Roof Washing

Is Your Roof Dirty or Contaminated?

Your home and business is a big investment, and your roof is your homes first line of defense. In South Florida, we have a wide variety of roofing materials from asphalt shingles, bare and painted tin metal, copper, Spanish tiles, composite tiles, and even natural slate tiles. All of these roofs play a role in protecting you from the elements, and over time they accumulate a variety of organic growth. While early stages of accumulation can seemingly be cosmetic in nature, they also begin to harvest an environment for more destructive species to inhabit. One of the first harmful species to start living on roofs is an airborne algae, known as Gloeocapsa Magma. The beginning stages of this algae can be identified by running black streaks which feed on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles and other roofing materials. The formation of Gloeocapsa can be particularly noticeable on the north and west facing planes of your roof, home or business. When left untreated, they blanket its substrate, and become the ideal feeding ground for a more invasive species, such as lichen. Lichen is a combination of algae and fungus, appearing individually as a circle the size of a dime with tones that range from light green to black. This airborne species, transfers from high overhanging tree limbs and contain acidic properties that penetrate into your roof’s substrate. The combination of these two species will not only leave your roof stained and raging war against your shelters, but also transmit irritants to those nearby with mold and fungal allergies.

Clean or Replace?

Although the concern to put a stop to this contamination is legitimate, don’t be fooled by roofing contractors who insist, “Your entire roof is at its limit and needs to be replaced”. Not only is this route costly, but is also producing unnecessary waste. Why add to our ongoing trash crisis by retiring a roof that only needs to be cleaned and disinfected? In the past, cleaning a roof meant having a crew of power washers climb up and shuffle steep pitches, producing damaging results from high pressure blasting across an already compromised surface. Regardless of the damage power washing a roof will cause, your roof is now temporarily cleaned, but within 6 months the stain returns. This happens because power washing a roof with just pressured water only removes the topical deposits of the algae, leaving the remaining roots to exponentially reproduce. Allow Volcanic Power Wash to show you how we keep your roof cleaner longer, extending the life, with an innovative, manufacturer certified technique, known as soft washing.

Here are 3 reasons to clean your roof!

Roofs are built to withstand the elements. Your shingles can repel water and withstand high summer temperatures. The flashing around the chimney and vents is also designed to keep your attic dry and your home safe from water damage or pests. But sometimes it needs a little help. Here are three reasons why a professional roof cleaning can help your roof continue to protect your home.

1. Remove buildup that can interfere with the tar seal.

The bottom of your shingles, especially if your house has three-tab shingles, have a strip of tar-like material. When your roof is hot, like during the day or the summer, that seal partially melts into a strong adhesive layer that resecures its grip on the roof. It stops shingles from flying up in high winds. But if debris is working its way between the layers of shingles, the tar might adhere to that layer instead of the top of the next shingle. Professional roof cleaners wash away layers of sediment and organic buildup before it can weaken the seal.

2. Get debris and leaves free from sharp edges and angles.

Your roof’s slant is designed to make sure things don’t sit on the roof long-term. Primarily, it’s focused on making sure water can slide down freely without working its way inside. But the angle also helps to stop leaves, sticks, and even trash that got caught in the wind from staying on top of your house. However, vent flashing, your chimney, and even points between two different pitches can catch debris before it falls to the ground. A regular roof washing can knock it down, and the technicians can recommend steps to solve the problem.

3. Know about problems before they get larger.

Roof damage can be hard to spot, especially when it’s just starting to develop. But you don’t want to wait for water damage to get started on repairs. Professional roof cleaners will let you know if they see holes, signs of damage or infestations, or even corroded panels on metal roofs.

Why Choose Volcanic Power Wash?

At Volcanic Power Wash, we never use high pressure on roofs and operate with designated low pressure/high volume systems to clean and disinfect your roof safely. Rest assured that you will never see our team struggling to maintain footing on a steep pitch or trampling over delicate tiles, because the majority of our roof soft washes can be done from the ground or ladder. Each one of our ladders operate with adjustable footing and secured stabilizer bars so that our technicians are safe and your gutters are untouched. Actually, your gutters will be touched, but not with unnecessary weight, because with all of roof soft washes, we also include gutter cleanup and downspout rinsing. Our innovative system proportioners allow us to control the quantity of industry standard surfactants and precisely apply each incline with consistent solution. During the application process, our team of professionally trained technicians will be constantly protecting all areas subject to overspray. Lastly, after a period of solution dwell time sufficient to lift heavy organic growth, our team works together and goes the distance to thoroughly rinse your roof with pressure equivalent to a household garden hose. We believe, and have made it our policy to always rinse, rinse, rinse! This final process not only ensures that your roof is left spotless and decontaminated of deep dwelling fungal roots, but also completely free of our cleaning solutions.