Roof Cleaning in Bellevue WA

Aesthetics: Many people choose to clean their roofs regularly in order to prevent ugly collections of leaves and needles, as well as streaks from green moss, algae and bacteria.

Insurance: Recently, many insurance underwriters have rejected homeowners insurance policy renewals because there is moss growing on the roof. Moss is the number one reason for the premature replacement of roofs.

Energy efficiency: The dark color of algae when covering a large part of the roof can cause the roof to absorb a significant amount of heat from sunlight, even up to 30%.

Health: The accumulation of mold and fungus on roofs can spread through the air, grow on the front stoop and tracked into the home. This can be drawn into the air duct system and spread throughout the home.

Design function: Regular roof cleaning will maintain the proper function of the roof design to shield the house from adverse weather conditions.

The dark streaks you see on your roof is a bacteria called gloeocapsa magma. Gloeocapsa Magma is a species of cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria are an ancient line of photosynthesizing bacteria that photolyze water-generating oxygen gas. You must treat these types of bacteria and algae with the appropriate combination of chemicals to ensure a 100% kill ratio. This cleaning method more closely resembles a pest control application, rather than pressure washing.

Determining the best method to clean a roof depends on 3 main factors: (1) the type of roof material, (2) the current condition of the roof, and (3) the safety of the working crew. When considering these 3 factors, in almost every case, the best method for cleaning roof is to apply a soft washing treatment of sodium hypochlorite and various biodegradable enzymes and surfactants to safely emulsify the organic matter. Over time (typically 30 to 90 days) the roof will return to its original color and condition. In some cases, it may be necessary to brush and/or blow bulk organic debris from valleys and behind vents. A thorough cleaning of the gutter and downspout system should always be performed with cleaning the roof.

Pressure washing only strips away the top of the algae bloom, or moss infected areas. Roots of the infestation are still within the surface you are cleaning. Power washing blasts the pores deeper into the surface. For example, when you mow your grass on a regular basis, it grows back thicker and healthier, and when you prune your hedges on a regular basis, they grow back thicker and healthier. Likewise, when you power wash your algae on a regular basis, it grows back thicker and healthier. It’s a lot like giving it a haircut, and then spreading it around. Soft washing is the best alternative to pressure washing. Soft washing treats the infestation at the root, and does not cause any damage from pressure. The cleaning solution offered by soft washing is a more sustainable cleaning model above and beyond aesthetics.

Mold, mildew, fungus and algae are all in the top 10 allergy irritants list. Mold and fungus are known culprits in Sick Building Syndrome. Moldy areas are one of the top environments looked for in a Legionnaires Disease outbreak. Growing cultures of bacteria and fungal strains may be dangerous to your health. Fungus on the roof spreads to the front stoop, which is stepped on and tracked into the home. From there, it resides in carpets and is pulled into the ducting system and spread throughout the house. Musty smelling homes are often due to moldy roofs.