You may have heard your family or friends talking about low pressure soft washing their homes roof. But what is soft washing? Is it really as effective as pressure washing? & Why should you consider it?

Let’s start with what is making your roof look black. The culprit is Gloeocapsa Magma  also known as algae which is common on roofs and will leave black streaks running down shingles or roof tiles depending on which roof type you have. While the roof is black from algae growth it loses its ability to reflect light. This can cause excess heat to accumulate in your attic and lead to a warmer home and high electric cost. Algae, and mold thrive in South Florida’s humid and tropical climate. It will grow, spread and worsen very fast once it appears. Algae will have destructive, and harmful effects on your roof if not removed in a timely manner. Not maintaining your roof can take up to 10 years off the life of a roof. We all know roofs aren’t cheap to replace so we can’t urge you enough to maintain yours for maximum longevity and life.

Pressure washing a shingle roof, even at low pressure can cause premature granular loss, and will void your warranty. Soft washing will kill and remove any and all organic substances safely from the roof. After the process is complete your roof will look just as good as when it was brand new!  The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association actually recommends low-pressure bleach or detergent assisted washing as the only preferred method for cleaning asphalt roofs in order to prevent damage to the properties shingles.

What chemicals are most commonly used to Soft Wash a roof?