Factors like humidity and windstorms can make your roof dirty. Over time, it could develop a dusty, grimey look. Protect its appearance and performance by learning how often you should clean your property’s roof.
Types of Roofing
The type of materials on your roof will play a role in how often you should clean it. For example, asphalt shingles can develop algae, moss, and other debris buildup on them, especially during the summer when the weather becomes warm and humid. To keep them looking their best, it helps if you clean them at least once every one to three years.
Alternatively, metal roofs can go longer without deep cleaning. You may only need to hire our roofers to professionally clean the metal roof on your building once every five to 10 years. However, you should rinse off the roof occasionally to remove debris such as dust and pollen.
Depending on the weather and tree coverage, tile roofs can develop moss growth. If you have trees that overhang your tile roof, you may need to clean it as frequently as every six months. Generally, tile roofs otherwise need cleaning every one to five years.
Roof Shape
The shape of your roof will also factor into how often you should clean it. For example, water pools on flat roofs because of the lack of slope. With that, flat roofs have a higher chance of developing algae and mold growth.
Additionally, flat roofs accumulate debris like leaves and dirt that can clog the drain and scuppers. To keep your flat roof in good condition, you should clean it four to six times per year.
In contrast, sloped roofs often only need cleaning a couple of times per year, depending on their construction and material makeup. Precipitation drains effectively off sloped roofs, minimizing the risk of algae and mildew growth. Still, the valleys and gutters on these roofs need cleaning a couple of times a year to prevent water from backing up on them.
Time of Year
If you wonder what time of year to clean your roof, spring and summer offer you the best opportunity. These seasons are ideal for removing debris that winter storms blew on top of your roof. There is also more daylight for the roofers to work by and finish the task on time.
Likewise, wait until dry weather for this project. Wet weather and humid conditions can make shingles on the roof slippery and unsafe to walk on. If you live in a humid climate, it’s ideal to wait until the air is drier for safer roof cleaning.
Our team has over 40 years of experience in the roofing industry. Contact Don Kennedy Roofing for roof cleaning services in Nashville, TN today.