Roof Spring Cleaning Checklist

Spring cleaning isn’t just limited to dusting the window sills and clearing out our wardrobes – roofs need some seasonal care, too.

This article from Salmon Solutions, we will provide you with some tips on roof cleaning for Spring, to help you get rid of mould on your roof.

Cleaning your roof

Using a long-handled brush, tackle the surface mold and shingles. Look for the areas with the thickest mold initially – you can let the chemicals act on the less-stubborn areas.

An effective cleaning solution for removing algae from roofs is a combination of two pints of chlorine bleach, a cup of trisodium phosphate and 4.5 litres of water. You can get roof cleaner spray easily online or at a hardware store.

Starting from the lowest point of shingles, spray from the other side of the gutter, moving backwards up the roof – this stops the chemicals trickling towards you. Spray until you see the chemical run-off, and leave for 20 mins. While the chemicals work on the shingles, you can start scrubbing the mould.

• Do not combine bleach with any ammonia products under any circumstances.
• Purchase your cleaning solution from a hardware shop if you are uneasy about making your own.

Here at Salmon Solutions we are experts in many different types of Steel Roofing, from Zinc to Copper, Aluminium to Lead – call us on 0800 030 9105 to start your project!

Cleaning your gutters

If using a ladder, make sure it is positioned correctly. The feet of the ladder must be planted on solid ground that won’t shift. Make sure you don’t need to lean to clean the gutters – if something is a stretch, get down and reposition the ladder.

If using your hands, make sure you have thick waterproof gloves on. If you’re using a trowel or other tool, don’t apply too much force as you can damage the guttering. When collecting debris, you can use a bucket for wet material or a plastic bag for dry waste.

To wash out the gutters, you can simply use a bucket of clean, warm water and tip it in, or use a hose. The water will carry the remaining waste to the downpipe.

• Don’t tip wet waste onto the floor – it’s very messy and creates more work!
• If using a plastic bag, tie it to your ladder for ease.

Cleaning fascias and soffits

Your ladder should be positioned so that you can at least reach one end of the soffit easily – ideally, you should be able to reach your fascia and soffit simultaneously. Using a sponge soaked with the cleaning solution and warm water, clean backwards from the fascia and soffit towards the house. Focus on embedded dirt in things like indentations.

After removing the mould on your soffits and fascias, use the high pressure function on a hose and wash away the dirt and cleaning solution. Repeat these steps until everything is clean.

• Angle your hose horizontally to prevent water going through soffit vents.
• When finished, you can use a thin scraper to remove sticky areas that are left.

We are a leading installer of steel roofing for customers nationwide, with our years of experience and expert knowledge of the roofing process – we work to ensure long-lasting, high-quality installations for projects of all sizes. For more information about our roofing services, or for any of the other services we provide, get in touch with us today.