How To Wash A Slate Roof

Run a hose fitted with a spray nozzle up to the roof.

How to wash a slate roof. There s good reason why people desire them despite the hefty price tag. Debris and moss buildup hold moisture in the slates that can split them during winter freezes. When cleaning a slate roof don t use chemicals like ammonia or chlorine bleach. Buildup of moss and debris on slate roofs hold moisture in the slates that can split them during winter.

Both artificial slates and natural slates have to deal with moss and pollution in the long run. Regular cleaning is an important part of keeping a slate roof in working order. When having the slate cleaned it should be only be done from a ladder or lift to avoid damage to the 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 slates are 9 years old and had a build up of moss algae compounded by tree sap. Once your roof dries fill the pressure washer with an anti moss or fungicide solution and spray the. If your household water pressure isn t enough to generate the proper nozzle pressure at the jets the manufacturer recommends boosting it.

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. Any form of weight can crack or break a slate tile so no homeowner or roof cleaning professional should ever walk on the roof. Regular roof cleaning is critical for your roof as slate is easy to cleave and water absorbent. To clean a tile roof use a pressure washer to spray the roof with plain water to dislodge any loose dirt or debris.

Small amounts of dirt are usually not a problem as opposed to when large parts of the roof are covered with moss. Set up a ladder so you can access the roof. This gives your roof an ugly look and it is bad for the state of the roof as well. For one having the.

Such harsh chemicals are incompatible with the copper. When spraying start at the top of your roof and work down toward the gutters so the debris is headed in the right direction. 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. Our customer used a basic solution of simple green dish soap water.