Cleaning Methods that can Ruin Your Roof’s Shingles

Warm weather is here again, and that means businesses and homeowners across the country are breaking out their pressure washers to remove built-up soot, grime, and dirt from their shingles. There’s a right way and a wrong way to go about cleaning your roof, though. Below are some of the common cleaning methods that do more harm than good - and some alternatives to try instead.

Pressure Washers

A pressure washer is an excellent way to clean a lot of surfaces, but it’s usually not a very good idea when it comes to your shingled roof. Even with lower settings, the pressure from the spray can get underneath individual shingles, causing them to loosen and creating serious damage. Instead, try a garden hose with a spray nozzle attached. There are even spray nozzle attachments with tanks for cleaning products built right in, and these are perfect for getting the majority of the grease, grime, and muck off of your roof. 

The Great Bleach Debate

A few roofing companies out there recommend putting a solution of straight bleach and laundry detergent directly onto your shingled roof to get a perfect clean. While bleach certainly will leave your roof looking brand new, it will also cause the asphalt to break down prematurely. A roof that should last 50 years may last only 20 because of the chemicals breaking down the shingles. Instead, try using sodium percarbonate, or oxygen bleach. It provides an excellent clean, but it’s far less caustic than its counterpart and won’t damage your shingles in the same way. 

Don’t Clean Your Roof in the Sun

While you certainly don’t want to clean your roof after dark, it’s best to avoid doing it in the full sun, too. Rather, wait for a cloudy, overcast day without a lot of wind, and make sure there’s no rain in the forecast. Though Texas weather can be unpredictable, it’s best to avoid cleaning on a hot and sunny day. The sun can make the shingles incredibly hot, which can exacerbate the damage caused by a bleach solution or cause the cleaning products to evaporate away before they’ve had a chance to do their jobs. 

Cleaning Too Frequently

The frequency with which you will need to clean your roof will vary depending on factors like your distance from a major highway or factory, the amount of sun exposure it gets, and the color of the shingles on your roof. Most Texans should clean their roofs once every two to three for the best results. However, when there are several dry years, you can wait even longer - up to five years. Cleaning too frequently can cause your shingles to erode prematurely, even with the mildest cleaning products. 

Keeping your roof clean might seem like a challenge, especially if you have light-colored shingles or live in areas where there is soot in the air. When you follow the advice above, you can avoid damage to your shingles and extend the overall lifespan of your roof, which can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars over your lifetime.