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Visit my website for specific instructions on how the roofing manufacturers say roofs should be cleaned and what chemicals to use and what NOT TO DO!

http://www.bergmanpressurewashing.com/

With years of experience , it became clear to me that while pressure washing roofs

made them look clean,

damage was occurring on the roofs.

Ugly black algae, left in place on the roof, eats around those granules and the rain

removes them.

Still eventually destroying the roof and spoiling it's appearance and resale value.

With tile roofs, pressure removes the glazing many tile roofs come with.

Pressure also blows pieces of cement that hold the ridge-caps in place off into space!

If your tile roof is painted, pressure will blow portions of paint off all over the roof,

leaving it in need of an expensive paint job!

So, what to do?

In 1991 I started developing a system to clean roofs without using pressure.

Now these roof cleaning systems are available for purchase commercially.

Even some of these "Non Pressure" systems are what I consider overkill,

so I have tried them all and settled on what I consider the best for my customers.

Some are designed to do a roof very quickly, using 7 gallon per minute pumps on up!

Others [ because they are inexpensive ] very slowly- 1 gpm pumps.

I am in the middle and pleased with my results with both 2 gallon per minute pumps and

a 2nd system of 3 gpm.

I want the cleaning solution to remain on the roof, not to run off the roof or into the gutters.

In my attached web blog, you can read how the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers

Association says to clean roofs.

That is the only method I use. So your warranty will not be voided.

Please email me at softwashing@gmail.com

Or call me at:

Englewood  941-474-8883

Cape Haze, Placida, Rotonda, Grove City  941-698-1959

Venice, Nokomis, Osprey, South Sarasota  941-483-3673

Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, PGI  941-255-8600

You can go directly to my blog here-

http://bergman-chuck-roof-cleaning-soft-wash.blogspot.com

/2011/01/bergman-roof-cleaning-soft-wash-no.html

Or read on below about: HEALTH ISSUES CAUSED BY UNCLEANED ROOFS

AS WRITTEN BY
Dr Victor H Morgenroth

Can A Dirty Roof Make You Sick? Read what Doctor Victor H Morgenroth,

who is a semi-retired adjunct professor at UM had to say on the subject.
The " dirt " on roofs could actually be causing illness.

This is an excerpt from an article that was written by Dr. Morgenroth.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Having your roof cleaned actually makes sense.
It isn't just aesthetics. While people like to say that dirty roofs

lower a property's value

and may make it hard to sell, the "dirt" on a roof actually

shortens its life span and

can even present a health hazard. Furthermore, the "dark stains"

on a roof act as a sponge

to absorb the sun's heat, which causes a rise in the temperature

inside a home or building,

creating higher air conditioning bills.
The dirt isn't just dust – It's alive. Some of the black or very dark

roof stains are caused by

a resilient type of algae,Gloeocapsa magma

(a type of blue-green algae commonly found

in climates with warm, humid summers). The algae grow in

standing water, as well as in our lakes and ponds.

The algal spores are carried to our roofs from the water sources

by the wind and birds,

and then from roof to roof where it grows and feeds on the

limestone filler in asphalt shingles

and the real dirt on tile roofs maybe in some cases the tiles

themselves. Worse still, as the algae grow,

they retain water and foster the growth of other roof inhabitants.

The black stains are also very likely to harbor a number of molds

or fungi.

Unlike algae the fungi on our roofs lacks chlorophyll.

They are unable to manufacture food from raw materials.

So, it must get nutrition from some form of organic matter.

To thrive, these heterotrophs,

who used to be called saprophytes, also require a warm,

humid environment.
Fungi normally begin their life cycle as an airborne spore that

settles on roofs,

especially the asphalt-shingle ones.

The spores on the northern exposure of the roof stand a better

chance of survival because

that portion of the roof is the last part to dry after a rain or

morning dew.

This raises the humidity on the surface of the shingle,

thus creating a perfect feeding and breeding ground.
The tar used in roofing is fossilized, dead organic matter --

and an important food source for fungi.

Asphalt, at the granule base, is normally consumed first.

Once these granules dislodge,

accelerated deterioration will occur. Ceramic granules represent

the outer hard shell that protects

against hail and other falling debris.

Ceramic granules protect against damaging UV radiation and

insulate the roof against extreme heat.

So you can understand that their dislodgement by the growing

fungal colonies can be detrimental to

our roofs' longevity. Surprisingly, the blue-green algae are also

food for the fungi.
While not all mold (fungi) and algae pose a health danger, some are harmful,

especially for us older folks, younger children and people who

suffer from asthma and respiratory problems.

Their spores, which are on your roof, can get inside your home

because they end up on the driveway and

walkways from rain, and are easily tracked inside.

They can even be drawn into our air conditioning systems and

eventually populate our ducts.
Different mold species can have varying health effects,

but it is important to remember that any excessive mold growth

needs to be taken care of,

regardless of the species. Any excessive mold growth can lead

to increased allergies, toxicity, and

house/building structural problems."
Dr Victor H Morgenroth