Do Roofs Need to be Pressured Washed?
How to Clean Your Roof with a Pressure Washer
Rainwater is not the only thing that could affect your roof. In some areas of Florida, homeowners may find their shingles covered with lichen and moss. If you are one of these homeowners who sees lichen and moss growing on your roof’s shingles, you must clean it immediately. Otherwise, this growth could damage your roof significantly.
The obvious solution may seem like it is to pressure wash the lichen and moss from your shingles. But is that a safe thing to do? Could your shingles loosen or break off the roof if you pressure wash them?
Let’s explore the idea of whether pressure washing a roof is safe or not.
Can pressure washing my roof cause damage to it?
Many people wonder about this, and for a good reason. A pressure washer sprays water out of the nozzle at an intense speed to loosen debris and particles stuck to solid surfaces. Since roof shingles are not as solid and secure as the asphalt surface on a driveway or road, could high water pressure damage or loosen roof shingles?
The short answer is yes, but only if you are inexperienced at using a pressure washer device. A trained individual will know the correct pressure settings to use so that the shingles are not affected. You need to have experience setting the proper water pressure for cleaning various types of surfaces, such as rooftops, to ensure no damage gets done to them.
Low Pressure is the Key
When in doubt, always use the low-pressure settings on your pressure washer when cleaning the shingles on your roof. However, you could start by setting it to medium pressure to see how well it sprays and cleans your shingles. Make sure you place your feet on a dry area of your roof when standing on it to clean the shingles. Don’t stand anywhere that is wet to prevent slippage.
The safest way to spray the roof is to use a low-pressure setting while standing above the area you’re cleaning on the roof. The idea is to aim downward onto the shingles, toward the gutters, to spray them clean. Also, maintain a distance of at least 12 inches between the nozzle and the surface you spray with the washer. The farther you are from the surface, the less pressure gets placed on it.
Three Reasons Why Pressure Washing Your Roof is a Good Idea
1) Prolong Your Roof’s Lifespan
When you see lichen, algae, moss, or mold growth on your rooftop, please don’t assume it is merely a cosmetic problem that means nothing. Instead, consider the growth a sign of potential roof damage if you don’t clean these plants away soon. These particular plants will feast on your shingles and diminish the stability of their foundation if they are left there too long. The result will be the formation of pores on your roof, leading to water damage when it rains.
For example, the average shingle roof made of asphalt has a 25-year life expectancy. Unfortunately, an asphalt-based shingle roof like this won’t even last 15 years if it has been overgrown with fungus and algae. Moss will soon form if the fungus and algae don’t get washed away fast enough. Once that happens, the moss roots will seep into the roof structure and cause severe deterioration.
This problem is all too common in Florida because of the climate. Only a professional pressure washing service can stop the growth of these plants and organisms before they wreak havoc on your roof. But you must get your roof pressure-washed regularly to ensure it remains safe from this dangerous growth. Failure to do so could result in permanent damage inflicted upon your roof, forcing you to spend thousands of dollars on repairing or replacing it.
2) Boosts the Value of Your Home
When a potential home buyer pulls up to your property for the first time, one of the first things they will notice is the condition of your roof. If there are stains or plant growth on your roof, the buyers will see these cosmetic issues within seconds of stepping foot on the curb next to your home.
If you were to pressure wash your roof and remove all the black stains and algae growth covering it, a potential home buyer would undoubtedly give you a higher purchase offer based on the cosmetic appeal of your roof alone. Potential buyers care a lot about cosmetics because they are the easiest things to notice when visiting a home. Even the market data backs up this assumption.
Please don’t wait until you have to spend about $12,000 to replace your roof after it has been damaged by algae growth. Instead, you could spend far less money pressure washing your roof and keeping it safe from these dangerous organisms.
3) Promotes Energy Efficiency
Did you know that fungus, algae, and mold can absorb heat on your roof? Because of this, your indoor temperatures will be much warmer than usual. Unfortunately, this means your air conditioner will have to work harder to maintain cooler temperatures indoors, causing your monthly electric bill to skyrocket.
The rooftops of Florida homes have granules with reflective properties in them. If you remove the growth covering them, you can stop your roof from absorbing so much heat. Then you’ll have lower temperatures indoors during the hot summer months because of your exposed roof’s insulating abilities.
As a result, you could potentially save hundreds of dollars on your monthly energy bill from merely pressure washing your roof to keep it clean.
Conclusion
Professional pressure washing services are fast, convenient, and affordable. More importantly, the small investment you make for these pressure washing services will result in a clean roof, an energy-efficient home, a stronger roof with a longer lifespan, and a higher value for your home.
