Hey Chris, I made this post some time ago and thought it would be appropriate to add in here?

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Do It Yourself { DIY } "Easy Roof Cleaning TV Special Products"

Hello, this information is from:
Chuck Bergman Charlotte / Sarasota County Roof Cleaning and Pressure Washing Florida.
To start with, after 21 years of roof cleaning, I do not suggest that you do it yourself. A professional roof cleaning lasts 3-6 years and most of mine average 4-5 years. The average cost is around $300.00 - $400.00 here in SW Florida, Charlotte and Sarasota County.
That's only about 85.00 a year and that includes us buying the chemicals and doing the work properly.
But, for those who like to "do it yourself" on many around the house projects.
If you want to go up there, you may as well do it right!
Don't be fooled by the new "fad" TV specials you may see!!!
These new fad products such as "Spray and forget it" "Roof -b- Clean" {names altered} etc etc that you may see on TV or in a store or on the internet etc, have just one drawback in common. Just one!

THEY DON'T WORK. I have tried a few and other pros have tried others.

It's just more of the same old sales gimmicks, that are so prevalent nowadays, only with a bigger disappointment after you work so hard for nothing!
Powdered or condensed products can be manufactured cheaply, shipped for a few bucks.
Then they let you do all the work of mixing, renting or buying power washing machines, risking your neck, etc and then tell you to either wait a few months for results or if you complain that they don't work, they will simply say you applied it improperly.
Often too, they push their products by bashing the time tested chlorine based mixes professional roof cleaners use. WHY? Simply because gallons of chlorine mixes are not something that they can profitably sell you!

Also, part of their pitch is that their product is “green” and then they will stress how bad bleach is!
However, if you do some research you’ll soon discover that chlorine based roof cleaning is superior in both safety and effectiveness and recommended by the roofing manufacturers themselves!

{GAF Roofing Manufacturer}
http://georgoulisroofing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Algae_Staining_on_Shingled_Roof_Surfaces_-_Steep_Slope_Techn-43-808-v3.pdf

{ARMA Roofing Manufacturer Association  Cleaning Bulletin}
http://www.asphaltroofing.org/sites/default/files/tech-bulletin/tb_217.pdf

{CORNING Roofing Manufacturer} Click number 1 "algae growth"
http://roofing.owenscorning.com/homeowner/thingsyoushouldknow/needaroof.aspx

The ARMA also says not to allow anyone to apply any roof coatings. This is a common sales gimmick. Usually pressure washing companies-not roof cleaning companies-will pressure wash your roof and then sell you an after coating, which they want to reapply every 2 years.Names like Roof-A----. Not wanting to name any specific one. Read the ARMA warning below.

http://www.asphaltroofing.org/sites/default/files/tech-bulletin/tb_227.pdf

My son and I have cleaned thousands of roofs with a 3-4% chlorine mix and no damaging pressure, since 1994
*That's how long this has been just a father and son business, but I had cleaned with this same method myself since 1991. Prior to that, I cleaned roofs with pressure washers, which, now that no pressure systems are available, is far better to avoid any pressure washing damage!
Pressure washing most certainly does do damage to roofing!
But back in those days, that's all that us roof cleaners knew how to do!

"Easy Roof Cleaning TV Special Products" require the use of a pressure washer, because without one, they do not clean your roof! With a pressure washer, you will lose 10-20% of the granules on your shingles.
Now, if you still want to try to do it yourself, the correct way, this is what you need. A 3-4% solution of S H [ bleach / chlorine ] and a good pump up garden sprayer.
Mix the chlorine and water to reach a 3-4% chlorine solution { Chlorox is 5.3% } in a 5 gallon bucket, add a cup of TSP and some Dawn Dish Liquid. Fill your 2 gallon tank and be ready to make about 30-40 trips up a ladder. Roofs average 40 - 70 gallons of mix, depending on their size etc. As you spray, KEEP THE ROOF WET WITH THE MIX FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES IN ALL AREAS -DO NOT ALLOW DRY SPOTS TO FORM.
If you have gutters, just leave it up there on the roof and let it keep cleaning. If you don't, you have to rinse it off, or it will kill the leaves on the plants below and perhaps some plants as well.
[ We at Chuck Bergman Charlotte / Sarasota County Roof Cleaning and Pressure Washing Florida, use mixes with TSP and a professional surfactant, instead of Dawn in 100 gallon poly tanks, 12 volt pumps or air pumps, both designed with roof cleaning chemical applications in mind and 200'+ of hose, along with specially made wands and spray tips etc. We at Chuck Bergman Charlotte / Sarasota County Roof Cleaning and Pressure Washing Florida, carry tarps and sprinklers to protect plants ]
That's it!
Roof cleaning is a hard one to save $ on with "Do It Yourself" just check on the prices of chlorine you will be paying and it is dangerous to watch what you are doing, while up on a roof! You really should be a trained a professional. So do it at your own risk. But that's how you do it!

Chuck Bergman Charlotte / Sarasota Roof Cleaning and Pressure Washing.
Boca Grande and all of Charlotte and Southern Sarasota Counties in Florida.

941-698-1959
941-474-8883
941-483-3673
941-255-8600


Email: SoftRoofWash@Gmail.Com

This does not include the cost and knowledge of safety equipment.  Chlorine masks, safety boots that doe not slip on roofs, harnesses and ropes to protect yourself, ladder stabilizers, nor gutter canes.  There are hidden costs that are absorbed on equipment that is used on a daily basis.  Yes, you can clean your own roof, but is the cost to do it safe it worth it?