Ridding your roof of bacteria

You might have the most exquisite landscape, the custom windows and shutters and the beautiful flag-stone driveway, but those black streaks on your roof are wreaking havoc on your home and giving you the curb appeal blues.

So what are those black streaks and what can be done to get rid of them? According to Envirowash Hawaii, a leading company with expertise in roof and exterior cleaning in Hawaii, those black streaks are a bacteria known as Gloeocapsa magma. Depending on the age and condition of your roof, a cleaning by a professional certified soft wash company may be the most cost-effective solution. Prices typically range between $500 to $2,000 based on the size of the roof, its pitch and height. This is roughly 5 to 10 percent of the cost of a roof replacement. Keep in mind that the clock resets when you re-roof.

Experts have said that as many as 30 to 50 percent of homeowners replace their roofs based on appearance. That is an enormous amount of potentially wasted money. If you are thinking of replacing your roof, Envirowash Hawaii recommends having a proper roof inspection done by an independent non-biased roof inspector prior to replacement. And If that inspector determines that your roof is not in need of replacement, have it cleaned by a certified soft wash professional.

Why a certified soft wash company? The American Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) states that the use of a pressure washer to clean roofs is highly discouraged. Pressure washers are extremely damaging to shingles. They blast away the protective granules on your roof and do absolutely nothing to eliminate the mold. Pressure washing only attacks mold, mildew and bacteria on the surface. It merely snaps and shears the mold off at the surface level, allowing it to grow back thicker and healthier, usually in fewer than six months. It’s a very similar principle to cutting your lawn: the more you cut it, the thicker, healthier and more quickly it grows back.

A professional soft wash company knows that bacteria is a living organism, therefore it needs a treatment process and not just a cleaning. Soft washing is achieved by spraying on a bleach-based mix along with other cleaning surfactants. The mix gets down into the shingles and eliminates the oxygen from these organisms causing them to die. The detergents and surfactants then release the hold of the bacteria, allowing it to be rinsed off with as little pressure as a garden hose or rain. A professional soft wash lasts four to six times longer than pressure washing, achieves a 100 percent kill ratio on mold, mildew and bacteria, and is non-destructive to your shingles and the environment.

For a free on site estimate or more information on all your roof and exterior cleaning needs, contact Envirowash Hawaii at (808) 313-9000 and don’t be stuck with the curb appeal Blues.

ENVIROWASH HAWAII
contact // (808) 313-9000
web // envirowashhawaii.com