If your roof is covered in moss and lichen, here are some handy tips for root cleaning.
Moss, lichen and mould start to build up on roof tiles after a number of years. The root systems from these organisms can be tough, hardy, and difficult to remove. High-pressure cleaning is an effective and efficient method of removing the eyesore and restoring your tiles to a near-new look.
To clean your roof, you need a good ladder, fall protection such as an edge barrier or harnesses and ropes, PPE, and a powerful pressure cleaning machine. We recommend a petrol-powered unit with at least 3500psi and a flow rate of 17l/minute. It is important that you get a machine with enough power to complete the job efficiently, your standard electric machine such as a Gerni from Bunnings will take days to complete a standard-sized home roof. You can either hire a machine from a local hire shop, or engage an expert such as The Pressure Cleaning Perth Guys to complete the clean.
There are a number of weak points on the roof. Old tiles can crack underfoot, ensure that you walk on the thickest overlapping edges of the tiles instead of the centre where the tile is thinnest. Always make sure you have some spare tiles lying around before working on the roof. You can always silicone up cracks, but this is a temporary solution that may lead to water leaks. The Pressure Cleaning Guys can replace broken tiles if you have none lying around.
Another weak point is the ridge capping. By the time a roof is ready to be cleaned, the ridge capping has generally deteriorated. Be careful when cleaning it not to blast too much mortar out. The ridge capping forms a crucial component of the structural integrity of your roof, and can level it liable to damage in storms if not maintained. We always conduct a thorough inspection of your roof prior to commencement of cleaning, and can provide you with a quote for restoration of your ridge capping.
You can also get professional help with root cleaning in Perth, by calling us today.
Finally, the risk of water ingress and damage to internal structures is always present when cleaning a roof. Best practice is to ensure that jetted water is always angled down the roof, and away from tile joins. Ensure that you don’t spend too long over joins, make a number of quick passes and return to the area if it requires further cleaning instead of holding over one spot for too long. Intact roofs generally will not have problems, and older, deteriorated roofs have a higher risk attached.
Once your roof is clean, we recommend applying a post clean barrier to your roof tiles. This will eliminate spores, penetrate the roof tiles, and destroy root systems, ensuring that the nasties don’t grow back straight away.
If you have any concerns, feel free to give us a call and we will happily offer you our advice! And if you don’t want to risk spending days cleaning your roof and want a professional finish, we can provide you with a free quote.
