First Coast Home Pros

Your roof is one of your home’s most sizable investments, and you want to do everything you can to keep it functioning for as long as possible. However, if it’s covered by algae, moss, or mold, the resulting damage could shorten your roof’s lifespan and reduce your home’s energy efficiency.

Some roof cleaning techniques can harm your home and yard; however, First Coast Home Pros’ low-pressure cleaning system is unique. We use a mild spray of water and eco-friendly solvents that won’t deteriorate your home’s roofing materials or harm your plants or lawn when it runs off.

Understanding Low-Pressure Roof Cleaning

Also known as “soft washing,” low-pressure roof cleaning is a method of pressure washing. However, unlike traditional pressure washers that blast away using 3,500 PSI or more, a low-pressure system often uses less than 1,000 PSI.

If you start blazing away at your roofline with a very high level of PSI, you can easily damage your vinyl siding, car mirrors, or grouting. However, soft washing’s low PSI allows you to thoroughly clean your roof while preventing unnecessary property damage.

Your pressure washing technician will use a battery-operated wand to spray our eco-friendly cleaning solvent onto your roof. We can then customize our cleansers to address your unique circumstances.

For example, if you have a problem with algae, we’ll include an algaecide to destroy it and prevent future recurrences.

Following this, your technician will use the low-pressure hose to wash away these cleansers, along with the accumulated dirt and debris. The water flow can be adjusted when necessary to protect more fragile roof types.

Is It a Good Idea to Pressure Wash Your Roof?

When organic debris like leaves or twigs accumulates on your roof, it inevitably decays. This decomposition encourages fungi, algae, and moss growth and the eventual deterioration of your roof. Regular roof cleaning safeguards your home by eliminating these unwanted materials.

Yet, some experts caution against pressure washing due to the spray’s considerable intensity. They say that blasting high-pressure water at your shingles may dislodge them and expose your decking material, leading to water leaks that could potentially cause more damage than it prevents.

Although some roofing material could potentially stand up to concentrated jets of water, a low-pressure cleaning system is a better option for most roofs.

What Roof Can Types Be Cleaned with Low-Pressure Washing?

Low-pressure cleaning is safe and effective for a wide range of roofing types. At First Coast Home Pros, we recommend low-pressure roof cleaning for:

Asphalt and fiberglass shingles: Asphalt and fiberglass shingles are thin and textured and are the most common choice for roofing material. They are strong enough to withstand years of sun and rain, but high-pressure sprayers could damage them.
Wood shingles and wood shakes: Usually made from a long-lasting wood like cedar, wood shingles and shakes are particularly susceptible to algae and mold.
Ceramic, clay, or concrete tiles: More expensive and heavier than shingles, tile roofs are made from durable materials to stand up to the heat of warmer climates. This durability also makes tile roofs excellent candidates for low-pressure washing.
Slate: Slate is another heavy natural material that has been used to reinforce roofs for centuries. It is made of durable sedimentary rock that can remain on your roof for 100 years. Plus, it can be safely cleaned with a low-pressure sprayer.
Rubber: Rubber roofs are made from recycled tires, slate dust, and sawdust. They are environmentally friendly and provide superior leak protection from rain and the water emitted from a low-pressure washer.
Metal: Copper, stainless steel, and aluminum roofs are long-lasting and robust. They are made to withstand harsh weather conditions and won’t be damaged by the water from low-pressure cleaning.

Will Chemicals Damage Your Asphalt Shingles?

When our pressure washing experts clean your roof, we use solutions in our low-pressure sprayer that are made for common roof types like asphalt shingles. This means they will not damage your roof the way cheaper chemicals might.

For example, basic chlorine bleach effectively kills algae and mold in other applications, but it is not a smart choice for cleaning your asphalt roof. This is because chlorine bleach:

Is not able to penetrate asphalt to reach the mold beneath the surface.
Dries out your asphalt shingles, causing them to curl up and wear out faster.
It runs off your roof and into your yard, killing any plants with which it comes into contact.

We use only biodegradable detergents approved by ARMA (Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association) and are safe for both your yard and your shingles.