Construction Contractors Community

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Indiana

Roof cleaning is a subject that gets a lot of lip service. There is a lot of debate whether pressure washing roofs does more damage than good. Through my research and experience I can tell you that yes it does cause more damage than good. You never want to use a pressure washer to clean asphalt shingles. The pressure will blow the shingle granules off the roof which are there to protect the shingle. Doing this will definitely lessen the longevity of your shingles.

First of all, why is cleaning a roof necessary? The most common reason to clean asphalt shingles is due to an airborne algae called gloeocapsa magma or roof algae. This alga is spread down the roof by rain causing black streaks. If not cleaned off the algae will spread across the whole roof and won't allow the shingles to reflect heat causing them to fail prematurely.

So how do you clean shingles without harming them? There are guidelines and techniques that are recommended by most of the major shingle manufacturers. By using these recommended low pressure techniques, shingles suffering from roof algae can be cleaned properly without damaging the shingles.

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Pressure Washing Contractor Providing Deck Cleaning, Concrete Cleaning and Other Power Washing Contractor Services

WFConstructionPro · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:08 pm Post subject: Low Pressure Roof Cleaning

Barry, you provide some great information on roof cleaning. Did you know you have a link at Wikipedia as a reference for cleaning algae called Gloeocapsa Magma? That is a awesome place to have links to your site.

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Indiana

Wow, I didn't know that. I just searched it though and I found my link along with owenscorning, that is pretty cool. Thanks for the compliment and the info.

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Pressure Washing Contractor Providing Deck Cleaning, Concrete Cleaning and Other Power Washing Contractor Services

expertwasher · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Maryland

That is truely awesome! I'm not big on websites but I know getting listed on Wikipedia is almost impossible for contractors or anyone else for that matter. Do you know how you go that listing?

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Indiana

My business has always been dedicated to consumer education and service. That roof report info copy was even on my old website, so its been around for awhile maybe that helped. I'm not sure how long I've had that link or how they determined to put it there but hey, I'll take it man.

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Pressure Washing Contractor Providing Deck Cleaning, Concrete Cleaning and Other Power Washing Contractor Services

PerfectTouch · Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 5

Look out Barry... pretty soon your going to be famous!

CleanTeam · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 6

I just say Barry's site on first page of Google for pressure washing. It look like he may be famous already. Shocked

Good work on the rank, that is awesome!

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Indiana

I don't know about famous but thank you. Mike still won't be happy until I hit #1 so its back to work Laughing

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Pressure Washing Contractor Providing Deck Cleaning, Concrete Cleaning and Other Power Washing Contractor Services