How To Clean Roof Shingles From The Ground

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Proper cleaning is an important stride in roof maintenance. One day you may observe that your roof is turning blackness or fungus is spreading across of it. Some of this growth, including the stains from algae spores, are cosmetic, but others, such as moss, crusade costly damage to your roof. To keep your roof safe and sightly, cull a cool, overcast mean solar day, mix a cleaning solution, spray information technology onto your roof, so rinse after 20 minutes.

1

Choose a absurd and overcast twenty-four hours. The day y'all perform deep cleaning on the shingles should exist cool and clouded. Sunlight and warm weather condition will ensure the cleaning solution dries too fast to be of any employ. In addition, cull a twenty-four hour period with picayune wind then that when you spray the solution, it stays on your roof.^[i]
2

Perform maintenance on your roof. Earlier you begin, it'south important to repair loose shingles and flashings to minimize roof impairment. Afterwards, clean out your gutters and downspouts. Y'all'll need the cleaning solution to bleed off the roof during rinsing.

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3

Protect your yard. Motility whatsoever furniture away from the piece of work expanse. If you lot're using a bleach solution, also comprehend your yard. Rinse downward your lawn and plants before you begin deep cleaning and so the water dilutes harmful bleach, then cover them with plastic to take hold of any spray.
4

Remove debris from the roof. Before you clean stains, you'll take to climb up onto the roof and take off twigs, leaves, and anything else that would get in the way. Pick them upwardly with your manus, employ an leafage blower, or gently sweep them off with a broom.^[2]

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Mix your cleaning solution. A dwelling cleaner tin be made with a quart (.95 L) of standard laundry bleach and a gallon (three.8 L) of h2o.^[three] Optionally, add ¼ cup (177.5 mL) of a non-ammonia heavy cleaner such as TSP (trisodium phosphate) for actress cleaning power.^[iv]
- Bleach is caustic to the roof and plants. At nearly, the bleach should exist 50% of the solution.
- Lye products as well work, but are caustic to the skin and should only be handled while wearing protective gear.
- If yous'd rather buy a cleaner from the store, await for a detergent specifically made for shingled roofs.^[5]
ii

Soak the shingles with water. Bring your garden hose or water sprayer upwards to the roof. Starting from the bottom, carefully wet the shingles. This keeps the solution from drying out immediately after application. When you see runoff, stop.
3

Spray your cleaning solution. Load the solution into a sprayer. Using ho-hum, even strokes, coat the shingles. Make sure you don't miss any spots, or else your roof will come up out spotted. Leave the solution to soak in for 15-20 minutes.^[half-dozen]
4
Rinse off the solution. Use a water sprayer to apply plenty force to dislodge algae and moss without damaging the shingles. In case of a lightly-stained roof, a garden hose may likewise exist plenty. Over again, move slowly. Motion dorsum and forth in even strokes, making sure y'all reach all of the cleaner.
- Power washers should never be used. They volition vesture abroad your shingles.
5
Reapply the solution. For deep stains, you'll have to put on more solution. Allow the roof dry first, and so wet the roof and spray on more the aforementioned way you did before. Expect no more 30 minutes and rinse it off again. Light stains left at this signal may launder off over fourth dimension as long equally pelting and sunlight tin can achieve the surface area.^[vii]
- A broom can as well be used to scrub in cleaner. Use a broom of medium-stiff beard and apply piddling pressure so yous don't impairment the integrity of the shingles.^[8]
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1

Make clean your roof regularly. The droppings, including fallen branches and leaves, provides a moist environment for moss and algae. It should be picked up, swept off, or blown off regularly to avoid facilitating the growth. Tackle the gutters likewise so that h2o drains freely. Prevention makes stain cleaning much easier subsequently on.
2

Trim nearby branches. Overhanging plant life creates the cool, shady environs that moss and algae need to flower. Trim tree branches and other plants casting shade on your roof or consider moving them. Exposure to sunlight will continue many moss and algae spores from activating.
three

Use a stain blocker. Specialized stain blockers offer resistance for up to three years. Search for covering algae and moss blockers at a home comeback store. After you clean your roof, spread the stain blocker co-ordinate to the directions on the label.^[nine]
four
Place metal strips under shingles. Copper and zinc strips, found at home comeback stores, can be placed nether shingles. When information technology rains, the water washes away some of the metal, which destroys moss and algae spores.^[10]
- Installing these strips tin puncture sealant on the shingles, so information technology's best to exercise this when placing a new roof. Stringing copper wire may piece of work instead.
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How tin can I kill moss on my shingles?

Allen Lee
Dwelling house Comeback Specialist

Allen Lee is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Honest Lee Handyman Services, a licensed and insured handyman business servicing Sacramento, California, and surrounding areas. Working with homeowners and businesses to get their small repairs done in a timely and efficient way, Honest Lee Handyman Services provides gutter and dryer vent cleaning along with fixture, fence, drywall, and toilet repairs.

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Y'all may remember moss looks good, but it pulls up shingles, making them easier to lose in windy weather.
Always brand certain your ladder is on even footing and set upwards at a good angle earlier climbing up.^[11]

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Caustic cleaners should only be handled when wearing protective gear, including gloves and a facemask.
Roof accidents are a serious threat to your health. Let people know yous're up there and consider wearing a safety harness.
Never spray your roof from the basis. This can force h2o beneath your shingles.^[12]

Things You lot'll Need

Spraying tool or hose
Commercial roof cleaner or laundry bleach
Safety harness
Protective clothing
Roof stain blocker

About This Article

Article Summary X

1 part of proper roof maintenance is cleaning the shingles, which you can practice yourself in less than an 60 minutes. Selection a cool, overcast mean solar day so the cleaning solution doesn't dry too fast. And so, mix standard laundry bleach with water. For extra cleaning ability, mix in a non-ammonia heavy cleaner, similar TSP. Soak the shingles with water earlier spraying your cleaning solution on in slow, even strokes. After 15 to xx minutes, rinse the solution off with a sprayer that has enough force to dislodge algae and moss without damaging the shingles. For deep stains, let the roof dry, and then reapply the cleaning solution and rinse it off again after no more than 30 minutes. To learn how to forestall moss and algae from getting on your shingles, go on reading!

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