Pressure cleaning can be one of the quickest and most effective ways to clean metal or tiled roofs. Done properly, it can take the hassle out of roof and gutter cleaning.
Pressure washing can quickly revitalise stained and tired looking roofing materials. It’s perfect for removing debris and contaminants like mould and mildew, moss, bird droppings, water stains, oil and grease stains
Pressure washing for roof cleaning is an easy task, it does come with some risks. If not done carefully and properly, you could end up damaging your roof and that could cost you big in terms of roofing repairs.
You also need to factor in the dangers of working at heights with a pressure cleaner. There’s a high risk of slipping and falling, especially if you don’t have the right safety equipment or you’re not used to handling a pressure washer.
But done carefully, pressure washing is one of the best ways to take care of your roof and gutter cleaning. To make sure you’re ready to handle the job in the safest way possible, we have a few tips for pressure cleaning your roof.
What is pressure cleaning?
First, let’s have a quick look at how pressure cleaning works. Pressure cleaning (or pressure washing) uses water sprayed at high pressures reaching or exceeding 4,000 PSI. The pressurised water blasts off stains and debris stuck to your roof or other surface.
Pressure washing is not the same as power washing. While both use high-pressure water, power washers typically heat the water. Power washers are generally used for more heavy-duty cleaning jobs, such as removing paint. For general cleaning tasks like roof and gutter cleaning, heated water is not necessary.
Tips for pressure cleaning your roof
If not handled properly, pressure cleaning can create a lot of mess, potentially damage your roof and gutters and even lead to serious injury. So, before you jump on that ladder with your pressure cleaner, we have a few tips to help you get the roof gutters cleaned, effectively and safely.
- Clean out the gutters before you start
It’s worth taking the time to manually clean out your gutters and remove any loose debris from your roof, like branches and leaves, before you fire up the pressure washer. If you don’t do this, you risk clogging your gutters with the debris that you clean from the roof. - Don’t use chemicals or detergents
One of the best things about pressure cleaning is that it doesn’t require the use of any detergents or cleaning chemicals. The highly pressurised water is enough to remove stains and debris. This means you don’t need to worry about harmful chemicals running off into your garden or into storm water.
For particularly stubborn stains, you may be tempted to use a chemical cleaner, but in most cases it’s not necessary. Scrubbing the affected area by hand before hitting it with a close, direct blast with the cleaner should be enough to remove even the toughest stains. - Don’t use the highest pressure setting
It may seem like using a higher pressure setting will result in a more thorough clean in less time, but all you’re really doing is risking damage to the roofing materials. At high pressure settings, you risk breaking roof shingles, denting the sheet metal and damaging gutter attachments and other roof fixings.
For stubborn or hard to reach stains, resist the urge to increase the pressure. Instead, move the nozzle closer to the stain to get the maximum effect of the water pressure. - Be mindful of neighbours
Pressure cleaning can cause a lot of splash back. The water combined with the dirt, algae and other debris can create quite a mess. Take care where you direct the high-pressure cleaner or you could end up spraying neighbouring walls and windows and making a real mess. - Take safety seriously
Be careful when you’re working on the roof. Not all roof surfaces are designed to support your weight. Make sure you’re always walking only on the support beams. You should also ensure you’re fully equipped with all the necessary safety equipment including goggles and gloves, work boots with appropriate grip and safety harnesses and roof anchors. - Start at the top and work down
Always start cleaning from the top of the roof and work your way down. This way you won’t be washing dirt and debris from above down over the already cleaned sections. Washing from the top down also means the water will be running down the roof away from you. This is important as you want to avoid walking on the wet slippery sections of the roof as much as possible.
You should also always aim the nozzle down the slope of the roof. This will help to stop water shooting under the shingles or the points where the metal sheets overlap and getting into your roof space. - Don’t forget the additional cleaning
Pressure cleaning can create quite a bit of mess, especially if you’re not used to handling the cleaning equipment. You may end up with muddy runoff down your walls or spray back on your windows. Leaf matter and other debris from the roof can also end up in your garden. Once the roof cleaning is done, you may also need to clean up the garden and wash some windows and walls to remove any spray or muddy stains. - Leave it to the pros
But the best way to pressure clean your roof is to call in the professionals. They can handle all your roof and gutter cleaning, as well as any roof and gutter repairs that may be necessary. They will come fully equipped with all cleaning tools and safety equipment and can handle the cleaning while you put your feet up and relax.
Contact the Pros Today
The Himalayas Group are Melbourne’s experts when it comes to all roof and gutter cleaning services. They can provide effective pressure cleaning services for roofs and a range of other services. To book a clean, call 0415 841 606 today.
