Roof Soft Washing Gets Your Asphalt Shingle Roof Clean Without Harming It

25 May 2023
 Categories: , Blog


If your asphalt shingle roof is stained and ugly due to algae growth, bird droppings, or tree debris, then consider having your roof washed. Asphalt shingles can be washed with a low-pressure soft washer to prevent damage. Cleaning the roof could make a big difference in the curb appeal of your home. Here's how roof soft washing is done.

Chemical Treatments Kill Algae  

Soft washing involves using truck-mounted equipment that allows the cleaning crew to mix chemicals to kill algae. Since high pressures aren't used, chemicals give the boost needed to get your roof as clean as possible.

The equipment on the truck or trailer contains water and pumps, mixing tanks for the soap and chemicals used as well as a hose on a reel that the roof cleaner takes up on the roof with them. There is also a variety of nozzles that can be used to create the spray pattern and strength needed. The cleaning crew might start by wetting all of the landscaping around the house so the soap and chemicals won't harm the plants.

Then the roof soft washing begins by spraying soap and algae cleaning chemicals on the roof a section at a time. The chemicals are allowed to work and break up the algae and then rinsed if your roof cleaning contractor decides to. The algae solution doesn't necessarily have to be rinsed off since rain will clean the chemicals off at some point and they can continue to work until then. However, some contractors choose to rinse the roof so the work is complete when they leave.

Roof Soft Washing Uses Low Pressures

While soft washing is similar to pressure washing, the big difference is in the power behind the water stream. Soft washing is gentle, so it won't harm asphalt shingles. Soft washing can be done on most types of roofing. You can even have your whole house soft washed at the same time without fear of harming siding or paint.

A problem with high-pressure washing besides harming the shingles is that water can be driven underneath the shingles and get the deck wet. This problem is eliminated with soft washing since the pressure isn't strong enough to force water under the roofing.

Roof Soft Washing Gets Your Roof Clean Again

Your shingles may still have some dark spots after washing, but those may be from missing granules due to roof aging. Nothing gets rid of those spots other than adding more granules or changing the shingles. However, all the ugly stains from algae will be gone so your roof looks clean and tidy. Getting rid of all that grime and growth can also prevent roof damage and help your shingles last longer.


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