Owning a home is a great investment, yet in the same breath, it can be a challenging ongoing project to maintain. You need to ensure that everything is running like a well-oiled machine. When the seasons change, you should inspect your home for any damage. As summer begins to cement itself, you are more concerned about different things.
If you are concerned about the algae stains that are growing on your roof, you have probably searched the internet for soft wash systems that can benefit your home. If you want to know more about what soft washing is and why it’s good for your roof, you should keep on reading.
What is a Soft Washing System?
Let’s say that you wanted to get some grime and dirt off some of your surfaces. Sometimes your surfaces can be damaged by power washing. This is why soft washing is recommended. This low-pressure cleaning technique is ideal if you want to clean surfaces that have been stained by mildew, mold, or algae. It can be easy for you to confuse soft washing with power washing. However, you will see that these cleaning techniques vary in different ways.
For instance, the type of equipment and chemicals that you use when you soft wash will not be the same as the ones that you used to power wash your surfaces. If you are worried about the status of your shingles, wood panels, and screens, you should consider using soft washing techniques to get them clean.
When Should You Consider Soft Washing?
If your roof has issues with overgrown algae, you should consider soft washing it to safely remove the stains. According to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, you should consider using low-pressure washing that is combined with a biodegradable cleaning agent. The thing is if your roof has been affected by the growth of algae, it may be susceptible to structural damage. Algae are known for their rapid growth.
If you live in a humid and hot environment, the algae that you have seen on your roof has most likely spread out to other areas that are not visible to your naked eye. For example, algae are known for feeding off any moisture that your roof is trying to retain. When your roof doesn’t have any moisture, it can’t reflect UV rays. This can cause your shingles to rot rapidly.
Tips for Effective Soft Washing
If you want your roof to be free of algae or mildew, you should know how to do a soft wash. Using these tips below should help you to get your roof looking new. Before you can start with your washing, you should ensure that any surrounding plants and surfaces are protected. You should know which chemicals you will need for your soft wash.
You should prepare your solution in a safe space, away from your children. Before loading your solution to a sprayer, you should ensure that it is an agricultural type. When you apply the solution and water to your roof, you should remember to be gentle.
The Bottom Line
If you live in a water-scarce state you should find a professional to help you with soft washing your roof. You will need a high volume of water to ensure that your roof is properly cleaned. If you don’t have enough water, you may struggle to get deep in your roof and get those algae stains off. Additionally, if you don’t have the right soft wash system, you will need to use the services of a company that does.
