Generally, getting your roof cleaned professionally is a great idea. It boosts your home’s curb appeal, highlights potential issues, and protects your roof from moss, algae, and lichens. However, you might want to avoid the urge to do the roof cleaning yourself. This can result in a leak, missing tiles, and blocked gutters. That’s why it’s super important to get the job done professionally.
Why Is Roof Cleaning Important?
It a Great Way to Prevent Ice Dams
Ice dams are those unreal pools of water that collect on a roof during winter. Here’s how it happens:
The snow melts and tries to roll off your roof, but it meets resistance along the way. And a blocked gutter is usually the main suspect. When this happens, ice forms at the edge of your roof, blocking water from flowing off. This pool of water can compromise the roof’s structure, resulting in multiple leaks. This is especially dangerous for older roofs as they may give in to the pressure.
You’ll Get Rid of Algae, Lichens, and Moss
Algae, moss, and lichens can reduce your roof’s lifespan considerably. And that is probably the worst nightmare for any homeowner. You risk spending $10,000 or more on a premature roof replacement, which you could have easily avoided with regular maintenance.
These natural elements can also cause wood rot. That’s because moss can hold water and divert moisture, leaving your roof deck susceptible to leaks that may compromise your roof’s integrity.
What Is the Worst That Could Happen During Roof Cleaning?
- Damage to the roofing material: a high-pressure washer can easily damage shingles and roof tiles. This could result in costly repairs, especially if it goes unnoticed for a while. Rain and melted snow can sip into the small crack, causing rot in a small portion of the roof. This area becomes soft and can give in to the slightest pressure, including impact from a rogue branch or even hail.
- Damage to pipe boots and vents: Anything that sticks out of your roof is at a high risk of damage during a roof cleaning exercise. A good cleaner will start by locating these features on your home, then go from there.
- Damage to landscaping: Some roof cleaning agents may be harmful to your precious plants, including trees. That’s why you want to have gutters to direct the greywater to a drain. Missing this crucial step could result in poisoned soil, and we all know how that goes.
I Understand the Risks, Now What?
Now you know why roof cleaning is important and the risks that come along with it. The next step is finding a great contractor for the job. Here are some of the things to consider when choosing one.
- Choose an experienced cleaner: Supporting new businesses is great and all, but you don’t want to be the first client for a “professional roof cleaner.” We’ve already discussed all the things that could go wrong, so you know why experience is a crucial ingredient. Check for previous clients on the company’s socials and look at how many years they’ve been in business. You can also find online reviews on Yelp and Google.
- Make Sure they have the right tools: A successful contractor will have everything needed to tackle complex projects. That includes commercial pressure washing machines, chemical pumps, and safety equipment. You can know this by asking the cleaner how they plan to do the job. Usually, this answer includes a mention of the best equipment the contractor has in their arsenal.
- Ensure they have soft wash services: You want to avoid using a high-pressure washing method on shingles. This method may cause damage to your roof, especially if it’s poorly done or very old. Instead, go for a service that has an adjustable pressure washer. That means they can reduce or increase the pressure as needed.
- Make sure the price is right: Some contractors will take advantage of unsuspecting clients. That’s why you need to consult your neighbors to gather intel on the average cost of roof cleaning in your area. The idea is to request quotes from several contractors before settling on one.
- Choose a local company: You want to engage a local company for a job like this. These people know the local rules and regulations and are within reach. That means you can find them in case of any problems after the job. Generally, local contractors care most about customer satisfaction, as they are looking for repeat business.