3 interesting facts about residential roof cleaning

Home maintenance chores, particularly with gutter and roof cleaning, are best done regularly to ensure lasting comfort and your home’s overall longevity. Since we barely look at the condition of our roofs, it’s easy to forget about undergoing roof maintenance—up until it exhibits problems that are too difficult to ignore. 

To prevent such a scenario from happening, take note of these three quick facts about residential roof cleaning:

1. Roof cleaning is a job for professionals 
   

To save on maintenance costs, it makes sense to try cleaning your roof yourself. However, the process isn’t as simple as climbing up the roof with a pressure washer and hosing everything within sight! The very act of using a ladder to go up to your roof and balancing yourself while trying to operate a pressure washer can cause accidents and potentially lead to injuries. 

Another vital thing to note is that older roofs do not play well with pressure washing. Older roofs may have weak spots that will not do well with pressure washing. The strong jet of water sprayed by pressure washers can loosen screws and cause excessive wear on old shingles. It’s even possible to loosen old shingles with enough pressure and blow them off, causing unnecessary damage. 

Professional roof cleaning services are experienced and knowledgeable enough to tell if a roof pressure wash is appropriate, or if a gentler approach, such as a soft wash, will do better. 

1. Roof maintenance schedules may vary
   

How often to maintain your roof depends largely on your property location. In more temperate climates, most roof cleaning services recommend checking the roof after every season to ensure that it is prepared for weather changes. 

In hotter climates that typically do not experience harsh winters, it’s tempting to assume that you can get away with checking your roof only once or twice a year. However, if your property is located near a beachfront, roof maintenance is even more critical, as the air’s salinity can accelerate rust formation. 

As you may well know, rust is never good news for your roof. As such, it’s good practice to check your roof for rust and other growth once or twice a month for any rust formation signs. If your roof is relatively new, have it thoroughly inspected by professional roof cleaning services at least once every five years!

1. Moss and algae growth is more dangerous than you think 
   

Moss and algae are known to grow wherever ideal conditions exist. Unfortunately for you and your roof, moss and algae only need constant oxygen and moisture supply to grow. 

If you see moss and algae growing on your roof, make sure to deal with it immediately. These retain significant amounts of moisture, which can cause your roof shingles and roofing paper to crumble and tear over time. These gaps will eventually lead to water leaks—causing even bigger and costlier damages!

It’s worth noting that algae and moss are living things, which means that as long as ideal conditions exist, they will continue to grow and cause more damage.

Conclusion 

While the roof cleaning process might look straightforward, it’s essential to understand that well-meaning but misguided efforts can seriously cause more damage to your roof. To prevent unnecessary damage, you should keep a watchful eye on your roof—but leave the roof maintenance tasks to professional roof cleaning services. 

Are you looking for residential power washing services in Houston? Kingwood All Star Window & Power Washing offers professional and reliable roof cleaning services in Kingwood, Houston. We set ourselves apart from the rest with our excellent service. Contact us today to get your free quote!

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