Roof and gutter cleaning

by Guillaume, Ultimate Washer Inc

Roof Cleaning: Why and How To Do It

Just as your house needs to be clean, so does your roof.  A good roof cleaning should be done for a different reason, though.  If you house is near a tree, built in a location that has high humidity, or is near a source of humidity such as a lake, pond, or pool, then your roof may be susceptible to fungus.  Not only does this sound disgusting, but it is downright dangerous.  Fungus can cause children (and others) to become sick, and it can even find its way into the house itself.

The most effective method of roof cleaning is to use a pressure washer surface cleaner.  When used with a cleaning agent, the roof can be restored to the way it was when it was first installed.  Unlike the bleach that some contractors use, soap solutions are safer for plants and animals, and will not harm the surface you are cleaning.

Once you have your materials together, you can begin.  Roof cleaning is done in two phases.  First is the removal of dirt and fungus, and the second is the rinsing of the roof.  One of the corners of the roof is the best place to begin.  Move the surface pressure washer back and forth in a three to four foot path.  It’s safe to move it over the same spot several times if you have to.  If you have to, feel free to use more detergent.  If it’s hot out, use clean water to rinse the area off that you are cleaning every ten to fifteen minutes or so, then continue with the washing.

When your roof cleaning is complete, be sure to rinse off the whole roof again, to remove any last traces of fungus or cleaning chemicals.  What you should have left is a clean, safe roof that is like new.

Your Complete Guide to Gutter Cleaning

Gutter cleaning: It’s one of those jobs that have us groaning before we even take the ladder out of the garage, but it’s necessary nonetheless. Leaves, sticks, bugs and twigs all do their part to clog our gutters and downspouts leaving our homes vulnerable to water damage.

But before you resign yourself to your fate and grab up all of your old rags, a broom and the garden hose, you should know that there is an easy and quick way to clean your gutters. That’s right, all you need is a ladder, a pressure washer, an attachable extension wand or telescoping wand, and a couple of trash bags and you’re set for the gutter cleaning chore that won’t leave you pulling your hair out.

Since the majority of gutters become clogged when debris like falling leaves get caught in them, you should first check the top portions of your gutter system to remove any excess debris. If your gutters are relatively clear with no large masses of debris, you will need to do nothing at this point; the pressure washer will be able to take care of all of it for you.

The next step to gutter cleaning with a pressure washer is to clean your downspouts. You can do this by removing any debris that may be found around the base of your downspout and putting it into a trash bag. Then, take the pressure washer and direct a stream of water with a high GPM through the downspout. When you see that the water is running freely out of the downspouts, you can move on to the rest of the gutters.

Now all you have to do is wash the debris that is left in the gutters down through the downspouts with the pressure washer. Clean the debris from around the base of your downspouts once again and wipe down the outside of your gutters with a cleaning cloth.

Gutter cleaning should be done twice a year, in the spring and fall. If you have a lot of trees on your property, you may want to clean your gutters twice in the fall.

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