How Can I Clean My Polycarbonate Conservatory Roof
Before you get all the cleaning equipment you need to start the job, you first need to take stock of the material your roof is made from.
Most modern conservatories are mostly made from glass and/or uPVC, but there are still a few conservatory roofs made from polycarbonate. The great thing about polycarbonate roofs is that they are much less likely to chip or crack than glass panels.
Although, youd never intend to damage your own roof, accidents can still happen when cleaning but you neednt worry about that too much when cleaning a polycarbonate roof. However, you should always take your own safety into account when doing this task.
To clean a polycarbonate conservatory roof safely, you need to make sure you have a decent set of ladders. You should never climb on to a conservatory roof irrespective as to whether its made from polycarbonate or glass.
Obviously, conservatory roofs are not made to bear much weight, so even if you have ladders we wouldnt encourage leaning on the polycarbonate panels either. Stick to an extendable brush and warm water.
Once the job is done, make sure you check your guttering for any debris. You dont want to end up with a blockage after youve gone to all that trouble.
Cleaning The Exterior Of Your Lantern Roof
Cleaning the exterior of your roof lantern can tricky. We suggest using a sturdy ladder and to make sure that someone is standing at the bottom for extra security. When on the ladder, and near the roof lantern, its important that you watch your footing and never stand on or lean on the lantern. Take extra care and precaution and never attempt to clean your roof lantern if you feel hesitant about your safety. If you are worried about cleaning the exterior of your roof lantern, you could look into using a professional cleaning service.
The exterior frame
Clean the exterior frame with a non-abrasive sponge, glass cleaning products, and warm soapy water. Make sure that you never use harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners and try not to apply too much soap as this may spill onto the glass and tamper with the self-cleaning properties of the glass. Where possible, dry the roof lantern with a soft micro-fibre cloth for a clear, streak-free finish.
We recommend cleaning your roof lantern on an overcast, dull day, as generally speaking cleaning the glass on a warm sunny day will encourage the windows to dry more quickly and might cause unnecessary streaks.
What Is The Best Conservatory Roof Cleaning Brush
Conservatory roofs are made of glass and caution should be taken since a cleaner should never stand on glass since standing on glass can cause it to crack and shatter considering how fragile glass is. You need a long and soft-bristled brush . Telescopic brushes with water pumps are the best options.
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Self Cleaning Glass Roof Chesterfield
Nothing looks worse than a conservatory roof that is covered in dirt and has moss and algae growth, it reduces the light getting through to your living space and ruins the look of your beautiful conservatory. Conservatory roofs can be difficult to reach and are not always easy to clean. Unlike normal windows that are vertical, conservatory roofs are on a shallow incline so water and dirt do not drain as quickly and can be left behind, gradually building up over time and giving moss and algae a base to start growing. Fortunately, The Window People can offer a solution â self cleaning glass. Self-cleaning glass contains a special coating that quickly repels water so that it dries quickly and doesnât leave marks, in addition the coating also reacts with UV rays to loosen and break down any organic particles that start to form on the glass. Our Self Cleaning Glass system will dramatically reduce the build-up of dirt on your conservatory roof and while it will not completely remove the need to clean your roof, it will reduce the frequency of cleaning significantly.
- Modern Roofing Systems
- Energy Efficient
- Professionally Installed and Guaranteed
All of our work is protected by a 10 year insurance backed guarantee, giving you complete peace of mind that your investment in your home is protected and you will enjoy the improvement to your home, the increase in security and the energy savings for years to come.
Home Hacks To Clean Your Glass Roof
*This is a collaborative post.
With Christmas just around the corner, keeping your home clean and ready for the festive season is important. Youve got guests galore and lots of evenings where you might be hosting a buffet or throwing a dinner party in your home. An area that is commonly ignored in the home is the roof of your conservatory or on a lantern roof in your Exeter home.
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Use A Telescopic Brush
Getting up onto the roof of the conservatory or lantern may not be possible without the aid of a ladder. So, if youre not able to, a telescopic brush can work well in helping you reach the roofing, without having to really see what youre doing. These brushes have strong bristles that will work to rub away the dirt but wont scratch the glass. The brushes usually extend to, and so it makes reaching those areas higher up, a lot easier than having to stretch and potentially hurt yourself in the process.
Choose The Correct Cleaning Tool
Image credit: Nick Pope/Future
This is the first and by far the most important step when cleaning a conservatory roof. Even if youve got a small conservatory, the roof outside is still likely to be hard to reach with ordinary window-cleaning tools.
You will more than likely need a telescopic brush to access those hard-to-reach areas. Some have built-in water sprayers which help to ensure that the entire glass surface of your roof is left spotless, recommends Thomas ORourke, Editor at Horticulture.co.uk.
With larger, taller conservatories, even a telescopic tool may not be long enough, so a step ladder may also come in handy you should avoid any situation in which youre applying pressure to the glass panes of your conservatory.
If the cleaning feels awkward and unsteady in any way, you could injure yourself or damage the glass. A combination of a ladder and telescopic cleaning brush or sponge should give you enough room to clean comfortably.
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How To Clean The Conservatory Windows & Upvc Frames
Conservatory maintenance goes beyond the roof. A properly maintained conservatory requires a fresh window and squeaky clean exterior if youre to get the most enjoyment out of it.
In order to clean the windows and exterior frame of conservatory, start by cleaning off any dirt or debris from the surrounding area.
Next grab a damp cloth or squeegee and get started on the conservatory window.
Those who clean conservatories for a living might use specialised uPVC cleaning products to clean the windows, but most people will be happy with just a clean, damp cloth although as mentioned in the previous section some uPVC cleaning solution can also help in preventing more build up.
Once youve clean the windows and exterior frame of your conservatory, its time to move on to the interior of the conservatory.
How Can Algae Be Removed From Conservatory Roof
Algae and moss can often build up on your conservatory roof, which can make it look unattractive and when bad weather hits, get dislodged and clog up guttering and potentially lead to links and dirty water coming through your roof.
Cleaning your conservatory roof of stubborn algae and moss can seem like a big task, but can actually be pretty easy and quick.
All you need to do is apply a moss treatment or 50:50 mix of bleach and water, making sure not to use bleach on glass.
Let it rest for 15 20 mines and then use a damp soft brush to scrub the algae away. If its still stuck on, or you have a larger area clean, a pressure washer on a low setting should easily do the job.
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What Is Active Blue Glass
Pilkington Activ Blue is an on-line coated body-tinted, self-cleaning and medium performance solar control glass, in an attractive blue colour. The unique blue colour helps to keep internal temperatures cool whilst still maintaining excellent light transmittance, low light reflection and high energy absorption.
Garelick 89600 Roof Brush
This an 18â wide hardwood ash brush head with 2 palmyra bristles, 1 angled tube neck and 2 aluminum braces. It is by far the most popular and most sought roof brush on the internet.
It is best for general light-weight dirt and debris on roofs. You can use it to get clean off leaves, pine cones and needles that collect on roofs
Can also be used for lite snowfall removal, satellite dishes, solar panels, and shake roofs. It is compatible with 1â³ round diameter roof rake extension poles that use a snap-button pole connections.
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How Do You Clean A Glass Roof
Cleaning Method Use lukewarm water and your chosen glass cleaner to remove any visible dirt or debris. It is preferred by some people to mix vinegar with lukewarm water for better performance. Strong or highly reactive chemicals should never be used for cleaning, irrespective of the stains observed on the glass roof.
Conservatory Roof Cleaning Equipment
To tackle the cleaning job required for a conservatory roof, youre going to need to get your hands on the right equipment.
A decent conservatory roof cleaning kit will usually consist of a telescopic extendable wash brush, a bucket of warm soapy water and a sturdy step ladder. That is literally all you need.
Obviously, you might want to add things to your ensemble depending on what sort of job you have on your hands but you really dont need to push the boat out in terms of cost when it comes to a normal conservatory roof cleaning exercise.
If youre giving the conservatory a fairly rigorous wash from the outside, you might want to use a pressure washer, or garden hose to rinse the roof properly.
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Cleaning The Conservatory Roof
Conservatory roofs are not designed to be load bearing. Do not try to stand, walk or crawl along them, conservatory roofs and glass panels are not designed to stand on! If need be you can get crawl boards and place them over the glazing bars, but this can be dangerous, so is best avoided wherever possible.
The safest way to clean your conservatory roof is using a telescopic brush and a ladder. In most cases some hot soapy water will aid cleaning. Once youre done with the brush, make sure you rinse the roof off, with a pressure washer or a garden hose. Please note that the ridge a conservatory is often ventilated so jetting water around this area may well cause the conservatory to leak. The ridge capping over-laps to prevent water from entering this area. This is usually the same with the wall-plate of a lean-to style conservatory.
S To Clean A Galvanized Metal Roof With Power Washer Method
1. Turn off power source to the roof or hot water heater, etc.
2. Ensure sufficient pressure washer supply with area marked out at least 5-feet from edge for safety of material and persons involved in cleaning process
3. Always work from a ladder as close as possible to the surface being cleaned is crucial for safety reasons.
4. Always use high-pressure washer nozzle of a 40-degree tip for exterior cleaning of galvanized metal roofing or gutters to avoid damaging the metal surface while removing dirt and debris.
Running water at this pressure will be strong enough to cut through the dirt and grime without compromising the integrity of your roofing system.
5. Start at the bottom edge of the roof by moving across to avoid missing areas.
6. Always use an S pattern to move back and forth, rather than circular motions over your metal building material. The latter can cause damage as you rub over it continuously.
7. Work your way up the roof to avoid back strain and potential injuries to your feet, legs, hips, and spine. Always opt for a stable ladder to keep you safe while working on the roof at an angle.
8. Switch off pressure washer whenever moving to another area or height of your roofing system.
9. Wait a couple of hours after pressure washing to allow your roofing system to dry before going on the roof again.
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How To Clean A Polycarbonate Conservatory Roof
A polycarbonate roof can be easier to clean than glass or other types of roofs as all you need is a bucket of soapy water, a cloth or squeegee and telescopic brush for the harder to reach areas. A lot of new conservatories, even ones in more historical styles like the Victorian conservatories, are made from glass and uPVC, but polycarbonate roofs can still be a good option when it comes down to maintenance like cleaning as they dont chip or crack nearly as easily as some of the other materials.
Once you have your equipment ready, you simply clean the conservatory roof panels by dipping your cloth or squeegee into the soapy water and removing any debris from it. You can use a telescopic brush to clean the roof gutters and other hard to reach areas.
Best Way To Clean Your Glass Roof
Cleanliness isnt a choice, its a necessity for living a healthy lifestyle. There are many health hazards recorded as a result of having a dirty environment, most of which might have been avoided if only a normal cleaning routine had been in practice. The benefits of having a clean environment, whether in the house or outside in the garden have been shown to be numerous. Adequate cleaning of the house in its entirety reduces the risk of injuries which is common when household objects like toys and tools arent tidied away, its also shown to reduce the effects of allergies, keep pest infestation to a minimum, and improve safety.
The method you will use to clean will all depend on the size of the area and what you intend to clean.
Glass is a common material throughout many homes and offices. Glass roofs, however, require a bit more maintenance than your average mirror or window. Consequently, many homeowners have invested in self-cleaning glass which lessens the necessity of regularly utilizing poles, cleaners, and squeegees during sanitation.
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Roof Pressure Washing Vs Soft Washing
After a roof inspection, Glass Geeks will decide on the most appropriate pressure washing technique for your roof power washing or soft washing.
Glass Geeks expertise and technique helps ensure that the surface integrity of your roof shingles and solar panels are perfectly cleaned and intact.
Using Power Washing or Pressure Washing can damage the shingles and compromise the integrity of your roof. So beware of the roof cleaning contractors you use and make sure you check their online reviews and years in operation.
Another Option Is Pressure Washing
Pressure washing is an excellent way to remove the green growth, moss and general dirt that can accumulate on your galvanized metal roof.
However, you should always start by brushing off any loose debris before pressure washing.
You will need to use a high-pressure washer nozzle at least 40 degrees in tip measurement to clean your roof properly.
This will ensure that you do not damage the surface of your roofing material which can be an issue if you use overly aggressive pressure washer techniques.
The pressure washer will remove most of the grime and dirt on your roof, but it may not be able to get rid of all of it.
That is why you should always follow up with a power wash after using a pressure washer so that any stubborn spots can be easily removed.
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Cleaning Polycarbonate Roof Panels
If youre trying to clean the panels of a polycarbonate roof then its important to make sure that you arent going to damage the panels. Although polycarbonate roof panels are generally made to be tougher and more resistant than standard glass panels, they can become scratched more easily. Taking extra care when cleaning polycarbonate panels will make sure that you arent left with horrible scratches that will ruin the look of your conservatory roof.
Selecting A Pressure Washer
If you already own one, use it. For those thinking about a pressure washer, you dont need high pressure for this job. Any unit that has 1500 PSI or better will work fine. For me, I only considered an electric pressure washer. I avoid gasoline tools as I hate to deal with gas, oil, warmup time, noise, and various adjustments needed to make it work.
Other considerations include:
Your needs and what you are willing to pay are likely different than mine. I ended up getting an electric Briggs & Stratton model 20681. It uses an induction motor, is fairly compact, and has a detergent reservoir. Other makes I considered included washers from Greenworks, Karcher, Stanley, and SunJoe.
Im happy with the Briggs, but the supplied hose is 15mm on one end that connects with the washer, while the other end is 14mm. If you get it backward, as I did at first, it leaks like a sieve! The threads are the same for M22 14mm and 15mm connections- its the inner connection that has a different size.
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How Long Does Self Cleaning Glass Last
Compare Pilkington self-cleaning glass to ordinary glass for a better understanding. The coating on Pilkington Activ self-cleaning glass products needs approximately 5 7 days to energise. After this period it continues to work even on cloudy days and during the night, washing away dirt whenever it rains.
