Roof Cleaning and Maintenance – How to Get Your Roof Cleaned Properly?

Taking care of your roof is an important part of regular maintenance for your home, particularly if you live in Vancouver, a city known for lots of rain. Moisture is the enemy of a roof, leading to any number of problems including:

• algae and moss,
• terrible aesthetics,
• increased risk of leaks and damage, and
• reduced life of the roof.

Cleaning your roof in Vancouver will help to keep it in tip top shape and prevent issues related to moisture from occurring. By taking the time to consistently clean your roof, your roof will have better longevity, saving you both money and hassle in the long run.

How Often Should I Clean My Roof?

It’s not difficult to tell when the outside of your home is due for some deep cleaning. However, since your roof is less visible to you unless you dig out a ladder and go for a climb, it is easy to overlook until issues become highly visible. Your roof does not require as much cleaning as the exterior of your house. However, it is important to note that rain will not get your shingles clean as many people assume. In fact, quite the opposite happens when it rains. Rain and wind cause debris to accumulate on your roof’s surface. This debris provides the ideal home for algae and moss to grow. You cannot take a passive approach to cleaning your roof. It’s best to hire a professional home cleaning company in Vancouver to get the job done.

Experts agree that your roof should be professionally cleaned every three to five years. Homes in exceptionally hot and humid climates such as the lower mainland that are prone to frequent rain or precipitation may need their roofs cleaned on a more frequent basis. 

Why Do I Need to Keep My Roof Cleaned? What Happens if I Don’t Clean My Roof?

As time wears on, your roof becomes a ripe ground for moss and algae. These organisms begin to grow on the tiles of the roof, leading to potential damage to its structural integrity. To help remove algae and moss from your roof, regular cleaning is important.

If you fail to clean your roof on a consistent basis, there are a number of problems you can run into. These include:

• Excess moisture
  When moss, algae, and other debris is allowed to accumulate on a roof’s surface, moisture is given the ideal vehicle in which to thrive. Moss naturally retains liquid, making the roof tiles heavier. When this happens, the roof is under great duress which can cause tiles to break. But in addition to this, moisture can leech through the tiles and into the home. Since the sun does little to help dry wet roof tiles, any plant life on the outside of the roof keeps moisture from penetrating completely but also ensures the tiles constantly remain wet. Even a sunny day is not enough to thoroughly dry the roof, causing accelerated deterioration and aging. If this situation is allowed to continue, the end result is the rotting of timber rafters. When this occurs, permanent damage is done to the roof.

• Damage to critical structural elements
  Moss not only adheres to roofing materials, it also grows well on the cement used to keep tiles in place. Among the places where moss likes to attach itself are all of the joints between ridge tiles, apex tiles, and the roof’s surface. When moss is permitted to grow in these areas, it weakens the bonds that support the roof, causing its structure to become compromised.

• Accelerated aging and reduced life of the roof
  Not properly cleaning the roof accelerates deterioration and decreases the life of the roof. This means you would have to do repairs more frequently or have to replace the roof altogether earlier than intended, significantly increasing the costs of maintaining your home. Keeping your roof professionally cleaned is the best way to save a lot of money from unexpected repairs.

• Terrible looks from the outside
  Having a moldy roof or a roof covered in algae makes a house look old and dated. Not only is this an eyesore for you and your neighbours, a roof that looks like it is falling apart reduces the overall value of your home.

• Clogged gutters
  Keeping your roof’s drainage system functioning optimally is an important component of roof maintenance. When debris accumulates, it can lead to blockages in your drains, leading to water careening along the sides of your home. When this happens, it leaves your home with unattractive stains, and in many cases, the walls within your home can also become wet.

Moss & Lichen Control is Important Especially in Wet Climates

To keep moss and lichen under control, prevention is the best course of action. There are a few things you can do to keep algae and moss buildup on your roof tiles to an absolute minimum. These include:

• Clean the roof regularly by a professional cleaning company
  There is no way to prevent all dirt, moss, or algae from beginning to grow on your roof. That is why it is important to take the time to clean it regularly to keep it from becoming out of control. The structural integrity of your roof will be preserved and its appearance will remain more attractive if you take the time to inspect the roof’s condition and do any cleaning that is necessary on a regular basis.

• Keep your roof properly maintained
  Performing regular roof inspections is critical to providing any repair work or maintenance needed to prevent structural damage. By doing consistent checks on your roof, you are able to provide proactive repairs such as replacing tiles that are damaged or cracked and cleaning anything that becomes covered with lichen, moss, or other types of debris.

• Add copper or zinc strips to your roof
  By adding copper or zinc strips to your roof, you add a layer of protection that keeps moss, algae, and lichen at bay. These metal strips are a great help in preventing these organisms from attaching to your roof as they retain chemicals that help to poison them, not only discouraging further growth but also actually killing any organic matter already present on the roof tiles.

If you already have a substantial amount of algae or moss on your roof, you might be wondering what you can do to get rid of it. Though pressure washing seems like the obvious solution to this problem, this route is not recommended because it can damage your roof. Home pressure washing is done with such tremendous force that it can cause harm to the grit formed on the outside of the shingles, weakening the tile and leaving it vulnerable to future damage. For regular cleaning of your roof, a gentle brushing followed by a treatment with an herbicide is the ideal course of action. Once the herbicide is in place, you will then rinse with garden hose or leave it to the rain.

Cleaning the Roof with Chemical Treatment

Professional roof washing companies use a number of different chemical products on the market to help remove algae and moss from roof tiles. Most of these chemical solutions are added directly to the roof through a spray.

Since most of these chemical solutions are harmful for other plants and should not be used near drinking water, the cleaning company will exercise caution when using them. At Shiny Power Wash, we use an environmentally friendly cleaning solution to clean your roof tiles.

Why Hire a Professional Company Like Shiny Power Wash for Roof Cleaning?

Though some homeowners like to go the DIY route when it comes to cleaning their roofs, this is one job that is best left to the professionals. Failure to clean your roof properly can lead to damage that will cost you a lot of money to fix.

Roofs that are not properly cared for and maintained see a dramatic decline in longevity. Unless appropriate maintenance is provided for your roof, you can expect to need to replace it entirely in half its life expectancy. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, it is important to do roof inspections once per year, performing any maintenance on an as needed basis. This approach will help unearth problems in the preliminary stages, helping you to see lowered costs for repairs and a better lifespan for your roof.

Cleaning your roof tiles and structural bonds is the most significant thing you can do to help your roof enjoy long life and to keep its appearance attractive. Attempting to do this yourself through the use of a high pressure washer and strong chemicals can damage your roof, the landscaping of your home, and even void the warranty provided with your roof.

Roof Cleaning and Moss Control in Vancouver

Thinking it’s time to get your roof professionally cleaned? Shiny Power Wash provides top notch roof cleaning, moss control and exterior cleaning in Metro Vancouver. Our company has been cleaning roofs and homes in the Greater Vancouver region for many years and earned great reviews. Shiny Power Wash is an owner operated business with a firm commitment to providing superior service and reasonable prices to our valued Vancouver customers. We clean your home with skill, patience, and consistency, giving you the confidence that the job is done right. For more information about Shiny Power Wash’s services, check out our 5 star reviews online or contact our friendly staff by phone at 604-802-9274 or by email at info@shinypowerwash.ca. We look forward to serving you!

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