumps and insurance. This will be the cheapest option in the long run for the home owner.

Visit our Roof Cleaning Clarksville and Nashville web site for more information and videos.

Why clean your roof?

You ask your self why should I spend money cleaning my roof? Well there are several reasons you should do this.

The most obvious reason is for curb appeal. Your home is a big investment and you will want to show off that home. You are proud of all your hard work that it took to get that home and if you have the best curb appeal on the block. You can dramatically increase the bid prices if you are attempting to sell your home. The prospective buyer will not think that the roof needs to be replaced. They will think WOW that looks like a new roof and will probably not even ask about the age of the roof.

We all know from our school days that light colors reflect heat and dark colors absorb heat. Well that still holds true. What is the color of the algae growing on your roof? Oh yea, it's black or dark brown and it is absorbing heat. When it does this the temperature in your attic can rise dramatically. As you know proper attic cooling is essential to keeping your home cool. A rise in the attic temperature is going to require that your air conditioning unit run longer and more often to maintain a comfortable temperature. This over use can lead to a premature air conditioning unit failure.

You have a virtual buffet on your roof for these organisms to thrive. The shingles that are produced today have crushed limestone embedded into the asphalt (not the granules you see on top). These shingles hold moisture and organic "bacteria food" material longer than the shingles of 20 years ago. Additionally, these particular algae enjoy the limestone as a food source. Experts within the subject area conclude the bacteria to be harmful, if left untreated, as the growth holds moisture within shingles causing premature aging, rotting, and/or granule loss.

Once the algae/bacteria appear and become noticeable, the problem spreads year after year if left untreated.

For more information visit our Roof Cleaning Nashville web site for information.

2009 what a way to start

2009 has been a difficult start for my family. With the bankruptcy of Nortel the work has all but stopped. since I have been working on Nortel products specifically, I am not able to gain employment at the same wage I was making.

With every storm cloud there is a silver lining though and I have found mine. With a lot of soul searching and with the help of Google I have found my calling. I am going to get back to working outside just like when I was growing up. What am I doing to do? Well I'll tell you.

I am going to clean roofs, gutters and wash houses. Probably will not be making what I was before but at least I will be the master of my own destiny and be able to serve the community that I live in along with other surround communities.

I must be a few plugs short of a V8 to be going into business for myself but this is something I have dreamed about and now my hand has been forced. Like it or not I am on my way.

Take a look at my web site www.greatwhitetechnologies.com and if you are not in my area just send me an email and I will do my best to locate a RCIA roof cleaner for you.