With regular roof cleaning, homeowners can shield their roofing from the damage that dust, grime, and pollutants may cause. Experts advise professional roof cleaning, but many determined property owners still consider handling the task themselves.
Read on to learn what to keep in mind about your DIY roof cleaning project, especially the preventative measures to take before you wield a pressure washer.
Even Professional Roof Cleaning Isn’t Easy
You can accomplish several home maintenance tasks yourself. For instance, DIY gutter cleaning is relatively easy, whereas roof cleaning requires a lot more time, effort, and equipment. If you bring safety, potential damage, and injury into the equation, cleaning the roof is even more hazardous.
Even professionals take caution when cleaning a roof. It involves specialized equipment, cleaning solutions, and techniques to prevent permanent damage. It also requires safety protocols and plenty of patience to get into the hard-to-reach areas of the roof, siding, and gutters.
There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Solution
Your approach to cleaning your roof will differ depending on your roofing material. It also changes with the general state of the surface. The best way to determine how to clean it is a thorough inspection beforehand to identify problem areas and potential hazards.
Pressure Washing vs. Soft Washing
When it comes to DIY roof cleaning, should you use pressure washing or soft washing? Pressure or power washing involves a highly pressurized stream of water to eliminate dirt, dust, and other contaminants. However, soft washing is safer, relying on cleaning solutions and light rinsing to lift stains and kill moss, mildew, and algae without damaging the roofing material.
Choose the Right Cleaning Solution
While soft washing is better, getting the cleaning solution right is vital. Before picking your cleaning solution, ensure it is safe and suitable for your roofing’s surface type.
Several cleaning solutions on the market do more harm than good. Stay away from products that contain bleach. And always check how the solution could affect your water system and surrounding ecosystems.
Safety Measures
DIY roof cleaning exposes homeowners to multiple safety risks. Recommended precautions include the following:
- Invest in safety equipment for working at unsafe heights.
- Study the equipment’s manual so that you can wield pressurized water safely.
- Pressure wash with someone nearby in case of severe personal injuries.
Property Damage
Have you taken the proper precautions? If not, you could damage your roof and property or, worse, hurt someone nearby. For example, using the wrong cleaning solution can strip the protective coating from the roofing material, and too much pressure could weaken shingles to expose your home to water damage.
Opt for Professional Roof Cleaning Services
A roof can look its best with the right interventions from the right people. If you want a stunning roof, why not schedule a professional roof cleaning service to save yourself time, energy, damage repair costs, and personal risk of injury?
Contact Castle Window Cleaning & Power Washing at (203) 428-7019 today to learn more about our quality exterior cleaning solutions and request your free quote on our roof cleaning services in Fairfield and the surrounding areas.
