Most people do not pay much attention to their roofs until they start to leak or go to sell their homes and by then its too late and a professional will have to be called.
10 years ago the idea of cleaning your roof was unheard of, but today it is one of the fastest growing services around and Tyler from ToolNerds.com interviewed Chris from A Cleaner Choice, LLC a NewYork based roof cleaning and power washing company that specialize in treating and removing all forms of roof growth, from black streaks to moss, mold, and lichen.
Chris explained roof cleaning was always an issue down in the southeast states where the warm and moist weather allowed for dark streaks to overtake the roofs but that over the past 10-15 years the algae has spread into the Northeast with a vengeance.
He explained there are three things that they typically deal with, roof algae that is black streaking and dark patches of discoloration, roof moss that starts in a dime-sized ball and spreads into carpets, and roof lichen and as Chris puts it, it destroys roofs. Roof lichen is one of the most destructive things that can grow on a roof and strip 10+ years from the life of a shingle in a few short months. Chris explained that the way the lichen grows it pulls the granules from the shingle leaving bare the tar paper the shingle is made of and can cause the roof to fail.
Chris explained that by the time most customers can see the roof growth from the ground the entire roof is in infested and needs to be treated. We got into the many types of roof treatment options available from the DIY to the professional grade, and Chris explained the best treatment he has seen with quickest and lasting longing results is from a professional roof cleaner using a soft wash, low-pressure chemical style cleaning system, not a “shampoo” but an actual disinfectant. Chris explained that a good majority of the DIY over the counter roof cleaning products do work, but in most cases they take multiple applications, are hard to use and are just not as strong or effective as what professional cleaners use, as well as the safety concerns of getting on ladders and working/walking around in high places is a concern for the majority of people he speaks to.
He recommends that when searching for a roof cleaning professional:
1) Find a company who uses only a low-pressure soft wash style cleaning system that disinfects the roof surface
2) A company that provides at least a 5-year guarantee
3) Is fully insured with Auto, Business and Workers Compensation insurances
4) Has references
5) Holds at least 1 national certification from a trusted organization such as Soft Wash Systems, J Racenstein, PWNA, UAMCC, or RCIA
Avoid:
1) Power washing
2) Use of surface cleaners (large round disks used for power washing large areas)
3) Shampoos
4) Mechanically pulling or scrubing the growth
Chris also explained that one way to keep growth from starting or to help prevent regrowth is to have annual treatments by a roof cleaning service provider or by installing zinc strips across the roof starting from the ridgeline and every 4 to 6 feet down the roof to the edge of the roof face. That zinc works great but only for about 4 or so feet from the installed strip, so several strips have to be installed to get them to be effective.
Chris continued by explaining the causes of the roof growth into the Northeast are unknown, but some speculate this is due to the change in weather patterns as well as a change in the shingle manufacturing process has caused the issue. Either way, there is a significant issue that continues to get worse as the years go by and most homeowners are unaware this is as major of a concern as having the roof installed propertly.
If you liked this article and want more information about roof cleaning or DIY projects and tool reviews and tricks stop over to ToolNerds.com and ask me anything.
