Roof Cleaning
Those dark black streaks running down your roof aren't dirt. That's a bacteria called Gloeocapsa magma. It feeds on the limestone filler in your shingles, and in Central Kentucky we have plenty of limestone. Once it takes hold it spreads fast. It's not just ugly either. It holds moisture and heat against your shingles and shortens the life of your roof.
We clean roofs using the soft wash method. That's the only method recommended by shingle manufacturers like GAF, Owens Corning, and CertainTeed. If someone pressure washes your roof you could void your warranty. Pressure blasts away the protective granules on your shingles and causes real damage. We use zero pressure on the roof surface. Just a cleaning solution applied from the ground that kills the bacteria and algae completely.
We set up all our application equipment at ground level so nobody is walking all over your roof risking damage to shingles or flashing. We pre-soak all landscaping, gutters, and surrounding surfaces to protect them from runoff. The solution goes on, dwells for 15 to 20 minutes, and then we rinse at low pressure. The roof looks dramatically better right away, and any remaining staining continues to fade over the next few weeks as rain washes away the dead bacteria. The whole process takes about 2 to 4 hours.
Roof cleaning in the Lexington area starts at $599 and runs up to $1,299 for most homes. Roof size, pitch, accessibility, and how heavy the staining is all affect the price. Very few jobs go above $1,299. A clean roof should stay that way for three to five years before it needs attention again. Compare that to a $10,000 to $15,000 roof replacement and it's an easy decision.
Common Questions About Roof Cleaning
Will soft washing void my roof warranty? No. Soft washing is the manufacturer-recommended cleaning method. Pressure washing is what voids warranties.
How long does a roof stay clean after soft washing? Three to five years on average. North-facing slopes and heavily shaded roofs may need it sooner.
Will the chemicals damage my gutters or landscaping? No. We pre-soak everything before we start and rinse thoroughly when we're done. We've been doing this since 2009 and have never had a landscaping issue.
Can you clean tile and metal roofs too? Yes. We adjust our solution and technique for the roof material. Asphalt shingles, tile, metal, slate, cedar shake, we handle all of them.
