Cleaning Roof Shingles With Bleach
When you are thinking about having that nasty algae removed from your roof, consider hiring a professional someone who is used to using chemicals around high end landscape and will take care of your house as if it were their own. Great care should be taken when starting down the road of getting your roof cleaned, as the dangers of killing any landscaping are high if the person does not understand their chemicals capabilities and does not understand their rinse process completely.
After you inspect where the gutters exit and you confirm that they dont exit directly into any plants or trees, you can begin with the next part of the process. Chemical Ratios.
Since the most common form of algaecide used in the professional pressure washing industry is 12.5% Sodium Hypochlorite , the next few sections are going to explain exactly what chemical ratios you are going to want to use when cleaning roof shingles. The mixtures below are going to range from most concentrated to least concentrated and I will also explain why you would choose to use either.
Ps: Consumers are only going to be able to purchase bleach at the hardware store at 6.5%
So after you have your pool shock and water mixed in your garden sprayer, we are going to climb on the roof and start delivering the goods to this algae.
Using Tide To Kill Roof Moss Is A Bad Idea Some Bc Condo Owners Learned That The Hard Way
An estimated 100 kilograms of the detergent was sprinkled over some 120 rooftops. Soon after began what might be described as a suds-flood.
By Anthony A. DavisJune 22, 2021
In an effort to curb moss on the rooftops, a contractor sprinkled them with Tide the result was green spaces overrun with suds
Just after lunch on a Saturday in May, about 30 employees of Belfor Property Restoration, wearing hard hats and orange safety vests, headed to the rooftops of Sage at Auguston, a large townhouse complex in Abbotsford, B.C.
Three women watched from adjacent balconies as five boom lifts lined up along a lane hoisted some of the workers to the pitched, two-storey roofs other crew members walked through the picket-fenced yards of the complex, which is tucked into the verdant side of Sumas Mountain. From there, they climbed ladders and gently hosed down the rooftops with water. A vacuum truck intercepted the resulting runoff before it drained into a nearby forest.
The onlooking residents were in no mood to chat, though one volunteered a crisp response when asked how she was feeling about the cleanup: Stty.
Then, as it does about 174 days a year in Abbotsford, it rained, washing the detergent off the roofs, sluicing it down lanes and through three culverts that slope toward the forest and feed into nearby Clayburn Creek.
Soap on the rooftops of an Abbotsford housing complex
Hire A Roofing Company To Do The Job For You
As you can see, roof cleaning doesnt come without risks. Its easy to make mistakes when a homeowner lacks the training and experience to remove moss. Errors can do your roofing material more harm than good. They also put your life in danger .
We hope that this blog post has provided you with useful knowledge on roof maintenance.
Speaking of roof maintenance, our team at Straight Arrow Roofing offers roof cleaning services. We know that vegetation wreaks havoc on your roofing material .
If you want to learn more about the benefits of roof cleaning and our process, call us anytime at . Ready to hand over your roofing maintenance to the right professionals? Well provide you a FREE QUOTE.
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WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE TO SAY
Hardworking, super professional and accommodating plus more than fair prices considering the attention to detail was top notch . Highly recommend Straight Arrow Roofing to anyone needing their roof done. Could not be happier with the work done for us! Thanks Joel & team!
Manda TottenJuly 27, 2016
Great fast, courteous and professional service. We were very happy with the completion of our new roof. We can totally recommend these roofers. You wont regret it.
Rose Dinsmore HyattMarch 24, 2017
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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.
Why Shouldnt I Add A New Roof Over Moss
When you need a new roof, it may be tempting to add a second layer of shingles over your existing shingles. Doubling up your shingles can save time and expense on your roof replacement as your roofer doesnt need to remove and dispose of the old shingles. This strategy is convenient for homeowners because the replacement wont take as long or make as much of a mess. However, there are some circumstances where merely adding a new layer of shingles isnt a good idea.
For example, when you have significant moss growth on your roof, simply covering it up with new shingles isnt wise. Several potential problems may occur if your roofer simply adds a new roof over your existing, moss-covered roof. These potential problems include:
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How To Kill Moss With Household Ingredients
Living in a cool, moist climate often means moss. The green moss growing on your roof, walk and lawn is not actually harmful to those surfaces. However, the moss retains moisture, which promotes wood decay on shingles and makes a slippery surface on walks. While eliminating the factors that encourage moss growth helps prevent regrowth, removing the moss requires only a scrub brush, a putty knife, a few household ingredients and water.
What If The Moss Grows Back
If the moss does return, do not rely on harsh chemical treatments or dry spells to kill it. Chemical treatments may harm shingles as well as moss, creating a more significant problem. Dead moss must still be removed by hand, or it will impede the flow of water off the roof and create issues. It may cause standing water. It may also clog gutters or allow for leaks.
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Can You Clean An Asphalt Shingle Roof
You can clean an asphalt shingle roof, and you should if you notice any type of damage occurring on it. There are numerous products available to clean asphalt roofing the aisle that sells shingles at your local home reno store will also probably sell cleaning products.
Cleaning of asphalt shingles is primarily done via chemical means. Using brunt force to scrub or scrape shingles is not a good idea and will only exacerbate the wear on the shingle itself, shortening its lifespan more. There are several recommended cleaners, but using a bleach mixture is usually best.
Get A Sprayer And Mix Solution
A garden sprayer with a pump-action handle works well to apply the vinegar solution. A tall ladder will allow you to spray the entirety of the roof from the ladder without walking on the roof. If you need to get on the roof, you should use the appropriate fall arrest safety procedures and walk carefully.
To mix the bleach solution, simply dump your vinegar into the garden sprayer with about an ounce of dish soap.
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Cleaning An Asphalt Shingle Roof
Plan Ahead For Safety
Before you start, find someone who can help you with things like moving the ladder and cleaning equipment or bringing things to you. Having a helper reduces the risk of accidents. Have all your equipment and cleaning products ready before you start work.
To prevent falls, wear sturdy, non-slip shoes and, when possible, use a safety harness and rope tied to a tree or other sturdy object. Wear safety goggles to keep spray out of your eyes.
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Can I Use A Pressure Washer On A Metal Roof
The absolute very LAST technique you want to use on your metal roof is the strictly high pressure washing method with a high pressure tip and damaging pressure washer. A metal roof is very strong against many earthly elements but highly pressurized water or high pressurize anything is not recommended! In fact, pressure will not even do anything for you as far as cleaning the roof is concerned. A metal roof is constructed seamlessly or with screws and those screws have a rubber gasket and the high-end screws have a metal cap over the gasket for extra protection. Pressure Washing can damage these screws and expose the weak areas of your roof causing roof leaks in your metal. High pressure can also damage the finish on the roof as all roofs are made of different qualities, metal compositions, and more variables. The optimal amount of pressure you want to use when washing a roof is around 100-300 PSI and preferably HIGH-FLOW & LOW-PRESSURE. We consider HIGH-FLOW approximately 8 gallons per minute of water flow or greater.
Tips For Installing Zinc Or Copper Strips
When installing the metal strip its crucial that you do not use nails to hold it in place this will cause leakage when rain drips down along the nail and through the roof structure. Its also essential to ensure the zinc or copper strips are lying thin and as close to the roof as possible, to prevent warping. When warping occurs, the area of the roof beneath it does not get treated by the strips because instead of running directly down the roof, it runs along the strip to a less warped area.
Whichever method you choose, its important to look at other factors that cause moss growth and try to remove these. For example, trimming overhanging trees and bushes will remove shade which moss needs to grow, and moving any satellite dishes to areas that wont create shade. The more sunlight your roof is exposed to, the less shade and moisture will be present, so the less likely moss is going to grow.
Dont forget, for any roofing queries, questions or products our experts are here to help just give us a call on 01752 692 760.
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Do It Yourself And Save Big Bucks
Professional roof cleaners charge hundreds of dollars the bigger the roof, the more hundreds youll spend. And they have to repeat the cleaning every few years. If your roof slope isnt too steep and youre comfortable working on it, you can clean it yourself and save the dough.
Youll need a full-body harness, a garden sprayer, a garden hose and a nontoxic, noncorrosive roof-cleaning chemical. Some manufacturers sell a special tool applicator and rinsing tool, but if the staining isnt severe, you may not need them.
What Causes Moss On Roof
Moss grows well in cool, damp environments. So if moss is growing on your roof, its most likely you live in cooler areas of the country, or it can be growing in a section of your roof that doesnt receive much sunlight.
Research shows that moss growing on any roof surface is more severe on roof sections shaded or exposed to excellent weather conditions periodically. This may either be the presence or absence of much sunlight on a roof surface. When theres a combination of shade and cool moist on a roof surface, moss or lichens have a high chance of growing on it.
Moss growth on roofs can be drastic, and finding ways to tackle them before they grow too much is an essential factor to consider. Regular maintenance of your roof is a recommended remedy to handle the problem and eliminate it.
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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.
To 3 Cups Chlorine Bleach + 2 Gallons Of Water
This is also a recipe that you can make at home easily without too much hassle.
Requirements:
- Gloves
Procedure:
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What Causes Black Streaks On Roof Shingles
Diagnosing what treatment to use when roof cleaning is as simple as taking a walk through the property with a professional. A professional will be able to take a look into what is actually growing on your roof, and will know the correct application in order to treat the algae and the amount of time it will take to remove it.
Lets talk about the two types of algae we come in contact with on a daily basis.
How To Remove And Prevent Black Algae Stains On Asphalt Shingle Roofs
If you live in a humid area of the country, youve probably seen unsightly dark streaks on asphalt shingle roofs. Though often attributed to an accumulation of dirt, defective shingles, mold, or mildew the most common culprit is actually a blue-green algae known as Gloeocapsa Magma that is spread by airborne spores.
While algae growth does little harm to roofing, the stains dont help the overall appearance or resale value of your home.
You may also have noticed that algae stains are absent directly below the metal flashing around chimneys or roof vents. This is due to fact that copper and the zinc coating on galvanized sheet metal are toxic to algae. Every time it rains, trace amounts of metals are washed down the roof, inhibiting algae growth.
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Should You Remove Moss
When you get a roof replacement, you may want to have your roofers install the new roof over top of the old. In certain circumstances, this can help you save money. However, if your old roof has moss growth, can you still use this method?
You may need to deal with the moss before the full roof replacement. Your roofers will need to remove all the shingles on your old roof, or they may need to remove the largest chunks of moss with a pressure washer and then apply the new roof. It is only advisable to use a pressure washer because you no longer need to worry about the condition of the old roof. The new one will offer the protection your home needs.
Should You Clean Or Replace Your Roof
If you’re looking at your roof and thinking it looks a little worse for wear, it might just need a good cleaning. Sometimes, the buildup of algae and moss on a roof can make the shingles look like they are in worse condition than they really are. A professional roofing contractor can inspect your roof and talk to you about its condition. If they think that cleaning it is the best option, they can either do the work themselves or direct you to a reputable roof cleaning company.
If it does turn out that your roof needs replacement, your contractor might recommend shingles that contain copper or another material that helps to repel algae growth. A roofing pro can also give you tips on keeping your roof clean and how frequently to schedule cleanings.
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