Unfortunately, when you buy a home you don’t
receive an owner’s manual along with it.
You’re
home is probably one of the most expensive purchases you will
make. The work that you are considering should not be taken lightly.
The decisions that you make here, can cost you or
save you a great deal of money.
This “Before” photograph was cleaned for a Mortgage company requiring a
certification. When we “Quick Serviced” this roof we were told that the roof was 3 years old and that it had no debris on it. It was 17-year-old second
layer roof without any maintenance since it’s inception.
This “After” photograph was cleaned for a Mortgage company and received a
certification.
Protecting and Maintaining the roof that protects you, you’re
family and you’re possessions should be a primary concern.
Here is some
general information for you regarding your roof, from
Jet Clean ™.
A composition roof expands as it heats up during
the day and contracts at night when it’s
cooler. Your roof also swells when it rains and shrinks when
it’s dry. So, on a daily or seasonal basis your roof does absorb a lot
of natural abuse – expanding and contracting,
expansions and contractions. If your roof is
never allowed to dry out, it will just rot.
Repairs completed correctly make all of the difference for your roof. This roofer repaired this roof “Horribly” and then left the remaining
unused composition on the roof. We estimated that these repairs were done approximately eight years prior to the taking this photograph. This is a great example to let you know that you won’t
know the quality of work that your roofer has done, for several years down the road. Hire the company that you trust.
For example:
In this situation… If your house is near trees,
the debris from those trees will settle on
your roof acting as a sponge collecting all of that moisture as
it sits. These debris will not allow your roof to dry out and in turn,
will dramatically shorten the life or your roof.
Pollution, floating pollens, airborne
spores and residual debris are a great food source for moss. All have
the destructive capacity of absorbing and holding
water. Shaded areas such as overhanging branches, roofing and walls
are all perfect breading grounds for moss to grow.
The Northern facing surfaces of roofing
generally get the least amount of the sun and in turn will
take longer for moisture or dew to evaporate or run off. The steeper
the roof pitch, the more moss will grow. Moss creates
an additional problem with its root system by
compounding the deterioration process further causing
the composition to pit and crack. Eventually, your roof will just
leak and most likely cause damage inside of your home
until its repaired or replaced.
Wind is really not a problem in the Pacific
Northwest, unless the roof is constructed
improperly. Most manufacturers have limits of liability on there
products if the wind speed is above 40 +/- knots, before the warranties
are effected or expire. If the composition tar strips haven’t sealed
properly, the winds could cause rain to be driven and penetrate your
roof by blowing water under the roofs each individual
tabs or shingles. A heavy wind could also blow the rain directly under
your valleys, flashing, ridge vents, skylights
and siding. The initial construction of your roof or the
quality of the roofing product itself, is generally the largest considerations
here.
Sun on the other hand is a serious threat
to your roof. The sun and its powerful UV
radiation can bake the life right out of your roof. Consider that
on a hot summer’s day the roofs temperature can reach as high as 180
degrees Fahrenheit. The sun will cause the valuable
unsecured granules to dislodge. These granules
are the composition roofing protection against the sun
itself. In example: Lighter colored composition granules will keep the
home cooler by helping reflect the light along with
the heat in the summer sun, and a lighter roof
will also be cooler in the winter. Conversely, a dark
colored composition granule roof will be warmer under the summer sun
and will also be warmer in the winter. So if you have
an opportunity to pick the color of your next
roof… Consider that the color of the composition
roofing that you choose, may save you money in you’re Energy Bills.
Air conditioning in the summer or heat in the winter, depending on
where you live may help you choose your next roof
color. So, with damage done to your
composition granules, please keep in mind… Once the granules are
gone – there gone for good and so is the protection that they provide.
The composition’s premature aging process begins
from cupping… to brittleness… to cracks…
to leaking… to repairs… to replacement…
A “Before” example of an uncleaned 17 year old Composition roof.
The “After” example of an “new looking” cleaned 17 year old Composition roof.
HELPFUL HINTS
Keeping your roof “free of debris” weather
it’s a total cleaning or just a periodic
loose debris “Tune-up” will make all of the difference and your
roof will last much, much longer.
Making sure that all of the leaks and seriously
cupped and damaged tabs or shingles are
replaced on a “as needed” basis will also make your roof last
much, much longer.
Keeping people off of your roof. Knowing how to
walk on composition roofing especially
when the roof is hot and soft in the summer.
Zinc Strips are a good product for fighting
moss growth or re-growth, and its natural.
If installed properly to your roof, the rain will wash the metallic
zinc compounds down the roof and won’t let the moss to grow. Zinc
Strips are 3 inches wide (2 inches exposed to the
weather) and as long in length as needed.
The nails used to attach the Zinc Strips should not be exposed
to the weather. If you look at your roof and notice existing galvanized
vents and flashings… You might notice that under those galvanized
(17% Zinc) products there is no moss growing for
several feet. The rain dilutes the Zinc
Strips the further down the roof it gets. Unfortunately, Zinc
Strips are unsightly to a composition roof and Jet Clean™ discourages
this product unless installed properly at the
original construction of the roof.
Treating your composition roof for moss is “NOT”
a good idea. It won’t work and it might
cause damage to the composition surface itself. A “water base”
product will not absorb into your roof and will wash away in time,
with the rain. An “oil base” product will
dissolve the composition surface. It’s
our opinion, that you would be wasting your money having a composition
roof treated.
For example:
