Different Types of Roof Cleaning Products

There are hundreds of roof cleaning products out there, and some of them perform fine while others not so much. The key to finding the suiting product for your own roof is – research. There is no “best” one, most of them work on a similar principle with a few essential differences.

In case you’re planning on cleaning your roof, it would be a good idea to take a moment and check some of the do’s and don’ts related to various products that are available on the market nowadays. It could help you get a better idea of how these things work and what are they best used for.

Contrary to popular belief, cleaning a roof isn’t just climbing up and rinsing it with water and shampoo. In fact, commercially available products like shampoos or soaps usually do more harm than good to your roof, depending on the materials it consists of. Using wrong products can cause issues and even roof damage which consequently leads to leaks and other nuisances.

As we all know, roof reparation is something you should avoid at all costs because it’s quite expensive, time-consuming, and overall a massive project. On the other hand, roof cleaning is a project you can do in a weekend.

Oxygen-based items

These products are perhaps the most widely-used ones by the average Joe. They work well when it comes to eliminating mold, stains, and etcetera. Fungus and algae are also something these things deal with quite effectively.

The important thing to remember when it comes to using oxygen-based products is to get the heavy moss and lichen off the roof before applying the bleach. You can do this with a regular garden hose, as long as it has a nozzle mounted to increase the pressure.

Speaking of pressure, it’s probably the most important element in this particular equation. The more water pressure you apply to the roof, the fewer hassles you’ll have when applying the bleach.

Finding the best oxygen-based product isn’t an easy task, and it’s strongly recommended that you refer to some roof cleaner reviews in order to get a better idea of which one to go with.

Chlorine

Chlorine is a great thing for battling against mildew, mold, fungus, and algae. It’s also widely-used for disinfection of swimming pools as well as tap water. However, it’s a highly aggressive element meaning it can cause skin issues and irritation when in high concentration. Therefore, if you’re planning on messing with chlorine, make sure to take all the precautionary measures or else you might experience issues with the dry and irritated skin.

The thing that’s great about this particular element is that it’s quite easy to use and apply, even if you never dealt with it before. As mentioned, you should always keep safety in mind whenever dealing with aggressive elements. The basic principle of cleaning a roof with chlorine bleach is pretty simple – all you have to do is apply it onto stained areas, let it soak for at least 15 minutes, and then rinse it off with a garden hose. It’s recommended that you use a power washer due to high pressure, but a garden hose will do just fine in case you aren’t able to utilize a power washer.

Copper Sulphate

This particular type of cleaner is more or less a substitute for chlorine bleach. They both have a similar purpose and effect, especially when it comes to elimination of mold, fungus, algae, and mildew. However, copper is an element that poses a threat to the environment, especially the flora around your home. In other words, if you opt to use copper sulfate, make sure to protect the flowers or grass around that area by spraying water over them. While it seems ineffective, spraying water helps with the dilution if the plant ever comes in contact with copper sulfate.

Tri-Sodium Phosphate

Unlike the products above, this one shouldn’t be used in a concentrated form. It’s quite an effective cleaning agent designed to eliminate mold and mildew primarily. On top of that, it’s a good product for cleaning typical stains off the roof, regardless of their origin. It should be mixed with water (per instructions) and applied to the dirty areas. Subsequently, one should use a brush to clean off the surface dirt and then rinse off the residue with water. Once again, you can use a regular garden hose or a power washer; it doesn’t matter as long as it’s pressurized.

The problem with this particular solution is that it doesn’t always get the job done in one go. In case you’re dealing with persistent and hard stains, there is a high probability that you’ll have to repeat the cleaning process several times. It can be quite tedious sometimes, but it’s an extremely effective method nonetheless.

Green products

If you’re an eco-friendly individual, these products probably raise a massive red flag in your mind as most of them contain toxic and aggressive elements. In fact, the vast majority of typical roof cleaning products contain heavy metals, phosphates, acid, lye, and etcetera. While these elements work wonders against mold and other nuisances, they also leave a carbon footprint.

Luckily, there are plenty of eco-friendly roof cleaners on the market. Some of them may struggle with efficiency due to not having corrosive and aggressive properties, but most of these cleaners are as efficient as possible thanks to the advancement of the modern technology. It’s important to note that eco-friendly products should be the number-one solution for people who are prone to allergies and have respiratory issues. On the other hand, the main shortcoming of green cleaners is their price as they tend to be more expensive in comparison to typical ones.

Emulsifiers

If you have a metal roof, emulsifiers are the thing you should be looking for. They are the number-one choice for galvanized roofs as they dissolve the grease and dirt without damaging or jeopardizing the roof integrity in any way.  Aggressive roof cleaners can have a devastating effect on a galvanized roof due to the corrosive ingredients found in the product. It’s crucial that you keep it in mind and avoid using anything with aggressive agents on a galvanized roof because it is going to end up in a disaster. On top of that, emulsifiers usually contain Ammonia which is the main ingredient for grease removal. Grease doesn’t seem like a major problem, but its removal is essential for keeping up appearances.

Using brushes

A brush is a primary tool you should have in mind when planning a roof cleaning. While it’s great to have a bunch of different cleaning products, they are worth nothing without a proper tool. Long-handled brushes are usually the perfect tool for most occasions including the removal of accumulated dust and debris. On the other hand, if you’re dealing with tough stains and moss, a wire brush might be a better option than a typical one. It all comes down to the uniqueness of the situation, and it’s important to recognize the suiting methods for any given occasion.

Therefore, even if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on cleaning products, you should definitely invest in a quality brush. They don’t cost much, but the difference between a $5 and a $30 one is massive. The most notable difference between good and bad brushes is in the quality of the bristles. Low-quality bristles tend to deteriorate quickly due to getting in contact with aggressive agents such as chlorine, copper sulfate, and etcetera.