If the stains on your roof are beginning to drive you crazy, you might be thinking of hiring a roofing cleaner. In just a few hours your roof can be sparkling like new again. The key, though, is hiring the right roof cleaning company. We interviewed Jeremy Cassel of JSC Pressure Washing, located in McDonough, GA, to get his advice about choosing a roof cleaning company.
Jeremy started pressure washing tractor trailers while working for a cousin in Ohio back in 2008. When he moved to McDonough, GA, he passed out some fliers to start his own residential pressure washing business. “I’ve invested in $15,000 worth of pressure washing gear to clean roofs correctly,” Jeremy said. “This is not a cheap business to get started in. You must understand how each piece of equipment works when you’re working with caustic chemicals because your equipment could break down fast.”
What questions should our readers ask of their roof cleaning company?
- How much experience do you have in roof washing?
- What kind of water pressure will you use to clean my roof?
- What’s your plan for rinsing my roof?
- How will you protect my garden?
- Are you insured?
- Could I see some references?
How much experience do they have?
“Your roof washing contractor needs to have the experience to know which chemicals to use. A pressure washing professional knows what chemicals to use and the correct concentration of chemicals to use when cleaning your roof. For example, sometimes you might have red mud stains on your home. An acid must be used first, then a degreaser works best as a catalyst to remove it. On the other hand, the green mold must be killed with a bleaching agent. If you attack all stains with the same chemical, you’ll be disappointed with the results you get.”
Power washing contractors are a dime a dozen. Not all of them have the experience or equipment to wash roofs correctly. So, ask how long they have been washing roofs.
These additional questions will also help you to see how experienced they really are.
What kind of water pressure will they use?
“Will they use high pressure? Or will they soft wash it?” Jeremy said. “Here’s the problem with using high pressure to wash your roof. First, it can destroy your roofing shingles by blowing the granules off. It can also break shingles. Finally, you can force water underneath your shingles, which can lead to water damage and mold. When you soft wash the roof, the first thing you do is chemically douse your roof. The key thing is to let the chemicals do the work. Not the water pressure! Then all you have to do is a soft wash rinse to remove the cleaning chemicals.”
As far as how mold gets on the roof in the first place, Jeremy had this to say: “Mold spores fly through the air looking for a dark shady spot to land and grow. Is any part of your roof in the shade? Black mold loves to eat lime. Lime is used to help weigh down your shingles. Eventually, mold can burn a hole through your shingles.”
Next question: What’s their plan to clean your roof?
If they don’t want to share it, then you need to hire someone else.
“Make sure that they use enough water to rinse your roofing shingles,” Jeremy advised. “The chemicals need to be diluted with water at a 10 to 1 ratio. Do not leave any chemicals on the roof. For every gallon of chemical used, you’ll need to spray three to four gallons of water to rinse it properly.” Why is it so important to use enough water? “If you leave too much chemical on your roof, it will corrode your gutters and you’ll need to replace them sooner than you want to.”
How will they protect your garden?
Jeremy said that roof washing chemicals can harm your garden. “Extra care must be taken to protect bushes, flowers, and vegetable gardens. Cover them with plastic tarps and use extra care when using chemicals in these areas. Do they offer you the option of cleaning your roof with biodegradable chemicals that won’t harm your bushes and plants? It’s true that these environmentally safe chemicals cost more to treat a roof, but it’s a lot less money than replacing all of your bushes, flowers, and plants.”
Remember to protect your pets.
“It’s best to keep your animals inside your home while you’re having your roof cleaned. The mist from the chemicals used can hurt your animal’s lungs. The chemicals that are washed off of your roof can harm your animal’s feet. The same goes for children! Make sure they have shoes on, no bare feet allowed. Keep them indoors while [the workers] spray your roof.”
Do they have liability insurance?
Respectfully ask to see proof of insurance. Check the date of coverage make sure that it’s up-to-date. An outdated insurance policy isn’t going to help you if they cause an accident at your house. Jeremy said they should have a $1 million liability policy. “Accidents can easily happen when using a pressure washer with 4000 PSI at 88 gallons per minute. A window can break easily if you’re not paying attention to where you’re working.”
How reputable are they?
“Check Google for reviews,” Jeremy suggested. “I’ve been doing this almost 10 years now. Every year the competition grow stronger. Unfortunately, there are many fly-by-night companies out there that want to wash your roof. So, take the time to check them out.”
Any final tips for our readers looking to hire the right roof washing service?
“Sometimes while [I’m] washing the roof the homeowner will ask me to wash their siding also. Do you have cedar siding? It’s important that pressure washing cedar siding is done perfectly with the grain. An experienced power washing company understands this. But an inexperienced person with a Home Depot pressure washer will wash it any old way. In the end, you’ll get splintering and you’ll see lines and indentations on every board. You will not be happy with what you paid for. It always cost less to go with a contractor that is experienced and has a good reputation.”
We hope you found this article helpful. Here at Atlanta Insurance, we’re serious about helping you protect your home. We want to think Jeremy Cassell of JSC Pressure Washing for giving this helpful information on finding a company to pressure wash your roof. If you want a free quote on pressure washing your roof in the greater McDonough and Stockbridge area, you can contact Jeremy on his website.
If you want a free quote for your insurance, we can help! We can help you build a customized insurance plan to protect your family and home. We’ll help you get the coverage you need at the best possible rate. All you have to do is fill out our quote form or give us a call today.