Shingles can be found on houses built in all
major parts of USA. They provide an aesthetic richness to the roofs and can go
years without being damaged. Despite these factors, they easily catch algae
infestation and start appearing dull after a while. Cleaning shingles can be a
time consuming as well as a costly job. Also, once algae colonies develop in shingles,
they can brutally affect the durability of your roof. They can cause small
cracks to form which are a total disgrace to look at. Hence, we have collected
a list of pointers that help you make your shingles last longer! These tips have been provided by Ormond Beach Roof Cleaning experts to
ensure their viability. Let’s get started.
Algicides are algae preventing chemicals that
stop the algae growth from taking place. As it is said that, prevention is
better than cure, the same principle applies to this situation. Algicides are
believed to make your roofs algae-proof for up to 10 years at a stretch. You
can treat your shingles with any Algicide available at home improvement stores
to keep algae at bay!
Avoid
Bleach
Internet is littered with articles claiming
bleach to be a wonder product for treating dirty shingles but actually it
corrodes them in more ways than it cleans them. Bleach is made up of hydrogen
peroxide that kills only the top layer of algae and while the underlying layer
re-grows with time. Therefore, we advise that bleach must be avoided while
cleaning shingles to increase their life.
Using
Sodium Hydroxide
If bleach can’t be used, then what else will
work? The answer comes from Ormond Beach Roof Cleaning experts - NaOH or Sodium
Hydroxide that works the best with algae and takes care of the entire algae
infestation in a single wash. Sodium Hydroxide run-off from your roof is
non-toxic for the environment as well. However, Sodium Hydroxide is corrosive in
nature and might damage your skin while being used. So it must be utilised with
utmost precautions.
Zinc
Strips
The aforementioned methods will take care of
algae concentrations on your shingles for once but as soon as the chemicals get
off the roof, algae can resurrect real soon. To provide a long-term fix, you
can go for installing Zinc or Copper strips along the ridge on your roof. Ormond
Beach Roof Cleaning theorise that during
the rainy season when algae are breeding is at its max, these strips would
release ions that would kill the algae and prevent them from re-growing.
Some
Safety Guidelines while washing
- Choose an overcast day for washing the roof.
- Use safety harness that is attached firmly with the roof.
- Go for Eco-friendly chemicals rather than corrosives.
- Repair any damaged shingles beforehand.
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