Roof Cleanings and Moss Treatments
Low-Pressure Wash Service:
We have been cleaning roofs in the Puget Sound for over 20 years, in fact we wrote the most widely searched blog post about pressure washing in the PNW over the past 10 years right here:
Our low-pressure wash service is using a high volume, low-pressure washer to clean the roof surface and gutter system. This service is applicable for all roof systems with the proper equipment and experience.
Pressure washing nay roof surface can damage the roof if the technician does not know what they are doing, so do not take any chances on a company that does not understand the roof system needing to be cleaned.
Included in our low-pressure wash service is the cleaning of all gutters and downspouts. You will get an all-in-one service with low pressure clean.
Another cleaning method is a Roof Blow Off. This method is much the same as a low pressure wash only it is using a leaf blower to remove loose debris. It will not be able to remove deeper root systems of moss or other organic growth, but if you are concerned about the condition of your roof or just need some needles and leaves blown off then this is the prefferred method of cleaning.
Composition and Cedar Shake:
Both of these roof types can accumulate moss, lichen and fungus growth within the shingles themselves. these organic root systems can be very hard to remove from just an air clean or chemical treatments and a low-pressure wash is sometimes the only remedy for removal.
When cleaning cedar shake roofs, there will always be some shakes that will need replacing. As shake roofs age, they tend to rot at the ends and the ridge caps tend to start to split apart. when cleaning these roofs, the pressure will expose the shakes that are in need of repair. We estimate around 1-2 bundles of shakes and ridge caps will need to be replaced at each cleaning (which should be no more than every 3 years). A brand new shake roof should not need to be cleaned for at least the first 7-10 years of its life. For newer shake roofs doing yearly moss and organic growth treatments and roof blow-offs will be the preferred maintenance protocol.
Single-Ply Roof systems:
First and foremost you must make sure your single-ply roof system is not under a labor or manufacturer warranty from another company, if so any maintenance on the roof may void any warranty you may have. We have installed and warrantied hundreds of single-ply membrane roofs and understand the proper methods and solutions that are compatible with PVC and TPO roofs. We also will check the roof upon cleaning to make sure there are no holes, cuts, or open seams. If we do find any issues in the single-ply roof system we can repair them as needed at an additional cost. the main thing is we know what we are looking for and how to respect the single-ply roof system.
Metal Roof Clean:
Metal roofs are usually dirty from algae or pollen accumulation, they can get pretty dirty. The good news is they can withstand a low-pressure wash really well. the key to cleaning a metal roof is taking precautions not to dent or damage the panels as you walk on them. Some metal roofs, like a faux shake or slate metal roofs, have gaps in them that when stepped on will crumple in, you have to know what kind of roof you are working on before performing any kind of maintenance, this includes metal roofs.
Moss/Lichen and Fungus Treatments: There are many different types of moss and organic growth treatments out there. We have always tried to treat roofs with the most environmentally safe treatments that are also effective. Our Smart Wash is a soft wash with an all-organic herbicide that can remove moss, lichen, algae, and fungus without a pressure wash or using harsh chemicals like Zinc sulfate, Copper Naphthenate or 30-second Bleach products. We can also use all-natural treatments like Industrial strength sodium bicarbonate and Hydrogen Peroxide solutions.
We also use a fatty acid soap mixture for cedar shake roofs, as it performs the best and keeps the moss away the longest of all the solutions, as well as being environmentally safe.