How Much Does it Cost to Clean a Roof?

House Location

Where you live will directly affect the cost of cleaning your roof. If you live somewhere that your roof may be exposed to the elements, such as the beach or where it snows and sleets frequently, your professional may need to spend a little more time cleaning your roof to get all of the dirt, mold and grime off.

Moss and Algae

Cleaning off moss and algae is important. Large trees that produce lots of shade on a roof can foster the growth of moss and algae. High moisture levels brought about by rain can cause moss to accumulate on the roof and block your gutters. These dark stains on a roof act as a sponge to absorb the sun's heat, which causes higher air conditioning bills. Moss is of great concern as it can shorten the life span of untreated wood and asphalt roofing materials. The thick moss growth keeps the roofing materials damp for extended periods of time, promotes wood rot, and erodes the asphalt in shingles. The more moss and algae present, the more expensive the cost of cleaning may be.

Cleaning Methods

Roofs come in various types of materials and the cleaning solutions and tools used differ according to the type of roof and the kind of issue found. Power washing is a common method applied when cleaning most types of roofing. Professional roof cleaning services usually use pressure washers for cleaning roof vents and shingled roofs. In other cases, water hose and a nylon brush could do the trick for specific areas. Cleaning solutions vary from chlorine bleach and sodium hydroxide to pure lemon juice and salt solutions (for copper roofs). There are also organic roof cleaning solutions or services, but these can increase costs.