Have you ever noticed black streaks forming on your roof? Many people think that those streaks are a sign that they need a roof replacement but that’s not always the case. Often all that means is that you need a good roof cleaning from the professionals at Roof Cleaning Pros & Pressure Washing. The difference in cost is significant as a good roof cleaning can cost you only one-tenth of what a roof replacement would and can preserve your roof for the future.

These black marks that have appeared on your roof are from an unpreventable algae called Gloeocapsa magma. Also known as roof moss, roof fungus, or roof mold, it has an appetite for limestone.

Gloeocapsa magma started becoming noticeable on roofs about 20 years ago when manufacturers began mixing limestone granules in with the asphalt shingle mix in an attempt to add weight. Most of these streaks appear on the northern slopes of the roof where it’s often darker and wetter, conditions that are ideal for the growth of algae.

If you don’t treat these algae or clean the shingles, it can lead to the premature rotting of your roof over time. However, a good cleaning can keep these potentially harmful algae away from your roof for at least five years and maybe longer.

Here are the four additional advantages of getting a roof cleaning.

Give Your House a Clean Look

Not only is this alga, noticeable by the black marks, harmful to your home, it also damages the look of your home. A good roof cleaning will give your home the appearance of a new roof, even if it’s an older structure. And that look will continue because professional roof cleaners use chemicals that ensure the roof will continue having its like-new shine for a minimum of one year.

Protect Your Roof

Algae can permanently damage your roof so it’s important to have it cleaned if black marks begin appearing. However, as with any harmful bacteria, you don’t have to wait until damage has been done to protect your roof. Applying a biodegradable chemical cleaner every 18 to 36 months can help to prevent the algae from appearing on your roof and damaging your shingles. Extending the life of your shingles will save you thousands of dollars in the future.

Cheaper Than New Roof

Depending on the size of your roof, a new roof can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 to repair. Having your roof cleaned, which is often all you need rather than a roof replacement, will save you thousands of dollars and extend the life of your current shingles.

Keep Roof Warranty

Just because your roof shingles came with a multi-year warranty doesn’t mean that you still don’t need to clean them and keep them in good shape. In fact, in addition to the warranty, manufacturers suggest cleaning your roof, which will ensure that your roof will last much longer.

Think of it like a car. Just because you may have a 100,000 warranty on your car does that mean that you shouldn’t have your oil changed every 3,000 miles? Of course not. It’s the same with your roof. Taking good care of your roof will ensure that it’s in a good condition to protect for years to come.

If you do notice these black streak forming on your roof, it’s important that you hire the professionals at Roof Cleaning Pros & Pressure Washingroof to handle it rather than doing so yourself. Certain methods of cleaning the roof, such as pressure washing, can irreparably damage the shingles, which will force you to spend thousands on a roof replacement.

When you pressure wash your roof, it blows off the granules that protect the asphalt in the shingle from the UV rays of the sun. If you’re missing a lot of granules, you’ll have no choice but to replace your roof.

Like anything else, taking preventative measures to protect your roof from potentially harmful things will extend the life of your roof and allow it work to the fullest of its capability. If you see black streaks, moss, or any other type of potential problem with your roof, or if you just want to preserve your roof for the future, call Roof Cleaning Pros & Pressure Washing for a free quote. The choice could end up saving you thousands of dollars by not having to replace your roof.

Now that spring is upon us, homeowners all over the country will begin their spring cleaning. But this shouldn’t be limited to the inside of your house. You should also extend it to a roof spring cleaning.

To keep your roof in good condition, it’s recommended to have your roof checked every fall and spring. Doing so can save your roof from potential extensive damage that could occur.

The following steps will help you to ensure that your roof lasts through the winter and spring months and keep your roof in good condition for years to come.

Clean Gutters

The first step to a good roof spring-cleaning is to clean your gutters. The most important thing in cleaning your gutters is safety. As with any time a ladder is needed, not being careful can result in serious injury. To avoid this, make sure you have someone with you when you clean your gutters.

Clogged gutters can cause problem during the spring and winter months so it’s important to clean your gutters around these months. In cold environments, clogged gutters can cause ice build-up and ice dams during the winter months. This not only can cause severe damage to your roof but it can also lessen the life of your roof. In the spring, clogged gutters can lead to water overflowing. If this is left unchecked, it can cause damage to the foundation of the building.

If you’re manually cleaning your gutters, remove any leaves, twigs, and seeds that may have been collecting in your gutter of the winter months. You won’t want to flush you gutter before cleaning it because you could potentially end up with a clogged downspout. After the debris is cleaned out, then you use a hose to flush out any of the small remaining residue that may still be inside your gutter. Also flush out anything that could be caught in the downspouts. This will ensure you will have a completely clean gutter heading into the spring months.

Check for Wear

Cleaning out your gutters is only half of the equation when it comes to your annual roof spring-cleaning. The next part is to inspect your roof for any loose materials or wear that might have accumulated during the previous months. This is especially important around your pipes as wear around your pipes can lead to other problems.

If you have any loose materials on your roof, it could lead to moisture accumulation under your roof covering. Moisture under your roof covering could lead to mold build-up, which could lead to health issues for you and your family. That makes it imperative that these problems be found and corrected as soon as possible.

Fungus and algae have the ability to collect on your roof over a period of months so it’s important that you look for these problems during your inspection of your roof.

The most important things to check during your inspection are the metal parts of your roof. Like any other metal, these have the ability to rust. If the metal areas of your roof are rusting, use a wire brush on the area and then prime and paint the metal to clean it.

Also make sure the fascia, coping, and other perimeter edge metal is safe and secure. In the event of severe weather, an unsecure roof edge is one of the biggest causes of roof failure. To make sure everything is safe and secure with your roof, include the ceilings inside the building to your checklist. Stains on the ceiling can be isolated and quickly repaired but can lead to major problems if left unchecked and untreated.

Repairing Problems

While some problems you may find on your roof may require the work of a contractor, others just need a good roof cleaning. In addition to making your roof look like new, a professional roof cleaning can fix issues of fungus, algae, and potentially mold from growing on your roof.

With spring having arrived, it’s time for your annual spring cleaning. You have probably already planned on your spring cleaning chores inside your house but you should also include roof spring cleaning to that list as you should clean your gutters and inspect your roof twice a year. If you determine you need a professional roof cleaning, call on Roof Cleaning Pros & Pressure Washing to do the job.