Year after year, the tiles on the roof of your home are exposed to the rigors of nature and if you don’t give them the attention they need, they start to look crumbling. Mold, moss and tree sap settle on the tiles and make the roof look old and ugly. Most of us pay close attention to Gb Cleaning Services Norfolk doors and floors, but the roof is often overlooked because it is out of sight and therefore out of mind.
3 reasons why you should consider cleaning your roof tiles?
There are three main benefits of cleaning your roof tiles:
- It increases the aesthetic value:
Stains, moss and mold build up over time and degrade the appearance of your roof and the entire home. Regular cleaning keeps these destructive elements at bay.
- Early damage detection:
When you start cleaning the roof, you can spot some of the minor damage that has occurred to the roof’s tile structure due to age, weather conditions or other factors.
- It extends the life of your roof:
After cleaning, you can prime and paint the roof tiles to prevent further accumulation of moss and dirt to extend the life of the tiles.
Chemicals used to clean roof:
Roof tiles are often cleaned with chemicals that are applied to the tiles, left on the tiles for a short time and then rinsed off with a pressure washer. Good roof cleaning companies recommend and use sodium hydroxide-based products. These products are safe, environmentally friendly and very effective as cleaners and degreasers.
A cheaper solution is to use a solution of chlorine bleach and water. Another effective cleaning combination is a mixture of dishwashing detergent, bleach and trisodium phosphate in warm water. Some roof cleaning companies eliminate bleach altogether and use only hot water or steam to clean tiles.
Roof cleaning methods:
Cleaning roof tiles requires the skill and experience of a professional. A professional roof cleaning service will clean your tile roof using the following steps:
- Initial power washing:
The first step is washing the roof tiles with a pressure washer to remove loose dirt, debris such as insects, leaves, twigs, etc. The pressure is applied from the ridge of the roof to the gutter. The roof is then allowed to dry completely.
- Chemical treatment:
Pressure washing again, but this time with a lower water pressure than the first cleaning and using a chemical mixture sprayed on the dry tiles. This process allows the chemical to penetrate the pores of the tiles. It is recommended that you leave the chemicals on the tiles for a while to allow additional dirt on the tiles to loosen.
- Final rinsing:
The last and final cleaning is the rinsing and removal of chemicals and can be the most difficult task of the entire process. It depends on how much dirt, debris and moss has accumulated over the years and how stubborn the stains on the roof tiles are. This time, strong pressure is applied to remove the dirt and stains from top to bottom.
- Cleaning the gutters:
After washing the dirt and chemicals from the roof tiles, the gutters are the next thing that needs attention. Dirt and debris accumulate in the gutters and need to be removed.
- Inspection and repair:
Roof tiles are now inspected for cracks or breaks. Broken or damaged roof tiles shall then be replaced.
- Resealing and repainting:
After final cleaning, the roof tiles are given a sealant to protect them from the elements. Another good option is to repaint the entire tile roof for a lighter, newer coat of paint.
A good tile cleaner can make your tile roof look almost like new.
