Gentle Roof Cleaning Methods - Solving The Confusion Over The Best and Worst
By: Mark Anthony Williams
Roof cleaning is a very confusing topic for most homeowners. Ask ten different roof cleaning companies and get ten different answers as to what is the best way to solve your roof's moss removal problem. You may ask your self, "It can't be that complicated?" Fortunately, it is not.
Why so many varying opinions?
First, it is important to review why there are so many varying opinions as to what roof cleaning methods and what roof treatments are best. Ultimately, it gets down to access and capital. Most roof cleaning is done by small businesses. In general, this is a very good thing. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Customers are usually in closer contact with people who run the business and make the decisions.
But there is also a downside. The smaller of the small roof maintenance companies don't always possess the capital to outfit with all the equipment to do a job the right way. For many, an investment of $1,000 to $10,000 for a power washer is all they can afford. After making an investment in a specific type of equipment that allows you to clean roofs only a particular way, the pressure to insist that this method is the best is pretty high.
However, there is more to this than just lack of capital. After all, some methods don't require too much additional equipment. But they do require access to proprietary roof treatments that the vast majority of roof cleaning companies can not access. Without access to these treatments, they can not offer the cleaning methods that require them. In a sense, it is still related to capital because these companies are generally not able to invest the tens of thousands of dollars to have custom treatments developed.
Conversely, common roof treatments such as zinc sulfate and bleach can be easily accessed. While these specific treatments at times may actually be the part of the most appropriate cleaning solution, they simply are not appropriate for many roof's specific needs.
Additionally, the pesticide licensing required in many states adds an educational requirement to roof treating. To remove roof moss, often a license pesticide is required. Don't be scared off by the word pesticide - some are common (the above mentioned zinc sulfate) and others are fairly benign and gentle (sodium percarbonate.) But is testing is required, this adds another wrinkle to the equation.
Basically,it much of the issue of varying opinions gets down to the reality that many roof cleaning contractors offer the only options that they are able to provide, whether or not they are what is best for the roof.
Education and familiarity
We go with what we know. That is a common axiom for many aspects of life. Roof cleaning is no different. Many companies are founded those who were previous foreman at other companies. When faced with presenting a service option, they offer what their previous employer offered. I call it the positive momentum of incorrect information. It just keeps getting perpetuated.
Additionally, when someone is working long hours doing hard work, they just do not have much time to put towards industry and professional education. Simply put, many roof cleaning contractors honestly do not know that there are better methods and treatments available.
The importance of being an educated homeowner
Since the typical homeowner is not a roof cleaning expert, it is easy to be intimidated by a contractor who is supposed to know more about the issue. Particularly if the service provider has a well polished opinion, it is hard for the homeowner to see through the crack.
Here is a sampling of some of the various methods that might be used in cleaning and or treating a roof:
Low Pressure Air Blowing
High Pressure Air Blowing
Hand Brushing
Broom Sweeping
Low Pressure Rinsing
Detergent Washing
Low Pressure, High Volume Power Washing
Moss Prevention Only Treatments
Self Cleaning Roof Treatments
Wood Preservative Treatments
UV Protection Treatments
Color Changing Treatments
Pre-Cleaning Moss Treatment
Post-Cleaning Moss Treatments
The bottom line: There are numerous methods and combinations for roof cleaning and they each offer their own unique benefits and shortcoming.
A valuable source of further information on this topic can be found at http://www.AllSurfaceCleaning.com Their websites have many blog articles on all of the types of roof maintenance and explains when a particular method maybe appropriate.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Gentle-Roof-Cleaning-Methods---Solving-The-Confusion-Over-The-Best-and-Worst&id=6605692] Gentle Roof Cleaning Methods - Solving The Confusion Over The Best and Worst
By: Mark Anthony Williams
Roof cleaning is a very confusing topic for most homeowners. Ask ten different roof cleaning companies and get ten different answers as to what is the best way to solve your roof's moss removal problem. You may ask your self, "It can't be that complicated?" Fortunately, it is not.
Why so many varying opinions?
First, it is important to review why there are so many varying opinions as to what roof cleaning methods and what roof treatments are best. Ultimately, it gets down to access and capital. Most roof cleaning is done by small businesses. In general, this is a very good thing. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Customers are usually in closer contact with people who run the business and make the decisions.
But there is also a downside. The smaller of the small roof maintenance companies don't always possess the capital to outfit with all the equipment to do a job the right way. For many, an investment of $1,000 to $10,000 for a power washer is all they can afford. After making an investment in a specific type of equipment that allows you to clean roofs only a particular way, the pressure to insist that this method is the best is pretty high.
However, there is more to this than just lack of capital. After all, some methods don't require too much additional equipment. But they do require access to proprietary roof treatments that the vast majority of roof cleaning companies can not access. Without access to these treatments, they can not offer the cleaning methods that require them. In a sense, it is still related to capital because these companies are generally not able to invest the tens of thousands of dollars to have custom treatments developed.
Conversely, common roof treatments such as zinc sulfate and bleach can be easily accessed. While these specific treatments at times may actually be the part of the most appropriate cleaning solution, they simply are not appropriate for many roof's specific needs.
Additionally, the pesticide licensing required in many states adds an educational requirement to roof treating. To remove roof moss, often a license pesticide is required. Don't be scared off by the word pesticide - some are common (the above mentioned zinc sulfate) and others are fairly benign and gentle (sodium percarbonate.) But is testing is required, this adds another wrinkle to the equation.
Basically,it much of the issue of varying opinions gets down to the reality that many roof cleaning contractors offer the only options that they are able to provide, whether or not they are what is best for the roof.
Education and familiarity
We go with what we know. That is a common axiom for many aspects of life. Roof cleaning is no different. Many companies are founded those who were previous foreman at other companies. When faced with presenting a service option, they offer what their previous employer offered. I call it the positive momentum of incorrect information. It just keeps getting perpetuated.
Additionally, when someone is working long hours doing hard work, they just do not have much time to put towards industry and professional education. Simply put, many roof cleaning contractors honestly do not know that there are better methods and treatments available.
The importance of being an educated homeowner
Since the typical homeowner is not a roof cleaning expert, it is easy to be intimidated by a contractor who is supposed to know more about the issue. Particularly if the service provider has a well polished opinion, it is hard for the homeowner to see through the crack.
Here is a sampling of some of the various methods that might be used in cleaning and or treating a roof:
Low Pressure Air Blowing
High Pressure Air Blowing
Hand Brushing
Broom Sweeping
Low Pressure Rinsing
Detergent Washing
Low Pressure, High Volume Power Washing
Moss Prevention Only Treatments
Self Cleaning Roof Treatments
Wood Preservative Treatments
UV Protection Treatments
Color Changing Treatments
Pre-Cleaning Moss Treatment
Post-Cleaning Moss Treatments
The bottom line: There are numerous methods and combinations for roof cleaning and they each offer their own unique benefits and shortcoming.
A valuable source of further information on this topic can be found at http://www.AllSurfaceCleaning.com Their websites have many blog articles on all of the types of roof maintenance and explains when a particular method maybe appropriate.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Gentle-Roof-Cleaning-Methods---Solving-The-Confusion-Over-The-Best-and-Worst&id=6605692] Gentle Roof Cleaning Methods - Solving The Confusion Over The Best and Worst