The Average Cost of Roof Cleaning in Florida

The Average Cost of Roof Cleaning in Florida

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When it comes to home maintenance, the roof is one area that doesn’t get enough attention. But roofs need proper care and maintenance just like any other area of the house. Roof cleaning is the process of removing algae, moss, mold and mildew from your roof. It’s important to occasionally clean your roof to keep it looking good and increase its longevity. Here’s why cleaning your roof is something you should be doing, as well as a breakdown of the average cost of roof cleaning.

Is Roof Cleaning Necessary?

Adhering to a regular maintenance plan for your roof is important. Cleaning is one of the most basic tasks to help maintain your roof. Occasional roof cleaning not only keeps your roof looking good, but also increases its longevity.

Your roof bears the brunt when it comes to protecting you against nature. Rain, hail and harsh sunlight are just a few of the things your roof protects you from. Florida is particularly prone to hurricanes, hail, and tropical storms.

Another problem is Florida is the humid coastal weather. High humidity in the air combined with warm temperatures make transform roof shingles into the ideal place for moss to grow. Eventually, this moss, can combine with algae and other fungi to form lichen on roofs. Lichens attract humidity to the roof and can lead to permanent roof damage.

This is why roofs need to receive as much attention as the rest of the house when it comes to cleaning, regular cleaning will keep lichen growths under control and prevent roof damage.

A disintegrating roof can require extensive repairs or even complete replacement, which can cost thousands of dollars. You can avoid all this by simply having your roof cleaned and prevent it from falling apart prematurely.

Roof Cleaning Benefits

Roof cleaning is not only cost effective but also the easiest way to maintain your roof’s appearance and condition. Benefits of roof cleaning include:

  • Increasing curb appeal and resell value: If you intend to sell your house, you need to understand that nobody wants to buy a house with a dirty, damaged roof. You need to have your roof professionally cleaned so that your shingles look brand new. This in turn adds to the overall curb appeal and resell value of your house.
  • Avoid unnecessary costs: A roof that is not properly cleaned periodically will eventually cost you thousands of dollars in the form of extensive repairs and roof replacement. Roof cleaning removes the moss, algae and debris that causes roof disintegration, ensuring you don’t need roof repairs or replacement prematurely.
  • Avoid excessive energy costs: When moss and algae are left uncleaned on your roof, they absorb and retain heat from sunlight, resulting in increased temperature inside your house. Roof cleaning will allow your shingles to reflect sunlight properly, thereby avoiding the need for air conditioning in the warm Florida weather.
  • Avoid insurance policy cancellation: To the surprise of many homeowners, insurance companies in recent years started notifying them that their homeowner insurance policies would be cancelled if they didn’t clean their roofs. This is because moss can damage asphalt shingles and insurers don’t want to pay for a new roof. Replacing a roof costs around $8,000-$12,000. It’s way cheaper to have your roof cleaned than run into costly insurance problems.

The Average Cost of Roof Cleaning in Florida

Although roof cleaning and maintenance is cheaper than replacement, knowing the cost of roof cleaning in Florida can help you compare the costs.

The national average cost of roof cleaning is around $293-$576. In Florida, it’s the average cost is estimated at $444 depending on roof material, square footage and roof pitch. Taller, more complex roofs usually cost more due to the extra safety equipment needed.

Other factors to consider when evaluating your roof cleaning costs include the roof’s coating and age of materials. In Florida, humidity, high temperatures and harsh sunlight can contribute to the deterioration to your roof.

Extras like cleaning gutters and removing moss can be part of the total roof cleaning cost or charged separately. An additional $100-$200 may be requested for moss treatment to delay moss regrowth.

The cost of roof cleaning differs according to the material of the roof. Asphalt shingles range from $300-$575, while roof tiles cost an average of $425.

Best Way to Clean Shingles

Like many homeowners, you might aware that having the shingles on your roof pressure cleaned could lead to damage. Instead of pressure, soft washing offers and alternative where your roof can be cleaned without excessive pressure. Soft washing relies on biodegradable chemicals and low-pressure water beams to clean roofs.

Safe soft washing incorporates low-pressure washing and sustainable chemicals that won’t leave damaging residues on your roof. Often times, even only a garden hose can be used instead of a pressure cleaner.

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) strongly advises against using pressure washing on shingles, as it causes granule loss and even reduces the longevity of the roof system.

Roof Algae and Moss Removal

Even though algae takes away from the aesthetics of your roof, there’s no scientific evidence that it damages shingles. It does have a negative long-term effect on the effectiveness of highly reflective roofs.

Moss, on the other hand, is quite detrimental to shingles. It can cause the leading edges of the shingles to either lift or curl, increasing the risk of shingle blow-off during windy conditions. At its worst, moss can cause moisture damage to the roof and even leaks.

Moss also clogs gutters and absorbs heat, increasing cooling costs. A soft washing contractor will usually remove it by hand, with water and/or biodegradable cleaning products. Soft washing will protect your roof from any regrowth for even up to a year after removal.

Soft Washing vs Pressure Washing

What’s the difference between soft washing and pressure washing, and why is soft washing a better way of cleaning your roof? Pressure washing uses high pressure equipment that sprays water at a pressure forceful enough to blast away dirt, grime, moss, algae and other forms of debris.

Soft washing uses a garden hose (or a pressure washer on a low setting) with very low pressure and biodegradable chemicals to clean exterior surfaces of your home, including the roof.

Pressure washing can be very effective for cleaning side-walks, drive-ways and garage floors, but can be very damaging for more delicate surfaces like roofs. High pressure washing will damage roofs and should never be used.

Soft washing is designed to safely remove moss, algae, mildew and all forms of dirt from your roof without causing any damage. Soft washing not only preserves the integrity of your roof while cleaning it but is also safe for your plants and all other parts of your property.

Make sure to ask your contractor if the chemicals they use for soft washing are eco-friendly.

Best Time of the Year for Roof Cleaning

Most homeowners have roof cleaning scheduled at least once a year. The time of year you choose to have your roof cleaned can make a huge difference especially in a climate like Florida, where the weather isn’t too kind to asphalt shingles and other roofing materials.

An ideal time of the year for roof cleaning would be during the winter months when there are no scorching temperatures. Chemicals are also less effective during heavy rains, so it’s best to schedule a cleaning when the weather is likely to be clear.

Another ideal time for roof cleaning would be after extreme weather has dirtied your roof and caused debris to accumulate. Removing leaves, sticks and other objects within a short period of time eliminates the possibility of your roof being damaged by them.

Lastly, apart from getting the time of year for roof cleaning right, it’s also important to get the right roof cleaning company to do the job for you. Cleaning your roof is an investment that yields nothing but excellent benefits for your home. It needs to be done properly and by roof cleaning professionals.

Why Roof Maintenance is Important

Why Roof Maintenance is Important

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You see your roof every time you drive into your driveway or when you’re having a relaxing family barbeque in your back yard. But how often do you think about the condition of your roof? Roofs are the one part of our homes that are often neglected, yet they play a major role in protecting us from the elements and keeping our homes safe for us to live in. If you’re wondering why roof maintenance is important, just take a moment to think about what your roof does for you.

What Is Roof Maintenance?

Roof maintenance is the regular inspection and cleaning of your roof in order to keep it dirt-free and in good condition. Although there are things that you can do on your own, it’s always advisable that a professional who knows what to look out for also inspects your roof. Professionals can give you the assurance that your roof is as healthy as it should be.

Why Regular Roof Maintenance Is Important?

Helps Prevent Your Roof from Deteriorating

With time, your roof deteriorates. Constant exposure to varying weather conditions (rainstorms, hail, snow, wind and even the harsh sun, etc.) inevitably causes wear and tear on your roof.

Frequent maintenance can slow down this deterioration and help to increase your roof’s lifespan by keeping it in great condition, eliminating any wear and tear that may have started to occur.

Detect Leakages Early

Early leak detection is one for the advantages of roof maintenance. Roof leaks can cause a lot of damage to the inside of your home. Maintaining your roof and keeping it clean can help you to spot leaks earlier, before any surmountable damage is done.

Save Money

Roofs are expensive. The last thing you want is to have to replace your roof long before you actually need to. Maintaining your roof ensures that you enjoy the full return on your investment. In other words, the money that you spent to install your roof won’t go to waste, since your roof will last as long as it’s expected to. Also, keeping up with your roof maintenance allows you to find damages before they grow into bigger problems that cost a lot more to fix.

Your Roof Stays Healthy

Continuous inspection will give you a clear, functional roof. Removing any fungi and nesting birds or squirrels will help keep your drainage working and also remove any moisture that could lead to serious mold problems.

Protect Your Home’s Insulation

You’ll be able to catch any issues before they spread to your home’s insulation. When this happens, moisture can seep into your home, causing damage and mold. But keeping up with your roof maintenance won’t cost you money to fix your insulation or remove mold that’s developed in your house.

Insurance Benefits

Believe it or not, a well-maintained roof will benefit your standing with your home insurance company. These days insurance companies look at your roof to help them determine how much of a risk you are. They know that a poor roof means damage in your home, which means you’re more likely to file a claim, costing them money. As a result, your policy could be canceled because of a roof that’s in poor condition.

Aesthetic Value

While most people only concern themselves with the inside of their homes, taking care of the exterior matters too. Having a beautiful, clean roof adds to the general aesthetics of your home, which improves its curb appeal.

How Often Should You Clean Your Roof?

Cleaning your roof is an essential part of roof maintenance and is, in fact, the best way to prevent expensive roof repairs or replacements. The four seasons provide an opportunity for fungi, moss, and mildew to grow; while leaves along with other debris can build up as well, weighing down on your roof as time goes by.

When deciding when to clean your roof, look at factors such as the weather conditions in your area, your roof’s condition, how often debris builds up, and what type of roof you have.

In short, you should clean your roof as often as necessary, which means you have to check your roof regularly for stains and dirt to not miss anything. Sometimes you can do the cleaning yourself, but because of the safety hazard involved and the possibility of you missing something, it’s often better to hire a professional to do the job.

Signs of Roof Damage

Another reason why roof maintenance is important is because of the consequences that come if you don’t do it. Just about anything can cause damage to your roof. Greenery, weather elements, and even a tree branch falling onto your roof. However, even though some damages can be fixed, some cannot, and it’s important to know the difference. Call in a professional roofing expert to assist you.

Leaks

Any sign of a leak is a strong indicator that your roof is no longer in good condition. If it’s not too severe, you can solve this by replacing some flashing. Otherwise, a roof replacement is your best bet.

A Sagging Roof Deck

The deck should always be straight. If you start to notice sagging, you should get your roof inspected ASAP. Sagging decks, which are caused by leaking moisture, can be solved by replacing the affected parts of the deck.

Daylight Entering Your Attic

Damaged shingles cause holes that allow exterior light to shine through into your attic. Although light is harmless, you should be concerned water and debris entering through the openings.

An Increased Energy Bill

An increased energy bill can mean that the warm or cool air from your air conditioner or heater is escaping through the roof. This causes your appliances to use more energy to maintain temperatures in your home. So if you notice a spike on your bill, be sure to check if your damaged roof isn’t the culprit.

Signs You Need a New Roof

Curled or Cracked Shingles

If most of the shingles on your roof are curled at the edges, cracked, or missing, it might be time for a roof replacement.

Shingles Are Dark, Wet, and Dirty

When shingles are wet, it means they are trapping in moisture, which means that they are no longer functioning. Wet shingles can lead to other problems in your home, like mold growth that extends into the wall structures. Because of this, it’s always best to replace wet shingles as soon as possible to prevent mold from spreading.

Shingle Are Starting to Shed

If you start seeing shingle granules (which resemble black, coarse sand) in your gutters, it’s a sign that the shingles are in a bad condition and they should be replaced.

Discoloration on Your Walls or Ceiling

Discoloration (water stains) on your interior walls or ceiling is another sign that your roof needs to be replaced.

Shingles Are Just Too Old

As with many things, age does take its toll on your roof. Although many shingles are built to be durable, several factors can accelerate their aging process, leaving your roof looking old and worn out. Usually, your roof is meant to last for about 20 years before it needs to get replaced. The closer it is to its expiry date, the higher the chance for a replacement.

Your Neighbors Are Getting New Roofs

If you start noticing that your neighbors are getting new roofs, it’s probably time that you do the same. If your home and theirs were built around the same time, it means that you’ve experienced the same kind of weather conditions, so your roof should also need a replacement at more or less the same time.

Roof Maintenance Costs

We mentioned earlier that saving money is one of the reasons why roof maintenance is important, but exactly how much could you have to spend? If you don’t get on top of damages the moment they develop, your repairs will be more costly. Failing to maintain your roof can force you to part with anything from a few hundred dollars to a couple thousand. The more the damage, the more you have to pay.

  • Roof cleaning costs range from $293 – $576, with an average of $418
  • Roof repair costs range from $351 – $1,366, with an average of $843
  • Roof replacement costs range from $ 5,347 – $10,539, with an average of $7,797

These figures (according to HomeAdvisor) can be higher or lower depending on factors like your area and the size of your roof. Only settle on a price once you’ve compared at least three quotes and keep in mind that experience is also important.

Be Proactive

Unfortunately, most homeowners only act once the problem has progressed to a point that the only solution that’s left is a roof replacement. Your roof is just as important as any other part of your home, and it should be treated as such. Damages can go from bad to worse very quickly, so regular maintenance and taking care of problems as they arise is the best way to go.

How to Clean Rust on Roofs

How to Clean Rust on Roofs

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Although rust on roofs is more common on metal, it can also affect some shingle roofs. Rust stains on shingle roofs aren’t from your roofing material though – not unless you have shingles that contain metal at least. Most often, rust stain on shingle roofs are from a nearby metal object, such as your chimney flashing or metal drainage pipes. When these structures start to rust, the brownish red color can bleed onto the surrounding areas of your shingle roof.

Regardless of whether you have a metal or shingle roof, rust stains are unsightly and will take away from your home’s curb appeal. Rust is a more common problem on metal roofs, as the roofing itself can develop rusty spots over time. Especially in Florida, where humid weather conditions worsen the rust on your roof. The fact that the ocean releases salt water particles into the air, means that metal objects are even more prone to rust near the coastline.

What Causes Rust?

The scientific term for rust is iron oxide (III). The term “oxide” is commonly used in chemistry to refer to a compound consisting of oxygen and another chemical element. Thus, iron oxide is formed when iron atoms bond with oxygen atoms, but what causes this to happen?

The Science Behind Rust

Before looking at how iron bonds with oxygen, consider carbon and oxygen.

Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring compound consisting of a single atom of carbon and two oxygen atoms. As a compound, carbon dioxide naturally occurs in the air we breathe and is even expelled from our lungs when we exhale.

However, carbon atoms can combine with oxygen atoms to form other compounds as well. Carbon monoxide is an example of this, as it consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom.

But on an atomic level, even small differences in composition have a large impact on the compound that’s formed. Carbon monoxide is also a compound consisting of carbon and oxygen. But unlike carbon monoxide, only one atom of oxygen is present in each molecule rather than two. As a result, carbon monoxide is hazardous to breathe in and can even lead to death if too much is inhaled.

Similarly, rust is a chemical compound consisting of two iron atoms bonded with three oxygen atoms. Just like with carbon, iron can bond with oxygen in different ways. For example, iron oxide can consist of a single atom of iron and oxygen each, but this isn’t rust. When this happens, the resulting compound is referred to as iron oxide (II), but this isn’t rust. The only ratio of iron to oxygen atoms that will produce rust is two iron atoms to three oxygen atoms, forming iron oxide (III).

The reason why rust naturally is because iron and oxygen have opposite charges. This causes oxygen and iron atoms to form bonds to neutralize their respective charges.

Why Does Your Roof Rust?

As you might’ve guessed, your metal roof or chimney flashing contains iron. When the iron atoms in your roof bond with oxygen atoms, it causes a process called oxidation. As the iron oxidizes, the metal in the roof converts to iron oxide (III), or rust.

The process of rust formation happens specifically when water is present. Water helps iron to react with oxygen, which is why it’s necessary. Salt water further accelerates rust formation. But metal objects don’t have to be submerged in water for rust to form. Water vapor present in the air can be enough to facilitate rusting.

Seeing as Florida is by the ocean, a lot of water particles are present in the air. Salt water vapor is also common in areas right next to the shore, meaning rust is a persisting problem in the sunshine state.

How to Clean Rust on Your Roof

To clean rust from your roof, you can book a professional roof cleaning from a Florida roof cleaner. Your roof cleaning service will most likely use a solution of oxalic acid to clean the rust from your roof. They’ll also use special equipment, such as pressure washing machines to thoroughly clean your roof and leave it looking spotless.

When dealing with rust stains on your roof, professional help is a must. The chemicals and equipment used to remove rust stains from your roof can be dangerous if you don’t know how to work with them.

Some organic rust converters are available on the market. These products are safer to use than acid, as they simply convert the rust into other harmful chemicals by means of chemical reaction. However, rust converters won’t necessarily be effective at removing all the staining on your roof, as it’s most effective on areas that are highly rusted. If certain areas on your roof are very rusted, a rust converter might be a good choice to reduce the problem though.

Repaint Your Rusty Roof after Cleaning It

While cleaning rust stains from your roof will already improve its appearance, it won’t prevent your roof from rusting again. Once your roof is clean, you’ll need to investigate it to find the areas where the rust is forming. These areas will need to be treated to prevent rust from forming again.

To get rid of the rust once and for all, you’ll need to use a wire brush or sanding tool to remove the rust. After thoroughly cleaning your roof and all the rusted spot, it must be repainted as soon as possible to minimize exposure to air and moisture.

If you don’t repaint a metal roof after cleaning it, your roof will look better for a while. But once rust starts to form again, it will likely be at a more rapid pace. By cleaning the roof, you’ll remove some paint and exposing the rusted areas more. Because of this, repainting with a water resistant, weather proof coating is essential.

Before applying the paint you chose for your metal roof, you must treat it with a steel primer. Applying a primer will is one of the best ways to prevent rust from forming again.

How Rust on Roofs Can Be Prevented

It’s better to prevent rust from forming on your roof than to treat it once it forms. New metal roofs and chimney flashings are often covered in a rust resistant coating. Even slate and asphalt shingles are coated for protection. Over time, this rust resistant coating will wear off, however.

For metal roofs, the best way to prevent rust is to ensure the roof is always coated in water resistant coating. Be sure the repaint your roof every few years. If the paint starts to look old and faded, your roof could benefit from repainting.

When you do maintenance on your roof, don’t forget to check every component f your roof. It can be easy to forget to check nails or rivets and focus only on the roofing panels, but rusty nails can cause rust stains to bleed from the affected area. Any roofing components that are rusted must either be replaced or cleaned and treated for rust.

If you a chimney flashing or similar metal fixture on your roof, you can also have it cleaned so that you can treat it for rust. When applying primer and paint to a chimney, opt for high heat paints. The chimney area is often exposed to high temperatures which normal finishes can’t withstand. For the best results, your paint and primer should be rated to withstand approximately 250 degrees Fahrenheit. A paint that’s rated for 250 degrees might not require a primer if you’re using it on your chimney, so you can ask your local hardware store assistance for help in choosing the right product.

Conclusion

Maintaining your metal roof is the best way of preventing rust. Even with the best maintenance, the coastal weather can still take its toll on your roof. Working with expert roof cleaners and maintenance contractors can help you restore your roof to its former beauty!