Roof Soft Washing in Laredo, TX

Roof soft washing cleans a roof with a cleaning solution applied at low pressure, then rinses it gently. That matters because roofs are easy to damage. Fixr's roof cleaning guide describes clay and ceramic tile as delicate and poorly suited to high pressure, and notes that high pressure on asphalt shingles can damage the roof or loosen shingles. A soft wash removes dark streaks, algae, dust and debris without knocking granules off shingles or cracking tile.

What builds up on Laredo roofs

In a dry climate, most roof grime is dust and wind-blown soil that settles in the low spots of tile and the texture of shingles. Shaded slopes, areas under trees and spots near AC condensate lines can grow algae, which shows as dark streaks. Leaves and mesquite debris collect in valleys and behind chimneys. On light-colored roofs, all of this makes the house look older than it is.

Methods by roof type

• Clay and concrete tile: soft wash only, worked from positions that avoid stepping on fragile tiles where possible
• Asphalt shingles: soft wash only; the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, as cited by Fixr, recommends a 50/50 mix of water and pool chlorine for algae
• Metal: low pressure with attention to seams, fasteners and any painted finish

We look at the roof before quoting. If tiles are already cracked or shingles are curling, we tell you, since cleaning will not fix damage and a roofer may need to look first.

Check your roof warranty

Shingle warranties vary by manufacturer and product. Fixr notes that some warranties of up to 30 years may cover professional cleaning. Before a roof wash, it is worth reading your warranty for any cleaning requirements; we will follow them.

Safety and heat

Roof work in Laredo summer heat is hard on people and on the process, because the solution can dry on hot tile before it works. We schedule roof washes early in the day or in milder months, keep the surface wet while the solution dwells, and use ladders and fall protection suited to the roof.

Protecting what is below

Roof runoff lands in gutters, flower beds and on whatever sits beside the house. We wet and cover plants, protect AC units and outdoor furniture, and rinse everything below the roofline when we finish. Runoff is kept out of the street and storm inlets, and we check the Laredo Utilities conservation stage before we schedule.