We have operated our pressure washing business here in Charlotte and South Sarasota County since 1989. Roof Cleaning since 1991
We pressure wash houses, manufactured homes, pool enclosures, decking, concrete - driveways, walks, docks, parking lots. We just don't pressure wash roofing, because it's the wrong way to do it, according to the manufacturers.!
As to roof cleaning: Are you willing to test a new "green" product on your roof? Blast it clean with a Pressure Washer? Allow a dangerous, damaging, Cement Surface Cleaner on your roof? {LOOKS LIKE A FLOOR BUFFER} Or have an after- coating applied to it, so it may, as those who sell them suggest, stay clean for 1-2 years? Or instead, besafe and stick with the roofing manufacturers instructions? Cleaning with their instructions generally lasts 3-5 years. No need for any after-coatings. In fact the manufacturers specifically say not to use ANY AFTER COATINGS!
Below is the manufacturer "non-pressure" gentle dispersion and chemicals we use at
Chuck Bergman Roof Cleaning.
Your roof is expensive and you probably don't want to have any new chemicals or methods tested out on your roof? By now, most consumers also know that pressure washing is the wrong way to clean a roof. Pressure washing is great for everything except your roof! WE HAVE BEEN PRESSURE CLEANERS SINCE 1989
Non manufacturer cleaning methods may void your roofing warranty, according to the information in their links below, so we just clean them as the manufacturer says to.
The main manufacturer recommended chemical is chlorine bleach.
Is bleach green and eco-friendly?
Yes I would say it is. Chlorine bleach is S H [look at the ingredients in Chlorox etc] and is made from common salt. It bio-degrades back into salt when it dries up.
Chlorine is something we all drink from our tap water, soak in it in our showers and tubs and swim in it in our pools.
AT LEAST WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH, WHEN IT COMES TO CHLORINE. NOT SO WITH UNKNOWN CHEMICALS CALLED "GREEN" "Environmentally Friendly" ETC ETC
The only real danger from chlorine, is if an unqualified roof cleaner does not care for your plants, directly below a roof edge, he can burn a line in your vegetation. We take professional precautions, before, during and after cleaning all roofs, so this does not happen.
HERE ARE THE FACTS FROM THE MANUFACTURERS ETC: Below are the only manufacturer suggested chemicalsI have been able to find on any roofing manufacturer website, bulletin, etc. Some *alternative chemical users* claim "Approved" but do not supply manufacturer links to prove it. The below info and links, prove how those who manufacture and warranty your roofing actually approve of cleaning them!
Below is a partial "cut and paste" excerpt from the above link: GAF Roofing Manufacturers, on how to clean a roof:
"If a new roof is not an option, GAF recommends cleaning the roof with a special mixture. That mixture is: 4 gallons of water, 1 gallon of bleach and 1 cup of baking soap" "What NOT To Do! Do not power wash the shingles to clean the shingles. Some roof cleaning companies offer this service. However, it is not recommended."
From ARMA roofing manufacturers Association-how to clean roofing.
Below is a partial excerpt cut and pasted below from ARMA:
Algae discolorations to remove from roofing surfaces, applying a solution of chlorine bleach, triS phosphate, {baking soap}and water. Solutions for these ingredients depend on the amount of discoloration. Solutions range to one cup baking soap and 2.5 gallons each of bleach and water. First, gently disperse this solution on the roofing surface. Avoid scrubbing the surface, as this friction may loosen and remove granules. Caution! High pressure washing systems for algae removal should not be used.
Owens Corning Roofing Manufacturers say the same thing:
"USE CHLORINE and baking soap" "DO NOT USE A PRESSURE WASHER"
YOU WILL NOT HEAR A PRESSURE WASHING MACHINE START UP WHEN WE CLEAN YOUR ROOF. YOU WILL NOT GET THE "BUT WE TURN THE PRESSURE WAY DOWN" STORY. We will not claim "No Pressure" and then use a cement surface cleaning maching [ These look like a floor buffer to most homeowners and falsly claim to be a gentle shampoo-far from it! They just blast the dirt and algae off along with shingle granules or tile glazing, paint and soft cement up the ridge-caps. We will only clean with the specified RCIA Method which is also the roofing manufacturers specified method.
-- Edited by Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 on Saturday 18th of March 2017 11:13:47 AM