Is your roof looking rather uninviting? How many times have you told yourself you’ll get up there and clean it …but never get around to it?
If your roof and gutter is housing leaves, branches and debris that are harbouring unsightly and unhealthy mould, moss and grime, it might be time to finally do something about cleaning your roof.
Routine roof cleaning is so important in ensuring your roof is protected and protecting you and your family beneath. Installing a new roof can cost you thousands, and a major expense for any home owner. But with proper roof cleaning and ongoing inspections, you can drastically extend the life of your roof for up to another 20 years and avoid serious issues that can become massive bank breakers.
While you can clean your roof on your own, we would recommend calling in a professional cleaner to help you take care of your roof cleaning and repairs safely. Hiring a professional ensures your surfaces are handled appropriately with care – to the untrained eye, existing roof damages go unnoticed and some high-pressure equipment can harm your roof. Calling in a roof cleaning expert can help you avoid these risks and prove more cost-efficient for you in the long-run.
To help you keep your roof in pristine condition and save thousands on roof replacement costs, use these maintenance tips and see how much of a difference it can make to the lifetime of your roof.
Perform regular roof inspections
Hiring an experienced roof cleaning professional or pressure cleaner to carry out an inspection on your roof can help you identify issues before they become serious problems such as, leakages, areas in need of repair or signs that your roof needs replacing. However, you can perform your own regular inspections when the seasons change or after any major storms.
Keep an eye out for animals or insects that have taken up residence in your roof.
Always check for any obvious damage or rusting to your roof tiles or sheets.
Keep an eye out for algae or moss growth.
Be sure to check your roof cavities for leaks.
Identifying roof leaks
A professional roof cleaning expert will know to inspect your seals, joints and flashing's as these are the most frequent spots for leaks and should be checked regularly. However, in the event of severe weather, it pays to know how to give your roof a check over to assess any damage yourself. Flashing covers entry points into your roof including chimney’s and vents, so if you can safely assess for any damage, look for bending, punctures and dried out or loose sealant. If you identify signs of damage, get a roof repair expert in immediately to assess the damage and fix the leak before it becomes a big and expensive problem.
Remove debris from your roof regularly
An accumulation of leaves, sticks and debris can foster the growth of mould and moss which can lead to wood rot and serous roof damage, so its best to regularly remove it.
Keep your trees trimmed
Trees hanging over your roof can be a serious hazard. Not only do they pose a risk of broken limbs falling on your roof, they can wear down and damage your roof surface over time. Tree limbs are very flexible and can swing and create a significant amount of damage during a storm.
Leave the washing to a pressure cleaning expert
It’s a smart and cost saving move to remove debris from your roof and gutter, but high-pressure roof cleaning can cause some serious damage if you don’t know how to treat your roof surface. It’s important you leave this part of the maintenance to a high-pressure roof cleaning expert.
Pressure cleaning is great for heavy duty cleaning jobs but not all pressure washers are the same, nor are roofs. Using the wrong products, too much product or too much pressure can damage your roof surfaces and, in some cases, could void the warranty on your roof materials.
In the event where your roof is housing stubborn algae, mould or grime, a low-pressure system can be used to clean your roof but it’s best to leave this to a professional pressure cleaner. A professional roof cleaner will know, which products to use and how much pressure your roof can take.
How often should you clean your roof?
We recommend a professional roof clean every 18-36 months however, there are some considerations with regards to weather conditions that will determine the required frequency for your roof. If you live in a city that is prone to high rainfall, this encourages the growth of mould, lichen and moss. Hail is also important to look out for as it can cause a lot of damage to certain types of roofing material. As roof cleaning experts in Perth, we often come across homes that are exposed to lots of surrounding foliage which means falling leaves, branches and rodent activity. All these things mean that you need to get your roof checked more frequently.
Roof cleaning may not be the most glamorous job, but with proper maintenance and regular cleaning, you can enjoy your roof for decades and save thousands by avoiding hefty roof replacement and repair costs. If you think it’s time to get your roof checked over, speak to the team here at DJL Services. We provide a free measure and quote plus we include a free roof inspection with any completed tiled roof clean. As part of our roof cleaning service, we also give you advice on what sort of maintenance schedule is ideal for your particular roof.
Contact us today if you’re ready to rid your roof of the grime and make it safer for you and your family.