How To Clean Roof Shingles?

The roof of your home is one of the most important aspects of safeguarding your investment in your house, yet one of the most commonly ignored things that you should be doing to make sure your roof keeps protecting you is also one of the simplest: keeping it clean. Over time, dirt and build-up from moss, algae, and other debris may accumulate on your roof, which will not only look shabby and unsightly but also may damage your roof. Knowing how to clean roof shingles the right way can keep the roof cleaner longer, increase your home’s curb appeal, and even prevent unexpected repairs in the future.

This guide isn’t just to cover the best way to clean shingles, but the possible hazards you confront when not using the right cleaning process, and when to call in pros like Florida Roofing and Gutters to get it done for you.

Why Cleaning Roof Shingles Matters

The Florida subtropical condition, being both hot and humid, is a perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew, and algae. Ungroomed, these creatures don’t just make your roof look dirty, they chew through shingles, breaking down the granules that protect the asphalt from the elements — and shortening the life of your shingles.

Other common issues include:

• Moss: Holds moisture that causes shingle rot.
• Clogged Gutters: Debris and leaves that slide away from dirty shingles may clog the gutters.
• Increasing Energy Costs: Dark algae streaks hold heat, and you can see an increase in your air conditioning bill as Florida summers are long and hot.

Your roof is not a fashion choice or an aesthetic choice; rather, it is a material decision to maximize your roof’s use life while upholding its form.

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The Risks of Improper Cleaning

But first, before you find out how to clean roof shingles, it is important for you to be aware that an inappropriate cleaning technique can obliterate years off the lifetime of your roof rather than add years to it! A high-pressure wash, for example, can remove protective granules that keep the shingle protected from the sun and damage. And harsh chemicals can do a number on the vegetation in your yard or void your warranty if you’ve got a new roof.

Homeowners should avoid:

• Pressure washing directly on shingles
• Bleach full-strength, strong acidic cleaners
• Scrubbing aggressively with hard brushes

You just want to make sure you clean it right and don’t damage it in the process.

The Best Way to Clean Roof Shingles

Luckily, there’s a safe and effective way to clean shingles, with a low-pressure wash and custom-created cleansers that’ve been made to kill and destroy moss and algae without harming your roof. Here’s a step-by-step overview:

Inspect Your Roof First

Inspect for missing, loose, or damaged shingles or flashing. And if your roof is already damaged in spots, a cleaning could damage it more. If this is the situation, we can come out and have one of our company’s specialists from Florida Roofing and Gutters see what is involved.

Prepare the Area

Keep landscaping in place, but back-fill around plants and shrubs around the home. Wash them before you clean with water, and wash them after you clean to dilute any residue.

Apply a Roof-Cleaning Solution

Include an eco-friendly treatment for shingles. This solution may also have algaecides and fungicides to thoroughly eradicate the discolouration at its source. Spray 2.0% of the product onto the foliage solution using a pressure pump sprayer for 15 to 20 minutes.

Gently Rinse

Lightly wash down, top to bottom, with a garden hose or soft wash system (not a pressure washer you’d use to power-wash the shingles). This allows the cleaner to be rinsed away while sparing the shingle granules.

Prevent Future Growth

You can also reduce the regrowth of algae and moss by giving a scaredy-cat impression of any of David’s enemies with a crown in the form of zinc or copper strips you place near the ridge of your roof. Keeping the brush at bay, and not allowing trees and other plants to encroach on the open trails, also means less-growing, more pretty-smiling.

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Professional Cleaning vs. DIY

And though tempted as you may be to pass off DIY roof cleaning, or even better, cheap local roof cleaning, a try, a professional will be able to provide so much more:

Safety: Maybe you’re not dropping and sliding because your socks are soaking wet and you’ve just carried cleaning materials up on a roof; we don’t care how they do it in the commercials.

Correct Tools: You will be unable to gain access to the soft wash systems and non-harmful cleaning solutions that a cleaning company would use to properly clean your roof without causing any harm.

Experience: There’s a list of problems a pro can find and fix that a homeowner might miss, like that deck that’s weakening early or those shoddy shingles.

Warranty Protection: Something to think about when deciding how little help you want: You stand to void your roof’s warranty if you go full DIY, or have someone else’s shoddy workmanship go to waste right along with your roof.

The lazy onus cleaning offered by the Florida Roofing And Gutters tends to come highly recommended for the homeowners that live in Florida, as this provides them with coverage for such a long period of time, providing them with peace of mind that the heat and humidity factor has when it comes to shingle wear.

When to Clean Roof Shingles

How regularly you should clean them is going to vary depending on where you are. Roof Cleaning In Florida, where the majority of Americans live… Yes, it is ok to have your roof cleaned every 3 to 5 years, but in some parts of the country with higher humidity and places with more trees, the UV lightning will take its toll, subjecting your roof to needing to be cleaned every year!

The caveat, of course, is not getting overzealous about cleaning: that can be just as bad as doing nothing for the life of shingles. Emphasis will be on keeping equipment clean, as necessary, and on avoiding fouling by maintenance.

Additional Roof Care Tips

In addition to learning shingle roof cleaning, you could also avoid getting a shingle roof by following some steps that are actually the best practices to keep your roof safe:

• Gutter Care: Clean leaves out of your gutter so that water can’t back up, leading to the buckling of your shingles.
• Ventilation and Insulation: Proper airflow in your attic lowers the temperatures in the summer and minimizes the chance of your roof’s aging.
• Pro Active Repairs: Repair small leaks, shingle or metal damage now so it won’t end up being a major repair down the road.

Why Florida Roofing And Gutters?

Not all roofers are created equal when it comes to maintaining your Florida roof. There are a few things we have that many companies do not; Florida Roofing and Gutters is unique in that:

• Local Expertise: Understanding Florida’s climate and how it can impact your roof.
• Full Service: Cleanings, check-ups, all the way to full replacement.
• Safety first: Meets or exceeds ASTM safety standards.
• Extended Tern Protection: We only use the best products and solutions, and a true barrier to protect your investment.

Instead of leaving your roof to chance with a DIY job or amateur contractors, professionals provide a nice finishing touch.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a homeowner, you’ll need to learn how to clean roof shingles, because as our house ages, so do the shingles on the roof. And the secret is to show you that a well-maintained roof isn’t just pretty and strong, but also less susceptible to damage or natural deterioration. But, if avoiding tool damage, this operation needs precision, suitable equipment, and technology.

The best bet for Florida homeowners is to hire or consult pros who not only know the one-of-a-kind climate but also the right ways to maintain shingle roofing.

Does your roof look lackluster, stained, mossy, or just dirty? And stop the damage before it occurs. Let the pros from Florida Roofing and Gutters restore the look and life of your roof by getting it expertly cleaned. Call today, have us come out there for a free inspection, and make your roof look the best that it can.

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