Cleaning the roof on your Indianapolis home isn’t just a matter of preserving curbside aesthetics. Roof cleaning is an essential home maintenance task and one that will keep the warranty for your roofing system intact. If you haven’t been cleaning your roof regularly or simply don’t know how or when to tackle this project, read on to discover seven reasons why it must be done, along with a few tips for doing it right.
1. Certain Build-ups Can Undermine the Integrity of Roof Shingles
Roofs are constantly exposed to the outdoor elements. They are subjected to cycles of hot and cold, excess moisture, and excess dryness. Certain areas of roofs accumulate damp, organic debris like wet leaves and twigs. Although roofs are designed with slopes that help them naturally shed these things, periodic cleanings are essential for both preventing the development of algae, moss, mildew, and mold, and getting pervasive growths such as these under control. If left unchecked, moss can cause curling shingles and water damage at the roofing substrate beneath all shingles that have failed. While algae won’t cause any structural shingle damage, it will negatively impact shingle performance. This is especially true for homes that have cooling or reflective roof designs.
Problems like mold and mildew on the rooftop can also have an impact on building residents. When these issues are both severe and widespread, they will eventually diminish the quality of the indoor air. They can also surround the home with a musty, unpleasant smell. A thorough cleaning will eliminate these musty odors, clear off potentially harmful organisms, and protect the lifespan of multiple roofing elements.
2. Cheaply Increase Your Home’s Value and Appeal
Black mold is a common problem on residential roofs that aren’t regularly cleaned. Moreover, from the ground up, this issue can look a lot like widespread shingle loss. Whether you’re putting your house up for sale or simply want to make the best possible impressions on passersby, having black mold cleared off is an inexpensive and easy way to get both jobs done. Given that black mold undermines the integrity of roofs, not taking care of this problem before listing your property will affect both its marketability and its ability to pass lender-required, pre-purchase inspections. Cleaning a mold-covered roof is always cheaper than replacing it. Best of all, if you catch and correct this issue in a timely fashion, you can greatly limit the number of structural repairs required.
3. Honor the Terms and Conditions of Your Roof Warranty
As with every manufacturer or installer warranty, there are terms and conditions that apply to both parties for any roof warranty. Just as warranty issuers must pay for the replacement or repair of defective materials or installation errors, homeowners are required to practice diligent maintenance. For most roofing warranties, this includes scheduling annual roofing inspections, catching and resolving repair issues within a reasonable amount of time, and regularly having the roof cleaned. Although this is a job that you can tackle on your own, it’s generally best to have it handled by professionals. Professional roofers can establish a needs-specific schedule for roof cleaning based upon the age of your roof, the local climate, and other factors.
4. Identify Minor Roofing Problems and Resolve Them Early
Professional roof cleaning gives roofers the opportunity to identify small and still-developing problems before they spiral out of control. If you’ve got missing shingles that cannot be easily seen from the ground, torn flashing, or separation at the roof valleys, these issues can be found and brought to your attention right away. Minor repairs can be scheduled, and larger problems can help you start planning for an essential roof replacement.
5. Prevent Pest Infestations
Dirty, moldy, moss-covered roofs can be incredibly attractive to insects. At certain points of the year, these spaces can serve as the ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, gnats, flies, ants, and more. The best residential pest prevention starts by eliminating spaces that appeal to insects or animals that naturally thrive within the local environment. If a dirty roof attracts bugs and leads to a major home infestation, roof cleaning is something that you’ll have to do to ensure an effective and long-lasting pest elimination treatment. If your home has been struggling with an insect infestation and other pest control measures haven’t worked, consider having your roof cleaned to eliminate potential breeding areas.
6. Keep Your Home Cool and Save Cash
Explosive growths of algae on the roof can actually make your home much hotter. No matter how hard your air conditioner works in the summer months, building residents will have a hard time staying cool if you’ve got a veritable terrarium on your roof. If your spring or summertime energy bills have gone up significantly, a dirty, algae-covered roof could be the reason why. Scheduling cleaning services will improve the look and functionality of your roof. It will also create a more comfortable building interior, reduce your carbon footprint, and cut your monthly overhead costs.
7. Stave Off the Need for Roof Replacement
Regular roof cleaning can greatly increase the durability, resilience, and overall lifespan of many roofing materials. Based upon their composition, design, and the regions in which they’re installed, different roofing types can have varying lifespans. What remains consistent across all roofing types is that roofs last longest when they are well-cared for. After all, professional roof cleaning services are an opportunity to identify and resolve minor problems, even as they prevent the outermost layers of roofs from being subjected to constant moisture, excess heat, and other factors that can lead to warping, buckling, curling, and issues.
Should You Clean Your Own Roof?
There are many benefits in having your roof professionally cleaned that make the costs of these services more than worthwhile. To start, these visits are documented. If you ever need to show proof of maintenance when submitting a warranty repair request, you’ll have it readily at hand. They also ensure that the job is done right. Although cleaning your roof can be incredibly beneficial as both a preventative and corrective measure, it can also be detrimental to roofing if it’s done incorrectly. The wrong cleaning methods can result in the loss of shingle granules and accelerated roof aging. Using standard, store-bought pressure washing equipment can damage shingles, gutters, downspouts, and many other property features, particularly when the correct “soft-wash” settings aren’t available or aren’t used.
One of the greatest benefits of having your roof professionally cleaned is assured personal safety. There’s no need to set up and climb high ladders, mount the roof, or attempt to negotiate any portion of its surface. Not only are professionals trained and equipped for doing this work safely, but they are also far better able to ensure that all areas of the roof are addressed.
How Often Should Roof Cleaning be Performed
The best guide for establishing your roof cleaning schedule is likely your roof warranty. Carefully read the terms and conditions of this agreement to find out what the minimum requirement for roof cleaning is. More often than not, roofs should be professionally inspected and cleaned at least once each year. However, if you have a brand-new roof, cleaning it once every two years may suffice.
At Armor Roofing, we’ve been providing reliable roof cleaning services throughout the greater Indianapolis metro area since 2008. We also provide roof inspections, hail damage repair services, siding repairs, and total roof replacement. If it’s time to have your Indianapolis, IN, roof cleaned, call us today to schedule an appointment.
