Summary:
- Power washing your roof might sound smart, but the intense water pressure can cause serious damage. This is especially true if water gets under shingles and disrupts the integrity of your roof.
- Instead of high pressure, use special detergents to safely clean your roof by breaking down algae, moss, and grime. After applying the detergent, a gentle rinse with a garden hose is usually enough—and it won’t risk shingle damage.
- For clearing leaves and debris, a leaf blower is a safer, easier option than power washing. This method keeps your roof clean without the risk of leaks and other damage.
- Roof Maxx can rejuvenate aging asphalt shingles by making them flexible and supple again. This eco-friendly treatment costs just 15-20% of roof replacement.
When you look up at your roof and see the dirt and grime, you will probably become nostalgic for the time when your roof was new and clean. Your roof is one of the hardest-working parts of your home, and it has to stand up to a lot. That can leave it looking dirty and worn.
Read more: How to Clean Your Home’s Gutters
You might wonder, can you power wash a roof? The answer to that question is tricky. The short answer is yes, you can pressure wash a roof, but you probably shouldn’t. Here’s why.
What Happens When You Power Wash Your Roof?
Let’s cover an obvious point that has a huge bearing on whether you can power wash your roof. The keyword is power. Using a power washer means using a lot of force to clean your roof. While it might sound satisfying to blow away all the dirt and grime on your roof, it can have serious consequences.
The first thing to remember is to never use a pressure washer on your roof at full power. It is especially important never to use full power from an angle that would hit your shingles from below. That would just force water under your shingles, which could pry them away from the roof and lodge water under your roofing.
Power Washing without the Power
So can you pressure wash a roof without the pressure? That might be a matter of semantics, but you really have to go easy with the power.
A more effective alternative to full power involves applying a detergent that is appropriate for your type of roofing. Ask an expert and do your research to make sure you use the right type of cleaning product.
Applying detergent can break up algae, moss, or lichen. The detergent will make it easier to wash away the gunk, so you don’t need so much pressure. You can get your roof cleaner without the risk of damage from too much pressure. In fact, with the right cleaning products, you can simply use a garden hose rather than a power washer.
A Leaf Blower Can Help
If you are more concerned about leaves and debris than you are about dirt and moss, then a leaf blower will do the trick. Just be sure to take the necessary safety precautions, particularly if you have a high roof with steep slopes.
How to Get Your Roof Working Like New
If your roof is looking its age, it could be acting its age as well. That fact is, if you think your roof looks worn, it could be worn in terms of how well it functions. Asphalt shingles have to be flexible to expand and contract with changes in the weather.
As your roof ages, it loses its ability to function. Roof Maxx can change that. One application of Roof Maxx restores the natural oils to your shingles so they can fully function like new. The best part? An application of Roof Maxx instantly adds five years of life to your roof, and it costs just 15-20% of the cost of replacing it.
Contact Roof Maxx today and keep your roof going strong for years to come.
