Why Having Your Roof Cleaned Is Important

 

Having your roof cleaned is a very important step of routine home maintenance, as a dirty roof can not only look bad but lead to damage as well. Dirt, fungus, algae, rot, and moss can all leave stains on the roof but can be removed with proper roof cleaning. If you’ve noticed black stains, growing moss, or algae staining, it’s probably time to have your roof cleaned. Why should you have your roof cleaned?

Avoid Damage by Having Your Roof Cleaned

Staining on a roof is actually from some type of algae, fungus, or moss. All of these decompose matter, so removing them from the roof is very important. The stains on the roof can actually damage the roof in a few different ways. 

Shingle Damage

Algae is a bacteria that feeds off of limestone and asphalt. Most shingles are made up of asphalt, which provides a food source for the algae. As the algae feeds off the asphalt shingles, it is essentially deteriorating them over time, making your roof less protective of your home. In addition, roofs that have algae staining can absorb heat more, which can cause the attic to become even more heated, baking the shingles from the inside of the house out. 

Wood Rot

If you have moss growing on your roof, it’s generally easier to spot, but wood rot is not quite as blatantly obvious. Moss likes to grow between shingles, which is the last spot of the shingles to dry. Sometimes it’s hard to see wood rot until it’s too late, and rot can lead to mold problems, which can be extremely dangerous to the inhabitants of the home. Prevention is key when it comes to these types of problems.  

Curb Appeal

Your roof may only be a few years old, but when it needs to be cleaned, it can appear that it’s at the end of its life. If you’re trying to spruce up the exterior of your house, or are thinking about selling, having your roof cleaned can dramatically impact the curb appeal. When people see that the exterior of the house is taken care of, they assume that the homeowner has taken good care of the house from the inside out. 

Extend the Life of Your Roof

By routinely cleaning the roof, you can extend the life of your roof because removing the contaminants will stop the degradation process of the roof. Having a professional clean the roof can ensure that the proper cleaning products and processes are followed. In some cases, the growth of algae, fungus, and moss are so severe that the roof has taken on significant damage and roof cleaning may not be enough. Don’t let it get to that point by making sure your roof is cleaned regularly. 

Be Sure to Clean Your Roof Regularly

As you can see, getting your roof cleaned regularly can save you headaches, time, and money. Don’t let the moss, fungus, and algae deteriorate your roof. Having the roof cleaned and inspected can be so helpful in extending the life of your roof.