Most roofing materials are expected to last decades. Asphalt shingles deteriorate more quickly than other roofing materials like tiles and metal, but they should still last 20 years or more if properly maintained. Roof washing is important to the longevity of your roof, but it is often a chore that is overlooked or put off by homeowners because it doesn’t need to be done very often and it can be dangerous to attempt on your own, not to mention that you can actually harm your roofing if you don’t know what you are doing.
To better understand why roof washing is important, let’s talk about the kinds of problems that can occur with your roof over time:
- Dirt and debris: Dust and dirt travel through the air and land on your roof. Debris falls from nearby trees, including pollen, bark, leaves, sticks and more. This builds up a layer of dirt and biological material on your roof that can encourage unwanted growth of algae, lichen and moss.
- Algae and fungi: If you notice dark stains on your roof, particularly in the shaded areas, you probably have algae or fungi growing on your shingles.
- Lichens and moss: Lichens have root-like tentacles that can be hard to remove from your shingles because they penetrate the outer layers. Even if you think you remove them, these stubborn little organisms can reappear. Moss is a plant that can literally take root on your shingles and lead to shingle deterioration, wood rot and other major problems.
Professional roof washing uses a biodegradable cleaning solution that can not only remove current growth, but can also inhibit growth of unwanted algae and moss for 18 months or more.