Soft Wash vs. Pressure Wash
The Problem
As our neighborhoods in the Mid-Atlantic region are aging and the trees and shrubs grow, so is the propensity to see our roof shingles develop unsightly black stains, or worse: lichens and moss. Those beautiful maturing trees provide shade and moisture retention, facilitating the growth of the microorganisms that become the unsightly black stains. If left untreated, those black stains lead to lichens & moss growth, damaging your shingles.
The Solution
Like most things in life, deciding whether to soft wash or pressure wash roof shingles is….. it depends. If your roof shingles only have those unsightly black streaks, then a “soft wash” may be sufficient. First, we pre-wet surrounding plants and shrubs with freshwater to protect them from the very little misting or overspray that may occur during the cleaning process. We then apply a saturating bleach solution to the roof shingles. We do not flood the shingles to minimize run-off solution; this would be a waste of chemicals. When feasible, we capture what little run-off there is from the downspouts. Your asphalt shingles will be transformed almost immediately.
Pressure washing is necessary when heavy accumulations of lichens and/or moss are present. We usually pre-treat the roof with the bleach solution to start the cleaning process. We then mechanically remove the lichens and moss by the force of the water. A skilled technician such as ours will do this without damaging your shingles. We then frequently apply a second bleach solution to finish the cleaning and beautification.
Again, just like most things in life, there can be exceptions to what is written above. We’ve been doing this for 28+ years and have seen it all. Our experienced and skilled supervisors and technicians will make the final determination (in consultation with you) as to the proper procedure for cleaning your particular roof shingles.
I hope you found this helpful. Please call or contact us if you have any further questions or would like to schedule a free consultation or a cleaning of your shingles, house, deck, fence, driveway, walkway, etc.
Alexandria, VA – Pressure Washing & Other Areas We Serve
Our service area extends from Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. Here are some of the areas we serve: Alexandria, VA, Arlington VA, Centreville VA, Chantilly VA, Clifton VA, Culpeper VA, Dulles VA, Falls Church VA, VA, Fairfax VA, Fredericksburg VA, Herndon VA, Leesburg VA, Lorton VA, Manassas Park VA, Manassas VA, Marshall VA, McLean VA, Middleburg VA, Occoquan VA, Purcellville VA, Reston VA, Spotsylvania VA, Springfield VA, Triangle VA, Vienna VA, Warrenton VA, and Woodbridge VA.
Call now to book a pressure cleaning!
We offer free estimates for all of our cleaning services. Call or text us at (703) 929-5611 or contact us online to schedule an estimate or cleaning. We serve the following areas.
