How to Clean Roof Shingles Safely and Effectively?

The roof over your head is the most significant part of your home’s structure, yet it is also one of the most underappreciated, at least when it comes to maintenance. Shingles grow algae, moss, and lichen over the years, and with them, dirt, too — all of which can impact the way shingles look and the way they perform for you, and for the long term. A little-known fact is that dirty roof shingles can prematurely wear out the roof of your house and decrease the life of your roof.

Keep reading while we discuss why and how to clean your roof shingles, and why you may want to think about employing a pro to do the job, such as Freedom Roofing Group.

Why Cleaning Roof Shingles Matters

Your roof shingles are there to keep the not-so-nice weather outside – and they’d like to keep the inside as nice as possible. If you’re not on the phone getting that touch-up booked, perhaps you are cutting things closer than you realize. Here’s what can happen:

If you have unusual dark streaks on your roof, you might have algae. Moss will hold water, which can accelerate shingle and wood rot below.

• Shingles: Curling or cracking can result from shingles becoming drenched, which can weaken the structure of a roof.
• Degraded Lifestyle: A top-quality house top will not do much good if it is not maintained on schedule and will outlive the helpful life of the rooftop.
• Energy Inefficiency: Shingles retain more heat, and you’re AC will be forced to run with greater efficiency.
• Insurance Matters: Certain insurers will deny a claim or raise rates if you’ve been turning a blind eye to your roof.

In simpler terms, learning how to clean roof shingles can extend the life of your roof and protect your home from damage and costly repairs.

When Is It Time To Clean Roof Shingles?

It’s simply about timing. 99% of the public will have their roof cleaned every 1-2 years, possibly shorter or longer if you live in a more tropical or less tropical area, accordingly:

You can wish to clean in shady or damp areas about once a year to prevent the invasion of moss or algae.

That debris could also have to be cleared away from the trees on your roof.

And if you are selling your home, a sparkling roof will increase your home’s curb appeal and price.

You will be able to identify, long before that happens, the discoloration, the patches of moss, the loss of granules, and you can decide when you want to act, or whether you want to act at all.

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Roof Shingle Cleaning: Do It Yourself Or Call A Professional?

Which has most homeowners scratching their heads: Should they try to do it themselves or make the call for professional service? The answer has a lot to do with safety, price, and effectiveness.

Everything You Need to Know: Advantages and Disadvantages of Cleaning Your Roof by Yourself.

Pros:

• Cost-effective upfront
• Convenient timing

Cons:

• Dare, and high risk, both up and down!
• Shingles can be ruined by incorrect tools or cleaning solutions

Inconsistent results

If you are a dyed-in-the-wool handmade person, you had better make sure you know how to clean roof shingles without having them fade.

How to Clean Roof Shingles Yourself – Step-by-Step Instructions

If you’re doing it yourself, here’s how you might try to limit the damage:

Use the Right Tools

Sweep with a soft-bristled brush or wash down with garden water (pressure washing is not recommended).

Ladder with stabilizers

Roof cleaning product (Generally a non-mortar one, such as Sodium percarbonate-based)

Choose the Right Weather

Things you’ll need to paint: Aim for a dry, overcast day with 48 hours of no rain in the forecast.

Prepare the Area

Cover landscaping with plastic tarps

Unhook the downspouts to help keep chemicals out of the drain.

Wear non-slip footwear and protective gear!

Apply the Cleaning Solution

Spray down to reduce streaking

Let it skyrocket work for 15-20 minutes

Gently Rinse and Remove Growth

Use a low-pressure garden hose

Oh, and you’ll want to avoid pressing too hard — you could scrape off the granules on your shingles.

Rinse Thoroughly and Inspect

It requires scutching of the entire trash.

Inspect fabric for wear, rot, or damage.

Though best intentions, etc., and the do-it-yourselfful are rarely to the penny. This is where it pays to enlist the help of experts, such as Freedom Roofing Group.

Why Hire Freedom Roofing Group For De-Mossing Your Roof?

We know at Freedom Roofing Group that learning. There is both an easy and a hard way to learn how to clean roof shingles. Our certified technicians and knowledgeable customer service department focus on what could be potential problem areas for your roof before they become an issue, using manufacturer-recommended processes to protect the integrity of your roof and your investment.

Here’s what sets us apart:

Soft Wash Systems: We use mild, biodegradable chemicals to kill off algae, not to harm shingles or void out warranties.

Licensed and Insured: Our team is fully insured for your peace of mind.

Most importantly, though, safety: We have professional safety, scaffolding, and roofing equipment to ensure that your house and our men are safe from what could be fatal falls.

Inspection: We’ll give your roof a comprehensive inspection and have it looking like new.

Custom Services: You’re Different and We Want to Help You. Special Service for our Residential and Commercial clients.Roof cleaning shingles – errors you must avoid

If you do decide to clean your roof, you want to make sure you avoid the mistake of these damaging actions:

Pressure (power) washing: This removes a tile shingle’s protective granules and shortens its life.

Scratching with items: Your asphalt shingles are fairly thin and will wear to nothing in a hurry.

Lack of detecting hidden damage: Without a thorough inspection, you may not detect broader issues, for example, leaks within a home or when underlayment or subflooring is rotting.

Too much bleach: Even though it’s a workhorse, too much bleach can kill the plants around it (and you) and corrode materials.

As a rule of thumb, perhaps, it is smart to listen to the experts. Keeping up those shingles is a cinch when you choose Freedom Roofing Group.

How to Have Cleaner, Longer Lasting Shingles

Now that you know how to clean roof shingles and have had your shingles inspected regularly, here are a few things you can do to help ensure your roof shingles don’t look like they’re past their prime prematurely:

Strips of zinc or copper: These metals will prevent algae and moss from growing.

You tick the yard boxes one by one. Peering into the bushier parts of the backyard, I could see big condo associations full of leaves and, overhung by trees that offered a lot of “shade,” but also had plenty of leaves to drop on something as compacted as their roofs.

Regularly clean your gutters: If gutters become blocked with sticks and leaves, they can become dam-like and hold water around the roofline.

Protect your attic with proper ventilation: An adequately ventilated attic can keep the underside of shingles dry and help them last longer, too.

These little things can make a tremendous difference in the life of your roof and keeping someone out to have your roof cleaned.

 

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Is Roof Cleaning an Insurance Claim?

Protect Your Home’s St. Louis Roof. Homeowner’s insurance typically does not cover simple roof maintenance like regular St. Louis roof cleaning. But ignoring it could result in some very real issues that remove you from the roster of those who are covered. Not only does regular professional cleaning prove you are a good pet owner, but if there is ever a problem down the line, you will have a stronger argument.

Conclusion

And a battle with them is to discover how to clean roof shingles — in a way that’s safe, effective, and does not give away your age by damaging your roof while leaning over it! DIY remedies may be tempting, but they’d merely be unreliable and dangerous in the extreme sense.

Freedom Roofing Group is the name to remember for long-lasting, maintenance-free products. We’re not just cleaning another roof — we’re cleaning your roof, making it as perfect as if it were our own, providing the same high premium level of care and attention to quality that we’d use when cleaning our own homes.

Ready To Rejuvenate Your Roof?

Call Freedom Roofing Group now for the entire variety of roof cleaning services and inspections. Get those estimates and inspections for roof cleaning. For all of your siding rinse needs, contact Freedom Roofing Group. Your roof needs to shine again.

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