A couple of weeks ago, I was talking with my neighbor, Bob, who was newly retired. He and his wife were downsizing, so had their custom home on the market. A young couple was really interested in purchasing the home, but were some what skeptical about the condition of the “old” roof and its unsightly black streaks. Knowing the roof wasn’t “old”, they had an independent inspection which determined the roof still had, at least, another 10 years of life left. As he was explaining this, I said, “Bob, you know I work for Bone Dry Roofing, right? We do roof cleaning and can make that roof look almost like new and put their minds to ease.” Needless to say, he had no idea there was such a thing.
Bob’s not alone. Many homeowners have never heard about roof cleaning. It’s a fairly new process that can help increase the life of your shingles by eliminating the unsightly streaks caused by algae. Before, homeowners were replacing their roofs after 12-15 years thinking their roof was deteriorating. It was, but not at the rate most would think. With a good, thorough roof cleaning, you can expect to increase the lifespan of your roof to 25 years or more.
So what are those ugly black streaks, you ask? The streaks are caused by bacteria known as gloeocapsa magma (click for a really interesting explanation of why you see it more commonly now versus in years past). Essentially, it’s just algae growth. The growth usually occurs on the north side and/or shaded parts of the roof, but can appear on any slope. Left untreated, it will only increase in coverage year after year. As the bacteria multiplies, it pulls downward, causing the “streaking” on the roof. Bone Dry uses a soft-wash system with biodegradable cleaning solution that adheres to the roof’s shingles. We use a relatively strong chemical, but it is safe for the roof and most importantly, maintains the shingle warranty. There is very little runoff, but we protect all plants on the ground and contain all of the runoff material.
As one of the only roofing companies in the Midwest to offer roof cleaning services, you can rest assured that we will not only clean your roof, but while we’re up there, we’ll inspect for any potential leaking issues and provide you with options for repairs. It’s just another way we’re working to continue to earn your respect.
