Your Atlanta roof is a crucial part of keeping your residence dry and free from leaks. With a well-maintained roof, it’s possible for it to last up to 20 years or more. However, even with the most state-of-the-art roofing systems available, it’s likely you’re going to run into situations where you have to clean some bothersome algae and mold stains from your roof. What can do you do in situations like this? In this article, we’ll show you some of the various ways you can best clean your roof and obliterate those tough stains for good.
If you need any help with this, always feel free to let our Atlanta roofing experts know.
What You Need to Know About Roof Shingles
To begin forming a plan, you have to know a little bit about how shingles work and which ones are most prone to rot and damage. We often see mold form on asphalt shingles in more humid climates along with mildew and dirt. On the surface, your shingles will stay intact, but it’s not going to add much curb appeal to your home. Shingles made from wood are most likely to rot and decay, allowing roof leaks to form and create more damage to your walls and insulation over time.
Getting new shingles is a solution which can help, but you will still need maintenance for them each year and making sure these are consistently clean. Other kinds of shingles like metal and aluminum are a bit more resistant to algae and mildew stains, but can still have these issues nonetheless. With any roof shingle you have, it’s always best to get a second opinion from a professional when you don’t have the time to figure out a solution on your own.
Now that you know a little bit more about what kinds of shingles are most vulnerable to developing problems like these, you’ll need a couple of tools to make your efforts a success.
1. Emulsifiers
With a metal roof, emulsifiers are ideal because its powerful enough to remove not only algae and mildew stains, but rust from the oxidation too. You can also use laundry detergent and 5% concentrated bleach rinsed with water to remove the stains too.
2. Brushes
Cleaning your roof will also require the use of longer brushes to remove all the dirt, grime, and algae. Whatever you do, however, avoid using pressure washers on your roof. You’ll remove more than just the algae stains, but the parts holding the shingles together.
3. Clorox
There’s a specific kind of Clorox you can use to clean tough algae and mildew stains on your roof. The stain remover doesn’t have any phosphates to keep yourself healthy even after application. In general, oxygen-based products are great for use on a variety of roofing shingles.
4. Vinegar
Your household vinegar is also effective in combatting tough stains on your roof. It’s completely non-toxic and most effective when you mix it with water. You’ll achieve the same results with vinegar as you would with chlorine without any of the toxic side effects, so this tool has a stamp of approval from us.
With these tools, you now have everything you need to start cleaning your roof right!
Steps to Clean Your Roof Shingles
These are the main steps you’ll need to complete to get your roof clean again.
1. Test Out Various Shingles First
Before applying any chemicals or cleaning agents to your roof, see if you can find some leftover shingles you can test. If you don’t have any extras, you can go purchase a few online or go to a nearby hardware store if need be.
2. Remove Roof Debris
Make sure your roof is free of any debris. Remove any leaves or twigs you found that could hinder your cleaning efforts.
3. Apply Water
Wet your shingles to further remove any outstanding residue before applying your cleaning solutions.
4. Apply Your Cleaning Products
Add your cleaning solution to any areas where you see algae or mold and let it sit for at least 10-20 minutes, and then rinse.
Still see some stains after undergoing through the process. You can go through the process again to better target those areas. If you’re still having any issues, then it’s time to seek professional help.
Ameristar Roofing Can Help You Today
We hope you’ve enjoyed this article and learned a lot about how to clean your Atlanta roof. These steps will typically work for any roof, although it can be a bit time consuming. Nonetheless, there’s always help when you need it. Ameristar Roofing is a roofing contractor with experience working with residential, commercial, and multi-family properties alike.
Our team has enough combined experience to install and repair your roof ASAP. Give us a call at 877-330-3301 for more information on what we can do. We appreciate your patience!
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