Roof Cleaning

Non-Pressure Roof Cleaning… No Pressure Washers used!!

Did You Know….

Shingle roofs over time develop black stains over the entire life of the shingle. This is caused by algae. The algae is actually a living organism that is feeding off of the asphalt in the shingle. Left unattended, this creates shortened shingle life, increases electric bills because of the insulating factor of the algae and is just not attractive from the street. Our process involves a high volume and very low pressure to apply professional quality chemicals and thorough rinse. No Pressure Washing Equipment is used in the process!!

The black discoloration on your roof isn’t actually dirt at all. Your roof is discolored and streaked because Algae is growing on it. This plant thrives in the humid climate here in Tennessee. It feeds on the limestone filler now being used in your shingles. In years past, this plant simply didn’t have a food source. Therefore, roof cleaning was seldom necessary. This all changed with the introduction of fiberglass roofing shingles during the past 20 years. The fiberglass roofing shingles made today contain massive amounts of alkaline food that this algae just loves to eat! That food of course, is the limestone currently being used by shingle roofing manufacturers.

How in the world does limestone get into fiberglass roofing shingles you might ask?
It’s very simple. The limestone is added to the asphalt mixture as a filler or thickener.
Years ago, this was not necessary, as an organic felt mat was used as the base for the shingles. This mat was saturated with asphalt and then coated with ceramic granules. Because of the absorptive qualities of the mat, it was able to soak up enough asphalt to give the finished roofing shingle sufficient weight. The materials used for the mat were derived from the cotton rag scrap market.

Well, about 20 years ago this rag market dried up because of the widespread introduction of cheaper synthetic textiles from China and India, such as nylon and polyester. The roofing manufacturers scrambled, and decided to use fiberglass as a mat. However, a problem quickly arose. The thin fiberglass mat didn’t absorb asphalt like the old organic mat did. Something had to be added to the asphalt to increase the weight of the shingle. So, the manufacturers decided to use limestone, which is plentiful and cheap.

Because the Algae growing on your roof is now being “fed” by this filler, the newer, “limestone enhanced” shingles, get “dirty” even faster! It is not the fault of improper installation, or incorrect shingle selection by your roofing contractor. Sort of like a lawn being fertilized, this Algae is feeding on your roof!

Algae can cause premature granule loss, and shorten roof life. As your lighter colored roof is turned black by the accelerated growth of the Algae, it becomes less reflective, and it retains more heat. This makes your air conditioner work harder to overcome the increased heat load, costing you money, and increased discomfort.

This Algae spreads itself by unseen, microscopic airborne spores, just like a dandelion weed. Your roof algae infestation can easily spread to your neighbors home. As you can see, a dirty roof is not just an eyesore. Nobody likes to be told that they have to clean their roof by their Homeowners Association or Property Manager. However, allowing it to remain dirty will compromise the efforts of your neighbors, who are trying to keep their own roofs clean! Many of you have witnessed first hand what happens when an uncaring neighbor allows weeds to take over their lawn…. Pretty soon, the weeds spread to the immediate neighbors, and then throughout the neighborhood.

The bottom line is this…. Allowing your roof to remain dirty can, and will, compromise your whole neighborhood!