Do you know how often to clean your roof? At Just Roofing, our roofing experts recommend cleaning the surface of a roof only 2-3 times in its life and as needed. When cleaning roofs, it’s essential to know what you’re dealing with and how to handle it.

Metal Cleaning

Here are some things to keep in mind while cleaning your metal roof:

• You may be able to wash your roof using only water and a hose. Spraying the roof at the top as far as you can reach will allow the water to flow as it moves down your roof.
• If water isn’t enough to clean your metal roof, you can try using mild laundry detergent. You can also try car wash soap. 
• Create a gentle solution by combining 1/4 cup of detergent per gallon of water. After you’ve made this, you can use a soft sponge (not foam) or a washcloth to apply it. Leave this on your roof for five to ten minutes to give it time to get absorbed, and then rinse it off.

Shingle Cleaning

In the case of a roof with shingles, it may seem like taking a pressure washer to it would clean it, but this is the worst possible thing for your roof. Asphalt shingles can’t handle pressure over a garden hose. 

Instead, you’ll have to use low pressure to keep the integrity of your roof while cleaning it. Doing this is a process called soft washing.

If you have algae that you need to be removed from your shingle roof, it’s a good idea to consider using a professional like Just Roofing. Properly removing the algae requires specific chemical ratios.

When removing hearty algae, lichen, or fire moss, use:

• 75% Sodium Hypochlorite-25% water

If you’re trying to remove light black algae, black streaks, or gloeocapsa magma, use:

• 50% Sodium Hypochlorite-50% water

Once you have the appropriate solution, you’ll need to presoak vegetation on your roof with water. Then, mix your chemical solution in a garden sprayer. 

Start with a 50/50 mix to ensure your chemical is hot enough to get the right results. You’ll want to start high and work from top to bottom. 

You shouldn’t have a river of chemicals running down your roof. You’ll know this is working if algae start disappearing or turn white within five minutes of applying the first coat of your chemical. You may need a second coat if the algae are quite hearty.

Snow Removal

You must remove snow from your roof if you live somewhere it snows. There are a few methods to do this:

• Use a light plastic shovel if you have a flat roof as you’ll have to climb on a ladder with this method
• Use a special tool called a snow rake, which looks like a squeegee, to remove snow safely. If you use this, make sure you have something to cover your head, as you’ll be pulling the snow off your roof and onto your head
• Use something like Roof Melt to melt snow from your roof. This method will not harm shingles and can be helpful for snow that’s difficult to reach. Be careful if you have a flat roof, as it can cause water to puddle and refreeze

If these methods of removing snow from your roof seem like too much work, you can always contact professionals like Just Roofing to do the job for you.

Gutter Cleaning

Your gutters help control the flow of rainwater from rooflines. Having them protects your roof, foundation, landscape, and walls. 

To ensure optimal performance, you must clean your gutters at least twice a year. Most people choose to do this in the fall and spring. If pine trees are near your home, you’ll need to have their needles removed every three months to reduce the potential for clogging. 

Although you can clean your gutters, you need to feel comfortable on a ladder. If you’re not, Just Roofing is happy to assist you with this necessary homeowner task.