How much is a clean roof worth to you? Do you see this as a cosmetic procedure, or do you understand the practical benefits of this service?
If you’re like most property owners, you don’t realize the true value of roof cleaning. This is understandable because you don’t get up there very often. Therefore, you don’t see the damage organic growth and pollutants cause over time. Furthermore, it’s difficult to see how grimy your roof is when you’re at ground level.
SmartWash is here to help with expert softwash roof cleaning. In this post, we’ll discuss why our professional roof and gutter cleaning services are a worthwhile investment for Knoxville homeowners.
We’ll examine how regular sessions can reduce the chances of water damage and prevent costly repairs. We’ll also look at the cost of roof cleaning and what you get for your money. Our goal is to help you make an informed decision.
The Necessity of Roof Cleaning for Knoxville Homes
Some people don’t see any reason to wash their roofs at all. What they don’t understand is that the value of roof cleaning is twofold. It improves the property’s curb appeal immediately and stops damaging compounds in their tracks.
It’s easy to put off this task because it’s a tedious one. You also don’t notice the ill effects straight away. However, the only way to stop pollutants and organic growth from degrading the surface is to remove them.
A particular problem in Knoxville is algae growth. Our hot, humid summers and sunny weather create the perfect conditions for this pest. All it takes for one errant spore to land on your roof and gain a foothold.
This not only looks unsightly, but it dislodges the waterproofing granules on shingles. To make matters worse, the algae absorbs sunshine, superheating the surface underneath it.
The affected roofing will degrade faster than the rest. Your home will also be warmer inside. Therefore, you can expect an increase in your cooling bill.
Regular sessions improve your property’s aesthetic value and protect its structural integrity.
The Pros of Professional Roof Cleaning
Why should you invest in a session every year? The value of roof cleaning includes the following benefits.
A Longer Lasting Roof
By removing harmful compounds and organic growth, you protect your roof from environmental damage. It’ll last longer and require fewer repairs.
Potential Energy Savings
Roofing keeps your home cool in two ways. It acts as a barrier and heat and reflects some of that back into the atmosphere. If anything gets in the way of the reflective capabilities, your home is not as energy efficient as it should be.
Improved Appearance
A clean surface always gives a good impression on outsiders. Regularly washing a roof will make it look newer and well-maintained.
Prevention of Damage
Proactive cleaning removes organic growth and harmful compounds before they can cause a lot of damage. This is the best way to stop algae, mold, or moss from gaining a foothold.
Maintains Your Property Value
The value of your home may be inestimable to you. However, you can be sure potential buyers are quite willing to put a dollar value to it. Buyers typically want the best deal possible, so they will look for reasons to offer less for your property.
A dirty roof is an excellent excuse for them to make a lowball offer. You need to remember that people will always overestimate the cost of cleaning and other maintenance tasks.
That’s assuming they want to make you an offer in the first place. We see a lot of shows about house flipping, but the majority of buyers want a move-in ready place. They don’t want to have to deal with problems like algae and mold. If they see signs of these, they’re likely to keep looking.
Finally, a potential buyer forms an opinion as soon as they get out of their vehicle. If your property looks dirty or they see organic growth, they won’t want to come in.
Understanding the Cons of Roof Cleaning
Now that we understand the value of roof cleaning, let’s look at the downsides. The cons come from using the wrong washing techniques. We most commonly encounter these with DIY enthusiasts.
It’s very tempting to buy a pressure cleaner and feel you’re saving money. Unfortunately, these tools are too powerful to use on a roof. They look simple to operate, but they require a certain level of skill and experience.
Many homeowners have caused significant damage by using high-pressure cleaning on their roofs.
Addressing Common Misconceptions: Is It OK to Power Wash a Roof?
No, it’s not OK to power wash a roof. There’s too high a danger of using too much pressure and causing damage. We recommend against this because there’s simply no need to take the risk.
We believe that part of the value of roof cleaning is in using the right technique. Our team uses a safe and gentle technique called soft washing. With this method, we apply a biodegradable cleaning agent to loosen the dirt.
There’s no need to use high pressure because these products are so effective. Soft washing is safe on all roofing types and the best way to eradicate organic growth.
Our team performs a full professional assessment before we recommend the best technique.
What Homeowners Need To Know About DIY vs. Professional Roof Cleaning
Do you get a sense of achievement from completing maintenance tasks around the home? We understand it’s nice to know that you can take care of repairs and things around the house. It’s a good way to save money because you don’t have to call in professionals as often.
However, there are some projects that you should leave to the professionals. To realize the full value of roof cleaning, you need to hire a reputable team. Here’s why.
Safety
Even if you have a head for heights, climbing onto your roof is dangerous. You’ll notice that we always work in pairs, and this is for safety reasons. Over 500,000 Americans hurt themselves falling off ladders every year. If you take one wrong step, you could go hurtling off the roof or through it.
Also, most homeowners don’t have the same kind of safety gear that we wear. You’ll notice that we might wear hard hats, harnesses, work boots, and gloves; we usually wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers or jeans. This isn’t us making a fashion statement but rather protecting ourselves from the spray of water.
While we don’t use high-pressure cleaning on roofing, many amateurs do. They tend to stand too close to the spray and risk being lacerated by the blowback.
Prevents Property Damage
Let’s say that you have all the proper safety gear. You’re confident walking around on your roof, and you’re sure you won’t fall.
Roofing is more fragile than it seems. Many DIY enthusiasts try cleaning the surface with a garden hose and feel frustrated with the results. They then decide to hire or buy a pressure cleaner.
The downside with this is that there’s a very fine line between efficient cleaning and causing damage. Using the lowest settings on the machine is the safest, but it will do little more than a garden hose. The damage comes when the homeowner turns up the pressure.
Using too much pressure can:
- Crack tiles
- Chip off the asphalt waterproofing
- Dislodge shingles
There’s also a significant danger of putting your foot in the wrong place. You could, therefore, end up having to pay for expensive roof repairs or replacements.
Long-Term Benefits
If you clean your roof with a garden hose, you can avoid some damage. However, you’ll achieve mediocre results. Some of the dirt will cling to the surface.
If you want to enjoy the long-term benefits, you need a deep cleaning. Hiring professionals is the best way to get this.
Efficiency
It takes us between one and three hours to clean 2,500 square feet of roofing. That’s because we do this every day, and we’ve had plenty of practice. You’ll need to learn as you’re going along, so it’s going to take you significantly longer.
Making the Right Choice for Your Knoxville Home
We’ve spoken extensively about the value of roof cleaning. Now it’s time for you to make a decision. Regular cleaning by a professional team enhances your home’s aesthetics and protects it from environmental damage.
For a few hundred dollars a year, you can put off roof replacements and expensive repairs. Furthermore, a clean roof reassures potential buyers that you’ve been good with maintenance. They’re more likely to offer you a fair price for your property if they feel that it’s in good condition.
Schedule Your Professional Roof Cleaning Today
Now, it’s time to take the next step. Realize the value of roof cleaning for yourself by calling SmartWash at 865-383-3622. Contact us today for your free estimate and speak to a professional; get SmartWash’s roof cleaning services in Knoxville today.
Watch us in action, and you’ll soon see why hiring professional roof cleaners is a worthwhile investment.