How To Clean A Clay Tile Roof
A clay tile roof is a thing of beauty, style, and class. You typically find this type of roof on homes with Spanish or Southwestern appeal. They’re also very popular in tropical and subtropical areas because they help keep the home cool. A clay tile roof is also a great rain deflector, diverting water away from the base roof. Unfortunately, this type of roof is prone to discoloration and dirt accumulation. The following article will show you how to easily clean your clay tile roof.
Step 1 – Initial Cleaning
Cleaning any roof is a chore that most of us want to avoid but it’s something that has to be done on a regular basis. Avoiding cleaning the roof can cause tiles to fail, holes to form, and the structure to weaken. In the case of a clay tile roof, you will notice the tiles will lose their beautiful ruddy color. Before you can chemically treat a clay tile roof you first have to power wash it. You do this to remove any debris like leaves and twigs. Use a low to medium pressure setting as anything higher could cause clay tiles to break off the roof, fall, and break. Pick a spot at the roof where you can climb the ladder and spray the entire side, then do so in even motions. Wait for the clay tile roof to dry completely before moving forward.
Step 2 – Chemical Treatment
Step 3 – Rinse the Roof
What Is The Best Way To Clean Roof Tiles
Using a tool such as a trowel, scrape the moss and dirt away from the tiles. The drier the day the better, because the moss and other materials will not be stuck to the tiles with moisture. Alternatively, use a stiff brush to scrape the dirt off both methods are a quick and easy way to clean your roof tiles.
How To Protect Roof When Walking On It
Learning how to protect roof when walking on it is all about understanding your type of roof and inspecting its condition first. You can only learn how to walk on a roof without damaging the shingles if you knew about your roof shingles level of fragility.
Below are several tips to protect different types of shingles:
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Cleaning Clay Roof Tiles
Clay tile roofing offers the longest life-expectancy of any traditional roofing material, according to the National Parks Service, and can easily last for a century or more if properly installed. Made from natural clay, these roof tiles are also chosen for their fire resistance and “old world” style. While clay roof tiles require very little maintenance, homeowners may wish to clean these tiles periodically to remove algae, mold and other contaminants that affect the appearance and performance of a roof.
Can A Moss Killer Be Applied Before The Moss Is Removed
This is a common question, can/should a moss killing chemical be applied to the roof before the moss is removed?
The answer is no.
First, you would need much more of the chemical as the moss would soak it up.
Second, thick layers of moss will prevent the chemical from soaking into the tile/overlaps.
Third, if you were thinking of applying the chemical instead of manually removing the moss with a scraper, then you would have a big problem the dead moss would gradually wash down into the gutters and block them. It could take months if not years for all the moss to wash off the roof. Your gutters would need frequent cleaning and even then they are still likely to become blocked.
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How To Clean Terracotta Tiles And Concrete Roof Tiles
Next, you need to clean the tiles more thoroughly. This step must be differentiated according to the type of roof tile on your home. The most effective system for cleaning terracotta or concrete roof tiles is using a pressure washer. This can effectively eliminate moss and other foreign elements. A normal washing detergent can also be mixed within the water. It is important that during this step you only use the jet at the top of the roof pointing downwards. The jet can creep under tiles causing leaks, or in certain instances lead to misplaced tiles.
Repeat this process on any tiles which still have moss and other residues on them, using a brush with rigid plastic bristles. To finish this step, wash over the gutters one last time to remove any collected debris.
You can follow the same steps as above for stone tiles, such as slate or Luserna stone. However, some stones may require more intense brushing to ensure they are thoroughly clean.
Take Care Of Your Roof And It Will Take Care Of You
While it may not be the most glamorous home maintenance task, cleaning your terracotta roof tiles is one of the best value for money property maintenance tasks you can do. By extending the lifespan of your roof and gutters as well as being able to identify any minor roof issues before they get too serious, regular roof cleaning is one of the savviest decisions you can make in protecting your property.
If you can not safely access your roof, engage the services of a professional roof cleaning company to complete the project for you. Call arround for free quotes and read reviews on the companies before you engage their services. Sydney Roof & Gutters invites you to inspect their wide range of genuine customer testimonials on their company website today.
Sydney Roof & Gutter
Address: Unit 14, 5-7 Prosperity Parade, Warriewood NSW 2102
Phone: 02 8020 5777
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Keep An Eye On Your Roof
You should regularly inspect your roof tiles for problems such as cracks, broken tiles, or gaps where old tiles have fallen away. This is vital as these nooks and crannies are the ideal breeding ground for moss and algae, which if left unchecked could cause you serious and expensive problems in the long-term.
Coat Or Impregnate The Roof Tiles
Roof tiles that have been polluted with moss generally have a porous structure as well. This does not apply to glazed roof tiles. Ceramic roof tiles that are not glazed however, become porous by age. Cleaning under high pressure may also contribute to higher rates of wear and tear of the top layer. As a result of this, it is often required to protect the tiles against pollution and new moss formation after the cleaning is done. This can happen in two ways: by means of coating or by impregnating.
Coating the roof
When coating, a coloured or transparent coating is sprayed onto the roof in two layers. This will be done under high pressure in order for the product to fill all corners and gaps. The coating method is especially chosen when the tiles dont look good anymore, not even after cleansing. If the roof tiles are still good-looking, one mostly opts for impregnating.
Impregnating the roof
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Cleaning Dirt Off Your Roof Tiles
If youre just dealing with ordinary dirt and debris, then our all purpose roof cleaner applied using a gentle garden sprayer as described above should work wonders to restore your roof to its former glory.
Many people use pressure washers to clean their roof tiles, however this can do more harm than good, as the immense pressure from the water could damage your tiles or their coating. This is why we recommend using equipment such as a garden sprayer, or even a low-powered hose along with a gentle brush to carefully and safely clean each roof tile.
Be sure to be particularly aware of your surroundings and consider your footing when washing your tiles. This is the most dangerous part of cleaning your roof tiles, as this is when the roof is at its most slippery. Ensure that you use the recommended safety equipment and have a friend there to help you.
Cleaning And Removing Roof Algae And Moss
Roof or wall tiles are often covered with moss or algae if its not cleaned for more than 3 months. Random moss spots here and there are easy to clear, but the excessive build-up of algae and moss is pretty hard to remove. Use a roof scraper to scrape the extra debris from the tiles. Also be careful to not damage the tiles. You can easily find many kinds of roof scrapers designed for scraping. Dont use the crap thats used for lawn scraping. Those could potentially damage the tiles.
Now that the thick moss and page pad is obliterated, apply an anti-moss spray. If your manufacturer has a particular recommendation for this job, feel free to buy that spray. If you dont like chemical solutions you could also make a DIY spray if you want. Your tile roofs could be sensitive to particular chemicals. If there is any mention of a particular chemical, obviously avoid buying any spray that contains them.
Spray the bottle by walking away or backward from where it has been applied. Which means you should not step into the wet, treated surface. Once you are done spraying the moss killers let it rest for some time or as per the products recommendation to dry roof.
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Tools And Essentials In Tile Roof Cleaning
A professional roof cleaner will have all the equipments and tools needed to clean your roof. But if you prefer to do the cleaning yourself, you have to have the following tools and other essentials in order to properly do the job.
1. Pressure washer A pressure washer is a must in tile roof cleaning. You should also have the recommended nozzles appropriate for your type of tiles. Concrete and clay tiles have small pores that can only be cleaned by a manual brushing or with the use of a pressure washer. 1,200 to 1,500 psi is adequate to remove dirt and stains without eroding the surface.
2. Ladder Have sturdy ladder with foot stays.
3. Plywood You will use the plywood to distribute your weight. Tiles are fragile and can easily crack under weight pressure. It is better to foam treat the underside of the plywood to lessen the pressure.
4. Cleaning Chemicals Chemicals and other cleaning agents help the efficient roof cleaning process. Professional roof cleaners use and recommend sodium hydroxide based products. They are safer, environment friendly and just as effective degreaser. The chlorine and water solution is also an effective cleaning option that is also cheaper.
5. Primers, Sealant, and Paint Cleaning can erode and peel away tile coatings and paint. Newly cleaned tiles are prone to dirt, moisture, and damage. Re-coat the seal and paint in order to protect the tiles from dirt and moss infestation.
Is It Required To Clean Roof Tiles
A small amount of moss is not a problem and this appears on nearly all tiled roofs of a respectable age. However, as a mossed roof is getting older, mosses may gain the upper hand at a certain moment in time. In that case, different kinds of moss that are able to hold a lot of moisture may start appearing. Along with this, types of weeds could start to grow and root in the moss or even in between of the roof tiles. All of this is not beneficial to the condition of the roof. Also the roof tiles might get damaged, especially during freezing weather conditions. That is why it is advisable to have a roof cleaned as soon as mosses threaten to take the upper hand.
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Cleaning Clay Tile Roofs
Now that you know why cleaning your clay tile roof is vital, its time to talk about how to clean it. On the surface, its tempting to assume that cleaning the roof is no big deal. After all, power washing your roof tiles with a mixture of water and bleach will go a long way toward scrubbing off much of the algae and debris on the roof.
However, before you head to your local home improvement warehouse to rent a power washer, please consider hiring a professional roofing contractor to clean your roof. The fact is that safely working on a roof takes a level of skill that only comes from experience.
How A Soft Wash Benefits Your Roof
You can get immediate results with a soft wash cleaning process by Kelly Roofing in South Florida. Our soft wash tile roof cleaning process effectively cleans your roof without excessive pressure, preserving your roofs warranty and ensuring longer roof life performance. Our Roof Rain Algae Prevention is 100 percent all-natural and works over the course of time when activated by the suns UV light and water. Roof Rain ensures a full algae growth build-up prevention for two years.
Through soft wash, you can enjoy the following benefits:
- Your tile manufacturer warranty remains intact.
- Your roof underlayment will not be damaged.
- Waterproofing flashings remains in place, stopping water from getting inside.
- Your tiles wont be etched, making it harder for algae to grow
- Your roof color wont dull or change
Ultimately, roofs that are inspected and maintained regularly last up to twice as long. Kelly Roofing can help you achieve a worry-free tile roof in South Florida. Contact us today to learn more about maintaining your tile roof.
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Can I Use Bleach On My Roof
If applied with an appropriate water-bleach ratio, then bleach will definitely not damage your asphalt shingles. However, applying straight bleach to your roof and then pressure washing, is a terrible idea- and can cause serious discoloration, shingle damage, and even structural damage to your roof.
Action Plan And Points Of Concern When Removing Moss
Step 1: inspection and preparation
First of all, the cleaning company will inspect the roof tiles and judge their condition. After all, not all the tiles are equally suited to be sprayed off with hot steam or water under high pressure. Depending on the type of filthiness and the type of roof tile , it might be necessary to first apply a detergent on the roof before spraying. Generally, this is a biological product which is not harmful to the environment. The cleaning agent must act on the filthiness for a while before one can start removing it.
Step 2: cleaning roof tiles
Before cleaning the roof tiles, one uses a high-pressure cleaner with a dirt blaster. This is done from top to bottom in order to avoid water under the tiles. Because of the rotary motion of the dirt blaster and the strength with which the water is sprayed onto the roof tile, mosses and algae will be removed easily. In doing so, the roofer must keep track of the water pressure. Otherwise, the roof tiles might get damaged.
Step 3: protecting roof tiles against mosses and algae
After the roof tiles have been cleaned and moss has been removed, a disinfectant is sprayed onto the roof. This product is meant to kill remaining tracks of fungi and mosses. These traces are not visible to the naked eye. By treating the roof with an environment-friendly product, new mosses are prevented from popping up fast.
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How To Clean A Plastic Conservatory Roof
Plastic roofs should be washed with a pressure washer however, it is recommended to either not brush the roof or to only use a soft bristled brush. This is important to avoid scratching or marking the plastic surface. Again, be careful when moving around on these roofs to avoid breakages.
So, there you have it! A clean and well-maintained roof which will be the envy of all of your neighbours! Why not check out our other blog posts here to find more helpful tips on maintaining your home including how to clean your decking and much more!
How Can You Repair A Leaking Concrete Tile Roof
Even if a bare concrete roof is placed correctly, it will usually be sturdy enough for the dwelling. It does not always prevent problems from arising if a fallen tree or heavy rainfalls strike it. However, it is relatively simple to repair any leaky tile if you follow the necessary measures.
- Check your roof
- Youll begin the restoration by inspecting the roof tiles to determine the severity of the problem. It will inform you of the number of tiles that need to be changed. Even if you see the defective tiles from the bottom, you need to examine the tiles thoroughly.
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While youre doing it, ensure that you dont overlook any damaged tiles that appear to be in good condition. However, you might not have been able to view the roof from the attic. You can get a sense of the extent of the problem by inspecting the roof from there.
- Gather all of your materials and equipment
- You can ensure that you have enough replacement tiles once you know how many are required. Remove damaged tiles from the roof as needed and bring them with you when you get new ones. Gather all of the tools and equipment youll need for the work. Include shoes with the proper soles for moving along without tripping or damaging more tiles.
- Remove all of the tiles that are damaged.
- Replacing your tiles
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