Willing to test a new "green" product on your roof? Pressure Wash it? Allow a Cement Surface Cleaner on your roof? {LOOKS LIKE A FLOOR BUFFER} Or have an after- coating applied to it, so it may stay clean for 1-2 years? Or instead, be safe and stick with the Manufacturer instructions? Cleaning with their instructions generally lasts 3-5 years. No need for any after-coatings. In fact they specifically say not to use ANY COATINGS!
Below is the manufacturer "non-pressure" gentle dispersion and chemicals we use at
Chuck Bergman Roof Cleaning.
Your roof is expensive and you probably don't want to have any new chemicals or methods tested out on your roof? By now, most consumers also know that pressure washing is the wrong way to clean a roof. Pressure washing is great for everything except your roof! WE HAVE BEEN PRESSURE CLEANERS SINCE 1989
Non manufacturer cleaning methods may void your roofing warranty, according to the information in their links below, so we just clean them as the manufacturer says to.
The main manufacturer recommended chemical is chlorine bleach.
Is bleach green and eco-friendly?
Yes I would say it is. Chlorine bleach is Sodium Hypochlorite [look at the ingredients in Chlorox etc] and is made from common salt. It bio-degrades back into salt when it dries up.
Chlorine is something we all drink from our tap water, soak in it in our showers and tubs and swim in it in our pools.
AT LEAST WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH, WHEN IT COMES TO CHLORINE. NOT SO WITH UNKNOWN CHEMICALS CALLED "GREEN" "Environmentally Friendly" ETC ETC
The only real danger from chlorine, is if an unqualified roof cleaner does not care for your plants, directly below a roof edge, he can burn a line in your vegetation. We take professional precautions, before, during and after cleaning all roofs, so this does not happen.
HERE ARE THE FACTS FROM THE MANUFACTURERS ETC: Below are the only manufacturer suggested chemicalsI have been able to find on any roofing manufacturer website, bulletin, etc. Some *alternative chemical users* claim "Approved" but do not supply manufacturer links to prove it. The below info and links, prove how those who manufacture and warranty your roofing actually approve of cleaning them!
Below is a partial "cut and paste" excerpt from the above link: GAF Roofing Manufacturers, on how to clean a roof:
"If a new roof is not an option, GAF recommends cleaning the roof with a special mixture. That mixture is: 4 gallons of water, 1 gallon of bleach and 1 cup of TSP" "What NOT To Do! Do not power wash the shingles to clean the shingles. Some roof cleaning companies offer this service. However, it is not recommended."
From ARMA roofing manufacturers Association-how to clean roofing.
Below is a partial excerpt cut and pasted below from ARMA:
Algae discolorations to remove from roofing surfaces, applying a solution of chlorine bleach, trisodium phosphate, {TSP}and water. Solutions for these ingredients depend on the amount of discoloration. Solutions range to one cup TSP and 2.5 gallons each of bleach and water. First, gently disperse this solution on the roofing surface. Avoid scrubbing the surface, as this friction may loosen and remove granules. Caution! High pressure washing systems for algae removal should not be used.
Owens Corning Roofing Manufacturers say the same thing:
"USE CHLORINE and TSP" "DO NOT USE A PRESSURE WASHER"
YOU WILL NOT HEAR A PRESSURE WASHING MACHINE START UP WHEN WE CLEAN YOUR ROOF. YOU WILL NOT GET THE "BUT WE TURN THE PRESSURE WAY DOWN" STORY. We will not clain "No Pressure" and then use a cement surface cleaning maching to blast the dirt and algae off. We will only clean with the specified manufacturer method.
We are certified roof cleaners, through the Roof Cleaning Institute of America. The RCIA is made up of professional roof cleaners, with a membership of aprox 2400.
We have also operated our pressure washing business here in Charlotte and South Sarasota County since 1989. We just don't pressure wash roofing, because it's the wrong way to do it!
-- Edited by Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 on Friday 27th of January 2012 09:19:40 PM
I've done this for the past 20 years or so. I tried the store bought "Rust Removers" and they just are not strong enough and waste a lot of $. This is something to start off with overly cautiously and NOT FOR A HOMEOWNER. We are used to spraying chemicals. Done unprofessionally, you can do instant damage that can not be easily repaired!
I will gladly share my rust removal methods with any "Premium" members. Just PM me.
This photo of my son pressure washing, had me behind with the camera. It works wonders on house walls etc, but is seldom totally successful on flat concrete, like driveways. The rust penetrates flat cement too deeply. But it improves it!
Chuck
-- Edited by Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 on Saturday 4th of June 2011 05:17:22 PM
-- Edited by Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 on Wednesday 20th of July 2011 05:48:39 PM
Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 wrote:
I've done this for the past 20 years or so. I tried the store bought "Rust Removers" and they just are not strong enough and waste a lot of $. This is something to start off with overly cautiously and NOT FOR A HOMEOWNER. We are used to spraying chemicals. Done unprofessionally, you can do instant damage that can not be easily repaired!
I will gladly share my rust removal methods with any "Premium" members. Just PM me.
This photo of my son pressure washing, had me behind with the acid and camera. It works wonders on house walls etc, but is seldom totally successful on flat concrete, like driveways. The rust penetrates flat cement too deeply. But it improves it!
Chuck
Here is another example. I only have 2 photos.
-- Edited by Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 on Saturday 4th of June 2011 05:18:03 PM
You know what? I never had even one job out of hundreds, since I posted this, take advantage of this discount? So, because I REALLY want to get a break from tile roofs and do some shingles, I'm going to offer a 10% discount, up to $25.00 total, for any shingled roof job that can pay in cash. Lets see if this gets me some shingles to clean?