Challenges of Roof Cleaning Indianapolis
A roof is a requirement for any property. Whether you own a home, a business, an apartment complex, or something else, it needs a roof so its interior can stay safe from the elements. However, while your roof works hard to protect your property, it will become swarmed by many different forms of debris in the process. Because of this, you may consider roof cleaning Indianapolis, IN properties on your own. In this blog, we’ll give you an idea of the challenges you can expect during your DIY roof cleaning project. We are Southeast Indiana Pressure Wash, your local roof cleaning company, and we are excited to teach you more about our line of work!
Challenge #1: Finding Time For the Work
If you want to clean your roof on your own, you will need to find an opening in your schedule for the work. The busier you are, the more difficult this will be. Suppose that you have a day job, chores to do around the house, kids to pick up from school, and appointments to attend in the evening. If this is the case, you may need to sacrifice your Saturday or Sunday to the roof cleaning process.
How many hours will you need to successfully clean a roof? We highly recommend giving yourself five to six hours to complete the project. That way, you’ll have enough flex room to tackle any other challenges that reveal themselves. Remember, it’s better to give yourself more time than necessary than not enough.
Challenge #2: Putting Your Safety First
If you are planning to clean your own roof, you need to remember to put your safety first. The roof cleaning process comes with some significant risks that you need to keep in mind. When cleaning your roof, you will be handling pressurized water. This water can injure you if you accidentally spray it on your skin. Always aim for the roof before squeezing your hose’s trigger, and be sure to wear safety equipment including eye protection, gloves, and closed-toe shoes.
You must also remember the basics of ladder safety. Don’t forget the rule of three points of contact. Between your two legs and two arms, three of them should be touching your ladder at all times. This drastically reduces the risk of you falling. If you are particularly worried about ladder safety, you can use a platform ladder and attaching harness.
Challenge #3: Gathering the Right Equipment
If you want to wash your own roof, you’ll have to purchase the correct equipment for the work. What does this gear include? At Southeast Indiana Pressure Wash, we use a specific set of tools to complete roof cleaning projects to our clients’ complete satisfaction. This includes:
- Pressure Washer. A pressure washer is the key to restoring various exterior surfaces. This includes roofs of all shapes, sizes, and materials.
- Hose and Nozzle. With an attaching hose and nozzle, you’ll be able to harness the power of pressurized water to remove debris from your roof.
- Cleaning Solutions. We recommend the use of specialized chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite to weaken stubborn grime.
- Safety Gear. As we mentioned above, safety gear such as eye protection and other items will reduce the risk of self-injury.
Challenge #4: Choosing the Correct Water Pressure
A pressure washer is a highly versatile piece of machinery that allows you to clean all sorts of exterior surfaces. Different materials need to be cleaned with varying levels of water pressure; to make this possible, pressure washers typically come with an adjustable dial. This allows you to select the amount of force needed for each project. The question is, what’s the best setting for roof cleaning Indianapolis homes and businesses?
Roofs are delicate structures, and they need to be soft washed if you want to guarantee safe results. This means you’ll need to use a very low amount of water pressure (e.g., around 300 PSI). This is true whether your roof is made of asphalt, concrete, clay, metal, or one of many other roofing materials. Even gentle soft washing can result in a beautiful debris-free roof!
Challenge #5: Removing Stubborn Debris
It’s extremely frustrating when you encounter debris that won’t wash away. Whether it’s dirt, moss, mold, or algae, if you can’t get rid of it with soft washing, what should you do? Don’t give up on your roof cleaning project. Instead, use cleaning solutions, such as sodium hypochlorite, to weaken this tough debris. That way, no debris needs to be left behind at the end of your appointment.
To use sodium hypochlorite, simply apply a thin layer of it to the afflicted area. Then, give it a few minutes to break down unwanted debris. Finally, soft wash the area again, and you will find that once-stubborn grime will be rinsed away with ease. It’s amazing what cleaning solutions can do for you and your roof!
Alternatives to DIY Roof Cleaning
The process of roof cleaning Indianapolis, IN properties is fairly difficult. As you’ve discovered in this blog, there are a number of challenges that you will need to overcome if you plan to do this work on your own. But what if you’re not cut out for this monumental task? Does this mean your roof has to stay dirty? Not at all. By reaching out to a professional roof cleaning company, you’ll be able to revitalize your roof without doing any of the work on your own.
Here at Southeast Indiana Pressure Wash, we proudly provide professional roof cleaning; Indianapolis property owners can schedule these services to circumvent the need for do-it-yourself work. That way, you can take some time to relax while our professionals restore your roof for you. How much will you pay for our roof cleaning services? That depends on the overall size of your project. Expect an upfront quote at the beginning of your appointment. You are also welcome to contact us online anytime if you would like a free cost estimate.
