Roof Cleaning Belle Mead NJ 08502
(877) 420-WASH
Roof Algae Cleaning Belle Meade NJ
Belle Mead is a quiet farming region located outside of Montgomery New Jersey. The homes of the area have not escaped the contagious bacteria that plagues many of the roofs of New Jersey. The black staining you see on this roof is caused by a bacteria call “Gleocapsa Magma”. It feeds on the limestone in the roofing shingle and can be found predominantly on the north side of the roof where the sun shines the least. With less sunlight this north side retains moisture longer than the sunny side. The combination of moisture and limestone allows this bacteria to grow exponentially. Limestone is an organic material composed of skeletal fragments of marine organism, therefore provides a food source for this roof eating type of algae. As the algae begins the grow it will allow the roof to hold more moisture each time it rains. Allowing the roof to hold more moisture allows even more algae to grow. After a while the roof will hold enough moisture to allow the growth of moss. Moss develops a root system like a plant. As the moss weaves its roots into the shingle it slowly shreds the shingles apart.
Roof Moss Belle Meade
Since moss develops a root system like a plant it is best not to try and scrub moss or pressure wash the moss. The best way to remove moss from a roof is to apply a treatment that will kill the moss at the root. Then the dead moss should be left on the roof to dry out and decompose. The dried out moss will become brittle allowing the rains to dislodge the dead moss and wash it off the roof. This can be a slow process but this will insure no damage happens to the shingle as it would by scrubbing or pressure washing the roofing shingle. Scrubbing or power washing a roofing shingle can also dislodge many of the roofing granules and shorten the life of the roof.
Slate Roof Cleaning Belle Meade
Slate roofs can be cleaned without walking on the roof. This is usually the big concern when people with slate roofs inquire about roof cleaning. A simple sanitizing detergent applied to the slate can dissolve black algae and kill moss and lichen. The dead moss and lichen will eventually wash away with future rains.
Cedar Roof Cleaning Belle Meade NJ
Cedar roofs can also be cleaned without walking on the cedar shingles. A simple detergent can dissolve black mold and algae and kill moss and lichen on contact. The dead moss and lichen will eventually wash away from the roof. Cedar is different only in the aspect in that the detergent needs to be neutralized and fully rinsed from the cedar shingle.
Why Should I Care If My Roof Is Dirty?
Black stains on a roof is a living bacteria that feeds on some of the orgainc fillers that are used in making a roof shingle. It accelerates the deterioration of the roof and the blackness absorbs heat and increases your colling costs. A shingle roof should never be cleaned with a pressure washer. Pressure washing a roof can dislodge large amounts of roofing granules and shorten the life of a roof. Asphalt shingle roofs are treated with a special roofing detergent which acts as a disinfectant. These jobs are approached more as a “pest control” job rather than a cleaning. Benefits of treating a roof are: increased curb appeal, a longer lasting roof, and it’s been proven that a blackened roof actually absorbs sunlight which raised attic temperatures. Higher attic temperatures causes air conditioning to run longer to achieve desired cooling temps. So a clean roof can save you electricity on your cooling bills.
Whether it’s black staining, moss, or lichens growing on your roof, we can treat it without using a pressure washer. Call us today and let’s find a solution that suits your roof cleaning needs. Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.
Ed Thompson – Owner
(732) 726-9261
