A+ Exterior Cleaning Services

Having a nice looking house is not just about cleaning the house from inside out. There are many areas of the house that need special attention when it comes to maintenance. In this case, roof cleaning pertains to the overall health of your house. If you see black streaks on the roof, those stains consist of Gloescapsa Magma, a form of algae which is blue-green in color. If ignored, these can compromise the durability of your roof shingles.

When algae spore lands and gets attached to your roof, the process of spreading the Gloescapsa begins. This algae eats on the limestone filling in the granules of the roof shingles, allowing it to grow and spread across your roof. If things get worse, the algae act on the limestone, as if literally eating and deteriorating the shingles. Without detection and prevention, the loss of granules will affect the reflective properties of the roof, and the durability and robustness of the shingles will decrease. The end result will be greater heat buildup, which can lead to higher energy consumption and higher costs especially during the summer seasons.

The effect of the loss of granules is the decrease in the lifespan or longevity of your roof, indicating a wasted investment as new roofs will cost a minimum of $5,000 up to $15,000, depending on the size of your home. Because home exteriors are just as important as the interiors, owners should take the necessary measures in beautifying and protecting their home by proper cleaning and maintenance. Because your home is one of the biggest investments in your life, you and your family can enjoy living in it by having the roof regularly cleaned to protect it from the spread of harmful algae. In this section, you will learn more about what to look for in a roof cleaning service provider.

Have you noticed how your neighbors’ roof is clean and bright in color? Have you heard your mom or your wife complain about how the stains on your roof are ruining the curb appeal on your area? If you have decided that it’s about time to get your roof cleaned by professionals, you need a team that will do the right job that can meet the following criteria:

• There are roof cleaning service providers that use non-pressure methods in cleaning and removing the stains on your roof. Hiring them is a good decision. High-pressure cleaning is not ideal for your roof because it can also affect the durability of the roof, particularly damaging the limestone filling on the shingles. in rare cases, high-pressure cleaning is only applied on roofs with thick green moss that almost looks like a carpet on your roof. The use of a high-pressure cleaning method must be done responsibly and with utmost care so as not to damage the roof itself. For expert roof cleaners, the use of solutions based on chlorine or bleach is effective in removing the stains with a non-pressure rinse. Should you encounter a contractor that plans to use high-pressure cleaning methods, it is wise not to hire them for their roof cleaning services.

• When acquiring roof cleaning services, there should be two professionals who will do the job. Although roof cleaning can be done by one person theoretically, it is ideal two hire two service providers. One will be responsible in applying the chemical and do the rinsing on the roof, and one will be on the ground for perimeter rinsing, and to provide assistance to the other in case more help is needed on the roof.

• Experienced roof cleaners know very well that the whole roof should be cleaned, and not just the areas where the black stains are noticeable. If there are visible stains in a particular area on the roof, it is an indication that the algae has already spread and will only require a little amount of time to spread across the roof and cover the entire area. For a more effective and long lasting clean, it is best to have the whole roof cleaned, rather than find out other spots or areas with the same stains in the long run.

• Another important factor to consider before hiring a contractor is their liability insurance. For your protection, the liability insurance provided by the contractor will give you the guarantee that the hired handymen are well-trained and aware of the proper methods in effective and safe roof cleaning.

• Although this last pointer is optional, it wouldn’t hurt to know or to ask whether the roof cleaner is accredited by BBB. If they are, then it means that they have the knowledge and skills based on years of experience in roof cleaning and stain removal. If they are not BBB credited, you can also ask for reference companies that can vouch for their expertise. If the roof cleaning service provider has a website or portfolio, then you can also check their sample works like before and after pictures for their stain removal and roof cleaning services.

Following the above stated list of criteria should be helpful in searching for the right contractor and roof cleaning professionals for your needs. Also enlisted here is a directory of professional roof cleaning services that gets updated frequently for your reference.

When you notice your dirty roof prior to cleaning, there are different kinds of stains and buildup like moss, and the black streaks of stains known as roof algae. This algae species is called Gloescapsa Magma, and it can only be removed by utilizing the correct chemical solutions and use of proper cleaning methods. As these stains can be very stubborn as they continue to spread on the roof surface, ignoring it will result to more damage and more expenses in the long run. Your handyman may call it roof mildew, roof mold, or roof algae, it is best that you consult the experts in cleaning the roof and getting rid of the algae in a safe and efficient way.

Aside from roof algae (or roof mildew or roof mold), there are also other types of biological growth which could live on the roof. Lichens and mosses are also able to grow on the roof. Lichens are usually white in color, and sometimes have brown, green, and yellow tones. At first, it grows in small patches of circles like that of a small coin, and appears to be protruding from the exterior, making it impossible to miss during inspection.

Roof moss, which is noticeable because of its green color can grow thick and ruin the quality of the roof if it is let alone. If ignored, roof moss will grow thick like a carpet on the roof which can be seen from where one stands. Roof moss can be easily detected and removed, which makes it a funny sight to see other houses with the roof covered in thick green moss that looks like a carpet.

For those who are wondering how to get rid of lichen or moss growth on the roof, the same procedure as removing the black algae stains should be followed. As described previously, these black stains are algae growths that can spread and eventually ruin the roof if ignored. Any chlorine mix or beach can effectively remove the stains and stop the growth of these roof mold or roof mildew, as others call it. It is also effective in killing moss and lichen growths on the roof, without having to apply pressure or scrubbing the roof with brushes. Unlike algae stains that can be easily rinsed away after applying a solution based on chlorine, moss and lichen growths may need some rinses from the heavy rain before all the growths will be washed away completely.

If you value time and want to see visible results immediately, rinsing with high-pressure can be done, but with the added risk of damaging or ruining the durability of the roof. Upon use of a pressure washer, extreme caution must be applied in situations where the growth of the lichens or moss has become extremely thick. In the northwest, this type of scenario is more ordinary than any other are in the states.

To summarize all the information provided here, the black algae or roof mold stains that have grown on the roof should easily come off by utilizing the right approaches of cleaning. It doesn’t take a chemist or scientist to come up with a solution in cleaning these stains and algae growth. For moss and lichen growths, the same bleach can be used just like in removing the black roof algae stains. If you believe that you do not have the capacity to do the cleaning yourself, then you may check out the extensive list of roof cleaning service providers posted on the directory. Surely you’re bound to find the correct firm which can take away your worries and clean the whole roof surface of your house.

There are many roof cleaning service providers and contractors that make use of Sodium Hypochlorite or bleach mixed with other concentrated chemicals to easily remove the black algae stains and moss growths on your roof. These contractors even claim that their method for roof cleaning is recommended by the Asphalt Roofing and Manufacturers Association (ARMA) Technical Bulletin. For several years passed, this was true. But with the development of biodegradable and eco-friendly cleaning products, it is now the preferred solution in cleaning the roof of millions of customers across the states.

Dangers of Roof Cleaning with Sodium Hypochlorite, the chemical found in BLEACH.

Sodium Hypolchlorite is a highly poisonous and hazardous chemical that is used in cleaning clothes, bathroom tiles, and other parts of the house. It is also one of the main components being used with roof cleaning products. According the National Institute of Health, there are many cases of Sodium Hypochlorite poisoning, and the symptoms include burns in the throat and esophagus, central nervous system dysfunction, vomiting, blistering, intestinal distress, and other poison related symptoms. Exposure to this chemical is also harmful to pets, and even plants.

Since the 2007 publication of the ARMA Bulletin, the roof cleaning industry has made many astonishing improvements when it comes to providing services to clients. Eco-friendly and non-toxic products like Roof Shampoo® have been introduced, creating an impact on how roof cleaning can be environment friendly at the same time. Although there are still many roof cleaning contractors that still use bleach in their cleaning services, one should also be aware that they are ripping you off with their service by simply splashing on the chemical solution without even rinsing it off your roof.

Aside from the potential hazards to plants and pets, bleach is also a powerful oxidizing agent that can break up the protein structures of plants and crops that are on your garden or lawn. The effects of bleach can cause long term or permanent damage to your plants, tree, shrubs, and grass.

How to determine if a roof cleaning contractor will be using bleach on your property...

If you are unsure whether the contractor you hired to clean your roof is using bleach or not, you have the right to ask them yourself, or you can verify this by asking for a sample of their product. Apply a small amount of this solution to any colored piece of rag and let it stay for a while. If you notice any discoloration or any patch of a different hue on the fabric, then you know for sure that they are using bleach in cleaning your roof.

While some roof cleaning contractors will try to avoid answering your question about the use of bleach, you should be aware that Sodium Hypochlorite is the scientific name for bleach. They even mix it with concentrated fragrances to avoid being detected that they are complying with the 2007 ARMA Bulletin.

If you have a question pertaining to the protection of your plants and trees surrounding your house, you should be well aware that your contractor is using bleach if they answer your question with a guarantee that they have never experienced customers complaining about their plants being damaged from the use of the cleaning solution. On the other hand, if the contractor requires that your plants be covered with a plastic sheet to prevent being wet by the cleaning solution, then you should be concerned that they are using bleach based cleaning solutions.

Furthermore, you can refer to the MSDS or Material Safety Data Sheet for information about the chemicals used for cleaning the roof.

For impatient home owners who want to see the immediate results from using roof cleaning products, they often resort to high pressure power washing method. What it actually does is potentially damage the roof with the strong impact of the water. The shingles will become more vulnerable to damage, and the roof will eventually lose its reflective properties.

What Causes Ugly Roof Stains?

The growth of algae, lichens, or moss is all linked to the causes of black and ugly streaks of stains on the roof. Instead of ignoring it and leaving the moss to spread like a carpet, cleaning it upon detection will help prolong the lifespan of your roof. The more you let the algae grow and spread, the more less efficient your roof will become in reflecting the heat.

Algae is an organic growth that thrives on the granules of the roof shingles. The more moisture there is, the faster they grow and spread, eventually losing the reflective properties of your roof, and even causing further damage such as rotting sheaths and wood parts. The stains that you see on the roof are actually the algae growth that has spread across the surface of your roof. If not removed completely, it may re-grow again and thus increase the damage on your roof.

Lichens are a type of fungus that rapidly grow and spread on the surface of the roof, especially on the portions where the granules on the shingles are located. They are usually white in color and form a crust like texture on the roof. Lichens are highly destructive to the roof, as its root-like tentacles penetrate into the shingles creating dark spots and pock marks in the surfaces.

Moss is another living thing that can be found on the roof. It is an excellent absorber of moisture, which decreases the reflective properties of the roof. The damage it can cause to the roof is promoting the erosion and rotting of the shingles, allowing more moisture to be absorbed and damaging the quality of the roof.