An Ultimate Guide on Chemical Roof Cleaning

Chemical roof cleaning is very important for sterilization. But most people are so busy in their lives that they don’t get enough time to clean their roofs. For them, we have come up with this blog which will help you to pay attention towards cleaning one of the most ignored areas of your house, i.e., your roof.

You would know that your roof needs to be cleaned regularly because the piles of leaves, twigs, and all organic debris block the gutters and trap rainwater on your roof causing dampness in your walls.

Not only this, as the moss and algae grow on your roof and the blue-green algae appear on your roof’s surface, the look of your roof turns dull/ As a result, you need to give a perfect chemical roof treatment to the most crucial area of your house.

Make sure to pay close attention to your roof or else these damaged shingles will become a disaster in the event of a heavy downpour. Are you living in a wet region? Then you might be suffering from moss and lichens. They grow at a faster pace on your roof during the rainy season.

And if you fail to fix this issue, then it can be a big problem as it will trap the water on your roof. This will lead to dampness in your wall and by that time the roof will become weak and dislodged.

Let’s tie your belts together and sit comfortably as we are heading towards learning all that you need to know regarding No-pressure chemical roof cleaning and washing.

Chemical Roof Cleaning: Meaning & Significance

You need a chemical roof treatment when various types of organisms like moss, algae, and lichens have found their way to your roof.  You need the help of professional roof cleaners for this and don’t need to spend too much money on roof replacement.

These cleaners have the ability to make your roof systems shine and sparkle with the help of chemicals and wash the dirt away. Mechanical roof cleaning has the power to wash and brush your roof in order to clear out all kinds of roof growth.

You would have wondered why experts use chemicals for cleaning the roof. Isn’t it? So let us tell you, these chemicals are not ordinary cleaners but formulated chemical solutions. In order to kill all the microscopic organisms on your roof, the experts have designed these chemical solutions.

In order to clean the shingles, it is not necessary to use pressure washer. This method can undoubtedly remove the shingle's granular surface which will lead to significant damage. Chemical roof cleaning means the process of spraying the chemicals on your roof. But why? Just to keep it clean and free from moss, dirt, mildew, algae, and other things.

Is Chemical Roof Cleaning Suitable?

There are several chemical solutions that are used by multiple roof cleaners who are professionals and certified. The most common and popular chemical that is used to clean the roofs is the chlorine bleach (low concentration). It contains additives like TSP, alcohol, an enhancer, and surfactants.

These chemicals are sprayed on your roof by using a pressure pump which is not less than 100 psi. The majority of the homeowners are distressed about the safety of the vegetation, environment, and property.

As a result, hiring an expert with a good record will assist you in keeping your environment safe, secure, and healthy by ensuring that your roof gets a perfect chemical roof treatment. In short, you can anticipate the professionals to ensure that nothing else but the dirt will be eliminated from your roof.

But are you getting anxious about the cost of roof cleaning services? Then, worry not as this completely depends on the size of your house and the amount of work that is required to be done by their experts. It’s a matter of fact that professionalism is expensive but an amateur can cost you a fortune. Thus, you must decide calmly what you need and what your house is requiring.

Different Chemical Roof Cleaning Methods

The days when roof shingles especially made up of asphalt were used in every house are gone in today’s 21st century. Over the erstwhile three decades, there have been multiple manufacturers that have integrated supplementary components into the accustomed roof shingle.

Apart from the small number of asphalt shingles, these manufacturers have added limestones, fibreglass, and some of the specialized paper. With this, they produce the laminated shingles that are available today.

This is only possible because of the chemical roof cleaning solutions that help your 21st-century roof shingles look as good as they are new.

Let’s discuss all the different types of chemical roof treatment methods that are explained below:

1. Sodium Hydroxide

Have you ever wondered which chemical was the initial one in order to make up roof cleaning solutions? Yes, it was Sodium Hydroxide. This chemical is a cleaning agent that has high alkalinity and is often known as lye or caustic soda.

It breaks down the roofing material’s petroleum-based products just when a high concentration of this chemical is applied to several types of asphalt. If it is left to sit for a longer duration on the surface of your roof, then it has the capability of loosening and dissolving the granular surface and the bond of the shingles.

Nevertheless, it is crucial to record that with the limited time duration, proper rinsing, and exact rates of dilution with the use of high flow rates, i.e., not high-pressure rates, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is able to remove the algae, dirt, and other things efficiently. This has the capability of steering clear of all the possibilities of any residual action.

In short, it is exceptionally crucial to ensure that all traces of NaOH or sodium hydroxide are removed from the depth of the surface of your roof. Otherwise, during the rainy season, the dried-up chemical will activate the chemicals to break down through your shingle's petroleum-based components.

Professionals agree that NaOH is the agent of choice for homeowners who are in need of cleaning their roofs (concrete, tile, and other materials).

2. Sodium Hypochlorite

Another chemical solution that is used to clean your roof is sodium hypochlorite, i.e., NaClO. It gives a perfect roof cleaning treatment. Once all traces of water are evaporated, this chemical agent turns into a salt.

In addition to this, professional roof cleaners need to ensure that the proper dilution rates are already made when they use this product. If you fail to do this, then it will deteriorate your shingles and all your vegetation and environment around your property will be destroyed.

If you have plants, shrubs, and flowers that can come into contact with chemicals, then these experts and professional cleaners will ensure that these plants are rinsed rigorously before and after the entire chemical roof cleaning process has been completed.

3. Sodium Percarbonate

If you had taken the chemical roof treatment service earlier, then you would have heard the words “soft washing” from the mouth of the roof cleaners. Isn’t it? But if you are new to this, then let’s discuss this chemical solution in a quite comprehensive way.

Sodium Percarbonate or Na2CO3·1.5 H2O2 is used immensely by the cleaners. There are many cleaners who use a high pressure per square inch (psi) of water in order to eliminate the traces of stubborn chemical residues that may have held on to your roof.

Nevertheless, if you want to ensure the structure and unity of your shingles should not be compromised, then you should go for “soft washing.”  Instead of rinsing all the chemicals away, they do this by elevating the gallons per minute of water. Others refer to the soft wash as a low-pressure wash.

This is because professional roof cleaning contractors refer to themselves as soft or low-pressure washers. It doesn’t matter if they are using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), they will still refer to themselves as a soft washer.

In addition to this, other professional cleaners feel that soft washing has nothing to do with water rinsing. They have a concept of soft washing. This involves spraying the chemicals on the roof and allowing it to sit till the natural air moisture or rain rinse all the solutions away.

Furthermore, sodium percarbonate (Na2CO3·1.5 H2O2) is one of the finest choices for anyone in order to clean wood shake roofs and asphalt shingles. All the professional roof cleaning contractors who make it a necessity to use green products normally go for this particular chemical solution. This is because it is an eco-friendly property.

Benefits of Chemical Roof Cleaning

If you are one of those people who put “roof cleaning” at the bottom of your list of home maintenance, then you are making a big blunder. When thinking about repairing your interior make sure to check the exterior first. Just because the roof is an exterior part of your house, you must not ignore it.

Your roof is one of the most crucial areas of your entire house that needs close attention. Your roof is the only area that provides you shelter and defence against heat, wind, snow, rain, and hail.

You are not exposed to these harmful weather conditions only because of your roof. As a result, ensure to give proper care and attention to this most important area of your home. This is why you need to keep your roof clean and healthy. In this way, it can serve you well in the coming years.

Many times, dirt and debris accumulate on the surface of your roofs. Due to this, you reduce the possibility of vegetation and moisture that builds up on your roof. Eventually, this will cause the cover material to deteriorate your roofing system.

There are several roof cleaning methods and solutions. But apart from them, the chemical roof cleaning process is something that is highly recommended by expert cleaners.

The majority of people find faults with the idea of cleaning the roof with chemicals. But they need to understand that there is no problem in giving your roof a chemical treatment. The problem lies in the careless performance of the entire chemical roof treatment procedure and not the chemicals that are used by the roof cleaners.

When chemical roof cleaning is completed perfectly and properly, you will experience several benefits that we have explained below. Kindly have a look at those benefits.

1. Improves Curb Appeal

By giving a perfect treatment to your roof with the best chemical solutions, you will be able to give a beautiful and recently installed appearance to your old roof that was dirty and shabby. Your roof is the primary thing that will be noticed by anyone from a distance. And an ugly and dirty roof can make your image not at all interesting.

Conversely, if your house has a beautiful and recently installed roof or is in good condition, then it will win the hearts of everyone. You will be able to make your image interesting and this will elevate your home’s resale value right away.

2. Protects Roof from Damage

We all know that chemical roof cleaning does not need to be done with the use of high pressure, the finish, strength, and colour of the roof will be conserved. Additionally, all the procedures will never lead to your roofing system suffering from erosion.

3. Provides Long-Lasting Clean

One of the most popular reasons why people go for chemical roof cleaning is that it provides them with a long-lasting clean. Those moss, algae, lichens, and other mildew growth on your roof will be gone for a longer period of time. This is because the chemicals can kill all kinds of organisms efficiently.

Conclusion

Make sure to give your roof a perfect treatment of chemical solutions. It will help your roof stay healthy for a longer period of time. The chemicals have the ability to kill all the microscopic organisms that can cause harm to your roofing materials. These roofing materials may include coated concrete, mortar stucco mix, plain concrete, clay, and painted elastomeric coated roofing systems.

If you want your roof to look clean and healthy, then make sure to hire a roof cleaner. You can find these expert cleaners at Ninja Care. They are professional in providing cleaning services to customers by leaving zero speck of dirt behind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do you clean a roof without a pressure washer?

Ans. Your roofs can be cleaned without any scuff marks. This can be done by using scraping water, brush, and detergent. But in order to prevent damage and deterioration, you must clean your roof shingles with a soft bristle brush. Apart from this, you can also scrub it with a mixture of water and detergent. The proportion of this mixture will be 2:1.

Q2. Why can’t you pressure wash a roof?

Ans. Applying high-pressure water directly to the roofs may lead to a break in the bonding or adhesive between the roof material. It can damage the underlying fabric that safeguards the interior of your house. Spraying high-pressure water can cause cracks and breaks in the cement, slate tiles, and ceramics.

Q3. Is soft washing a roof safe?

Ans. Soft washing has come recently in the field of chemical roof treatment. Soft washing or low-pressure washing uses water instead of chemicals to remove dirt and grime from the roofs. It harms the organisms that are living on your roofs and not anything else.

Q4. What chemical is used for soft washing?

Ans. Soft wash chemicals are prepared by using sodium hypochlorite (NaClO). This chemical is usually known as bleach. By using NaClO, water, and surfactants (chemical solutions used for disrupting surface tensions and lifting impurities) soft washing is done.