safe roof cleaning FAQ
In warm humid climates roofs quickly become infested by wind driven algae, mold and fungus spores which land on roof, grow and form colonies producing ugly black stains. Roof-A-Cide® Treatment is Guaranteed to prevent stain.
Q. What types of roof can Roof-A-Cide ® Treatment be applied to?
A. Asphalt Shingle, Clay tile, Slate, Concrete and Stone-coated Steel roofing systems.
Q. How does Roof-A-Cide ® Treatment protect my roof from ugly black stains?
A. Roof-A-Cide ® Treatment quickly bonds to the dry roof, preventing recurring mold and fungus. Roofs are cleaned, if needed, one last time to remove build up mold, fungus or debris present.
- Asphalt Shingle or Stone-coated Steel roofs are cleaned with Roof Restore™ Cleaner and rinsed with water. See roof cleaning / treatment of Stone-coated steel video – Clean/ RAC Treatment
- Clay, concrete tile and slate roofs are cleaned and rinsed only with water.
Q. Can Roof-A-Cide ® Treatment be applied without cleaning a dirty, infested roof?
A. The overall roof condition will be a factor. The treatment application / cleaning process will continue for 2 years, but, will require 3-6 months, with seasonal rainfall to wash away mold, fungus.
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Q. Does Roof-A-Cide ® Stain treatment contain toxic or corrosive chemicals?
A. NO. Roof-A-Cide ® does not contain toxic or corrosive chemicals. Safe for People, pets and plants.
Q. Will a Roof-A-Cide ® Treatment cancel my roofing manufacturer warranty?
A. NO. Roof-A-Cide ® Stain Treatment is approved to prevent stain by every major roofing manufacturer; GAF, Eagle, US Tile, CertainTeed, Crown, Entegra, Westlake.
Everything else is just a cleaner…..
Q. What is soft wash, chemical roof cleaning, no rinse method?
A. Soft wash and/or chemical roof cleaning, are toxic high strength chlorine and chemical mixtures, no rinse method. Also known as; Certified, chemical wash, soft wash, spotless, Sodium hypochlorite SH, bio-foam roof cleaning.
Florida roof cleaning contractors are virtually unregulated and use cheap toxic corrosive mixtures; Fruit scented, citrus oil, fruit “sauce” cleaners, Pool Chlorine, household bleach, ammonia, Sodium Hypochlorite (SH) or Sodium Hydroxide (Lye), the mixture is not rinsed off. Not a safe, cost-effective long term solution.
Chlorine Bleach is highly Corrosive and should not be used for roof cleaning. Especially, when used in high strength (50 – 90%) concentrations throughout Florida. Chlorine Bleach should always be rinsed off to avoid damage to the roof. Requires repeating the bleach / chemical cleaning process, in 6-12 months.
NO written warranty. Not environmentally or plant friendly. All plants and shrubs must kept covered, wet during and after cleaning. Chemical “Soft Wash” methods will dry out the roof prematurely and shorten it’s service life. Ground Pest control service products applied are neutralized. Always ask contractor for product documentation / current SDS of any substances to be used.
Q. What is a biocide roof cleaner?
A. Biocide or foaming disinfectant cleaners are OTC citrus scented and typically used in food processing/handling equipment and industrial applications have found their way to your roof. OTC (Home and Hardware stores) cleaning products are sold as; eco friendly, green wash, biocidal cleaner / foam / blockers, cationic surfactants, no rinsing, and citrus oil cleaners.
QUATS – (Quaternary Ammonium Compounds). Ex: alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, alkyl benzene ammonium chloride, citrus oil. Safer for your roof than Chlorine, but, not EPA Approved. Runoff kills plants and shrubs.
QUATS and surfactant cleaning products are sprayed on the roof, not rinsed off and will require 3-6 months and adequate rainfall to see results. Cleaning with Quaternary Ammonium Compounds is NOT a cost-effective, long term solution.
- FACT: Bleach and TSP (Tri sodium phosphate) will corrode metal (even in weak concentrations) and High-Strength Chlorine Bleach (Pool Chlorine 12.5%) widely used, will accelerate the damage – especially when the roof is not rinsed.
- FACT: No Roofing Manufacturer in the US recommends the High-Strength Chlorine Bleach solutions that are applied and left on roof all over Florida and increasingly throughout the US.