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Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing: Why Your Roof Will Thank You for Choosing Soft

When it comes to cleaning your roof, you might instinctively reach for the pressure washer. After all, it blasts away dirt and grime, right? While effective for some surfaces, pressure washing your roof can actually do more harm than good. Enter soft washing, a revolutionary cleaning method that offers a safer, more effective, and longer-lasting solution for your roof’s health and appearance.

Here in Florida, where humidity and heat create the perfect breeding ground for algae, mold, and mildew, roof cleaning is a common necessity. But before you unleash a high-pressure stream on your roof, let’s explore why soft washing is the superior choice.

The Problem with Pressure: Why High PSI is a No-Go for Roofs

Imagine a firehose pointed at your delicate roof shingles. That’s essentially what pressure washing can be like. The high-PSI (pounds per square inch) spray can:

• Damage Shingles: High pressure can lift, chip, or even tear off asphalt granules, which are vital for protecting your roof from UV rays and weather. This compromises the integrity and lifespan of your roof.
• Void Warranties: Many roofing manufacturers’ warranties explicitly state that pressure washing can void the warranty due to potential damage.
• Force Water Under Shingles: The forceful spray can push water underneath your shingles, leading to moisture intrusion, wood rot, and even leaks into your attic or home.
• Spread Algae and Mold: While it might look clean initially, pressure washing often just blasts spores around, allowing them to regrow quickly, sometimes even more aggressively. It doesn’t kill the root of the problem.
• Leave Streaks and Uneven Cleaning: It’s difficult to achieve an even clean with a pressure washer, often leaving behind unsightly streaks and missed spots.

The Gentle Magic of Soft washing: A Deeper, Safer Clean

Soft washing, as the name suggests, uses a low-pressure stream of water combined with specialized, eco-friendly cleaning solutions. These solutions are designed to break down and effectively kill organic growth like algae (the black streaks you often see), moss, lichen, mold, and mildew at their source.

Here’s why soft washing is the clear winner for your roof:

• Less walking or No walking: Most reputable companies can actually clean a roof without walking on it if you ask. This is especially important for Tile Roofs that can easily break and crack by simply walking on them. Here at Ray Cleaning Solutions, we can actually clean most tile roofs without walking on them. To date we’ve cleaned well over a quarter Million sqft of barrel tile roof this exact way. ZERO broken tiles. It doesn’t matter how much a company says “We know HOW to Walk on roofs….” it CAN still happen. 
• Protects Your Roof’s Integrity: The low pressure is gentle on all roofing materials, from asphalt shingles to tile and more. It won’t damage granules, lift shingles, or force water where it doesn’t belong.

• Extends Your Roof’s Lifespan: By eliminating destructive organic growth, soft washing prevents deterioration and helps your roof last longer, saving you money on costly repairs or premature replacement.
• Kills Organic Growth at the Root: The cleaning solutions penetrate and kill the spores, providing a much longer-lasting clean than pressure washing. This means your roof stays cleaner for longer.
• Restores Curb Appeal: Say goodbye to those unsightly black streaks and green patches! Soft washing effectively removes discoloration, restoring your roof to its original beauty and significantly boosting your home’s curb appeal.
• Prevents Future Growth: The residual effect of the cleaning solutions can inhibit future growth, offering a protective barrier against recurring infestations.
• Safe for Your Home and Landscape: Reputable soft washing companies use biodegradable solutions that are safe for your environment, and know how to properly handle solutions as to not cause any short term damage. 
• Maintains Warranties: Soft washing is generally approved by roofing manufacturers and will not void your warranty. Soft washing is the recommended method by ARMA (Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association)  https://www.asphaltroofing.org/algae-moss-prevention-cleaning-asphalt-roofing-systems/

Make the Smart Choice for Your Roof

In this humid climate, regular roof cleaning is crucial. But choose wisely. While the immediate satisfaction of blasting away dirt with a pressure washer might be tempting, the long-term benefits of soft washing far outweigh any perceived advantages.

Investing in professional soft washing not only gives you a beautifully clean roof but also protects your most valuable asset, extends its lifespan, and maintains its warranty. Your roof is a significant investment – treat it with the care it deserves.