Category Archives: Roof Cleaners

Providing roof cleaning services in the Seattle tacoma Washington area. We have been in business since 2008 and hope to continue to be in business many years in the future. Roof Mold removal is PWNG specialty.

roof cleaning Shoreline | roof and gutter cleaning | PW&G Exterior Cleaning

We are currently offering summer specials for roof cleaning Shoreline, WA. Our process for roof cleaning is discussed in this post .

When deciding to have your roof cleaned make sure that you are selecting a company that employs the proper method. There are several roof cleaning methods that can seriously do more damage than good. Although we are not advocating against certain techniques, we do believe there is a right and wrong way to properly clean roofs. The cost of roof cleaning should never be based on who is cheaper since it may cost you much more in the end.

Roof Cleaning Shoreline, WA

We are based out the Shoreline, WA area and have a very well established reputation for exterior cleaning in and around all the cities of Seattle. With over 800 roof cleaning under our belt we have become experts in the field of properly cleaning:

asphalt shingles
tile roofing
metal roofing
cedar roofing

Different types of roofs require different procedures for cleaning. You need to power wash a wood roof to properly clean it, but taking a power washer to asphalt/composition roofing can completely destroy it. In this bulletin the proper method for roof cleaning is laid out by ARMA [ asphalt roofing manufacturers association]

In the above video our method for roof cleaning shoreline is discussed in brief. If you have further questions you can read through our FAQ found here or contact us at 425-501-3745 for King-Snohomish counties or 253-200-5329 for Tacoma and surrounding.

We provide roof cleaning to the following cities in King county:

Algona, Auburn, Beaux Arts Village, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Bothell, Burien, Carnation, Clyde Hill, Covington, Des Moines, Duvall, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Hunts Point, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kent, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Maple Valley, Medina, Mercer Island, Milton, Newcastle,Normandy Park, North Bend, Pacific, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, Seatac, Seattle, Shoreline, Skykomish, Tukwila, Woodinville, Yarrow Point

Roof Cleaning Edmonds | We Never Use Power Washers

Salt Water & Moisture Rich Air Cause Moss

Edmond, Washington was founded in 1890 and was named after a Vermont senator. It is a beautiful city that is filled with lush landscapes and seaside views.

Unfortunately, salt water and moisture in the air causes roofing material to become a great home for moss,algae, lichen and their spores. We are experts at roof cleaning Edmonds.

Differing methods of Moss Control

There are several methods to have your roof cleaning Edmonds done, these methods include:

Air Cleaning
Power Washing
Chemical Cleaning

Our method is to manually scrub and chemically spray moss so it does not return. In our previous post methods of moss control, we discussed in detail the pros and cons of each method. Obviously, a consumer is not supposed to know everything about how to clean a roof, but we hope that the company providing the service is capable enough to do their own research for roof cleaning Edmonds.

Choosing a Company for Roof Cleaning Edmonds

We service all areas of Snohomish County and look forward to providing you with your roof cleaning Edmonds needs. Keep your dollars local by hiring a company with ties to the community.

We have chemically cleaned over 700 roofs in the Snohomish county area and have many references upon request. If you are considering having your roof cleaned in Edmonds give us a call for your free-no obligation quote.

Seattle-Bellevue Roof Cleaning Photos

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Seattle-Bellevue Roofs Need Cleaning

Most people seeking a Seattle-Bellevue roof cleaning,cedar roof restoration or deck restore do some research on a business before actually calling. Seattle is home to the most tech savvy consumers in the nation. Bellevue is home to many professionals who are accustomed to diligently checking references and using friends and family as their source for home improvement recommendations.

DECK RESTORATION BELLEVUE

Here the power of experience comes into play. The use of per-carbonate cleaner before a power-wash was the only way to effectively remove the deep stains. A light coat of sodium hypo helped kill moss. The restoration of this wood deck that had very little maintenance took 4 different chemicals and 6 hours.

Seattle-Bellevue Roof Cleaning

Composition roofing is an inviting environment for moss growth in Seattle. We are Seattle-Bellevue roof cleaning experts. We NEVER use power washing on asphalt/composition roofs.

Using the soft wash roof cleaning method can clean a composition roof without destroying it. The difference in the pictures couldn’t be any more stark. All our roof cleanings come with a one year no moss warranty. Trust us with your Seattle-Bellevue roof cleaning needs!

CEDAR ROOF RESTORATION BELLEVUE

Cedar roofs are some of the trickiest projects to undertake for a roof cleaner. Safety and using theright chemicals are serious concerns. The roof above was suffering from severe weathering and the photo above was snapped mid way during the cleaning process.

Oiling a cedar roof deflects the harsh winter months we face in the pacific northwest. Choosing the right products and adhering to a maintenance schedule can lengthen the life of your cedar roof in Bellevue, Washington.

CONCLUSION

Trusting recommendations can go a long way in choosing the right contractor . We hope the photos above served as a reference to what we do. We have serviced over 200 clients in the last year and have many referrals upon request. We are Seattle-Bellevue Roof Cleaning profesionals and we look forward to serving you.

Cedar Roof Restoration Bellevue

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The Process of Wood Roof Restoration

Cedar is a great product to have as a roof covering. With a proper maintenance plan, the roof can last many years and even decades. Bellevue, Washington is home to many residences that have cedar as a roof covering. Many of these homes in Bellevue have shake roofs that are 20-40 years old!

Basic Maintenance Can Extend a Roofs Life

Although cedar is durable and requires little attention, a total lack of maintenance can seriously hamper the roofs’ life. Proper maintenance consists of:

Blowing leaves and debris off the roof.
Repairing damaged ridge cap and shingles.
Periodic power-washing and cleaning of the surface of the cedar shakes.
UV protection every 3-5 years.
The application of moss killing chemicals or zinc ridge caps.

Following a basic maintenance plan, can give you the full life cycle of your roofing. It may even prolong the roof way past its life expectancy. There is no method to restore a cedar roof in Bellevue,which has gone long periods of time without maintenance.

Cedar Roof Restoration Bellevue

: Cedar Roof Before Cleaning Bellevue, Washington

Although, your roof may look like it is past the point of a restoration; a safe bet would be to have a contractor give an opinion on whether it is salvageable. If the roofing substrate is not completely damaged and rotted, there is still hope for a cedar roof. The restoration process consists of:

Cleaning
Repairing Damaged Boards
Neutralizing and Revitalizing
Oiling
Installing Zinc Strips or washing with potassium salts

In the video below, a contractor gives a very detailed explanation to the methods of cleaning a cedar roof, the method he describes is identical to our procedure and I found his explanation on the process, very informative and easy to understand for an average consumer.

Restoration versus Replacement

When comparing the cost of a restoration to a having a new roof installed; restoration is also very economical.The cost of a restoration is about 10% of cost of a roof replacement. On average a 2500 square foot home with a cedar roof in Bellevue can be restored for about $2000 plus ridge and shakes. That same size home can cost upwards of $25,000 to have replaced. As you can see the benefits of restoring make a lot of sense. If you have questions on whether your roof is able to be restored or you just don’t like the look of greying, weathered and dirty Cedar roofing, give us a call. We are experts at cedar roof restoration in Bellevue.

We provide cedar roof cleaning and oiling to the following cities:

Alderwood- Ames Lake- Arlington -Auburn- Ballard- Bellevue-Belltown-Bothell-Bridle Trails-Brier-Burien-Covington Crossroads -Des Moines-Edgewood-Edmonds-Everett-Evergreen-Fall City-Federal Way-Ferndale-Granite Falls-Hunts Point-Issaquah-Issaquah Highlands-Juanita-Kenmore-Kent-Kingsgate-Kirkland-La Conner-Lake City-Lake Forest Park-Lake Goodwin-Lake Stevens-Lynnwood Madison Park-Magnolia-Maltby-Maple Valley-Marysville-Medina-Mercer Island-Mill Creek-Monroe-Mountlake Terrace-Mukilteo Newcastle-North Bend-Overlake-Parkland-Puyallup-Rainier Valley-Redmond-Renton-Rose Hill-Sammamish-Sand Point-SeaTac Seattle-Sedro-Woolley-Shoreline-Smokey Point-Snohomish-Snoqualmie-Spanaway-Stanwood-Tacoma-Totem Lake-Tukwila -University Place-White Center-Woodinville-Yarrow Point

Roof Cleaning Everett,WA | Roof & Gutter Cleaning | PW&G Exterior Cleaning

Soft Wash Roof Cleaning in Everett, Washington

Different geographical locations require different types of care and maintenance for the home. For those living in the Everett, Washington area, homeowners may benefit from the use of soft wash roof cleaning over the use of harsher power washing methods.

Read on to learn more about roof cleaning, Everett, Washington, and roofing companies that offer the soft wash cleaning method.

History Of Everett, Washington

The founding of Everett, Washington dates back to the year 1861 when a small group of settlers began building cabins in an area known as Port Gardner Bay. A few decades later, in 1890, when the Everett Land Company was incorporated, plans were made to form the town called Everett. The area is rich in history and is located 25 miles north of Seattle, with the climate being influenced by marine air masses. This causes the temperatures during the changing seasons in Everett to be less pronounced, than in inland areas.

Soft Wash Roof Cleaning in Everett

The soft washing method of roof cleaning incorporates the use of chemicals, which cause less damage to roofing surfaces than power washing. Roof shingles contain layers of granules which determine approximately how many years the shingles should last. As an example , a roof with a life expectancy of 20 years would contain 20 layers of granules. With every power washing procedure performed on a roof, 3 to 4 years can be taken off the life of the roofing substrate. This makes the soft wash roof cleaning method a more favorable option. Aside from this benefit, the soft wash method will last 2 to 3 years to keep moss and algae away. The softwash method works by eliminating all moss spores from the roof ,which cause moss to grow.

Chemicals used in Soft Wash Roof Cleaning

The soft wash method uses chemicals such as:

TSP (trisodium phosphate) which removes rust stains and algae.
Sodium hydrochloride which kills moss and cleans the shingles.
Borax lo to kill moss residual and spores.
Isopropyl alcohol to wipe out aggressive moss.
Surfactant to stop the mix from flowing rapidly into your gutters.

Only professional roof cleaners serving Everett, WA should attempt to mix these chemicals. The mixtures require exact quantities and not mixing these ratios correctly can cause damage to the property it is applied to.

Choosing a Local Company

Choosing a local company can benefit your community by keep revenue in the area. We are proud to serve Everett, Washington with its roof cleaning needs. Our company is locally based and has served Western Washington since 2008. In that time we have performed over 60 roof cleanings in Everett. We are here to stay and look forward to many more years serving your community.

Our service areas in Snohomish County, Washington for roof cleaning:

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Bleach for Killing Moss on a Roof

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WHY STORE BOUGHT BLEACH ISN’T STRONG ENOUGH TO KILL MOSS

There is a common misconception that bleach can kill moss. Homeowners go into their local supermarket and pick up a jug, pour it on their roofs and wonder why the moss hasn’t died. This information is faulty because, originally, store bought bleach only contained 6% of its weight as Sodium Hypochlorite [A.K.A Bleach].

6% bleach MIXTURES AREN’T ALWAYS SO CLEAR

There are many faulty ehow recipes on how to mix the bleach. By the time you’re done with even a conservative, 1 part bleach to 3 parts water your mixture isn’t strong enough to kill the moss you were after. Mixing household bleach which originally held 94% of its volume as water with even more water makes for a product that is not potent.

Bleach is about $6 a gallon at this time of writing. It takes about 40 gallons of liquid to properly cover an average homes roof.The roof cleaning costs quickly add up.

Let’s take a look at how easy this can be to screw up, and how difficult it can be for an average consumer to properly and correctly clean his roof:

Original Amount of 6% Bleach

Amount of Water

Strength after Dilution

Gallons of mix required for average 1200 Square foot home

Gallons Total:

1 gallon

33%

Bleach: 30 g

H2O: 10g

You now need a surfactant (something to stop the mix from rapidly flowing into your gutters), Dawn* soap or any surfactant able to mix without causing a reaction to bleach, work well. This is a surfactant that works well with bleach and doesn’t take away from its shelf life.

The mix above is a standard mix roof cleaners use to kill moss. Many times depending on the bleaches shelf life, the mixtures need to be adjusted. Bleach is a very volatile solution that loses its strength quickly and doesn’t handle well with a whole host of surfactants. Mixing the wrong surfactant can be wasteful and leave you with a mixture that doesn’t do what it was supposed to which is to:

Kill Moss.
Remove Stains.
Not Damage the roof it is applied to.

We’ve covered everything except how to get 40 gallons of liquid onto your roof ……. [Continued shortly in: pumps for roof cleaning]

Black Streaks on Roof

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Chemical Cleaning to Remove Black Streaking from Roofing

Gloeocapsa Magma is the scientific name for those black streaks on your roofing. Gloeocapsa is a form of algae that lives in wet humid climates. These streaks of black are not as evident in the Seattle-Tacoma region due to the majority of roofing material being of dark coloring. If your roofing substrate is light colored, it’s very probable that these stains will be found on your home.

Although, Gloeocapsa Magma is not harmful to roofing, the appearance of a home suffers tremendously. When selling a home the algae stains should be an issue that is dealt with before the home is placed up on the market. These stains are a red flag to potential home owners who may not know exactly what that black stuff is and whether or not it’s harmful to the roofing.

Soft wash roof cleaning with chemicals is a superior method of removing Gloeocapsa. This method of roof cleaning gets rid of these unsightly black streaks while keeping the integrity of the roofing intact. Power washing is not as effective at eliminating Gloeocapsa. It is also very damaging to roofing shingles. Read more here………….

In the picture to the left, a chemical solution is sprayed on the roof. Each chemical in the mix does a certain job. Within 25 minutes, the picture to the right shows the roof stains are almost completely gone. The mix continues to work on the stains and streaks until the next day of rain. After the roofs first shower, the roof is looking its best.

Going from being a white roof covered in black to being a white roof again has strong selling value for a home. Soft Washing is a great way to safely and effectively remove black streaks from your roof in Seattle. Whether your home is up on the market or you just don’t like coming home to a dirty roof, consider chemical cleaning when hiring a roof cleaning contractor.

Cost to Clean a Cedar Roof in Seattle

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Cedar Roof Cleaning Cost in Seattle

The cost to clean a cedar roof in Seattle for a : 3000 square foot , 2 story, medium roof pitch home, averages between 800-1300 dollars. There are many expenses to cleaning a cedar roof, these expenses contribute to the cost of the intial cleaning cost:

Labor
Gas for Power washer: 75-85 dollars worth for a 3000 square foot home.
Insurance costs
Chemicals [oxygen bleach and a revitalizer]

The cost to clean a cedar in Seattle quickly add up, for the company performing the task. Cedar roof cleanings require meticulous attention to detail. Every square inch is cleaned for the product to turn out right. The job is very labor intensive and requires a set of skilled eyes and hands.

Safety When Cleaning Cedar Roofs

Cedar roofs are like ice when there is moisture and moss growing on them. A good tool to have is a pair of Korkers©. These shoes with spikes are essential to a cedar roof cleaner in Seattle. The spikes allow the wearer to grab a footing while cleaning the shakes. They do not replace other safety measures such as:

Lanyard
Chicken ladders
Harness
Rope

Cedar Roof Cleaning Not for the Faint of Heart

There is a lot to pressure washing a cedar roof and the right equipment and experience are necessary when deciding to tackle on the task. Many roof cleaners in Seattle won’t even touch a cedar roof as the liability for something going wrong is too high. Slips-Falls and improper use of a power washer can have serious consequences for the roof cleaner and the roofing substrate.

If you are considering hiring someone to clean your cedar roof and would like to know the cost to clean a cedar in Seattle , we offer free estimates and an initial survey to get the best deal available for you. Don’t replace your cedar roof before making sure restoration is not an option, the difference in price is in the tens of thousands of dollars!! Cedar roof cleaning is a task that requires many years to master and some of the best roof cleaners won’t try their hands at it.

We provide cedar roof cleaning and oiling to the following cities:

Soft Wash Roof Cleaning Seattle

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Chemical Roof Cleaning

Soft-washing roof cleaning Seattle involves the use of chemicals to clean roofs. This method is employed to lessen the amount of damage caused by power-washing. Power-washing on average removes 3-4 layers of granules per cleaning . A roof is known by its years of life:

A 20 year roof has 20 layers of granules.
A 50 year roof has 50 layers of granules.

ARMA Recommends Soft Wash Roof Cleaning Seattle

The Soft-washing roof cleaning Seattle method when used properly is far more beneficial to roofing substrate then power-washing. No granule loss happens when chemicals are sprayed on your roofing. Additional benefits include:

The elimination of all moss spores that cause moss to grow in the first place.
A much longer lasting finished product; on average the process lasts 2-3 years

ARMA [Asphalt Roof Manufacturers Association] recommends soft-wash cleaning for proper roof maintenance. ARMA is the association that governs the making of asphalt shingle roofing. They are the leaders in the industry in the production and proper cleaning methods of roofing materials.

Power-washing Versus Chemical Cleaning

The difference in the finished look of the product : power-washing versus Soft-washing roof cleaning Seattle is nearly indistinguishable, when the proper chemicals are used.

A soft wash roof cleaning company generally use a few standard chemical products:

TSP [trisodium phosphate]. Known for its ability to remove algae and rust stains
Sodium Hydrochloride 10% or higher: known for its ability to kill moss and clean shingle.
Borax Lo: A soap like product known to aggressively kill weeds, spores and moss residual.
Isopropyl Alcohol: used when aggressive moss has been growing for long periods of time.
Surfactant: used to slow the mixtures path down to the gutter line.

Using a Pro

When mixed properly these chemicals generate a long lasting safe products to roofing material. These chemicals are not readily available to the average consumer and the mixtures of this chemical call for exact amounts for a strong enough product. The procedure of soft wash roof cleaning in Seattle is best left to a professional roof cleaning company.

Cedar Roof Cleaning Seattle

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Cedar Roof Cleaning Seattle

Why Cedar Shakes Turn Grey

When wood is exposed to the effects of sunlight and moisture, its surface begins to change. This change is commonly called weathering. The initial change from reddish brown to silvery gray is the result of the ultraviolet rays from sun exposure.This usually happens within the first year of installation. Eventually the roof will take on a darker gray color. This indicates that your roof is being colonized by micro fungi. PWNG specializes in cedar roof cleaning Seattle.

Should I oil my roof?

Originally your cedar shingle had only 3% of its weight as oil.[1] The effects of oiling a roof are temporary. UV rays break down the oils applied to cedar shakes in most instances within 3 years. Maintaining the oil on your roof should be a tri-yearly occurrence. The oils allow natural contraction and expansion that the cedar shake experiences, due to changes in weather such as:

Rain
Snow
UV exposure

These stresses to the wood cause micro-cracks. As an example, a butchers block , needs to be dried and should never be put away wet. When it is left out wet and the heat in the home is turned up or it is near a stove, it warps and cups like in the picture below. The warping is caused by:

Expansion
Contraction
Lack of Oil

Every butchers block made of wood, instructs the buyer on oiling with mineral oil. The exact procedure should be applied to cedar shakes.

Keeping the Appearance Up

You can periodically clean your cedar roof in Seattle with a power washer. The top grey layer of exposed cedar is removed and you’re left with a fresh new layer. This should only be done for maintenance. On average ¼-^3/16 inch of cedar is removed per cleaning. When deciding to apply stains and oils, keep in mind that, the sun will break down any coating or stain applied, eventually. In summary, cedars appearance if left outside in any sunlight: is grey. This is its natural color and there is no product on the market today, which can withstand 365 days of rain and sun a year.

Why You Should Very Rarely Power Wash Your Roof

Losing ^1/5 of your roofs life in one cedar roof cleaning Seattle , should only be done in extreme circumstances .When excessive moss and fungi have been left untreated on your roofing, it is time to power wash. You should go in knowing that you are power washing to remove debris and moss that’s accumulated. Yes your roof will look great. This is only temporary though. There is no way short of trapping your entire roof off; to prevent the weathering caused by UV exposure. We are there to remove debris and moss and apply a moss control agent. This should be done at most once every 5-7 years.

Moss Control

Our process for cedar roof cleaning Seattle is to use a safe organic compound known as Potassium Salts of Fatty Acids.[2]Mixed with some simple household detergent to make it stick, this chemical blend naturally kills all moss spores.

Periodic Maintenance for Cedar Roof Cleaning Seattle

PWNG can’t stress enough that cedar shake roof restoration in Seattle is a maintenance issue .Applying our chemical blend once a year is fairly inexpensive, under $400 in most instances. The local average of replacing a shake roof is. between $350-550 a square [10x10 feet] .Budgeting this as a yearly maintenance cost is a lot less expensive then replacing your entire roof

[1] Oregon State University Extension Service (Publication EC1271)

[2] http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/psfagen.pdf