Your home’s exterior is just as important as the interior. Taking steps to protect and maintain the exterior of your home will really help to boost the value of your investment. But few homeowners consider roof cleaning services as an important maintenance step.The importance of roof cleaning Cleaning your roof will restore the appearance and beauty of your property by getting rid of stains, bacteria and unsightly discoloration. Roof cleaning services provide a great ROI in your home by making a noticeable improvement in curb appeal.Stains on your roof could be a sign of living cyanobacteria which eats up the limestone that is used to manufacture shingles. Bacteria that accumulates on the roof over the years can shorten the lifespan of shingles and affect the functionality of your home by allowing excess heat to be trapped in the roofing system. In fact cleaning the roof can help you reduce the cost of running your air conditioning system.How regular do you need roof cleaning services?Most people will consider roof cleaning to get rid of discoloration and improve aesthetics. But a roof that is 10 to 15 years old may have issues that cause discoloration to reappear very often. Before you employ roof cleaning services, find out if the system needs to be replaced altogether. Otherwise you will spend money cleaning it year after year and the discoloration keeps coming back. Cleaning a roof once every two or three years should be adequate so long as inspection is done to ascertain that the shingles are in perfect shape.Steps to ensure effective roof cleaningFortunately, roof cleaning can be done safely using very effective detergents that eliminate stains without causing any damage to the shingles. When eco-friendly products are used in roof cleaning, it helps to preserve the integrity of roof shingles without causing any damage to the landscaping. Make sure the roofers you hire to clean your property are not using cleaning products with toxic chemicals like chlorine and phosphates that can destroy surrounding vegetation and pollute the waterways.Low pressure roof cleaning is more recommended than high pressure power washing method. The low pressure cleaning method protects your roof shingles and helps to avoid brushing and scrubbing. When high pressure power washing method is used to remove roof stains, the shingles can be significantly damaged. This method leaves root systems behind that cause algae to return quickly.Adequate steps should be taken to prepare the roof for cleaning. For instance, the gutters should be adequately cleaned to allow the water to drain smoothly and prevent moisture from seeping back.Homeowners are adviced to seek the help of professionals when it comes to roof cleaning. This helps to ensure the work is done properly and that no damage is left on the roofing materials. Ask the roofing contractor to tell you the method of cleaning they will employ. Make sure the pressure being used is not too high otherwise it will damage your roofing materials.
