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What You Pay For With Roof Cleaning

What is it that a client gets when they hire a professional roof cleaner? Some people say, "it's just spraying bleach on a roof", and they're wrong before the words even leave their mouth. What the client pays for when they hire us to do a roof cleaning isn't just some bleach sprayed on a roof. Professional roof cleaning contractors are using a much more powerful version of a chemical they barely know. In fact, we're purchasing it in just about the purest form they can manufacture and ship it. The client isn't paying for some monkey to trample their roof and lay waste to their landscaping with a chemical that can oxidize any organic matter to a pile of mush.

How about a little lesson in the basics which RCIA certified roof cleaning contractors are well versed in. Professional roof cleaning companies are using 10-12.5% sodium hypochlorite, which is often sold as "pool chlorine" and in much lower concentrations as "bleach". When sold as household bleach, it can and is often be combined with other ingredients. Sodium hypochlorite is a strong oxidizing agent. Through the process of oxidation, the algae (actually cyanobacteria) is killed, and mostly removed. Rinsing helps this final removal process, but is often left to rain to finish. Using advanced proprietary cleaners along with the sodium hypochlorite helps remove the algae residue. This is effective if the roof is rinsed immediately, or later by rain. Spraying liquids and climbing roofs is not as simple as it seems, just because the ingredient is known. I know flour is in a cake, but I couldn't tell you how to bake one.

Let's set aside a myth and miscommunication real fast. "Chlorine" is a gas, we don't clean with "chlorine". Sodium hypochlorite is often made by passing chlorine gas through sodium hydroxide, or through electrolysis of a heavy brine solution. In water sodium hypochlorite forms hypochlorous acid and a chlorite ion. Sodium hypochlorite oxidizes algae via the chlorite ions which basically give up their strength during the process, leaving behind nothing but sodium and hydrogen, a.k.a. salt water. Sodium hypochlorite breaks down rapidly in the sunlight, and this actually helps the oxidation and roof cleaning process. It also helps remove the strength from the formula during cleaning, which can help with protecting landscaping.  Did you know it is one of the most environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals on earth? It's in everything, including our own food and water! The danger is minimal when handled properly, even for the environment. However, when handled improperly, a lot of damage can be done using such strong chemicals.

When a client pays for a roof cleaning, they are paying for experts in their field.  People who are educated and know how to wield these chemicals carefully and properly. Nobody will mistaken my deflated pile of smoldering carbon mush to be considered a cake, will they? Roof cleaning customers are paying for people who have perfected a craft, and can safely restore their image without damage. Does your roof cleaner really know what he's doing? Does he really comprehend the cleaners he's using, their properties, safe handling, and how and why the process works? If not, why hire them? It's obvious what a roof cleaning customer is really paying for. 

The clients are paying for someone who has the skill to lay waste to thousands of square feet of algae, moss, lichen, and other roof infesting organisms, without damaging their plants, finished on their homes, etc. As said experts, we all know that even the best roof cleaners can have difficulty. Low water supply, really hot day, steep roof, no gutters. Recipe for disaster. These clients aren't paying for some $100 "bleach" jockey to destroy their property. 

A roof cleaning customer is paying for someone who knows the chemicals, their safe handling and applications, the processes, precautions, and more.  Clients are paying for roof cleaning companies that comprehend the process of oxidation that allows the removal of these organisms. 

They're paying for people who know how to care for the landscaping, the finishes on the home, and other things in the vicinity of the roof cleaning. They're paying for responsible roof cleaning contractors, hopefully RCIA certified experts, that know all the steps to make sure a roof cleaning goes off without a hitch, AND is there to stand behind their work in the unlikely event something does wrong. This is a point that can't be stressed enough. Our clients don't pay us just to "spray some bleach". They pay us to handle a delicate task, and take on the liability as well. Not everyone who can "spray bleach" can do that. 

If even the best of the best can have challenges roof cleaning, why on earth would ANYONE hire a jack of all trades Jim Bob with a pickup to clean their roof? There is simply too much at stake. What the client is really paying for is competent, safety conscious, diligent roof cleaners who are experts in their field. That's what they're really paying for. The expertise.....not "spraying bleach". Any dummy can buy some "bleach"...not everyone can handle proper, safe, approved roof cleaning methods wielding industrial strength sodium hypochlorite like a professional RCIA roof cleaning company can, AND stand behind their clients should any issues occur. Amazing results, and peace of mind are worth a thousands words. 

For competent, certified, reliable expert roof cleaning in Jacksonville, Florida and surrounding areas, contact Ultrasoft Pressure Washing LLC today. 904-304-0810 http://www.ultrasoftpressurewashing.com/services/roof-cleaning-jacksonville-florida/



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Bleach is very corrosive and it rusts roof nails and destroys underlayment paper.

 

Roof bleaching, as per many roofers inspections, have caused the roof nail to rust and the underlying paper to be destroyed.  Our HOA community has over 20 roofs failing prematurely as compare to Eco Friendly roofs that are still in good shape after 12 years of replacement.

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Let me help you by clarifying some thing, because your statements are incorrect and as a result, somewhat misleading. I don't think this is on purpose, I think it is just a matter of misinformation and lack of education and experience in this field. It is also a product of myths associated with roof cleaning and poor work from uneducated cleaners among other things. Don't worry, it's not a surprise to us. Being among the very best at what we do, we see this every day. 

First of all, roof fasteners should not be exposed where they may come into contact with anything, let alone roof cleaning solutions. If they're all rusting out, it is more likely the wrong fasteners were used, or installation is improperly done. It can also be that sub par low priced imported materials are used to provide a lower price for the client and maintain a profit margin for the installer. Same for the underlying paper. It should never come into contact with roof cleaning solutions if your roof was properly installed.  Even if it does, a quality underlayment will not be damaged by a roof cleaning every five years.

We clean roofs for roofers. We also clean roofs for roofing manufacturers. Our zero pressure cleaning does not damage roofs and does not void warranties. We are often hired to clean roofs as part of your roof warranty. 

The issues you describe are indicative of issues with materials and installation, not RCIA certified professional roof cleaning. There is also the possibility of hiring sub par lower priced budget roof cleaning contractors. Some of these untrained, uneducated companies will use unapproved cleaners that absolutely can cause serious damage. We safely clean roofs for many roofing companies, and even shingle manufacturers. Proper roof cleaning does zero damage, does not void the warranty, and is not the cause of the issues you are describing. However, improper roof cleaning can and will instantly void your warranty!

Roof cleaning isn't new. It's been around a long time, and safe zero pressure roof cleaning is a great way to maintain your roof and even extend its life. The other alternative is to let your roof get eaten alive by algae, moss, lichens, and other organic contaminants that do real physical damage, and have your insurance policy cancelled because your roof is compromised. These are the real, cold, hard facts where roof cleaning is concerned.

There are roof cleaners here who have cleaned the same roofs for 20 years or more and helped maintain their lifespan for their clients without issue. Algae, especially in Florida, doesn't care what type of roofing material you have. We clean literally every type of roofing material known to man. The determining factors for roof algae growth aren't really what material you have on the roof, that's just one factor. If all the others are right, you will get growth regardless. 

Thank you for posting so this topic could be addressed properly. As with anything, you need to hire the right professional for the job. Whether it's installing or cleaning the roof, your decision should almost never be based on price. Be careful out there, and if you need a roof cleaned, call an RCIA certified professional

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