Roof Washing Services on Mississippi Gulf Coast
You can’t say exactly when those black streaks and stains first appeared on your roof or, for that matter, why a few of your shingles look as though they could use a hot-towel shave. What you do know is that it’s making your house look terrible and that it needs attention sooner rather than later. If only you’d had your roof regularly inspected.
Don’t beat yourself up. Most people don’t think about roof maintenance until years of neglect have caused problems that demand addressing. Nor do they realize that those stains and streaks are actually destructive algae and bacteria.
A new roof can be a sizeable investment, so many people assume roof maintenance and repair will be expensive too. Fortunately, that isn’t the case. Professional roof cleaning is an inexpensive and effective way to return your stained or streaked roof to its intended condition.
What Is That On My Roof?
The fuzzy-looking growth on your roof is likely moss, mold, or algae. Such growth can damage your roof and is a possible sign of more significant problems. The black streaks are a bacteria known as Gloeocapsa Maoma. Spores of this invasive bacteria can spread from rooftop to rooftop.
Once these bacteria develop a filament root system, it begins eating through the shingle, hastening the decomposition of your roof. Roofs of all materials (shingle, metal, slate, tile, and membrane) can lose up to half their projected service life if such an infestation isn’t dealt with promptly.
Why Hire A Professional Roof Cleaner
If you’re a do-it-yourself sort of person, you may be wondering if you can’t clean those unsightly stains from your roof yourself. While you’re to be commended for your initiative, roof cleaning is not a do-it-yourself endeavor for many reasons.
Properly cleaning a roof requires equipment that can be ungainly on the ground; on the roof, it can be positively dangerous, especially to the inexperienced.
Another reason not to clean your roof yourself is that you’re likely only to remove the infestation’s very top, visible layer. At the cost of many hours’ labor, doing so may improve your roof’s appearance, but only for a very little while. The algae, moss, and bacteria beneath the shingles will quickly regrow.
This brings us to our last reason not to waste your time trying to clean your roof without using professionals, namely, 100% of the infestation must be killed, or it will soon return. Without the right blend of eco-friendly chemicals, the proper equipment, and the know-how, the odds of a non-professional removing 100% of an infestation approaches zero.
How Roof Condition Can Affect Your Insurance Coverage
Most of us know that to own a home, it must be insured. However, few of us realize that our insurers have the right to select policies and do a drive-by inspection randomly. That’s why it’s become increasingly common for homeowners to receive letters from their insurance companies threatening cessation of coverage due to a poorly-maintained roof.
Insurance companies sometimes threaten to cancel policies (or deny renewals) if roof repairs aren’t made. That’s because they understand the damage bacteria, moss, and algae can do to a roof and don’t want to be liable later for damage that could have been avoided with regular roof maintenance.
While there’s no way to be sure of when or if your home will be the subject of a drive-by inspection, a few circumstances may increase the possibility. Your home may be more likely to be inspected if:
- You recently applied for a home equity line of credit
- You inquired about a new policy
- Your policy renewal date is approaching
- You changed your coverage
If you’ve received such a letter from your insurance company, don’t worry. A roof cleaning only costs around one percent of the cost of a new roof, and because of your home’s improved curb appeal and property value, it usually pays for itself within one year.
Roof Cleaning And Energy Usage
Having those dark stains and streaks removed from your roof does more than protect your investment and improve your home’s value; it can save you significant money on your energy bill.
Dark colors absorb more heat than light ones, and a roof streaked or stained with black will heat your attic, which is going to raise your energy bills. Having a dirty roof cleaned can save you up to forty percent on your monthly energy bills.
If you live in or around the Mississippi Gulf Coast and need a professional roof cleaning, look no further than locally owned Coastal House Washing. At Coastal, we take pride in returning your roof to like-new condition, and we guarantee you’ll be satisfied with the results.
Our proprietary blend of eco-friendly cleansers does more than rid your roof of those unsightly streaks, stains, and furry bits; it also inhibits the future growth of such harmful organic materials on your roof.
To schedule your free estimate call us at 228-351-9660 today. Or visit us online anytime at Coastal House Washing to learn more about our roof cleaning and other house washing services. Also look into our other services including Soft Washing, and Commercial Building Exterior Cleaning.
At Coastal House Washing, we guarantee you will be satisfied with the results, EVERY TIME!