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Originally Posted On: https://hurricleanlouisville.com/2021/04/what-you-need-to-know-about-roof-cleaning-in-fall-and-winter/
There’s a reason why the roof contracting industry is worth an estimated $45 billion. All too often homeowners neglect the necessary roof maintenance that needs to be performed every year. As a result, they require costly repairs and even entire new roofs. But what if some simple cleaning could improve both the appearance and lifespan of your roof?
Roof cleaning, especially during the fall and winter, is a vital part of maintaining your home’s health. In this article, we’ll be going over all the reasons why you should take regular roof cleaning seriously. We’ll also cover why you should always choose an experienced professional to do it. Let’s get started!
Why Is It Important to Clean Your Roof During Fall and Winter?
Fall is typically the most important time to clean your roof. Why? Because of the falling leaves. When wet leaves get stuck on your roof, they stay we whenever it rains. This moisture causes a variety of problems. It makes it easy for a variety of organisms to grow, including things like lichen, fungus, mildew, moss, and algae.
These types of bacteria can leave unsightly green and black streaks on your roof tiles. If left untreated, it can even damage the structural integrity of the tiles. This occurs because the organism is eating away at the roofing material. This creates tiny holes that then fill with water whenever it rains. In addition to general rot, the water can also freeze during the winter months.
This causes ice dams to form along the roof which further damages the material. On top of that, the ice will fill the holes to crack open even wider. If Generally, we recommend cleaning your roof in fall rather than winter. The freezing temperatures typically make it next to impossible for a wash to be effective. Plus, the icy conditions are unsafe for workers.
As such, you won’t find many professional services operating during the winter months, unless they’re in areas with warm climates year-round.
Other Reasons For Roof Cleaning
Getting rid of the organisms that build-up around fall isn’t the only reason you should consider cleaning your roof. Other benefits come with it as well. In this section, we’ll go over three other reasons why you should call a professional cleaner.
Cheaper Way to Improve Property Value
The roof is the first thing that people see when they look at your house. As such, it has an important curbside appeal that needs to be maintained. A new roof replacement can improve the property value of your home. Unfortunately, most of the time it’s not cost-effective. One report found that the average cost of a new replacement roof was $38,600.
However, this roof replacement only adds $23,526 in resale value. Why not try taking care of your roof instead of replacing it? A simple professional cleaning job costs next to nothing compared to $38,600. And, it can make your roof look next to new.
Increases the Lifetime of the Roof
As we mentioned earlier, organisms like lichen, fungus, mildew, moss, and algae can eat away at the material in your roof. As such, removing these harmful particles regularly can extend the lifetime of your roof. In the long run, this will save you a lot more money than having to pay for an expensive replacement.
Protects the Interior of Your Homes
Your roof is the first and only line of defense against water entering your home. Because of this, you need to protect it with regular cleaning. Remember the holes caused by a build-up of leaves and ice dams? If enough small holes form in your roof, then water will eventually leak inside.
When this standing water enters the interior of your house it causes things like marked walls and stained ceilings. It also encourages the growth of mold and mildew.
Why It’s Important to Go With a Professional
There’s a lot of reasons why you should go with a professional roof cleaner instead of doing it yourself. However, the most important reason is safety. Falling is a serious safety hazard for amateur roof cleaners. And, even if you don’t fall, likely, you won’t do an adequate job to protect your roof. As such, we recommend going with a professional.
It’s also important to remember that not all roof cleaning companies are created equally. Many companies use a pressure washer to blast off dirt, algae, moss, and leaves. While this is effective at removing these things from your roof, it also damages it considerably. That’s because the high-pressure stream strips the granules off of the shingles on your roof.
Not only does this decrease their lifespan, but it also voids any warranty you may have on your shingles. Instead, you should find a company that specializes in soft wash cleaning. This type of cleaning uses a low-pressure wash system to get rid of all the dirt, algae, moss, and lichen. Best of all, it doesn’t damage your shingles at all.
So how do you find a roof cleaning service you can trust? First, look out how they describe their services. Make sure they don’t just use intense pressure washers to strip away dirt. A company’s reviews are also a good indication. A lot of positive reviews are typically a good sign that the business is legitimate.
Need a Quality Roof Cleaning Service? Get in Touch With HurriClean
We hope this article helped you learn about the importance of roof cleaning in Fall and Winter. As we mentioned before, it’s important to find a professional cleaner who knows what they’re doing. That way, they clean your roof without harming it. But how do you find a company you can trust?
If you live in the Louisville, Kentucky area, then look no further than HurriClean. Here at HurriClean, we carefully protect your roof shingles with our soft wash cleaning system.
Best of all, we use a special cleaning solution that keeps your roof cleaner four times longer than traditional pressure washing. If you’re ready for your free quote, then contact us today and let us get your roof back to a spotless condition.
