Why Pressure Washing is Bad for Your Roof!

A mistake many Knoxville area homeowners make is renting pressure washing equipment and then climbing up a ladder and proceeding to clean their roof. When really this is nothing but a big mistake, for a number of reasons.

For one thing, attempting to DIY your own power washing is a safety concern, especially when it means climbing on ladders or rooftops. That's even more dangerous when you add the element of water which makes surfaces slick and should be kept away from electrical components.

However, it's also about the fact that pressure washing is something you should never do to your roof. When it comes to roof cleaning, soft washing or non-pressure washing is the approach to use and it should be carried out by trained, experienced, licensed, and well-equipped professionals.

Finding a Safer Alternative

So, if you're not supposed to use power washing to clean your roof, does that mean you're supposed to just leave it dirty? Of course not!

In fact, it's essential for the longevity of your roofing that you do keep it clean, it's just time to use a gentle cleaning method, which makes soft washing the smarter approach to take.

• Soft washing relies on chemical cleaning agents to get the job done, instead of a heavy spray of water. Water is still used to help wash the cleaners and dirt away, it's just not the high-pressure spray you're used to seeing when you hire a pressure washing company.
• Don't worry, these cleaning agents are biodegradable and, therefore, Eco-friendly.
• Of course, the main concern is whether or not this gets the job done, the same way that pressure washing would. It's absolutely a safe but effective approach to clean your roof and not worry about causing any damage.

Why Doesn't Standard Power Washing Work?

For a long time, power washing companies treated all the exterior surfaces of your home the same. So, your delicate roofing material got the same treatment as your sturdy concrete driveway.

Yet, even common sense will tell you that doesn't seem like the right approach to take. Obviously, this method could cause damage to roofing and here's how and why:

• Tears Shingles
• Causes Water Intrusion
• Water Pockets Develop
• Mildew / Mold Forms
• Rot Takes Hold

For one thing, your shingles may be a great first line of defense against the elements, but they're not designed or installed in a way that's meant to be hit with high-pressure water, from that angle. So, this can damage shingles or even tear them, even tearing them off the roof.

Another problem that can occur is water getting under the shingles and leading to mold and rot. Avoid all of this by hiring certified experts in the field of soft roof washing.

In other words, call Charlie's Power Wash and get the service you need from a reputable Knoxville pressure washing company.