All About Roof Cleaning
Three Roof Cleaning Methods: Stained by algae or not,
roofs are cleaned using any of three common methods, each of which has
its own set of pros and cons. These methods are, pressure washing, and
the application of solutions containing either, chlorine bleach or
sodium hydroxide. When performed correctly and only once, these
techniques clean roofs effectively without significant adverse effects.
The problem is, they usually have to be repeated every six to 18 months
to maintain cleanliness.
Chlorine Solution Washes: Chlorine bleach solution application requires
a lot less rinsing than the two other methods, thereby allowing a
cleaning procedure of shorter duration. One good consequence of a
quicker process is less wear and tear for the roof. However, chlorine
can be toxic to some people and plants, so care should be exercised to
protect employees or residents, as well as the property itself, from
spray runoffs. Asphalt shingle roofs are particularly well adapted to
this type of cleaning.
Sodium Hydroxide-based Cleaning: Sodium hydroxide-based cleaners are
very effective degreasers, but they require a lot more rinsing than
chlorine solutions. As a result, using this type of cleaning agent can
be time-consuming and carries with it greater risk for causing damage to
the roof. And, while only 100 psi of force is needed to rinse away a
sodium hydroxide-based compound on an asphalt shingle roof, some amount
of asphalt granule loss is to be expected still. Even if advertisements
would have us believe otherwise, sodium hydroxide can be toxic too, and
should be kept from coming into contact with persons and property, and
especially plants in the surrounding landscape. It is also caustic, so
high levels of this compound may cause irreversible damage to roofs,
especially those made of asphalt shingles.
Pressure Washing: Pressure washing is an option only for roofs made
either of concrete, metal or barrel tiles. One of the distinct
advantages of this method is that it does not require the use of
chemicals, which does away with some costs, and which makes it more
environment-friendly. This procedure, however, requires more time to
perform and may exert more strain than some roofs can handle. Another
downside is that it can wash away the thin layer of coloring with which
some roof tiles are coated. The natural gray color of the concrete roof
begins to show through, requiring the additional task of painting or
staining.
Article Source:
www.iSnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=181026&ca=Home+Management
About the Author: David Lee is an expert on pressure washing and
concrete cleaning. For more info see Atlanta pressure washing or Atlanta
concrete cleaning.
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