Picture this...your roof is filled with debris from nearby trees, leaves and branch matter fill your gutters, then this leads moss and algae starting to grow and spread. Looks like it’s time to clean your roof. In this post, we help you identify what’s an easy clean up vs when it’s time to call in the professionals.

DIY

When a roof is well taken care of, everybody underneath can rest easy knowing they are secure from the elements. Regular roof cleaning is critical to remove moss and other weather-related issues. Roof cleaning prevents decay and other costly damages to your property. It also extends the lifespan of your roof, protecting an important asset to your home.

Cleaning your roof yourself? Keep it simple - a simple wash including the gutters with a pressure hose and picking out leaves is a far as you should go.

However, even some high pressure hoses can damage your roof, so make sure to ask a professional about what you can and cannot use yourself when you want to do a regular spot clean.

Call for help

If you want your roof to last, you need to invest in it - just like with any other feature of your home. Which is why calling a professional to help you with roof and tile repair is more cost effective in the long run.

While technically you can clean your own roof, it’s not recommended. From personal injury to property damage, there are plenty of compelling reasons to leave roof cleaning to the professionals. Before you grab your ladder, consider why cleaning your own roof might not be a great idea.

Reasons why you shouldn’t clean your own roof:

• Falls - Let’s get real. Roof cleaning is dangerous. You may not think your roof is too high or too slanted, but you'll change your tune once you’re up there. Falls from roofs account for more than one-third of fall-related construction fatalities, and these are experienced professionals. All kinds of unforeseen events can cause a fall, including early morning dew, brief summer showers, a sudden gust of winds, faulty equipment, or even a pesky insect. Even if you don’t fall, there are all kinds of way you can hurt yourself cleaning your roof. It’s pretty easy to twist your ankle, strain your back, or suffer cuts and bruises.

• Insects - You might not be alone on your roof. Insects like wasps, hornets, and bees may have built nests in the area, particularly in places that are difficult to see. Insect nests can be located on your roof, in your chimney, or in nearby trees. A swarm of wasps is the last thing you want to deal with while you’re trying to clean your roof.

• Experience & Expertise -  How many times have you cleaned a roof in your life? For the average homeowner, the answer is "Not many". For the experienced roofing professional, the answer is "heaps"! With that much experience and hands-on training comes a level of expertise that only professionals can reach.

Here are a few things a roofing professional can spot in a second, but the average homeowner might miss:

• A potential weak spot
• A leak or potential leak
• Areas in need of repair
• Signs the roof needs replacement

Not all roof damage is visible to the untrained eye. By attempting to clean your roof yourself, you risk missing key signs of damage that could escalate into larger problems. 

Improper handling of roof issues can lead to more serious problems down the road. It takes experience and expertise to even know what to look for, let alone how to fix problems. 

There’s a variety of benefits to get the professionals in:

• Save time. Professional roofers can attend to what needs to be fixed in a shorter amount of time - having plenty more experience in that department. 

• Avoid risk. Not having to climb onto the roof means there’s no risk of falling off! If you decide to go the DIY route, you’re also at risk of injuring your hands with equipment.

• Experience & peace of mind. You can expect the job to be done - on time and correctly in order to prevent the same problem from resurfacing. Those setting out to do this project for their own home have a tendency to either grossly over, or underestimate how much material will be needed. No amount of research and studying will give you the same knowledge that experience can. If you’re replacing your entire roof, hiring a professional usually means there is a manufacturers warranty available if installed by a certified professional. This can save you a lot of headaches in the future.
  
  
• Less money wasted. Sure, this sounds paradoxical but hear us out - in general, roofing experts know exactly which materials to purchase in order to fix the problem, so there is no second guessing or trying out different products in order to determine which works best. When you make a mistake, you are left with the disaster.
  
  
• Warranty coverage. Just like any insurance, Roo Roofing provide future proofing - meaning any future damage or repairs to the same problem are covered. By choosing not to hire professional roof repair services, you could be compromising your manufacturer’s warranty.