East Meadow Roofing: Article About Cleaning Your Asphalt Roofing
Trisodium phosphate is a chemical compound that is used as a cleaning agent. It is alkaline and can de-grease various types of surfaces, including cement. It should be used sparingly, as it does have some detrimental effects on the environment.
East Meadow roofers FAQ: Why do I need goggles?If you're cleaning your rooftop by yourself, then you need to take appropriate precautions. Most people remember to use gloves, but fewer remember to use goggles while they are spraying caustic solutions onto their roof. If any of the cleaning mixture gets into your eyes, you could risk permanent damage and blindness. You can find safety-rated goggles in your local hardware store. They should form a seal around your eyes. In addition, you should cover your mouth while cleaning the roof.
In addition, cleaning your asphalt shingles helps prevent the spread of vegetation, algae, fungus and bacteria that could be developing due to excessive exposure to moisture. You could be risking long-term damage to your East Meadow roofing if you don't keep it clean. Fortunately, you can take matters into your own hands and clean your asphalt shingles by yourself. This guide will show you how to do it.
You'll need to start by putting on some protective gloves, goggles and clothing. Next, use your hose to spray down any shrubs, bushes, plants or trees near the roof itself. This will keep them safe from the cleaning solution that you will use on the rooftop. You can also wrap shrubs and other plants in a tarp or a drop cloth, but you should keep watering around the roots as you work on cleaning the roof.
After this, you should start mixing your cleaning solution. Start by adding four liters of hot water, followed by one cup of bleach. Slowly add in a cup of laundry detergent, and finish the mixture with one fourth of a cup of trisodium phosphate. Wear protective gloves while you handle each part of the solution and avoid breathing in any fumes.
You'll need a sprayer of some kind to complete the next step. If you don't have one, you can find them in the garden section of most home improvement stores.
Have a question regarding Velux skylights or Supreme skylights? Please ask the roofers from Long Island Roofing of East Meadow.
Use the sprayer to cover the asphalt shingles on your roof. Work in small sections and reapply more of the solution to areas that need more attention. You should start to notice the solution taking effect within a couple of minutes. If the shingles are very heavily stained or damaged, then you can use a small brush to gently scrub them.
Do not let the solution sit on your asphalt shingles for more than 15 minutes. Rinse off the cleaning mixture using your garden hose. Be careful and make sure that you clean the gutters, flashings, chimneys and other hard-to-reach areas of the roof. Finally, unwrap any plants near the roof and safely dispose of the cleaning mixture. This can be done by pouring the mixture down a drain followed by plenty of water. Most people dispose of the solution by running it down their toilet or bathtub drain.
You wouldn't let your lawn get overgrown with weeds, or let your windows get dirty and dusty, so why let your asphalt roof fall into disrepair? Keeping your asphalt shingles clean is part of keeping your rooftop in peak condition. With enough safety precautions and a willingness to learn, you can ensure that you have the shiniest roof in the whole neighborhood.
