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Frequent Questions
We use a safe, & effective chemical solution for roof cleaning:
- Environmentally friendly and biodegradable
- No high pressure rinsing needed
- Safe to use around family and pets
- Will NOT harm landscaping
- Quality controlled and professionally proven formula
- Recommended and used by the experts
- Tested and approved by the top shingle manufacturers
- Keeps stains from returning without expensive sealer
Tri County Roof Cleaners Frequent Questions
Here are some questions we get asked a lot, and some answers we think you should know.
What is that stuff on my roof?
OK - The technical term for it is Gloeocapsa Magma. Now everyone wants to go all technical, but the three things that are on your roof are algae (the black streaks), moss, and lichens (the stuff growing on the trees in your yard).
Where did it come from? Does it spread?
First, some misconceptions. It does NOT come from jet fuel and it does NOT spread. It isn't some fungus that is invading northeast Ohio from the South. If you have it on one side of your roof and not on the other, the side without is not going to get it from the side that has it.
The reason this stuff is growing on your roof is simple. Algae, moss, lichen spores are always in the air, but they will only take hold and grow in a hospitable environment. The north side of your roof just happens to be that environment. Similar to the reasons why moss grows on the north side of trees, the environment on your roof is a byproduct of the tilt of the earth. When the sun goes through the sky, especially in winter, the northern part of your roof is shaded for most of the day. This shade allows water to accumulate and provides the moist environment for algae and moss to grow. You might also see stuff growing where you have downspouts pouring onto the house or where trees overhang the house and prevent the sun from drying the roof. Again, the roof stays wet and stuff grows.
That is also the same reason why it doesn't spread. Without the environment, no growth. Just look around your house and in your yard. Find a shaded area and you'll probably find moss. But it isn't in the areas that get sun. The south and east sides get the most sun and it is usually unlikely that they will have algae or moss growth unless trees are providing shade. There is one exception and I can't explain it. Light grey roofs get growth all over. The south and east sides usually take longer for the growth to take hold, but from looking at hundreds and maybe even thousands of roofs, this just seems to be the case. As such, when we clean a light grey roof, we recommend a preventative spray for and sides that may have no stains or with just small beginning stains.
What do you use to clean the roof?
Basically, there are 3 different things you can use to clean your roof:
- Oxygen based cleaners - This is the type of cleaner we use most often. To put it in very generic terms, it is like OxyClean. The cleaner we use is safe for the environment, plants, and animals and won't damage or stain your siding, decks, or concrete.
- Sodium Hydroxide - This basically turns your algae to soap and you rinse it off. It is a very effective method and properly done will remove algae and black streaks
- Bleach - OK - The bleach guys hate the pressure guys and the pressure guys hate the bleach guys. First off, it works. You can use a mixture of bleach and water to clean the algae off the roof. This method requires one man on the ground to keep everything wet and one man on the roof to spray the cleaner and rinse the algae. The whole process is done with a hose and no pressure is applied to the roof.
My opinions. I do not use bleach on roofs. I believe that it does not last as long as the methods that I use and frankly, I've been around it and seen it and it burns my eyes, makes me feel awful and I can't imagine how it isn't at least somewhat harmful for the things around it. Mind you, I will use bleach for some of the things I do, just not on the roof.
In my opinions, the system with light pressure is the best method to clean the roof. Properly done, with the application pressure of a heavy rainstorm, your roof will come clean and last that way for a couple of years. We also offer a maintenance program where we spray your roof every three years to kill whatever growth is starting and prevent any new growth for another three years. This method uses no pressure at all. Plus it is environmentally friendly.
