Trotta's powerful and safe "soft wash" cleaning service blasts away years of dirt, mold and grime, saving you time and improving the curb-appeal, value and lifetime of your property.
As a homeowner, you’ve probably used (or wanted to use) a pressure washer for your yard or home at least a time or two. Whether you own a pressure washer, have rented one, or borrowed one from a friend, pressure washing can be a beneficial and powerful way to clean certain outside areas of your home!
Pressure washing is a great way to clean stubborn stains on surfaces like brick, block, stone, and masonry. However, pressure washing is typically not recommended for cleaning roofs. A pressure washer is a powerful tool that can damage your roof, as well as enter through any small potential cracks or holes in the roof, causing water damage into your home.
Let’s look at why pressure washing your roof is probably not the answer, and alternatives for properly cleaning your roof in a safe and effective way.
Concerns About Pressure Washing Your Roof
“You never hit your shingle roof with any type of pressurized water,” says Justin Trotta, owner of Trotta’s Power Washing. Whether a shingle roof or tile roof, many experts typically do not recommend pressure washing your roof to clean it, as the water pressure may cause more damage than its worth.
Even for especially difficult stains such as moss and mold that may accumulate on the roof over the years, pressure washing is not necessarily the answer. Instead, Trotta’s Power Washing cleans these tough areas with a proprietary blend of soaps and detergents at a low pressure with high volume to kill the staining while making sure not to damage or remove any of the asphalt granules on the shingles, which can potentially lessen the life of your roof.
Can You Clean a Roof with a Pressure Washer?
Again, while you can choose what you do or your contractor uses to clean your roof, the experts at Trotta’s Power Washing do not believe that using a pressure washer on a roof is the best choice for a cleaning method. Power washing by using low pressure with the correct cleaning chemicals is the best choice when it comes to a quality roof cleaning.
As Justin says, “When you use a soft wash approach, that’s when you get a nice, safe application of cleaners that are safe for the roof, and it kills all that mold. And lets it weather off naturally rather than relying on water pressure.”
What are the benefits of power washing?
Power washing your roof may extend the longevity of the roof and will also increase your home’s curb appeal. Just like no one likes to drive around in an extremely dirty car, no one likes to pull up to their house and see a dirty, dingy roof that does not match the aesthetics of the rest of the home. Note: it is important to notice if your roof simply needs to be cleaned or is looking dingy because it needs to be replaced, which is a totally different job!
Best Practices for Getting Your Roof Washed
There is no need to start stressing that roof cleaning is another regular homeowner occurrence to add to your list of home to-dos, but it is something that you’d like to do when necessary for a nice looking home!
If you do want to clean your roof, whether you try to do it yourself or hire someone else to clean it, it is imperative to make sure that you do not hurt or damage your roof, your house, the surroundings, or — most importantly — yourself. Make sure that your ladders are set up properly and safely and your equipment doesn’t throw you off balance. When spraying roof shingles, always point the water down so it cascades down the shingles, rather than point the water up and under the shingles, which can cause damage and even rip them off.
Ultimately, Trotta’s recommends using professionals to clean your roof so that you mitigate the risk of damaging your roof. Experts will know the best way to handle cleaning your roof, while using the proper chemicals and methods to get its best clean.
What is the best time of year to have your roof cleaned?
Though there isn’t an exact time of year to have your roof cleaned, it is best to ensure your roof can stay dry for days after the cleaning — which means that late spring/summer or fall may be a great choice for your roof cleaning.
“I would say anytime of the year most roof cleaning, especially if you’re going to use the with the Trotta way, which is the soft wash, which is going to be the chemical cleaning, says Justin Trotta. “The roof has to be dry and remain dry for a certain period of time, but you don’t want that mixture or chemical rinsing off too fast.”
How often should you pressure wash your roof?
Your roof should not need to be cleaned very often, especially if the job is done properly by professionals. Justin Trotta notes that “a good roof cleaning can last three to six years before having to redo it again. And again, it’s going to weigh heavily on your environment.”
If you feel that your roof gets dirty quicker and you’d like to wash it more often to keep your home looking nice, then you may choose to wash it more often. Though it probably should not need to be washed more than once or twice a year max, again, probably during a time of year where the roof can stay dry for a few days if the proper cleaning chemicals are being used.
Yet, although cleaning your roof may not exactly be a necessity, if you never clean your roof, your home may become an eyesore for yourself and your neighbors.
If you don’t want to power wash your roof, you may be able to clean it by using a leaf blower to simply remove any leaves, or loose moss, dirt, or other debris from the surface. A garden spray nozzle and nontoxic chemicals purchased at a home store could also help to get rid of noticeable stains on the roof, helping improve your roof’s image and cleanliness.
Get Your Roof Power Washed Now
Though using high pressure on a roof is not optimal, there are still cleaning and washing techniques that can be used without causing damage. That’s where Trotta’s Power Washing can help with our special chemical solutions and gentle techniques, called the “The Trotta Soft Wash.” With power washing using low pressure and high volume, as well as our 5-soap proprietary blend, your roof will look as clean and new as the day it was put on your home.
Based on the roof size and how dirty it is, a professional roof cleaning from Trotta’s should cost anywhere between $150 to $1,000. We always aim to give a fair price while also delivering quality service by professionals who will ensure to get your roof as clean as possible, while not damaging any parts of your roof with improper techniques.
Call Trotta’s today at 330-940-3705 or use our easy online form to request a free quote for your roof power washing!
