Although we tend to forget or even neglect it, the roof is one of the most important elements of a house. Offering optimal protection against various bad weather, if it were to deteriorate, the consequences would be catastrophic both in terms of comfort and safety and financially. Because take note, once it is destroyed, we find ourselves in the obligation to ” redo the roof ” and that can cost you extremely dearly.
Roof cleaning professional
The good news is that this kind of problem is entirely preventable. Regular maintenance and cleaning of the roof can prevent its deterioration.
When properly maintained, the roof is:
much stronger: it is more resistant to external aggressions and the wear and tear of time.
much more waterproof: it protects more effectively against infiltration.
much more beautiful: it is much more pleasant to look at.
You don’t know how to do it? Do not panic ! In this article, we invite you to discover when, how and with which product you should clean your roof !
When and how often should you clean your roof?
Don’t worry, you won’t have to do this every week! In France, the roof only needs to be cleaned once or twice a year:
Once in the spring
Spring is the ideal time to make sure that the many aggressions suffered during the winter have not caused damage to the roof covering. This will also be an opportunity for you to clean the roof in preparation for the summer.
Once in late fall
When all the leaves have stopped falling, you will need to clear your roof of all kinds of debris: dead leaves, mold, moss, lichens, fungi, etc.
TIP FROM OUR EXPERT
If you decide to undertake the cleaning of your roof yourself, choose a day when the climate allows you to do it safely, that is to say, warm, dry and windless weather.
If you decide to call on a professional approved by the State , you will be able to take advantage of the help of your department in addition to the advantages that you will already obtain with regard to VAT and tax credits.
Steps to follow for cleaning your roof
Regardless of the cleaning method and treatment product chosen, to clean your roof, proceed as follows:
Take a ladder, the length of which should exceed at least one meter from the top of the gutter and climb to the roof. For your own safety, remember to put a block at the bottom of the ladder and wear good sneakers to avoid slipping.
Remove all the vegetation that has accumulated and is clogging the gutter using pruning shears.
Apply the anti-foam product of your choice using a sprayer or using a brush and leave to act for the necessary time.
Scrub the roof with a stiff brush and water and dispose of the debris in a container or in the gutter that you have previously cleaned or at the end of which you have installed gutters. Depending on the type of roof, you can also use a low/high pressure cleaner.
Apply a water-repellent treatment and rinse the entire roof with a low-pressure cleaner.
Roof gutter cleaning
What a roof cleaning service includes
A professional roof cleaning is generally done in three steps:
Cleaning the surface with a high-pressure cleaner or concentrated bleach .
The treatment of the surface thanks to an anti-foam product and a water repellent.
Re – waterproofing with a resin-based paint.
Roof asbestos removal, waterproofing work and the replacement of tiles are not part of a roof cleaning service. On the other hand, it is the duty of the zinc roofer to check the condition of your roof at the time of maintenance. This is also the advantage of calling on a pro to clean your roof. In addition, this is an opportunity to entrust him with the necessary repairs (separate price).
Cleaning phase: the two main methods
The cleaning method used will essentially depend on the type of roof, i.e. the material with which it was made: tiles, slates, wood, zinc, polycarbonate or steel.
High pressure roof cleaning
Karcher cleaning is an option. It offers the advantage of being effective, fast and efficient , because a simple jet is generally enough to clear your roof of all its waste. This is why this cleaning method is recommended for extreme soiling. This is the case when even a vigorous brush stroke is no longer enough to clean the roof. To do this, we advise you to seek advice from an expert .
Limits of high pressure cleaning
Unfortunately, this cleaning technique is not suitable for all roofs. Due to the extremely powerful force of its jet, it is not safe to use it to clean tiles and slates, as it could weaken, crack or even break them. On the other hand, if the pressure washer acts quickly, its effect never lasts long enough. To prevent foam from appearing, it is often necessary to apply an additional anti-foam treatment.
High pressure roof cleaning | estimate the price of high pressure cleaning
Roof cleaning with concentrated bleach
This method is undoubtedly the most economical, as it offers the advantage of almost instantaneously removing the moss from the roof. We have covered the full point on cleaning the roof with bleach in this article .
Limitations of cleaning with concentrated bleach
Its use is not always recommended, especially in the cleaning of tiled roofs. Often used to clean the floor, chlorine and bleach are particularly powerful products. Simple contact could damage the roof and irreversibly weaken the materials that compose it.
Our advice
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, and you have to be knowledgeable to be sure of the process to apply. We therefore advise you to discuss your roof cleaning project with a pro before deciding to undertake it on your own. You will thus be certain of the method to apply depending on the type of roofing laid and the condition of the roof.
Treatment phase: application of an anti-foam and/or water-repellent treatment
Regardless of the method used, surface cleaning is not enough to keep the roof clean and tidy all year round. The mosses and lichens recover fairly quickly and will gradually moisten the materials and make them porous.
This is why it is often recommended to apply an anti-moss and water-repellent treatment to the roof once it has been cleaned. This allows you to fight the appearance of moss for a long time and subsequently protect the roof against humidity and porosity. It remains to know which product to apply!
Anti-moss products to spray on the roof
Several anti-moss treatment products are available in the market, both online and in stores.
Concentrated and solvent defoamers
Concentrated, water-dilutable defoamers are the most common. Ready to use, it is generally sufficient to spread them on the roof using a sprayer. Thereafter, it is left like this until the rain falls, which will naturally and gradually sweep away the mosses.
Fast-acting defoamers (with rinsing)
In this same category, you can also opt for a fast-acting anti-moss roof treatment. Requiring rinsing, this type of product gets rid of mosses, lichens, fungi and all traces of pollution in a quarter of the time.
Anti-foam products without rinsing
You can also find anti-foam products without rinsing. Often biodegradable and slow-acting, they must be applied during particularly hot and dry seasons to work effectively, as they take up to two months to be truly effective.
Application of a water-repellent treatment
The application of a water repellent treatment is not obligatory, nevertheless it is always recommended. Preventative treatment, water-repellent solutions are indeed those that allow you to fight against humidity. By applying a water-repellent treatment product to your roof, you delay the appearance of moss (between 1 and 10 years depending on the product used) and guarantee the longevity of your roof by avoiding repetitive roof moss removal.
Water repellents are generally compatible with any type of roof, whether thatch, tile, concrete, cement or steel. Available in several colors or without colors, it is applied with a brush or by spraying in one or more coats depending on the product you have chosen.