How To Make Your Roof Last With Proper Cleaning

Searching the Internet, one can find an array of articles, products and claims as to what chemical to use and the proper method of roof cleaning. At Blue Ridge Roof Cleaning of Virginia, we took the time to research and find the best method to offer our customers the safest cleaning without compromising the integrity of the asphalt roof. 

When looking for the right company to clean your roof, be especially aware of the term, "low pressure". 

Commercial pressure washers can have pressures between 3500 - 4500 psi. They can only be turned down so far in order to work properly. Changing the orifice size of the tips will also reduce the pressure coming from those amazing machines. When a roof cleaning company that chooses to use a pressure washer to clean asphalt shingles states low pressure, it could be 800 psi when you think of the maximum pressure they could get with their pressure washer. Some of these companies use a surface cleaner to clean asphalt shingles, rolling it up and down your roof from the peak. A surface cleaner is designed to clean concrete with the two rotating tips about two inches from the surface. Granted, when cleaning concrete, the pressure is much higher than what might be used on an asphalt roof but think about that "low" pressure, just a few inches from those shingles. How many granules are being dislodged and removed from the surface of the shingles? How many years of life has been taken away from your roof with the claim of "low" pressure? 

At Blue Ridge Roof Cleaning of Virginia we actually use low pressure! We also do the larger majority of our roof cleaning from the gutter line. Our custom built machine is set at at 80 psi at the pump. We use a series of different tips from a solid stream to a 40 degree fan spray. When our cleaning agents are sprayed on your roof, they are applied at less pressure than a heavy down pour, not much more than using a garden hose. We choose to clean roofs as outlined by the Asphalt Roof Manufacturers Association as well as asphalt roof manufactures. All state, "do not use a pressure washer", "do not brush or broom as this will dislodge the granules". Our primary goal is to clean the algae, lichen and moss from your roof without disrupting the the granules that give your shingles their protection. Using ladder stabilizers, we take extra care and never place out ladders on your gutters.

Use this link for the wrong way to clean a roof. Improper roof cleaning.

Use this link for the proper way to clean a roof. Proper roof cleaning.

Low Pressure Roof Cleaning Charlottesville, VA

Save Your Roof

Last year Blue Ridge Roof Cleaning cleaned 110 roofs, not to mention decks, siding, patios and sidewalks. The national average is that 50% of the roofs being replaced only need to be cleaned. Fortunately, our customers roofs didn't end up prematurely in the landfill and we saved them on average, $10,000.00 per home. One hundred-ten customers a total average savings more than one million dollars! Do the math... Roof cleaning is 4 - 6% the cost of a new roof. Algae, lichen and moss will damage and shorten the life of asphalt and cedar shingles. The roof over your head is the single most important and expensive part of your home or business. The roof will last many years if kept free of organisms set to eat away your protection from the environment.
Removing algae, moss and lichen from roof coverings. Wash siding, clean and refinish decks and fencing; wood, composite or vinyl. Install gutter filters with a 25 year manufacture warranty. We also clean driveways, sidewalks and patios.