How To Wash A Slate Roof

In fact slate shingling has such a reputation for resilience that it has been nicknamed the hundred year roof but if you want your slate roof to last the advertised century it is important to use to right tools for installation and repair and to understand how to keep it at its best.

How to wash a slate roof.

Most slate roofs tend to be older so it is safe to assume that any slate roof is fragile and prone to damage. A roof is one of the first things a visitor might notice about your house specially if you have a tile roof because they re more rare than your typical asphalt roof due to the cost of the natural tiles which can be either clay sand synthetic stucco or concrete plus the cost of installation. The photo above shows a slate roof during a cleaning. Debris and moss buildup hold moisture in the slates that can split them during winter freezes.

The slates are 9 years old and had a build up of moss algae compounded by tree sap. Regular cleaning is an important part of keeping a slate roof in working order. For one having the. Small amounts of dirt are usually not a problem as opposed to when large parts of the roof are covered with moss.

Such harsh chemicals are incompatible with the copper. Both artificial slates and natural slates have to deal with moss and pollution in the long run. Run a hose fitted with a spray nozzle up to the roof. Buildup of moss and debris on slate roofs hold moisture in the slates that can split them during winter.

There s good reason why people desire them despite the hefty price tag. Clean slate roofs in hot weather so they dry fast or at least on a clear day with plenty of sunlight. If your household water pressure isn t enough to generate the proper nozzle pressure at the jets the manufacturer recommends boosting it. Regular roof cleaning is critical for your roof as slate is easy to cleave and water absorbent.

When cleaning a slate roof don t use chemicals like ammonia or chlorine bleach. Any form of weight can crack or break a slate tile so no homeowner or roof cleaning professional should ever walk on the roof. He chose an eco product purposefully because of all the run off from the roof onto. This gives your roof an ugly look and it is bad for the state of the roof as well.

Set up a ladder so you can access the roof. When spraying start at the top of your roof and work down toward the gutters so the debris is headed in the right direction. While you might be tempted to reach for a strong chemical or a pressure washer it s better to leave them behind and give your slate roof a little tender loving care. To clean a tile roof use a pressure washer to spray the roof with plain water to dislodge any loose dirt or debris.