Pressure washing is a cost-effective way to maintain your home and make it look new without having to replace anything. While your roof may not look dirty at first glance, it can be covered with contaminants that eat away at your shingles and cause damage to the structure of your home.
This is however, not a greenlight to pressure wash your roof. As much as a pressure washer would be a quick and easy way to remove dirt and debris from the surface of asphalt shingles. One of the many problems with this idea is that without guide tips, it's impossible to control the power of the spray. If you are too close to the surface of the shingles, you can blast away the granules that give them their color and protect them from UV light.
Even worse, high-pressure water can leave tiny holes in those same granules. Those small holes may not seem like a big deal today, but even small amounts of water can work its way into them over time, eventually leading to rot in the plywood beneath.
It is for this reason that roofing manufacturers have specifically warned against using power washers on their products for years. This is an activity that can only be undertaken by experts in the cleaning niche.
Pressure Washing Can Void Your Warranty
It's important to know that pressure washing may void the warranty on your roof. You'll want to check with your manufacturer before having your roof cleaned or you risk losing coverage for problems down the road.
If you however, get a go ahead from your manufacturer about pressure washing your roof, you have to remember that incase of any mishap your house may not be covered by its warranty.
So once you are ready to pressure wash the roof, having confirmed all of the above, you will need to follow these steps.
Check your shingles for granule loss. Pressure washing can cause serious damage to the asphalt shingles on your roof if they're already starting to deteriorate. Do a close check of the shingles from the ground. If you notice any granules missing, pressure washing isn't a good idea.
Check your shingles for curling or buckling. Aging asphalt shingles may curl or buckle. The strong pressure of the water could break off pieces of the shingle or even pull them up completely. Use binoculars to take a close look at your shingles and make sure they're in good shape before trying a pressure wash.
Use the proper pressure setting on your washer. Never use full pressure when washing a roof. Your roof materials cannot withstand that kind of power, and you will do more harm than good when using full pressure to clean your roof. Instead, start with about half power and slowly increase until you remove all dirt, mold, moss and mildew from the surface of the roof.
Probable Benefits of Pressure washing your roof
When you choose to pressure wash your roof, your gutters, and the siding of your home, you are choosing to add value to your property. Not only does pressure washing save you money because you don’t have to replace as much, but it also gives your house curb appeal.
The benefits are however, guaranteed only if you pressure wash the right way and follow every step listed above. You can get to learn more about pressure washing from the giraffetools and collections.