The Truth About Roof Cleaning and Roof Algae

Roof Cleaning With a Pressure Washer | Is it Safe?

Many people are still confused about roof cleaning and whether or not it is safe to do on an asphalt shingle roof. The confusion comes from inexperienced bloggers and contractors trying to make money off of consumers. They are typically either selling inferior roof cleaning products or trying to drive traffic to a web page so they can sell ad space.

As a contractor, I do not benefit from telling you the truth. It may get me a few local jobs here and there but for someone reading this blog across the country, it does not benefit me at all. The truth about cleaning roofs is that it is safe and recommended by the shingle manufacturers but with guidelines. You can look it up yourself by doing a search online. They recommend the use of a bleach mix applied with low pressure to clean shingles suffering from roof algae. They produce the shingles, they know the material better than anyone else, so wouldn't it make sense to follow their recommendations? I think so.

Yet there are people out there that call themselves contractors writing articles and doing videos on roof cleaning and suggesting that it is safe to use a pressure washer. The shingle manufacturers like Owens Corning and GAF warn against the use of a pressure washer! Why anyone would go against what the shingle producers warn against is beyond me. Like I said before, they are just trying to increase traffic to their web pages so they can sell products or ad space and make money. A certain "ask the builder" blogger, among others are simply giving false information to consumers.

Would you do something harsh to your vehicle if a certified mechanic warned you against doing it? I don't think so but the problem is that consumers come across these bad information sites before they find a truthful one and then it is too late. The bottom line is never wash your asphalt shingle roof or allow anyone else to with a high pressure washer. The excessive pressure may not result in immediate visual damage but it will lessen the longevity of your roof. There is a much better way to rid a roof of mold, lichen, and algae and it is the way the shingle manufacturers recommend; low pressure.

The Benefits of Exterior Cleaning

Today more and more people are realizing the importance of keeping their home's exterior clean and maintained. It raises home values and also saves the homeowner money by stopping the damaging effects of dirt, mold, and mildew. Many sellers are beginning to see the benefits of putting a little money into their home's before listing them on the market.

It used to be that nobody wanted to put another dime into a house they were selling, they really didn't see the plus in it. They might dump all kinds of money into the home they were buying but not one dime into a house they were handing over to someone else. But today people are benefiting from sinking a little money into a home before selling it because it raises the value and will yield them more back out of it.

It most cases with exterior pressure washing, having the home washed and especially having the roof cleaned if it is suffering from roof algae, will give the homeowner their money back and then some. An exterior cleaning can raise the home value by 5-10 percent in some cases which will yield them back way more than they spent to have the house washed.

Another benefit is that it helps their house stand apart from the competition or all the other home's for sale in that price range. This can mean just because your roof or siding is nice and clean, your home could sell before the neighbors home. So there are many benefits to having your home's exterior cleaned during the time you live there and even if you are getting ready to list it.

Pressure Washing in Elkhart and Other Indiana Cities

When you are looking for a quality company for pressure washing Elkhart, you may not have to look too hard. If you were to search for pressure washing Elkhart you will find a company with quality service. All of your pressure washing needs can be taken care of from one company. They have many years of experience and have great reviews from past customers.

This pressure washing Elkhart company is local and cares about doing a good job and completing their jobs in a timely manner. They offer free estimates and written references. There is more to having a thriving company than just having good service. You will be sure that they will do a fantastic job on whatever you hire them to do, but you can also be sure that they will be respectful of any plants other vegetation while they are working.

Quality service, respect and professional staff are what you can count on when you hire the best pressure washing Elkhart company. They are not limited to their pressure washers either. This pressure washing Indiana company will do total deck restoration. They will clean your deck and add a quality sealer also. There is so much this company can do for you.

How Often Does a House Need Washed

How often a house needs to be washed depends on it's location. Climate definitely plays a major role in how often house washing needs to be done. Typically houses in the southern states need to be washed more often than northern houses. With a warmer climate and high humidity green algae, mold, and mildew will grow faster in the south.

A house that is close to a busy road, highway, or even an airport will need washed more often than a house that is not. Car emission and airplane emissions have to land somewhere and if your house is nearby it will collect this black residue and need cleaned more often.

Houses near water like a pond or lake are usually covered in bugs and spiders. Bug fecal does show up on vinyl siding and can be quite unsightly. Also, with cobwebs all over the house mosquitoes and other small insects are constantly getting caught in the webs and hanging all over the house. Houses near water could be washed every year even in the more northern states.

So how do you get more time out of your clean house? A wet wax can be applied to vinyl siding which will help it stay cleaner longer and will help with oxidation caused by the sun. Ask the house washing contractor about a wet wax. Also, after your house has been washed, you may think about having the perimeter sprayed for spiders to help deter them from climbing right back on the house and getting cobwebs all over it again. These are just a few things that may help. The important thing is to have your house cleaned as often as every year or two to help keep its value up.

The Life of a Deck Sealer Depends On The Deck Cleaning Results

Deck sealing can be a tedious task for most homeowners. Most do it yourselfers do not realize that the wood deck needs to be prepped and cleaned thoroughly before deck sealer can be applied. Deck cleaning is more than just wash the wood with water from a pressure washer. Actually most pressure washers, even the small homeowner type, will put out too much pressure which can easily scar, fur, and mark up the wood. These marks will be visible through the new deck sealer.

It will not matter what brand or type of deck sealer is applied to the deck nor how many years the deck sealer is claiming to last, if the wood is not cleaned properly the longevity of the sealer will be shortened significantly.

Deck cleaning is a matter of removing all the grey sun bleached wood fibers, dirt, mold, and old sealer (if present), and any other stains or debris on the deck. This all needs to be done with the proper chemicals so low pressure can be used. No more than 1000psi should be used to clean the wood or it can be damaged. Even at low pressure care must be taken to eradicate any wand marks during the wash process. After cleaning the deck and neutralizer is used to lower the ph level of the wood to make it more acidic and to open the pours to prepare for the new sealer. Most do it yourselfers will fall short of these important necessities. Some do not wash the wood at all but will just sweep the deck off and then apply and new sealer.

The number one reason a deck sealer fails is because the wood was not prepared correctly. These steps are as important to the life of the deck stain as any other key factor regardless of how many years the sealer claims to last. Hiring a professional deck cleaning and sealing company is the best choice, but do your homework and research to find a reputable deck cleaning company. Some fly by night and unethical companies won't follow the necessary steps either and a year later you won't be happy when your deck needs attention again.

Spread the Truth On Cleaning Roof Algae

There is a ton of confusion when speaking about unsightly black streaks on shingles. Maybe you have seen these black streaks on roofs, they usually first start to show on the north facing slopes of a roof. The north side has the prevailing amount of shade and moisture. Once the algae lands on the roof it does not go away. It will begin to feed on the shingles and will spread over time eventually taking over the whole roof. Roof cleaning is a great service to help with this problem of roof algae. When done properly, roof cleaning will restore the shingles appearance, increase curb appeal and home value, and will halt the damaging effects of the algae. The proper cleaning method is a low pressure chemical application that is recommended by the major shingle manufacturers such as Owens Corning. A power washer should not be used because the high pressure will damage the shingles. They also recommend a bleach based cleaner, it is safe to use on the roof and will kill the algae properly. No other chemical should be used according to the shingle manufacturers.
Not treating roof algae can lead to higher home and cooling costs and will deteriorate the roof. Roof algae can lessen the longevity of your roof because it does not allow the shingles to reflect heat like they need to. Years of life can be stole from the roof when algae is not dealt with. It is like anything else that is exposed to nature. For example, if vinyl is neglected it can also accumulate mold and algae and if left untreated it will lessen the longevity of the vinyl siding. Roof’s are no different, when they get infected by roof algae, they just need cleaned. It isn't rocket science but I am amazed at the number of homeowners and even roofing companies that are not aware of what roof algae streaks are.
I have heard all kinds of reasons of what these unsightly black stains are. I’ve heard it said they are water marks, rust from shingle nails, the felt paper showing through, shingle wear, and even tree sap. None of these are true! it is an airborne algae technically called Gloeocapsa Magma. It lands on roofs with no rhyme or reason, but once there it survives by feeding on nutrients in the shingles and it spreads down the roof by rain which creates the black streaks. It is no different than green mold on vinyl siding or mildew on a deck or concrete, it can be cleaned like anything else. Like noted earlier, the proper roof cleaners and cleaning methods are suggested by the major shingle manufacturers whom recognize roof algae as an ongoing problem. Educate your friends, family, and neighbors about this airborne algae because it can blow from roof to roof. This is why you’ll see many roof’s affected in some areas and no roofs affected in other areas. In the south where the climate is more apt to grow algae, roof’s are cleaned almost yearly. In the more northern states the algae is still a problem but once a roof is cleaned correctly it will stay clean for several years. But because roof cleaning is not as popular in the northern regions it seems that not many people know that it even exists nor what black streaks on roofs are. Please help spread the truth about black roof algae streaks and roof cleaning.

A Full Time Deck Staining Company for Warsaw, Indiana Homeowners

For the residents of Warsaw, Indiana the time is getting close for exterior home maintenance. Many homeowners will be out as the temperature rises, cleaning up the yard and freshening up the landscaping are some of the first projects Warsaw homeowners will tackle. Warmer weather means cookouts and hanging out in the yard after a long cold winter.

As the warm weather approaches so does deck staining season. For homeowners, deck staining Warsaw services are a great thing. Mowing, yard work, and even landscaping can be enjoyable for some homeowners, but cleaning the deck and staining it is something most want done, but just don't want to mess with it. That is where deck staining Warsaw companies can help homeowners.

Deck maintenance is important for the longevity of the deck. Water and sun damage can rot and decay the wood causing premature failure. Cleaning and maintaining the deck is key followed by coat of deck stain to protect from the elements. Finding a full time deck staining Warsaw company can be tough. So many part timers, painters, and handymen offer deck cleaning and staining service but it is not there full focus, therefore the quality can be less than what you might be expecting.

Find a full time pressure washing and deck staining Warsaw, IN company to get the quality that you expect. Deck restoration done right will save Warsaw, IN homeowners money down the road. A deck that is not prepped and restored correctly can actually cause costly future repairs and probably a redo of the entire deck. Your home and property are probably your largest investment, don't trust it to just anybody.