Use Alternatives For Cleaning A High
If you have a steep roof as defined above, a leaf blower is not the best tool for cleaning leaves off your roof. Instead, its best to use a telescoping leaf rake to pull leaves off your roof. This way, you never have to climb onto your roof to clean it.
- If your roof is steep, do not attempt to clean it with a leaf blower.
- Use this telescoping leaf rake to pull leaves and other debris off a steep roof.
- If you cannot reach steep portions of your roof for cleaning, contact a professional service for roof cleaning.
It may be difficult to reach some parts of a large, steep roof with a leaf rake. If its truly impossible to clean your roof with a rake, contact a professional roof cleaning service to safely clear debris from your steep roof.
Tips To Prevent Roof Algae & Moss
Roof algae and moss usually grow because of moisture and bacterial growth. You can stop that growth from ever starting in the first place, effectively making your roof last longer. Here are a few ways to prevent future growth once you have gotten rid of moss and algae:
- Trim trees near the home: Overgrown trees often spread bacteria onto the roof and cause algae growth. Make sure to plant trees far enough away from the house and trim them back regularly so they arent hanging over the roof.
- Get rid of standing water: Standing water is another factor that can contribute to mold and algae growth. Minimize standing water on the roof by fixing shingles, cleaning gutters, and performing small roof repairs as necessary.
How To Prevent Algae And Moss Stains From Recurring
Most commonly algae and moss grow on roof surfaces that are shaded and remain humid. Cutting off tree branches that overhang the roof and block sunlight will surely help keeping your roof algae and moss free. Keep the roof surface clean by blowing off leaves and fallen branches during seasonal maintenance.
Long-term stain prevention can be assured by installing zinc or copper strips under the cap shingles, leaving about 6 cm of the surface exposed at roof peaks, along hips, and under the first course of shingles at the base of dormers. Copper and zinc are sacrificial metals that shed tiny fragments of their surface with each rainfall. The metals coat the roof and ban organic growth for many years.
> > > Picture 1 : The moss doesnt grow close to copper metal flashing
> > > Picture 2 : The red lines indicate where to install zinc or copper strips to prevent algae and moss growth.
> > > Picture 3 : Ridge with Armourvent Multi and zinc moss repellent tape
Following these maintenance tips can help you enjoy your attractive roof. They can also help extend your roofs service life, which is important whether you plan to stay in your home or sell it in the future.
More tips on the protection of your roof can be found in our blogs.
Good luck!
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Diy Algae And Moss Removal Recipes
Luckily both algae and moss can be easily removed from shingle roofs. DIY stores sell many popular liquid solutions that are specifically made to kill the moss. Or you can make your own moss remover in a large spray bottle with one of these four DIY recipes:
- 240 ml dish washing soap + 7,5 liter of water
- 450 grams powdered oxygen bleach + 7,5 liter of water
- 500 ml chlorine bleach + 7,5 liter of water
- 500 ml white distilled vinegar + 7,5 liter of water
When using one of these homemade options, you should wet down the roof with plain water first, then apply the cleanser and let it rest for 20 to 45 minutes. Lightly scrub your roof with a soft-bristle brush, and then rinse with water.
Why Is Bleach A Good Roof Cleaner
Bleach is a class of compounds widely used to whiten clothes and remove stains and as a disinfectant to kill germs.
Liquid household bleach has 5.25 to 8.25% of the active sodium hypochlorite ingredient. It also contains other secondary ingredients such as sodium hydroxide which is intended to keep the solution alkaline.
It is the sodium hypochlorite in bleach that denatures proteins in microorganisms that thrive on roofs. This ingredient is effective in killing algae, mildew, mold, fungi, bacteria, and viruses.
The Sodium hypochlorite becomes hypochlorous acid when it comes into contact with water. Hypochlorous acid is the active ingredient further that attacks proteins that make up the microorganisms leading to the destruction of the algea as well as other microorganisms on your roof shingles.
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Avoid An Expensive Roof Replacement By Easily Removing Moss Algae And Mold From Your Shingles
- Remove moss, black algae, mold, lichen or any fungus that may grow on roofs and eat away at your roof shingles
- Safe and effective for asphalt, metal, tile, wood shake, rubber and new composite roofing materials
- Feel confident knowing our product wont harm your children, pets or landscaping!
If you are looking for a safe, effective way to clean to clean stains or debris caused by algae and moss from your roof without harming your pets or your landscaping, our Roof Wash is exactly what you need. We field tested and perfected our formula over years in the roof cleaning industry and as the manufacturer, we stand behind the efficacy and safety of our product 100%.
Add 125 ml of Oxy All Roof Wash to 4 L of water. If available, warm water dissolves best. Mix well, stirring frequently, then allow solution to fully activate for 15 minutes before use. To clean without rinsing, spray on with a garden style hand pump sprayer, and leave it to mother nature to wash off the debris. Damage is stopped, but it may take 60 days or more to come fully clean. In some extreme cases a second application may be required. For an immediate clean roof, apply to small enough sections that can be kept wet, scrub with a stiff brush, then rinse with a hose. For a professional type cleaning, spray the roof completely then rinse with a pressure washer set at less than 1000 psi .
Avoid letting overspray dry on glass as it leaves a difficult to clean residue.
Active ingredient: hydrogen peroxide
Early Removal Of Moss And Algae Is Key
To ensure the longevity of your homes roof, early removal of algae and moss growth is essential. The more you stand back and allow it to grow on your roof, the greater the chances are that you will see significant roof damage.
If you have any questions or concerns or you need assistance removing algae and moss from your roof, contact the experts at 2and2None Roofing your number one choice for roofing services in Huntsville, AL
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What Youll Find On A Metal Roof
Metal roofs are often subject to the same types of dirt and debris that youll find on clay and asphalt roofs. The biggest difference that youll find is that metal roofs dont tend to stain from blue/green algae or grow moss as frequently, otherwise youll see the same types of dirt.
In addition to mold, mildew, algae, moss, and dirt, you may also find some small areas of rust or corrosion on the roof as well, depending on how old the metal is, and what type of metal your roof is made of. Its also not uncommon for painted metal roofs to show more dirt on their surface than unpainted metal roofs, and for painted roofs to be more difficult to clean.
Roof Moss Removal: Cleaning Mold Algae & Moss From Your Roof
We don’t recommend trying to handle roof algae and moss removal on your own. We recommend hiring a professional.
If you are a DIY person capable of climbing a ladder and not afraid of heights, you may be able to tackle algae or moss removal yourself.
The safest method for your roof and the environment is to use a product called Spray and Forget or Wet and Forget. These products can be purchased at most local hardware stores, can be put into a hose-end sprayer, and applied in many cases from the ground or a ladder or the edge of the gutter. These methods can take 3-6 months to work but are the safest. Take some time to research these products before use.
Another more aggressive method for quicker results is the use of water and bleach. Below are the general steps for this method:
- Mix 1 part oxygen bleach cleaner with 1 part water.
- Pour the bucket of solution onto the affected area of the roof and let it soak for 30 minutes.
- For larger sections affected by algae or moss you could put this solution into a spray pump and apply. Be extremely careful not to step on wet algae or moss as it is very slippery and could cause a slip and fall!
- After 30 minutes, rinse the mixture off with your hose on a low-pressure setting. NEVER PRESSURE WASH YOUR ROOF. The moss won’t come off your roof immediately, but within a few days, it will dry up and blow off with the wind. If your roof is pretty well-covered in moss, you might need to use a leaf blower to get rid of the remains.
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Roof Cleaning With A Pressure Washer
Some may believe that you can clean your roof simply with a pressure washer, and while that would probably work theoretically, using a pressure washer for roof cleaning is the kiss of death for the integrity of that roof. Especially if you are trying to clean an asphalt shingle roof. The granules will start to come off and will end up in the gutters, which can and does happen normally with age, but speeding up the aging process for the roof, is not the best idea and is something we avoid.
Cleaning Algae Stains Off Roofs:
I hate seeing black or green stains on a roof. There are many reasons that cause mold, lichen and algae to grow on a roof but that doesnt mean you have to tolerate it. There are ways to eliminate these ugly stains and this article will explain how you can remove algae stains off roof.
People often ask me if these stains are a sign of roof wear. The answer to that is no the black staining is typically caused by algae and it will not damage the shingles, and it wont make your roof leak. These stains usually show up on areas on the North side of a the roof or in areas that are blocked by trees or do not get much sunlight.
The black mold-like stains and streaks that appear on roofs is usually a blue-green algae These stains mostly appear on light colored roofs but do grow on all roofs.
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Roof Cleaning The Proper Way
Roof Cleaning has a few steps involved, the first and most important step is identifying what treatment is going to be needed to get the roof cleaned, with the least amount of collateral damage to the roof itself, and the landscaping if there is any. In this article we go through the entire process from start to finish, if you are going to have a professional clean your roof. This article is about how the pro is thinking when they walk the property, and about what methods they use in removing the harmful algae that is infesting so many roofs around the country.
Cleaning Asphalt Roofshingles With Bleach And Water
Bleach and water work well when cleaning asphalt roof shingles. Clean the roof following the procedure below
When using this method ensure that you clean the roof in the morning hours or when itâs cloudy and there is no rain. If you clean on a sunny day bleach will evaporate. Keep repeating the process till the roof is clean. If the problem of algae and moss persists then it is important to consult a professional roof cleaner.
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What Is The Best Way To Clean A Metal Roof
This question is a very important one, but of course with every roof job and all the different variables that can be involved, every roof cleaning can be different! We typically create a CUSTOMER PLAN OF ACTION from preparation, protection, cleaning, clean-up & post-cleaning. This next paragraph will explain determining whether your roof is coated or un-coated.
Applying Cleaner To Remove Algae Stains Off Roof
This is the tricky part. You need to be able to access a ladder or the your roof and do it safely. I suggest that you wear a respirator and protect your eyes from bleach over-spray. Covering plantings below or at least rinsing them before and after with water will help prevent the bleach from damaging the vegetation.
Using the garden sprayer apply youre mixture to the affected areas of your roof with your two-part solution, let the solution soak for about ten minutes, and then spray the cleaning solution off your roof with a garden hose.
When spraying the roof, spray in the direction that water drains. Do not spray up and under the shingles as this can cause a roof leak or damage the shingles. Ideally a pressure washer with a low pressure fan tip to do the rinsing, produces better results than just a garden hose, but is also much more likely to damage the shingles.
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Difference Between Moss And Algae
Though they might be grouped as the same thing because they grow in the same area of your home, moss and algae are actually quite different and distinct.
Moss always appears more green and fluffy-looking than algae, though it might appear browner during dryer seasons. Moss will also grow up off the roof, while algae will grow flush to the shingles and fixtures, staying flat and unobtrusive. Algae will appear in many different colors such as gray, blue, green, or brown.
A small amount of moss is relatively harmless, but left unattended, it can grow and eventually damage your asphalt shingles. Moss should be removed. Algae actually fosters the growth of mold, which can lead to very serious issues. Algae, too, should be removed quickly and efficiently.
Readers Offer Other Remedies For Cleaning Algae Stains Off Of Roof Surfaces
Two Florida Roof Cleaning Companies have offered their opinions about alterative approaches to cleaning stained roof surfaces.
Note: InspectAPedia.com is an independent publisher of building, environmental, and forensic inspection, diagnosis, and repair information provided free to the public – we have no business nor financial connection with any manufacturer or service provider discussed at our website.
Chuck Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte, Fl USA Roof Cleaning Suggestions
We agree that granule loss is as said:
You wrote one of the better articles I have read on roof cleaning! I have been cleaning roofs since 1989 here in Florida.
I now clean them with what is called “SoftWashing” applying a mixture as specified by many roofing manufacturers, as well as the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association. Prior to that, I pressure washed them. I know for a fact that black algae does loosen the granules. On many roofs there would be long streaks of black, especially on homes that had zinc strips installed. The strips would work, IF a roof surface was 100% flat and even-it’s not.
So, you get really clean roofing in a slightly low area and very blackened roofing in the higher areas, that don’t hold the zinc.
When I pressure washed down the roof, the areas with the algae would lose about 20% of their granules, while the clean areas, perhaps 5% I saw that scenario over and over- 4 x the granule loss in the algae infested areas.
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What Is The Best Certified Organic Roof Cleaner
Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality. CLICK THE IMAGE to order some NOW.
The best roof cleaner, in my opinion, is non-toxic Stain Solver oxygen bleach. Stain Solver is certified organic and is a powder you mix with hot tap water.
It does a fantastic job of cleaning algae from roofs. Many customers have sent in before and after photos of it working. .
It’s best to apply the Stain Solver solution to a cool roof surface, preferably on an overcast day. If you keep the roof surface wet with the solution for just 20 minutes, and then lightly scrub the roof surface, the algae will come off with no issues.
Severely stained roofs may require multiple applications of the Stain Solver solution. The solution also helps to loosen the grip of the shallow moss roots.
Roof-Cleaning VIDEO
What Are The Dark Streaks On My Roof
You may have noticed dark streaks across your roof. Given that moss grows upright on surfaces, and algae stays low and flush to the surfaces it grows on, its likely any dark streaks you see are algae.
Algae staining on roofs all start out being spread by wind, birds, and varmints, affecting homes across much of the United States.
This algae normally begins its lifecycle as airborne spores that will settle on your roof, especially those roofs that have asphalt shingles. The northern exposure of roofs has the most chance for algae to survive/thrive because that part of the roof is exposed to the least UV and dries last after morning dew and rain.
As the algae grows and spreads, it begins to look like large black streaks on your shingles.
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