Why You Should Not DIY When It Comes to Roof Cleaning?

Roof cleaning is an unavoidable activity for every homeowner in Metro Vancouver. Though you may hope to save a few dollars by cleaning your roof yourself, there are several reasons why this is not a good idea. Walking on tiles during the cleaning process can cause tiles to crack and break, particularly if this is done when the tiles are wet. Much like wet flooring in your home, wet tiles are very slippery and can make you much more susceptible to falling.

Professional roof cleaners are fully insured under Workers’ Compensation Insurance in British Columbia. This insurance protects the cleaning company and you (the homeowner) in the event an accident should occur when on the job. However, professional roof cleaning companies also make certain their employees are properly trained to ensure your roof gets clean without any damage to your property or to the roof cleaners during the cleaning process.

If you opt to hire a local handyman for this task, the person may be able to do a competent job but is unlikely to carry any insurance in case something goes wrong. In the event of an accident or injury, you, as the homeowner, are liable. It’s not worth the financial risk for the sake of saving a few dollars on roof cleaning.

Inexperienced roof cleaners may also utilize equipment that further damages your roof. If the damage is not disclosed to you, the roof could deteriorate even further, making a roof replacement necessary. Broken tiles can lead to leaking roofs if not repaired swiftly. At Shiny Power Wash, we have seen our fair share of problems with homes that are improperly cleaned in Vancouver causing visible damage and long term issues.

Why Is It a Bad Idea for Me to Power Wash a Roof?

At first consideration, using a power washer to clean your roof seems like a great idea. After all, what could be better than a powerful stream of water to remove dirt, moss, lichen, algae, and other debris from the top of your roof? While it is true that power washing will get rid of all of these items, it is also powerful enough to cause great harm to your roof tiles in the process. In addition to this, many roofs are backed by warranties that clearly state your warranty will be voided if you attempt to clean your roof with a power washer.

Power washers can also yield very inconsistent results. Some of the problems you could encounter if choosing to power wash your roof yourself are:

• Pressure regulation
  If the power washer’s pressure is not properly regulated, the force of the water spray could be too strong, causing damage to your roof.

• Nozzle size
  The correct nozzle size must be used. Failure to utilize the appropriate nozzle impacts the amount and intensity of the water which could cause tiles to crack or break.

• Positioning of the spray
  To properly clean a roof, the water should be directed from the top of the roof down, not vice versa.

• Water temperature
  Water that is too hot can cause harm to the surface of the roof.

In addition to the problems associated with power washer inconsistencies, any features in the roof itself such as skylights, chimneys, solar panels, etc can be negatively impacted by power washing. Powerful water sprays can cause sealants to weaken, leading to leaks in the roof.

There are several different problems you may encounter if you decide to power wash your roof yourself. Among the most commonly seen issues are:

• Roof leaks
  
• Removal of grit on shingles
  
• Reduced longevity
  
• Loosening of adhesive between shingles
  
• Incomplete removal of moss, algae, fungus, or other plant growth
  
• Damaged underlays or roofing materials
  
• Cracks in cement, clay, tiles, slate, or even metal roofing

Why Should I hire a Professional Roof Cleaner?

Having your roof cleaned is a task that must be done in order to ensure your roof lives up to its promised life expectancy. The best thing you can do for your roof and for yourself is to hire professional roof cleaners to handle this job for you.

Among the benefits you gain from hiring a professional roof cleaning in Vancouver to clean your roof for you are:

• You will save time and money.
  Cleaning your roof is a big job. No one wants to spend their weekend scraping lichen off roof tiles under the hot summer sun, or worse, in the rain. Since most homeowners don’t own the correct equipment to get their roof clean without causing it any damage, a DIY attempt may result in harm to your roof that cannot be repaired. Save yourself time and money and hire the professionals!

• You will enjoy greater energy efficiency.
  Roof shingles that are covered with moss, lichen, and other plant matter trap heat inside your home. This increases your costs to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, meaning your house is not operating as efficiently as it could. Having a professional team clean your roof typically results in lowered energy costs since air is vented appropriately outside your home.

• You won’t have to worry about algae and moss distribution.
  Using a power washer to clean your roof on your own will lead to lichen, algae, and moss relocating to new spots in your yard, on the outside of your home, and to further reaches of your roof. Instead of getting rid of this undesirable plant matter, you just redistribute it to new locales in which to thrive. Professional roof cleaners utilize the correct tools to remove these items from your roof safely and completely. At Shiny Power Wash, we provide a standard Three-Year Moss Free Warranty for every roof we clean.

• Your roof will not be damaged.
  Professional roofers have been trained to clean your roof without causing any damage to it. In addition to this, these skilled professionals can also make any necessary repairs to loosened bonds or cracked tiles to prevent minor problems from becoming major roof leaks.

Thinking it’s time to have your roof cleaned? Let Shiny Power Wash help. We provide roof cleaning & moss control in the Metro Vancouver area. (Surrey, Langley, Coquitlam, Burnaby, Vancouver City, Richmond, Delta, North Vancouver, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, West Vancouver, Port Moody, Pitt Meadows, and Abbotsford)

Contact our office now at 604-802-9274 or info@shinypowerwash.ca to schedule your appointment. We look forward to serving you!

This article is for reference only, the article does not represent Shiny Power Wash’s housing maintenance advice nor how we clean your property. Each building’s condition is different and Shiny Power Wash provides the best practice that fits your goal.

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!