Q: Should you use a pressure washer on the roof shingles?

• <div><p>If you&rsquo;re asking yourself, <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/can-roof-cleaning-extend-life-my-shingles.htm">should you pressure wash your roof</a>, the answer almost always is no. The water pressure that the power washing machine generates could damage the shingles by forcing water underneath or causing them to loosen. Soft washing with a pump sprayer is the better and safer option.</p><p> </p></div>

Question 1

How do you make old shingles look new?

Accepted Answer

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If you wish to forego painting your shingles but still want to give them a fresh look, a deep cleaning is the first step. Clean off any debris from your roof and gutters, and then power wash your shingles to get grime and algae off. To take things one step further, you might even consider installing new gutters to give your home a bright new look.

Question 2

How often should I have my roof cleaned?

Accepted Answer

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A professional roof cleaning lasts about a year on average, so it’s best to do it annually. This schedule helps catch any roof problems before they become extensive and helps prevent mold, moss, and algae from forming. If you live near the coast, annual roof cleaning will help prevent salt buildup on your roof. You can add professional roof cleaning to your yearly home maintenance checklist to ensure you never miss a year.

Question 3

What chemicals do you use for soft washing?

Accepted Answer

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Soft washing chemicals typically consist of a mix of sodium hypochlorite (or a chemical component of bleach) and water. While sodium hypochlorite and bleach are often thought to be the same thing, there is one small but key difference between the two: sodium hypochlorite comes in powdered rather than liquid form, which means that it’s also more concentrated and more effective from less product overall.

Question 4

What is the fastest method for killing moss?

Accepted Answer

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Iron, or ferrous sulfate, is one of the fastest methods for killing moss. As such, you’ll find this ingredient in many lawn fertilizers and lawn killers. Vinegar is another solution for quickly killing moss. It takes just 15 to 20 minutes for vinegar to take effect. A harsher method is bleach, which also has a similar time frame for taking effect.

Question 5

Should you use a pressure washer on the roof shingles?

Accepted Answer

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If you’re asking yourself, should you pressure wash your roof, the answer almost always is no. The water pressure that the power washing machine generates could damage the shingles by forcing water underneath or causing them to loosen. Soft washing with a pump sprayer is the better and safer option.