Are you planning to do your own roof soft wash in the near future? If so, be careful. There are many ways this work can go wrong, and you need to be prepared for the potential difficulties ahead. After all, as the old saying goes, “if you fail to prepare, prepare to fail”. Let’s review some of the challenges you’ll face during the roof soft washing process, as well as how you can overcome these hurdles and successfully complete your project.
We are Elite Pressure Washing, and we’re excited to teach you more about this work! And remember, if you even need our help, just give us a call. We proudly provide professional roof cleaning services in the Tampa, FL community.
#1: Finding Enough Time For the Work
Life is busy, and sometimes, this is true to the point of frustration. Your schedule can fill up remarkably fast when you have errands to run, a full-time job, family and friends to meet, and other responsibilities. Trying to add a roof soft wash to the pile? Sometimes, it’s more trouble than it’s worth. It’s up to you to understand your limits—as well as whether or not DIY roof cleaning could feasibly be a part of your day’s to-do list.
We recommend giving yourself six hours for your first DIY roof soft wash. That way, you have enough time to familiarize yourself with your equipment and learn what you’re doing as you progress. Don’t schedule your project on a busy day because there’s no guarantee your work won’t take more time than expected. You don’t want to wind up late for an important appointment!
#2: Making Sure You Have the Right Gear
So, you want to do your own roof soft wash. But hold your horses. Do you even have the correct tools for the job? If you don’t, you won’t get very far into your project before you hit a snag. Make sure you have all the items listed below before getting started:
- Pressure Washer
- Basic Detergent
- Sodium Hypochlorite
- Spray Applicator
- Ladder
You’ll also want to make sure you have safety gear on hand. This includes eye goggles, gloves, full-length pants, and closed-toe shoes. You should wear this gear anytime you are handling pressurized water. Why? Because it protects your bare skin. Accidentally spraying yourself with pressurized water could result in serious injury; safety gear considerably reduces this risk.
#3: Exercising Ladder Safety
You can’t do your own roof soft wash without conquering your fear of heights first. However, it’s also worth exploring why the fear of heights is natural. If you’re careless in a high place, you could fall and hurt yourself. It’s a risk that you need to take seriously when doing your own roof cleaning—and that’s why it’s worth reviewing the basics of ladder safety.
First, always make sure your ladder is in a flat, level area. Ensure that it does not wobble before climbing on. Once climbing, remember the rule of three points of contact. Between your two arms and two legs, three of your four limbs should be gripping the ladder at all times. Finally, you may want to consider a ladder harness. This device will attach you to the ladder and further reduce the risk of falling.
#4: Using Correct Techniques to Avoid Damage
If you want to clean your roof correctly, you have to use the right techniques. In almost all cases, this means not using standard pressure washing practices. Why? Regular pressure washing is typically too powerful for your roof to withstand. Too much water pressure will cause delicate roofing materials to crack, bend, or warp, and this increases the risk of a leak forming. Eventually, you’ll have to pay a significant amount of money just to repair this damage.
The right roof cleaning approach will remove all debris from the surface without harming it in the process! Always use soft washing to clean your roof. Soft washing uses low-pressure water (generally between 150 and 500 PSI) to rinse away grime. This ensures your roof is cleaned without sustaining damage along the way.
#5: Using Cleaning Solutions When Needed
Not every roof cleaning project is going to be a walk in the park. In fact, it’s very likely that you’ll come across stubborn debris that doesn’t rinse away easily. Some examples of this include moss, mold, and algae. Don’t bend a knee to this stubborn debris, though. When grime is giving you trouble, use powerful cleaning solutions—such as sodium hypochlorite—to ensure your roof’s complete cleanliness.
Using sodium hypochlorite is easy. Simply put a thin layer of it on the roof’s surface with a spray applicator. Then, wait fifteen minutes for all debris to be broken down. Finally, proceed with your roof soft wash as usual! You should find that grime that was once too tough to wash away rinses off with relative ease now.
Don’t Want to DIY?
Does the idea of doing your own roof soft wash intimidate you? As you’ve discovered in this blog, there are many challenges you’ll have to overcome while doing the work. However, if you don’t want to put this sort of effort in, don’t worry. There’s an alternative! Reach out to Elite Pressure Washing, and our professionals will happily lend you a hand with your roof soft wash.
Getting started is simple, too. All you have to do is contact us online if you’re interested in scheduling an appointment. We’ll give you a free quote for our services, and if you like our asking price, you can just choose a time and date for our arrival. There are never hidden fees at Elite Pressure Washing. The final price is based on your roof’s overall size.
We hope to hear from you in the very near future! Elite Pressure Washing looks forward to restoring your roof—that way, your home or business can look its best from top to bottom. In the meantime, all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
