You’ve got a dirty roof with not only tree branch debris, but moss and all sorts of other strange things growing on it and you are desperate to clean it, and you have heard that pressure washing is not all it’s cracked up to be. So, what do you do, should you go ahead and pressure wash your roof?
The problem with pressure washing is that the process can be damaging to your roof and could possibly invalidate any warranty you might have. There are many inconsistencies that are involved with power washing a roof that should be taken into consideration before doing it.
Power Washing Inconsistencies
For one thing, a power washer’s output pressure has to be regulated accurately. If it is not, the pressure that is released could severely damage the materials on a roof. Nozzle size is also a factor. Also, when an improper nozzle is used, any spray that is released could affect the roof. Any kind of real spraying should be done from the top not the underneath area of a roof.
When there are other features on a roof, such as vents, skylights, flashing, chimneys, solar panels and any other items, high pressure water could compromise the sealants on any one of those elements, plus create leaks. The water temperature could be a problem as well. Water that is too hot could damage any roofing parts, and if the angle of the spray coming towards the roof is incorrect, along with any spray repelled away from the roof, both types of spray could cause serious roof damage.
Potential Roofing Problems from Pressure Washing
Most any materials and components used on a roof are not constructed to endure pounding high water pressure, particularly those homes with older roofs and aging features. Consistent use of high water pressure can lead to a number of problems, such as:
- Decreasing the longevity and life expectancy of roofing materials up to three times more than their actual life span
- Breaking any bonding or adhesive between shingles
- Damaging any underlying fabric of the roofing material.
- Washing and stripping away the ceramic granules on shingles
- Causing cracks or breaks in cement, clay, ceramic tiles, shakes, slate, and even metal
- Dispersing moss, fungus and other organisms from one area of the roof to the entire expanse of the roof
- Compromising any of these roofing issues due to the use of a pressure washer can eventually result in water leaks in a home’s interior.
Various Roof Cleaning Options
There are different ways to clean your roof without damaging it. Those options include:
- Utilization of a low pressure wash system, or soft washing (with a special nozzle tip for shingle cleaning). This process is not completely safe, as even it can possibly harm shingles.
- Use of a hose from the ground level and attempting to clean shingles from the top rather from the underneath
- Use of a soft brush or broom from a ladder (safety concerns)
- Use of a leaf blower to remove any tree limbs, dirt or other debris
- Application of a treatment process that wards off moss, mildew, fungus, algae and dirt.
If you are considering pressure washing your roof, or have thoughts of cleaning it in another way, fill out the online contact form, and a roof cleaning expert will get back to you with suggestions that can be of help to you.
