I am asked all the time by my customers, "Can you clean roofs in the winter? How cold is too cold to clean?" My answer is always the same. Cleaning roofs in our local area, Pennsylvania, Delaware & Maryland is a wait and see approach in the winter and here is why:

Our roof cleaning process uses chemicals cleaners to kill the algae, moss and lichen that is growing on your roof. Once the temperature of those organisms starts to drop below 40% is becomes more difficult to ensure the killing effectiveness of our cleaners. Those organisms start to go into a hibernation mode of sorts when the temperatures drop into the freezing range for survival reasons. The become dormant so to speak and they won't effectively absorb the cleaners that we are applying to your roof. If they don't absorb the necessary amount of cleaners, you will not fully kill all of the algae spores that are growing on your shingles. The roof will still clean up, but the remaining dormant algae spores will come out of "hibernation" when the temperatures warm up and they will quickly begin the process of recontamination.

The rule that we go by during the winter is: Temperatures must not fall below freezing the night before the roof cleaning. As long as the temperatures are not below freezing the night before and the temperatures will reach 40 or more during the day, we will schedule the cleaning process. This way we know that the algae will absorb the proper amount of cleaner and will fully die on the roof giving you the longest lasting roof cleaning possible.

We are able to tell as soon as we spray the roof if the algae is at the proper temperature to effectively clean the roof. If for some reason the roof was not ready, we would stop the cleaning process and come back another day. It does us no good to clean your roof if the temperatures are not optimal. It will still look clean, but the algae will come back much sooner than it should. That would look bad for your company and chances are you would not have us come back to clean your roof or any other exterior cleaning you may need. We base our business on satisfied customers, repeat business and referrals. We want every customer to be completely satisfied will every aspect of our cleaning process. We want to earn your money and we are thankful for every customer that spends that hard earned money with our company.

Roof cleaning can certainly be done in the winter. This winter has been especially mild and we have worked much more than usual. If you are considering having your roof cleaned by a professional roof cleaning company, please give us a call for a free no obligation estimate.

The Roof Cleaners LLC
Non Pressure Roof & Exterior Cleaning
610-842-2104 or (888) WASH-360
theroofcleaners@gmail.com

The Roof Cleaners also offer non pressure power washing. This non pressure stucco cleaning that we performed really changed the appearance of this home. The customers were very skeptical about whether we would be able to clean their home without the use of pressure. They had another contractor try to clean their chimney with a pressure washer and as you can see in the before picture, he was able to get the lower section of the chimney clean but there was a tremendous amount of stucco damage in the process. The home owner had to stop the pressure washing company before too much damage was done to the home.

Our stucco cleaning process requires no pressure to achieve these results. We use a cleaner that clings to the stucco giving our mix time to kill the organisms growing in the stucco and lift them from the surface. A bucket of water thrown at the stucco after our cleaners were applied would be plenty to rinse this caked on grime off of the stucco.

Many customers fear the use of pressure on stucco. They certainly should. I see many stucco jobs that are full of cracks that let moisture into the home when any pressure is applied directly to their surface. This moisture can damage interior walls and lead to very dangerous mold growth.

Our PA power washing company cleaning process uses a very large fan spray  that is similar in pressure to your showing head in your home. We apply our cleaners with that spray and we also rinse the home with the same spray. We don't force water into stucco cracks, window seals or door seals. The end result is safe cleaning with amazing results.

Call The Roof Cleaners for all of your exterior cleaning needs. As you can see we clean much more than roofs. We offer power washing services in Pennsylvania, Delaware & Maryland.

(888) WASH-360 or 610-842-2104
theroofcleaners@gmail.com

This roof cleaning our company performed in Coatesville PA dramatically changed the appearance of this home. This customer found our company by doing a Google search for roof cleaners in Pennsylvania and contracted with us to clean her roof and power wash the house.

Our roof cleaning service, as well as our power washing service are both performed using no more than garden hose pressure. We used the proper cleaners to effectively kill and lift the organisms and dirt from the roof and house. When you clean surfaces with this method, it doesn't require any damaging pressure that people associate with pressure washing.

Look at how different this roof looks in the after picture. This customer was so amazed with the results that she wrote up a great review for us on Google and recommended us to her neighbor who happens to own AGRA Concrete, a PA stamped concrete company. Check their website out. They really do some amazing stamped concrete work.

The Roof Cleaners LLC is licensed and insured to clean roofs and power wash in Pennsylvania, Delaware & Maryland. We offer much more than just roof cleaning. We also offer non pressure power washing (house washing), concrete cleaning, wood cleaning and staining, composite deck cleaning, interior gutter cleaning (leaf removal) exterior gutter brightening, children's playset cleaning and plenty of other exterior surfaces.

Call or e-mail us today: 610-842-2104 or (888) WASH-360   theroofcleaners@gmail.com

Brian

Our Roof Cleaning Company in Pennsylvania has been heavily influenced by Laryy Millett who is the owner of Palm Harbor Florida Roof Cleaning . Larry is a real stand up roof cleaning professional. All Surface Roof Cleaning in Palm Harbor Florida performs non pressure roof cleaning for all types of Florinda commercial roof cleaning and power washing. Anyone in the Tampa Florida, Clearwater Florida or Palm Harbor Florida area that is looking for roof cleaning or power washing service should contact All Surface Pressure Cleaning at 727-543-3267 or on the web at Pinellas County Roof Cleaing.

Our Certified Roof Cleaning Company only recommends other Certified professional roof cleaning and power washing contractors. Please visit our web site for links to Certified roof cleaning in your area. If you can't find a qualified roof cleaner in you area, please feel free to contact me to find a roof cleaning or power washer you can trust.

All Surface Roof Cleaning and Power Washing is your Palm Harbor Florida Roof Cleaing and Power Washing Expert

Thanks for visiting my site!

Brian

The Roof Cleaners LLC, your certified Pennsylvania roof cleaning company, are offering a winter discount for roof cleaning. When the temperatures drop into the freezing range, The Roof Cleaners wrap up their roof cleaning season until April. When the weather gets that cold, it becomes much more difficult to kill the algae that is growing on your roof. Cold temperatures also create a more hazardous work environment for our employees.

We try to combat this inconvenience to our customers by offering a discount on any roof cleaning work booked in the winter months. We are scheduling the entire month of April as we speak!

Any customer that books a roof cleaning between December 1st, 2010 and March 30th, 2011 will receive 10% off the regular price of roof cleaning. The cleaning must be scheduled between April 1st, 2011 and May 15th, 2011. Spots are filling up quickly, so please call today so that you don't miss out on your 10% roof cleaning discount!

Visit our PA Roof Cleaners  web site for more information.

Call for a free no obligation estimate. 610-842-2104

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Brian

Roof Cleaning information is something I love to write about. I write blog posts showing pictures of work that we have performed, answering questions that customers have asked and passing along new information that I have learned about roof cleaning. Roof cleaning is my life and it has consumed me! I love to talk about it and I love when readers of my blog post comments about my articles. Comments are always welcome. Please just make sure that they are relavant to the post. I will delete all spammy comments. All comments have to be approved by me before they will be active comments with links. Again, please feel free to comment about my Pennsylvania roof cleaning information. I do love to talk about roof cleaning!

Have a great holiday!

Brian

The Roof Cleaners are based out of Oxford PA. We clean roofs in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. We use safe non pressure roof cleaning methods to remove those unsightly black steaks from your asphalt shingle roof. This roof cleaning was performed in Delaware County Pennsylvania. This customer had forgotten what the original color of their shingles looked like.

Got roof stains? Need a safe and effective, non pressure roof cleaning in Pennsylvania? Call our professional roof cleaning company today for a free, no obligation roof cleaning estimate.

The Roof Cleaners LLC   610-842-2104  Certified Roof Cleaning Company in PA

The Roof Cleaners cleaned this roof in Wilmington Delaware . This roof cleaning customer had recently had an addition put on her house. The new shingles that were put on were in sharp contrast to the existing algae stained shingles on the original roof. Our non pressure roof cleaning methods we able to safely remove the black streaks from her roof and help match the original roof to the appearance of the new shingles.

The Roof Cleaners LLC offer our roof cleaning service in Chester and Delaware County Pennsylvania, New Castle County Delaware, Cecil County Maryland and all surrounding areas. Call today for a free estimate. It is cheaper than you think!

The Roof Cleaners LLC 610-842-2104

Most people hire a certified roof cleaning company to clean their roof for increased curb appeal of their home. Some people are concerned with the longevity of their asphalt shingle roof and hire a certified roof cleaner to perform routine maintenance on their roof. Now, according to Doctor Victor H Morgenroth, people may want to consider cleaning the black algae streaks from their roof to improve their health! Doctor Morgenroth is a professor of neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He has received many accolades during the course of his medical career and published this very interesting article concerning roof cleaning, algae, fungi and the effects on home owners.

If you would like more information on roof cleaning, check out the home page of my PA certified roof cleaning company. www.cleanmyshingles.com  or call me at any time 610-842-2104

Brian

Here is a copy of his published roof cleaning health risk article:

ALL ABOUT ROOF CLEANING by Dr. Victor H. Morgenroth
Dr. Morgenroth is a Keys Gate resident who  is a semi-retired, adjunct professor of neurology at UM.  He was a principal administrator in the Environment Health and Safety Division of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for 20 years; prior to that I was a Group Leader in the Toxicology Division at the Center for Food Safety and Nutrition in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Previously, he was on the faculty of several medical schools in neurology, pharmacology and psychiatry.
Having your roof cleaned actually makes sense. I know most of us were slightly put out by receiving a roof cleaning notice from the Keys Gate Management Association. Although it read a little like an ultimatum and you probably wondered who the inspector of your roof was and what their qualifications were, it turns out that roof cleaning is not a bad idea at all. It isn’t just aesthetics. While people like to say that dirty roofs lower a property’s value and may make it hard to sell, the “dirt” on a roof actually shortens its life span and can even present a health hazard. Furthermore, the “dark stains” on a roof act as a sponge to absorb the sun's heat, which causes a rise in the temperature inside a home or building, creating higher air conditioning bills. The dirt isn’t just dust – It’s alive. Some of the black or very dark roof stains are caused by a resilient type of algae, Gloeocapsa magma (a type of blue-green algae commonly found in climates with warm, humid summers). The algae grow in standing water, as well as in our lakes and ponds. The algal spores are carried to our roofs from the water sources by the wind and birds, and then from roof to roof where it grows and feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles and the real dirt on tile roofs maybe in some cases the tiles themselves. Worse still, as the algae grow, they retain water and foster the growth of other roof inhabitants. The black stains are also very likely to harbor a number of molds or fungi. Unlike algae the fungi on our roofs lacks chlorophyll. They are unable to manufacture food from raw materials. So, it must get nutrition from some form of organic matter. To thrive, these heterotrophs, who used to be called saprophytes, also require a warm, humid environment. Fungi normally begin their life cycle as an airborne spore that settles on roofs, especially the asphalt-shingle ones. The spores on the northern exposure of the roof stand a better chance of survival because that portion of the roof is the last part to dry after a rain or morning dew. This raises the humidity on the surface of the shingle, thus creating a perfect feeding and breeding ground. The tar used in roofing is fossilized, dead organic matter -- and an important food source for fungi. Asphalt, at the granule base, is normally consumed first. Once these granules dislodge, accelerated deterioration will occur. Ceramic granules represent the outer hard shell that protects against hail and other falling debris. Ceramic granules protect against damaging UV radiation and insulate the roof against extreme heat. So you can understand that their dislodgement by the growing fungal colonies can be detrimental to our roofs’ longevity. Surprisingly, the blue-green algae are also food for the fungi. While not all mold (fungi) and algae pose a health danger, some are harmful, especially for us older folks, younger children and people who suffer from asthma and respiratory problems. Their spores, which are on your roof, can get inside your home because they end up on the driveway and walkways from rain, and are easily tracked inside. They can even be drawn into our air conditioning systems and eventually populate our ducts. Different mold species can have varying health effects, but it is important to remember that any excessive mold growth needs to be taken care of, regardless of the species. Any excessive mold growth can lead to increased allergies, toxicity, and house/building structural problems. For those interested, this box describes some of the most common fungi likely to be found on our roofs and their possible health effects. While “sick building syndrome” has been talked about frequently in the media, it isn’t always reported that this syndrome is often caused by faulty or leaking roof assemblies that result in fungal infestations. It isn’t, as reported, always due to chemicals in carpeting. Don’t Panic! Most of us have immune systems that are fully capable of resisting the effects of fungi described below. As a result it would be highly unlikely for any of us to suffer any of the ill effects described. But if fungal colonies are allowed to persist and multiply then the high concentrations of the molds and their volatile organic chemical metabolites might be sufficient to increase the risks from our exposure to them. Stachybotrys chartarum (atra) molds can thrive on water damaged, cellulose-rich material in buildings such as sheet rock, paper, ceiling tiles, insulation backing, wallpaper, etc. In the majority of cases where Stachybotrys is found indoors, water damage has gone unnoticed or ignored since it requires extended periods of time with increased levels of moisture for growth to occur. Stachybotrys is usually black and slimy in appearance. Events of water intrusion that are not addressed quickly tends to support the growth of more xerophilic fungi such as Pencillium and Aspergillus. Stachybotrys is another fungi that has the ability to produce mycotoxins, ones that are toxic and can be immunosuppressive. Exposure to these mycotoxins can result through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal exposure. Symptoms of exposure include dermatitis, cough, rhinitis, nose bleeds, cold and flu-like symptoms, headache, general malaise, and fever. The Cladosporium genera of mold are pigmented dark green to black in the front, and black on the reverse with a velvety to powdery texture.  One of the most commonly isolated from indoor and outdoor air, Cladosporium spp. are found on decaying plants, woody plants, food, straw, soil, paint, textiles, and the surface of fiberglass duct liner in the interior of supply ducts. There are over 30 species in the Cladosporium genus. The most common are C. elatum, C. herbarum, C. sphaerospermum, and C. cladosporioides. These fungi are the causative agents of skin lesions, keratitis, nail fungus, sinusitis, asthma, and pulmonary infections.  Acute symptoms of exposure to Cladosporium are edema and bronchiospasm, and chronic exposure may lead to pulmonary emphysema. Aspergillus is the most common genus of fungi in our environment (it especially likes to grow on corn plants) with more than 160 different species of mold. Sixteen of these species have been documented as causing human disease. Aspergillosis is now the 2nd most common fungal infection requiring hospitalization in the United States. Aspergillus fumigatus. The most encountered species causing infection. It is seen abundantly in decomposing organic material, such as self-heating compost piles, since it readily grows at temperatures up to 55 C. People who handle contaminated material often develop hypersensitivity to the spores of Aspergillus and may suffer severe allergic reactions upon exposure. Aspergillus flavus. The 2nd most encountered fungi in cases of Aspergillus infection. It is also known to produce the mycotoxin aflatoxin, one of the most potent carcinogens known to man. In the 1960s, 100,000 turkey poults in Great Britain died from ingesting contaminated feed. Most countries have established levels for aflatoxin in food. However, the risks associated with airborne exposure are not adequately studied and no exposure standards exist. Aspergillus niger. The 3rd most common Aspergillus fungi associated with disease and the most common of any Aspergillus species in nature due to its ability to grow on a wide variety of substrates. This species may cause a “fungal ball”, which is a condition where the fungus actively proliferates in the human lung, forming a ball. It does so without invading the lung tissue. Fusarium spp.,common soil fungus and inhabitant on a wide array of plants, this fungi is often found in humidifiers and has been isolated from water-damaged carpets and a variety of other building materials.  Human exposure may occur through ingestion of contaminated grains and possibly through the inhalation of spores. Fusarium spp. is frequently involved with eye, skin, and nail infections. Several species can produce the trichothecene toxins which target the circulatory, alimentary, skin, and nervous systems. Vomitoxin is one such tricothecene mycotoxin that has been associated with outbreaks of acute gastrointestinal illness in humans. Zearalenone is another mycotoxin produced by Fusarium. It is similar in structure to the female sex hormone estrogen and targets the reproductive organs. Penicillium fungi are commonly found in soil, food, cellulose, grains, paint, carpet, wallpaper, interior fiberglass duct insulation, and decaying vegetation. Penicillium may cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis, asthma, and allergic alveolitis in susceptible individuals. The genus Penicillium has several species. The most common ones include Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium janthinellum, Penicillium marneffei, and Penicillium purpurogenum. These fungi have been isolated from patients with keratitis, ear infections, pneumonia, endocarditis, peritonitis, and urinary tract infections. Penicillium infections are most commonly exhibited in immunosuppressed individuals. In conclusion, during the digestion of substrates, fungi secrete enzymes into nutrients in order to break down complex compounds into simpler compounds that can be taken up by the fungi and used as nutrition.  These digested nutrients produce secondary metabolic byproducts called mycotoxins that are released to give the fungi a competitive edge over other microorganisms and fungi. Unfortunately, mycotoxins can also be toxic to humans causing a variety of responses including cold/flu-like symptoms, sore throats, headaches, nose bleeds, fatigue, diarrhea, dermatitis, and immune suppression. Some mycotoxins may also be carcinogenic and teratogenic. Molds that have been known to potentially produce these toxins are Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys. Even though these molds may potentially produce mycotoxins, they will not do so unless specific environmental conditions exist.  Currently, it is unknown exactly what conditions promote the growth of mycotoxin production and more scientific research needs to be conducted on this topic for it to be fully understood.

Pennsylvania, Maryland & Delaware Roof Cleaning customers ask all the time, "Why should I clean those streaks off of my roof?"

Any Certified Roof Cleaner can give them multiple reasons why it would benefit them to clean their roof. The Roof Cleaners of Chester County Pennsylvania are certified by The American Roof Cleaners Association and The Roof Cleaning Institute of America to informatively answer any questions about the harmful effects of black algae stains on your asphalt shingle roof.

1. The build up of algae on a roof retains excessive moisture in the asphalt shingles. The moisture stays around long after the rest of the roof has dried. This excess moisture is harmful to your shingles over a long period of time. Shingles have a shorter life span when they are kept in an excessively moist environment. After a rain or frost in the morning, look at the section of the roof that has black algae stains/streaks on it and watch how long it take for that section to dry. Compare that section of roof to a neighbor's house. You will see that those shingles covered with gloeocapsa magma (better known as a blue/green algae) will often take several hours longer to dry than those shingles without black stains caused by algae.
2. Asphalt shingles darkened by the presence of algae, moss or lichen will often create much hotter temperatures on the roof than similar clean shingles. For example, a neutral colored asphalt shingle roof may reach temperatures of 120 - 130 degrees in the summer time. The same roof that is covered in dark black algae streaks may reach temperatures of 150 - 160 degrees on the same day. This extra heat that is retained in the shingles helps lead to premature shingle failure. The higher the average temperature of asphalt roof shingles, the shorter the average life span. Don't keep your shingles from reaching their full life expectancy.
3. Another side effect of excessive roof temperatures is the home's inability to effectively cool the home's attic. Higher attic temperatures lead to higher cooling costs in the summer. There is a reason people routinely install attic fans to help reduce attic temperatures. The least efficient utility in your home is your air conditioning system. The hotter your attic is, the harder your air conditioning compressor has to work to cool the house off.
4. Last but not least is simple curb appeal. People spend a lot of money every year to beautify the outside of their home. They spend money on lawn care, landscaping, mulching, leaf removal, painting and flowers. Why spend money on those things and still have a dirty, algae infested roof? The dark stains on your shingles really are an eye sore. They make your home look old and worn down. Most people think that you need a new roof when they see those black streaks. You roof is the largest visible feature that your house has. Don't let that billboard sized roof say, "My house looks old and unkept". Realtors routinely tell their clients to find a company to clean their roof before the hones is put on the market. A house with a clean roof sells much faster than a house that is covered in black algae streaks.

The Roof Cleaners are certified to safely clean your roof using non pressure cleaning methods. Our methods and cleaning agents are the only ones approved by the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association. They will not void any shingle warranties or cause any damage to your shingles. Any company that has to rinse or use pressure on your shingles (high or low pressure) is not using the proper roof cleaning solution.

We have multiple references available in your area (residential and commercial) and we will perform spot cleaning demonstrations if you are still skeptical about the effectiveness of our process.

Don't let gloeocapsa magma (black algae stains or streaks) damage your shingles or take away from the curb appeal of your home. It can be safely and effectively cleaned by a professional, certified roof cleaner.

Call The Roof Cleaners today! 610-842-2104  or visit our web site: www.cleanmyshingles.com