Why Pressure Washing Roof Shingles is Not a Good Idea

So, you come home one day and you suddenly see your neighbor is pressure washing roof shingles. Although you had your concerns regarding how effective it would be, you went out to check nevertheless.

After the pressure washing services were done with the job, you had to admire how clean and beautiful the roof looked. So, you started to wonder whether you should also get your roof shingles pressure washed. Let us stop you right there!

Please go and check with an expert and ask them “is pressure washing a roof bad?” Most experts will directly say no to the question whether you can pressure wash a shingle roof.

The few others who won’t say no will instead say that they can pressure wash your roof on low pressure settings and all that but honestly, it does not make much of a difference. It would still damage your roof.

Reasons Why You Should Not Pressure Wash Your Roof Shingles

Roof shingles are made of asphalt and are created to withstand the forces of nature. They do well to hold up their own against the elements of nature like rain, wind, snow, hail, etc. But one thing that they are not designed for is pressure washing.

While they can withstand rain and storm, power washing will not only clean the dirt and grime accumulated on them, but will also strip the shingles of the protective composite granules of asphalt that provide your house the much-needed protection against the elements. This is why pressure washing roof shingles is never a good idea.

Damaging your shingles’ structural integrity isn’t the only damage that pressure washing will cause. There is a good chance that it will seep through the adhesive holding your roof together and cause dampness and erosion from the inside. The adhesive will lose its strength due to this reason which will only further the damage done to your roof.

Pressure washing a roof might make it look attractive for a short while, but in the long-run, it will take away years from the life expectancy of the shingles.

Primary Culprits that Cause Your Roof to Accumulate Dirt and Grim

Roof shingles get dirty very easily. There are a lot of elements which cause the roof shingles to get dirty. But, the primary culprits are moss and algae. While these do not seem that damaging, constant accumulation of these over a prolonged course of time can cause serious dirt and grime accumulation on your roof.

How to Prevent Moss and Algae Growth on Your Roof Shingles

Now you must be wondering if pressure cleaning is not a viable option, how do you clean your dirty roof shingles? Firstly, you have to focus on reducing the growth of moss, algae, and lichen on your roof. Here are some ways in which you can do this.

1. If you have any trees which keep your roof in perpetual shade, you need to trim/prune those branches that are causing your roof to remain in shade. If your roof remains in constant shade, it is most likely to develop moss and algae.
2. Use a leaf blower to clean out the debris on your roof periodically. Do it down the slope so the shingle placements are not damaged. Also, you need to ensure that your gutter is clean so that the debris can be drained properly.
3. If you have any roofs above your shingle roof, ensure that there is no water drip on the shingle roof. Instead have a gutter all the way down to the main drainage. Constant dripping of water on the shingle roof will keep it moist and damp – conditions which are favorable for the growth of moss and algae.

How to Clean Your Roof Shingles

Now comes the difficult part. While you have most certainly ensured no further growth of moss and algae on your shingles, what about the infestation that is already there? How to clean it?

Well, a stiff brush and adequate amount of elbow grease should do the trick. Yep, we meant elbow grease. You need to get up on the roof, with a proper safety harness of course, and spend some quality time with your roof. That is the only way

Enlist The Help of the Specialists

Cleaning the entire roof on your own can be quite a tedious job. You might just not have the time to do it. In that case, you can approach the specialists of pressure washing in Gainesville, FL to help you out with the job.

If you would like to get your roof shingles cleaned, contact us today. Do not worry, pressure washing roof shingles is not something that we voluntarily do. So, unless you specifically ask us to, we won’t be pressure washing your shingles.