Service Areas
Maryland, MD
Virginia, VA
Washington, DC
Montgomery County
Frederick County
Prince Georges County
Ashton
Beallsville
Bethesda
Boyds
Brinklow
Brookeville
Burtonsville
Cabin John
Chevy Chase
Clarksburg
Colesville
Damascus
Darnestown
Derwood
Dumfries
Fairfax
Frederick
Gaithersburg
Germantown
Glen Echo
Hyattsville
Ijamsville
Kensington
Laytonsville
Montgomery Village
Mount Airy
New Market
North Bethesda
North Potomac
Olney
Poolesville
Potomac
Rockville
Sandy Spring
Silver Spring
Takoma Park
Washington Grove
West Bethesda
West Friendship
Wheaton
Woodbine
Testimonial
"I am very satisfied with the service of Henry's housework. They quality and level of service is exceptional and I sincerely appreciate their prompt response to my request to replace roof tiles. In today's society, I find the level of work ethics and customer service has declined in a variety of professions. Henry's Housework is the exception to the rule. Please accept my appreciation Henry, and to Nichole of your staff for a quality job."
Evelyn Lee, Silver Spring MD
Most pressure washing companies that begin roof cleaning find that there is a considerable amount of technique and skill when cleaning roofs. Any contractor that performs roof cleaning should be aware of roofs are installed, failure to understand roof installation methods can cause thousands of dollars in damages from a pressure washing contractor.
Its imperative that the pressure washer use extremely low pressure to avoid damaging the shingles and that the roof is inspected prior to the commencement of the job. Remember, most pressure washers used in roof cleaning use a minimum of 4 GPM and as much as 10 GPM!. So it is easy to understand why knowledge of roofing installation and a roof inspection is necessary when you consider the amount of water that could enter the structure during roof cleaning.
Now that you understand the basicsof roof installation it is equally important to know the other structures on the roof and their function to avoid causing leaks around them. For identification purposes, pictures of these parts can be found on the roofing page of our web site at http://www.henryshousework.com/HHW/roof_repair.html Most roofing materials are installed over a layer of felt paper and in some cases a rubber like ice guard material. The first layer of shingles is called the starter course and is installed at the lowest point on the roof, upside down. This allows a solid base for water to run over without leaking down into the rafters and plywood between the shingles key ways. Once this layer is installed another shingle is place directly on top of it, and the rest of the roofing is placed in a similar fashion up the roof line. The reason shingles are installed in this manner is to allow the water to run over one shingle onto the next until it enters the gutter system.
Now that you can identify the common fixtures on a roof the next step is to identify what you will be cleaning from the surface. The most common reason for cleaning asphalt shingle roofs is to remove a fungus growth called Gloeocapsa Magma. This particular type of algae is air-born and will collect on any type of roof. In most cases the owner of the property won't notice the algae growth until it begins to take over large sections of the roof. This algae usually forms dark brown or black stains on the roofing and it thrives in mostly warm humid areas.
Roof cleaning with the appropriate cleaners can effectively remove this unsightly blemish from roofs fairly easily if you know how. Some manufacturers suggest using a mixture of TSP and Bleach to kill the fungus. Other manufacturers suggest using a sodium hydroxide based cleaner instead.
Regardless of which cleaner you use when cleaning roofs it's important that you check with the manufacturer of the roof to meet their guidelines. Some manufacturers will void the warranty on the shingles for one method but not the other. However, ALL roofing manufacturers agree that the use of high pressure should NEVER be used when cleaning roofs. Some specifications set the safe pressure range at 600 PSI but the best rule of thumb to use is. Use the least amount of pressure and the mildest chemical possible to achieve the desired result!
If you are considering entering the asphalt shingle roof cleaning market I would highly recommend taking a course offered by The Power Washers of North America. This informative course will give you an in depth look at proper techniques, chemical processes, and roof construction needed to add this valuable service to your company.
Don't pressure wash roof surfaces, roof cleaning services should be performed using low pressure cleaning methods that kill mold and algae while gently lifting soil than can be rinsed away using low pressure. When cleaning roofs it's a delicate process of using the right chemicals, water volume and pressure. What most people don't know is it can also cause thousands of dollars in damage when you pressure wash if it's not done properly.
Most people believe using 3,000 - 4,000 psi to pressure wash is the fastest and most effective way to get the job done. That amount of pressure can destroy roofing or force water under the shingles causing leaks, mildew and in some cases, blow it off the house!
Henry’s Housework is one of the most experienced and trained roof cleanin company in Maryland, we have been providing pressure washing services since 1989 for more than 19,000 residential and commercial properties.
We have taken the time to educate our employees in numerous certification programs and hands on training. This dedication is what puts us among the leaders in the pressure wash industry across the country.
For more information about cleaning roofs, or anything you want to pressure wash, give us a call at 301-216-9675.
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