Our roofs are essential parts of our homes. As property owners, that means we really ought to look after them. Too often, though, the roof goes unloved. This leads to all sorts of issues with the loft, loft insulation, and even the structural integrity of the property.
However, washing your roof tiles wrong can do just as much damage. Roof tiles are relatively fragile, and are prone to cracking, lifting, and breaking if treated wrong.
Often, people assume that pressure washing roofs is the way forward. It's easy and efficient, and it works for most other outdoor surfaces, after all. But pressure washing roof tiles can be incredibly detrimental. It won't clean roof tiles, but damage roof tiles.
That's where experts like the team at NW Wash come in. With all of our knowledge and skill, our professional roofing contractors can get your roof tiles looking brand new without causing any issues to the roof space or roof structure in the long term.
Here's everything you need to know about the right ways to get your roof clean without causing damage to your roof tiles.
Power washing a roof is incredibly ill-advised unless you're a professional. It takes a lot of skill and know-how, as well as technical kit, to be able to pressure wash or power wash a roof without causing irreparable damage.
When done wrong, power washing can reduce the lifespan of the roof tiles by slowly wearing down the granular finish on the tile. The finish is designed to gradually wear down in order to protect the roof from the great outdoors, so when the finish is worn away too soon, it can lead to issues in the property.
If there are already damaged tiles on the roof, then pressure washing or power washing can lead to water damage to the roof itself. It could even cause water to seep through the tiles and into the loft insulation or loft space. In some situations, this causes loft flooding.
After the pressure washing is done, homes may then suffer during extreme weather. Tiles made loose may fall off, holes made in the tiles, or gaps in the roofing may allow rainwater into the loft. In extreme cases, the lack of structural integrity might even cause issues in high winds.
This is why it is never advised to pressure wash roofs yourself. If you want your roof to be pressure washed, you should always hire professional roofing contractors. A professionally cleaned roof will not cause you problems in the long term.
With the help of professionals like our team at NW Wash, your roof tiles can be cleaned with a pressure washer. We have the right tools, such as specialist nozzles, and all of the right training and experience to handle roof cleaning.
So if not pressure washing, what other roof cleaning methods are there? Whether you've got clay roof tiles or anything else, there are a few alternative options out there for washing a roof.
Perhaps the simplest, but most labour-intensive method of cleaning roof tiles, is scraping off moss growth and algae with a trowel. It requires safety equipment, ladders, and lots of time, but it is a surefire way to clean roof tiles completely. It is best done on drier days when the moss, algae, and other dirt is dry and easy to remove. It is an effective method of removing moss and other substances from the surface of roof tiles.
Just like with a trowel, using a stiff brush in place of a pressure washer is another way to clean roof tile. It's a great technique for moss removal and dirt removal, and on a dry day is relatively easy. It is a damage-free way to clean roof tile, but like using a trowel, involves ladders and safety equipment, and is very labour-heavy.
A common method used to clean roof tiles is a chemical solution. Used in place of pressure washers and unlikely to be the cause of breaking tiles, chemical cleaning can be very useful. Substances like moss killers and fungicides can help to remove roof moss and other organic growth as well as dirt build-up.
The chemicals can be applied through a spray and should be applied after a thorough cleaning to ensure that they can get into the small nooks and crannies. Nearby plants and foliage should be covered.
Similar to chemical cleaning, soft washing is the opposite of a high-powered pressure washer. Soft washing uses low-pressure water but at high volumes. Roofing experts will be able to determine whether or not soft washing a roof is suitable for your property or if it is safe to use a high-powered pressure washer.
The nature of soft washing means that it can clean the roof tiles expertly, remove moss, remove dirt, and provide protection from moss going forward.
Check out: Can You Pressure Wash Indian Sandstone
Roof cleaning is an essential part of home maintenance. Roofing experts and tile manufacturers warn that if it is neglected, it can cause a lot of damage in the long run. This significant damage can be hard to handle if left unchecked.
Alternatively, regular roof maintenance can help with:
Regular maintenance of a tiled roof and the roof covering can extend the life of roof tiles by preventing damage to roof tiles, but it can also help to find damaged roof tiles. Doing so, allows them to be repaired before more damage occurs, saving the homeowner hundreds if not more.
By preventing damage and showing any pre-existing issues on the roof tile it can extend the expected life considerably.
Moss blankets form on roofs very easily, especially in England. When our NW Wash team removes moss, be it with a jet wash or soft-bristled brush, we can prevent a number of moisture issues within the roof.
Moisture trapped on and in roof tiles can lead to costly repairs. The moisture can be trapped in the loft insulation and cause lots of damage.
Debris stuck on the roof can often be rinsed and blown into the property's gutters. This can then cause the gutters to break and block. Blocked gutters can lead to issues further along in the pipes, garden flooding, and even damage to ceilings and fascia boards if left alone.
Moss and dirt on the roof tiles can create a literal blanket. This can cause the house to overheat. By trapping heat, heat loss becomes much harder, and as a consequence, the properties can get very warm. This can then lead to issues with dampness and mould, creating the perfect environment for organic growth.
If in doubt, it is always worth reaching out to professionals for help when it comes to things like cleaning roof tiles. The team at NW Wash will be able to decide whether cleaning with high-pressure water or a soft bristle brush is best for your roof.
Call us today for a free no-obligation quote, and we'll talk about what sealants we need to penetrate past, what growth we have to tackle, and which cleaning technique is the best to get your roof looking brand new again.
You can ask us about high-pressure washing, and eco-friendly cleaning solutions, and find out all you need to know about how we can help clean your roof tiles.
