Your roof is your home’s first defense against the elements. When it’s in good condition, it can last between 20 and 50 years.
Working with your roofing contractor to take care of minor repairs and ongoing maintenance is a great place to start, but it’s not the only thing you need to do to keep your roof in top shape.
A clean roof is a good roof and getting it professionally cleaned should be part of your annual maintenance routine. Here’s why.
1. Extends the Life of Your Roofing Materials
Dirt isn’t just an eyesore; it can shorten the lifespan of your roofing materials. As plant matter, dust, and debris collects on the roof, the materials start to get covered up.
When this happens, moisture from rainfall and humidity gets trapped between the layer of dirt and the roof itself. Over time, algae, moss, and even mold can start to form on the roof’s exterior.
The result is large black, brown, or green streaks along your roofline. At best, these streaks make your home look less well-maintained. At worst, that algae can cause the roof to break down more quickly.
Getting the debris cleaned off and algae removed helps keep your roofing materials in good shape for longer. Over time, you’ll have to do less ongoing maintenance and may even see fewer leaks in your attic.
Keep in mind that you’ll still want to work with your roofing contractor to make sure your roof is in good shape, regardless of how often you get it cleaned.
2. Improves Your Home’s Drive-Up Appeal
Believe it or not, your roof is one of the first things people notice about your home. When it’s in good condition, it makes the entire exterior look nicer and more put-together. When it’s dirty, it makes even freshly-painted siding and carefully designed landscaping look underwhelming.
Getting your roof cleaned by an experienced roof washing team helps preserve your home’s drive-up appeal.
Once it’s clean, the materials will look like-new and the color you selected will be on full display. This improves your home’s curb appeal significantly.
If you’re planning on selling your house in the near future or simply want to stand out from others on the block, a clean roof will make it simple.
3. Keeps Pests and Insects Out
Remember that algae and moss? It does far more than sit on the exterior of your roof. It actually weakens the materials significantly.
If left unchecked, algae, moss, and mold can attract unwanted pests and insects toward your attic. Think of it this way, algae needs a lot of water to grow and thrive. Insects and pests know this and will actively seek out that water.
Over time, this can lead to a full infestation inside your home. Depending on the type of infestation, you could end up dealing with serious structural damage down the road.
A clean roof just isn’t a tempting target for those unwanted critters.
4. Lowers Your Utility Bills
Dirt and grime on your roof can actually cause your energy bills to increase month after month.
Clean roofs actively reflect the sun’s UV rays, helping to keep your attic (and your house) cooler when the temperatures increase. However, when the roof has tons of black streaks or algae sitting on the surface, it can’t reflect those rays as efficiently.
This causes your home’s HVAC system to work harder and more frequently to keep your home at your preferred temperature. The more the system has to work, the more energy it uses and the higher your bills will be.
Getting any stains or algae removed before they can become a major problem will help your air conditioning system work more efficiently month after month. As an added bonus, you’ll end up putting your HVAC system through less wear and tear and might be able to decrease your regular maintenance costs.
5. Maintains Your Roof’s Warranty
Every professionally installed roof includes a manufacturer warranty to protect against defects in the materials. Those warranties can save you thousands of dollars, but you have to make sure not to void them.
Hiring an inexperienced and unlicensed roofer will almost always void the warranty, but so will letting it get too dirty.
Manufacturers only stand by warranties when you take the time and effort to properly maintain your roof. Letting algae, black streaks, and grime collect on the roof means you’re not properly maintaining it.
Making a roof cleaning part of your regular roofing maintenance routine will help you preserve your warranty for its full term.
6. It’s Affordable
Have you ever looked at the cost of a new roof? They can cost you more than $6,800. When buildup and algae sit on your roof and weaken the materials, you’ll have to replace it more often.
Cleaning is a simple and affordable way to reduce the risk of premature roof replacement and the more money you’ll save in the long-run.
7. A Clean Roof Preserves Your Insurability
Home insurance providers do more than look at the value of your house before offering you a policy. They also check on the condition of the home. When it’s in good shape, you’re less likely to file a claim.
This makes you a low-risk insurance customer.
However, if your home is in need of extensive repairs, you’re more likely to file a claim or to file claims more often. The thing you may not know about your homeowner’s insurance provider is that they’re free to drop you as a customer if they believe your home is too risky. Unfortunately, a dirty roof often means a damaged roof and some providers may drop your coverage.
Cleaning your roof will help you keep your insurance coverage and makes it easier to shop for different coverage in the future.
Schedule a Cleaning Now
A clean roof does more than make your house look great from the outside. It also reduces your risk of leaks and costly repairs down the road.
If you notice discoloration on your roof or can’t remember the last time the roof got cleaned, don’t wait. Contact us to schedule a free cleaning estimate as soon as possible.
The sooner those unsightly stains and algae deposits get removed, the better off your roof will be.