Don’t replace your roof because of black streaks.

If your roof looks dark, streaky, or moss covered, that does not mean you need to have to replace it.

In most cases, as long as you don’t have any leaks or turned up shingles your roof has quite a bit more life in it.  Now asking a roofer who may have a vested interest in replacing your roof may say otherwise.

Now trying to find a roof cleaning company who knows what there doing that is a different story.  In fact most general contractors don’t even know that you can clean a roof.  Why would they?  They make 10x the amount if they replace it.  Finding someone who wont damage vegetation on the ground or try to use a pressure washer on the shingles can also be a headache.

Here are a few tips on hiring:

1)Make sure they are insured.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting a certificate of insurance from a contractor.  The truth of the matter is that if they do not have insurance and something happens, it could land on your home owners insurance.  There is no need to have the possibility of loosing YOUR insurance coverage over the contractor not having there own.

2)Pressure will DESTROY your shingles.

Hiring someone who actually knows the right process to clean a roof safely and without damaging your shingles is well worth the homework.  If you hire a contractor who pulls out a pressure washer STOP THEM BEFORE THEY EVEN TURN IT ON.

3)No…Our solution is NOT safe for plants.

That question is the second most popular question behind “Will this damage our shingles”.  The answer surprises most.  The solution we use if sprayed on your lawn, shrubs, or trees will kill them instantly.  Diluting the solution with water before it touches anything you DON’T want to kill is the most important part of the process. Those dark streaks on your roof are a type of algae.  The company you hire needs to kill whats on your roof AND nothing else.  There should always be 2 techs, and one of them should nothing but water.

4)Treatments should work immediately.

If the black streaks aren’t gone with in 5-10 minutes they didn’t do it right.  The proper process will remove algae black streaks instantly.  Moss and lichens will immediately flash white.  If someone tells you their treatment will take weeks or months, they are not professionals.

Now with all that information, remember, not only are the black streaks unsightly, some insurance companies are now removing people from their insurance who don’t have their roofs cleaned.