Roof Cleaning Summerville SC involves removing algae, mold, mildew, lichen, and moss from roofs. It also involves cleaning oxidation on metal roofs. Dirty roofs can be an eyesore and decrease the value of your home. They can also cause costly problems for the rest of your house. One of the biggest signs that your roof is due for cleaning is black streaks. Other indications include a musty odor and high utility bills.
You can’t walk far in many neighborhoods without seeing a home with a roof covered in moss and algae. While it may be easy to overlook these unsightly growths, they can have severe impacts on the residential roofing system. Fortunately, a little education can help you identify these growths and prevent them from harming your home.
Black streaks on your roof are likely colonies of blue-green algae, while green or brown stains are most likely moss. It’s important to note the difference between these two since moss and algae cause very different issues for your roof.
Algae growth can be removed by a simple scrub brush ($3-$15, The Home Depot) and a diluted bleach solution (50 percent water to 50 percent chlorine bleach). It’s important to avoid using a pressure washer to clean your roof as it could loosen and damage shingles. Instead, opt for a soft wash roof cleaning method, which uses a low-pressure sprayer to apply a solution of bleach and water. After allowing the solution to dwell on the roof for about 15 minutes, the stains are rinsed off with clean water.
The more difficult issue to deal with is moss. While moss isn’t as dangerous as mold, it will eat away at the outer layer of your roof and allow moisture to penetrate. Over time, this can lead to shingle damage, wood rot, and roof leaks. To remove moss, you can use a specialized scrub brush, a pressure washer with a low-pressure setting, or a chemical moss removal product that is available from most hardware stores.
Moss growth is also more common in areas that receive a lot of shade. To prevent regrowth, trim any branches hanging over your roof and keep gutters free of debris. It’s also a good idea to place strips of zinc ($41, The Home Depot) or zinc-coated metal flashing near the peak of your roof. When it rains, these strips leach out moss-retardant zinc molecules onto the surrounding roof surface, which helps to prevent new growth.
Moss can grow in between shingles, which can eventually cause them to curl and lift off the roof. This can lead to roof leaks and even structural damage in your home. It’s best to hire a professional to remove moss from your roof as soon as you notice it growing so that you don’t have to worry about the long-term effects.
Black Streaks
If you have dark stains or streaks on your roof, it’s likely caused by gloeocapsa magma, a hardy type of blue-green algae. This bacteria forms a black, pigmented outer coating to shield itself from UV rays and feeds on the limestone filling in shingles. Over time, the gloeocapsa magma can erode the protective granules in your shingles and make them dry and brittle. This can lead to rot, leaking, and mildew lichen growth, all of which can require costly roofing repairs or even roof replacement.
These spores are airborne, and they’re more likely to spread when they land on another surface covered by similar organisms. This is why it’s not uncommon for several homes in a neighborhood to have black streaks on their roofs. They can also be spread by animals who travel from one house to the next carrying the spores.
If left untreated, black streaks on your roof can damage your shingles, and they also can erode the granules that protect the shingles from UV rays. This can cause your shingles to age prematurely and leave the roof open to other contaminants like mold and mildew lichens.
Fortunately, you can avoid black streaks by getting your roof cleaned regularly by a professional. A trained and experienced roof cleaner can use an industry standard cleaning formula to remove the spores and prevent them from returning. A cleaning company should also know how to safely apply the treatment without damaging your plants under the roof or violating any of your home’s privacy policies.
Using a soft washing technique, these professionals can apply the treatment to your roof from the ground or even from inside your home. This method uses a lot less pressure than power or pressure washing, and it is safer for the shingles and other roofing materials. It’s also better for your landscaping, and it’s less likely to void any roofing warranties or homeowner insurance policies that you may have. When choosing a company to work on your roof, make sure they use this cleaning technique and an approved chemical solution.
Debris
It’s a common practice for homeowners to regularly clean debris off their roof. This includes things like dead flies and insects, leaves from trees that extend over the house, as well as twigs and branches that have fallen during storms or high winds. Removing these types of items helps to prevent them from building up, which can lead to leaks or even mold.
Debris can also damage the shingles or other materials of the roof. For example, if a tree limb lands on the roof, it can scrape or dent the surface, making it harder for rainwater to drain away from the home. This can also prevent the gutters from doing their job, which can cause water or flood damage to the interior of the house as well.
A professional crew that specializes in cleaning roofs will know how to safely remove all kinds of debris. They will use a soft brush or a blower to clear the debris, and they will also be careful about using chemicals near the house. If there are bushes or other plants around the roof, the cleaning crew will be sure to cover them or water them heavily so that the chemicals don’t destroy them.
The team will also have the proper equipment to tackle the job, including ladders that are rated for use on a roof and safety gear. They will also know how to properly use the tools, such as a pressure washer, to remove moss and algae from the roof without causing damage. They may also use a special chemical that is safe to use on shingle roofing, which will kill any remaining spores and help the shingles to repel moisture.
Keeping your roof free of debris can help to prolong its life and improve the appearance and value of your property as well. In addition, removing black streaks and moss growth on the roof can prevent them from spreading and potentially damaging other areas of your home. And if you ever plan to sell your house, a clean roof can be an important selling point that makes the home more attractive to potential buyers.
Pests
It’s not uncommon to see dark blue-green or black patches of algae dotting rooftops in our area. This type of growth is not only unsightly but also damaging to a roof’s surface. It causes the material to deteriorate and makes it more likely that shingles will be blown off in a strong storm. Regular roof cleaning removes the algae, moss and other microorganisms that can cause damage to your roof. It’s also a good idea to have your roof cleaned before you start selling your house because it will improve the overall look and increase your home’s value.
Another reason to have your roof regularly cleaned is because it will prevent pests from nesting in the area. The dirt and debris that accumulates in a dirty roof will attract pests, and if it gets too bad, these pests may start to invade the interior of your home. This is why it’s so important to have your roof and gutters cleaned by professionals.
Keeping your roof clean will also help you avoid the costs that are associated with a damaged roof. Water leaks are expensive to repair and can often lead to the replacement of entire sections of your roof. Regularly scheduled roof cleaning will prevent this and other costly repairs and extend the life of your roofing materials.
If your roof has been neglected, it’s important to hire a professional roof cleaning company as soon as possible to prevent the problem from getting worse. These companies use safe, non-pressure washing methods to get rid of dirt, stains, and other debris from your roof. They also remove lichen, moss, and mold, as well as oxidation from metal roofs.
Having your roof professionally cleaned is especially important if you live in an area that experiences frequent heavy rains or thunderstorms. The rainwater and wind can erode a dirty roof, causing it to become damaged or even collapse. In addition, a dirty roof is more attractive to pests like rats and birds, which can then contaminate the inside of your home. It is best to have your roof cleaned during the winter, when most pests are less active.
