When it comes to residential roofing, asphalt shingles are one of the most common materials used because they are durable, long lasting, and affordable. They may not be as “showy” as the red tile roofs you see, but they can withstand severe weather, like wind and rain, and that’s one of the reasons builders often choose to use them here in Southwest Florida.
However, cleaning and maintaining your shingle roof is critical to its lifespan. So much so that some home insurance companies are demanding maintenance, or you risk having your policy dropped. Why is it so important? Because, aside from losing its original color, and looking terrible, your dirty-looking shingle roof most likely has algae, bacteria, and fungus growing on it. And those living organisms can cause major damage with your roofing materials, requiring replacement, rather than just a cleaning.
Let’s look at what the bacteria actually does to your shingles. The filament root system of the fungi and algae are growing on, and digging in to your roof. Fungi and algae that are growing on a roof have root systems that open up tiny cracks in the shingles, causing damage to them, and ultimately decomposition. They spread the shingle like a fan. Because the shingle is attached on the back, the front ends of the shingle flare and roll. This is because the shingle is widened at the front more so than the back. Research shows that the bacteria within the mold and algae on your roof actually feeds off the limestone, which contains phosphates, and other materials within the shingles on your roof. These microorganisms break down the roofing surface and cause them to decompose. This in turn, will also aid the process of erosion caused by running water, such as rainfall. So they are eating away at your roof and shortening the lifespan of it dramatically, and our hot humid days allow them to thrive. That’s right, if your roof isn’t cleaned regularly, especially if algae is visible on it, it can lead to rapid deterioration of your shingles.
Shingles help block UV rays, which as you know, we get a lot of here in Southwest Florida. And without being properly blocked, UV rays lead to less energy efficiency and higher electrical bills, as you will end up having your air conditioner running more to keep the house cool.
Aside from being really bad for your roof, the algae, mold and fungi present on your roof may also be dangerous for the people living in your household who have allergies or asthma.
And finally, the end result is you’ll have to replace your roof much sooner than you should need to. Have you priced out roofing lately? It can cost more than $10,000 to get your roof replaced!
When the pressure washing industry was started back in the 1980’s, there were lots of roof cleaning companies who pressure washed shingle roofs to clean them. But at Under Pressure, we never pressure wash a roof, because pressure washing is really bad for all types of roofs. Any type of pressure washing on shingles literally sprays 10-15 years off the life of your roof! Using high pressure can remove the aggregate granules from the asphalt shingle leaving them unprotected from the elements. High pressure will not only damage the shingles, but it will void your roof’s warranty!
What’s worse is that pressure washing may make it look like it’s gotten rid of those black streaks, but it will only be a few months before you start to see them again. That’s because the black streaks are a living organism that has already put down roots in your shingles. When you merely pressure wash, you do not blow the roots off the roof, so the bacteria, mold and mildew grow back quickly.
We, at Under Pressure, strictly use only Roof Cleaning Institute of America approved techniques to clean roofs. We do not use “high pressure” or “low pressure” washing on roofs. We clean with no pressure applied to the roof at all. Also, we use minimal walking on roofs to maintain the integrity of the roof. We use a cutting edge solution called BioWash, that safely and effectively removes these microorganism stains!
The BioWash solution is completely safe for all of your landscape plantings and grass because it’s biodegradable. It’s effective on all kinds of roofs, including asphalt shingles. The formulation of the product and the application technique allows the cleaning solution to have a longer linger time, which means less run off, and increased results from just one application. One of the best things about this product, is that it continues to work over time. Every time it rains, your roof will get cleaner and release a protective barrier from the algae that stains your roof, deeply cleaning and preventing the stains from returning, when you schedule regular preventative services with us.
Our BioWash service is an industry first, and we hope you’ll call us today to clean your shingle roof with this environmentally-roof-friendly product. If you’re interested in having the black stains on your roof removed safely and with long-lasting results, give us a call at Under Pressure at 239-218-5085!
Under Pressure Cleaning and Sealing Services proudly serving Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs, Port Charlotte, Alva in Lee and Collier County, Florida
