When it comes to maintaining a clean roof at your property, a lot of homeowners rightfully ask questions like is roof cleaning safe for the environment?
And the answer to this question largely depends on the method and products used…
Traditional roof cleaning often used to involve high-pressure washing or harsh chemical treatments, which of course can pose risks to your landscaping, local waterways, and even your existing roofing materials. However, the good news is that today’s eco-friendly roof cleaning solutions offer a much safer way to protect both your home and the planet.
We’ve teamed up with Roof Cleaning Langley experts to dive deeper into some eco-friendly roof cleaning strategies that actually work, so check out the below sections to learn more about how you can clean your property’s roof—while also protecting the planet!
Common Environmental Risks Associated With Traditional Roof Cleaning
Conventional roof cleaning methods, particularly chlorine bleach-based treatments, can pose environmental damages when not carefully handled.
Runoff from these roof cleaning chemicals can do the following:
- Harm shrubs, plants and grass around your property
- Contaminate your home’s groundwater and nearby soil
- Accelerate roofing material degradation
- Pose dangers to wildlife and pets
And although pressure washing is technically chemical-free, it can also strip your asphalt shingles of their protective granules—which often leads to premature wearing and additional roof repair waste.
Eco-Friendly Roof Cleaning Alternatives That Actually Work
What’s awesome for today’s homeowners is that there are many eco-conscious roof cleaning solutions out there that can undoubtedly go a long way to effectively clean roofs, while not compromising sustainability efforts.
Some of these eco-friendly alternatives include:
Biodegradable Roof Cleaners
Homeowners in the Langley area should be on the lookout for roof cleaning solutions that are non-toxic, biodegradable and phosphate-free.
These cleaning products naturally break down, which means that they won’t harm nearby animals or plants because they’re specifically designed to create safe runoff.
Soft & Low-Pressure Roof Washing
Instead of simply blasting your rooftop with high-pressure water streams, consider soft washing that utilizes low-pressure sprays and eco-friendly detergents.
This is a much gentler way to thoroughly wash your roof, and it’s also a lot safer for your property’s local ecosystem.
Using Natural Products To Remove Moss & Algae
If your roof is suffering from algae or moss development, you should consider natural cleaning products like vinegar-based compounds, citric acids or essential oils.
These options are still incredibly effective at eliminating rooftop algae and moss, and they won’t negatively impact your property’s soil either.
Preventing Dirty Roofs Is A Greener Solution Than Repetitive Cleaning
By far the best way to minimize your roof cleaning’s environmental impact is to reduce the number of times that you need to clean your roof in the first place.
This essentially means that preventing roof buildup is by far more eco-friendly than consistently cleaning your roof as it inevitably gets dirty, and some of the ways that prevention helps homeowners include:
- Improving attic ventilation in order to reduce excess moisture buildup
- Trimming back overhanging trees to allow for more sunlight and reduce potential debris
- Installing zinc or copper strips near the edges of your roof to naturally minimize moss and algae growth
Choosing An Eco-Friendly Roof Cleaning Service
When you’re in the process of hiring a roof cleaning company in your area, you’ll want to ask them the following questions:
- What types of roof cleaning solutions do you typically use?
- Are your cleaning products environmentally certified or biodegradable?
- How will you manage runoff and protect my property’s landscaping?
By asking these types of questions, you can better guarantee that you’re hiring a roof cleaning team the prioritizes eco-friendly business practices!
Eco-Friendly Roof Cleaning Is The Future In Cities Like Langley, BC!
Roof cleaning has come a very long way throughout recent years, and this has a lot to do with the latest eco-friendly industry solutions.
It’s essential for homeowners in the Langley BC area to take professional roof cleaning very seriously, because British Columbia is known for having the perfect climate for rooftop algae and moss development.
So, the next time that your home needs roof cleaning, be sure to embrace the eco-friendly strategies that we listed here to protect you and your property’s ecosystem!
