Applying high-pressure water directly to your roof can cause the bonding or adhesive between your roof material to break, damaging the underlying fabric that protects the interior of your home. Spraying pressurized water can also result in cracks or breaks in the ceramic, cement, or slate tiles.
It can damage your shingles.
Pressure-washing them blasts away dirt, but also can remove parts of the shingles and reduce their expected life span. It can also affect the adhesive between shingles, and even the underlayment below the shingles. This can pave the way for leaks, water damage, and other problems.
When done incorrectly, a pressure washer can damage siding, even knocking it loose. The mortar on brick houses can be blasted away, as well, if the user doesn't know what he or she is doing. In inexperienced hands, the pressure washer can destroy window screens, cause leaking in window seals, and more.
DON'T use a pressure washer, which can loosen shingles and seriously damage your roof. DO use a sprayer attached to a garden hose that's filled with equal parts chlorine bleach and water of laundry strength liquid chlorine bleach and water. This is the best way to clean a roof with asphalt shingles.
Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach)
Called SH for short, household bleach is the most widely used roof cleaning chemical, as it is the choice cleaning agent of nearly every pressure washing company in North America.
Customers say the Spray & Forget roof cleaner is easy to use, attaching directly to a garden hose for convenient application. While many users appreciate its effectiveness on light stains and the ease of the hose-end sprayer, others report mixed results, particularly with tougher stains and moss.
Cons: Potential damage: In inexperienced hands, a pressure washer can cause damage to your car's paint, trim, or delicate parts. High-pressure water can strip away protective coatings and even force water into vulnerable areas, leading to rust or electrical issues.
Winter: Although power washing in winter is possible, we don't recommend it in extreme cold or snow. However, we can power wash on warmer days or during breaks in the weather.
The average cost to pressure wash a house ranges from $500 to $900, with most people spending around $700 to pressure wash a 2,000 sq. ft. vinyl-sided home with normal grime levels, including the cost of all labor, equipment usage, and other materials.
One of the primary ways power washing can cause electrical issues is through water ingress in electrical components. High-pressure water can penetrate electrical outlets, light fixtures, and other outdoor electrical components, leading to short circuits and electrical shocks.
Here's the kind of damage power washing can do if not performed correctly: Water can build up below a home's siding causing mold and mildew growth. Accidental removal or denting of siding, shingles, shutters, etc. Paint removal and discoloration.
While it would be easy to stick a pressure washer in there to flush out any debris and call it a day, that's not the best way to move forward, and you can cause more damage by attempting to clean your gutters this way.
Generally, it is a good idea to get your roof cleaned by professionals once a year. This is often enough to where if problems develop, they can be caught early on. If you have a roof that is in good shape or was just recently installed, then you may only need a roof cleaning once every two years or so.
Tools and Equipment for Pressure Cleaning a Roof
You'll need a suitable pressure washer. A lighter-duty electric model with 1500-2000 PSI is usually enough.
POWER WASHING PROTECTS YOUR HOME FROM DAMAGE
Power washing removes harmful contaminants that can damage your home's siding if left untreated. Over time, algae, mold, and mildew growth can migrate under the siding and lead to expensive replacements and significant health concerns.
Spring is the best time to pressure wash since pressure washing in the winter can lead to more ice on the property and pressure washing in the fall can lead to the leaves falling right back into your property and creating new deposits from decomposition.
Preparing to Pressure Wash
It's not a good idea to stand on a ladder while pressure washing, so be sure to get an extension wand if you have a multi-story home. You'll also need to prepare your home to be pressure washed by removing or covering your light fixtures, AC compressor, shrubs, and outlets.
Soft-washing techniques work best for cleaning your home's siding and roof. Pressure washers with soft-washing nozzles risk damaging siding, cracking roof tiles, and breaking glass windows. Soft-washing services, on the other hand, are entirely safe for all exterior home surfaces.
SoftWashing forgoes much of that pressurization in favor of chemicals. These chemicals are safe for both your home and the environment. Here are a few more ways that SoftWash is different from traditional power washing: SoftWash is not only safer for your home but also for your family and the community we live in.
Vinyl siding can withstand a powerful gas pressure washer (2,500-3,000 psi). Aluminum, stucco or soft-grain wood homes will do better with a less powerful washer (about 1,200-1,500 psi).
Customers say that the Spray & Forget Revolutionary Roof Cleaner Concentrate is easy to use and offers a convenient application process. Many users appreciate its ability to clean various roof types and the fact that it is bleach-free, making it safer for surrounding plants.
Thoroughly saturate the surface with Wet & Forget Outdoor. Then, allow the product to dry. Wet & Forget will work over time with the rain and wind to gently clean up the green and black stains.