Englewood, Venice, Rotonda, Punta Gorda, North Port and Port Charlotte, Florida roof cleaning companies are claiming to use green, environmentally friendly roof cleaning methods and treatments lately!
It’s the new fad!
Charlotte and Sarasota County Florida roof cleaning companies have been way overstating their green and environmentally friendly, safe status.
Personally, I don't like seeing Florida roof cleaning contractors promote themselves as using eco-friendly, green roof treatments when in reality, most use treatments such as Sodium Hydroxide, copper napthenate, zinc napthenate and zinc chloride on Florida roofs. I guess some will say anything to show up on a Google keyword *GREEN, ECO FRIENDLY, BIODEGRADABLE, ROOF CLEANING ETC* search!
Inevitably, these companies complete the roof cleaning by firing up their power washing machines. Simply because, that's what it takes to make the roof look clean without using common chlorine to kill and remove all agae. These new "green sales" chemicals can not remove black algae from roofs on their own. As a side sale, they sometimes put on a heavy metal treatment, sold separately as a roof-a-side preventative treatment. I do not see the environmentally friendly roof cleaning aspect of these chemicals?
So, Is it really “GREEN ROOF CLEANING” for Florida Customers?
The photos below show us applying roofing manufacturer approved chemicals, to Englewood, Venice, Rotonda, North Port and Port Charlotte FL roofs.
We follow the recommended non pressure *SOFT-WASH roof cleaning chemical suggestions of the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association. ARMA
Not the salesman's "no bleach", safe for plants and pets, biodegradable, non toxic, made by a chemist, environmentally friendly, blah, blah, blah, everything they think you want to hear about their so called “Green Roof Cleaning Products”.
But, most intelligent, informed people today know, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
In this case – IT IS!
Remember, that black on your roof is algae, which is a plant growing on your roof, so if the new fad “GREEN” chemical is safe for plants, how can the “Green Roof Cleaning Chemicals” kill the one growing on your roof ?
It’s not the new “green” chemicals that get your roof clean, it’s the damaging pressure washing machine that the green roof cleaning companies have to use in the end, that blasts the black off *along with your roofing granules!* Because only Chlorine can totally eradicate algae, using a “non plant damaging green product / pressure washing” leaves the algae / mold / mildew to continue growing and the black starts to show again in 6 months to a year! An ARMA suggested 3%-6% chlorine mix lasts 4-5 years! The roofing manufactures ought to know more about how to clean roofs, than the new money making “Green Stuff?” makers do!
Plus, the roofing manufacturers are the ones making your roofing warranty and the ones who can void it if not cleaned by their accepted method!
So, as a veteran 22 year Florida roof cleaning professional, please consider my advice and if you really want to use a “green” labeled product, stick with those in 12 ounce spray bottles and clean your shower with them, if you trust them? That’s what most of them were originally designed to do! Then they saw how they could promote large volume sales, by suggesting you pump gallons of their chemicals onto your roof. They target “Do it yourself” homeowners, because most professionals know better - if they care and are honest with you?
We all know about chlorine. We drink it in out faucet water, shower in it, soak in it in our pools etc. Would you dare do the same with an unknown chemical, just because it's called "Eco-Friendly and Green? Not me!!!
In the attached link, you can read how this Roofing Manufacturers Association document says to clean roofs. That is the only method I use. So your warranty will not be voided.