There is a lot of misconception when it comes to unsightly black streaks on asphalt shingles. Perhaps you have seen such black streaks on roofs, they normally first start to appear on the north facing slopes of the roof. The north side is the side with the prevailing amount of shade and moisture. Once the algae lands on the roof it does not go away or ever get any better. It will begin to feed on the shingles and will spread over time eventually taking over the entire roof. Roof cleaning is a great service to help with this problem of roof algae. When done right, roof cleaning will restore the roof’s appearance, increase curb appeal and value, and will stop the damaging effects of the roof algae. The proper method is a low pressure chemical application which is recommended by the major shingle manufacturers. A pressure washer should not be used because the excessive pressure will damage the shingles. They also recommend a bleach based cleaner, it is safe to use on the shingles and it will kill and remove the algae properly. No other chemical should be used, only bleach according to the shingle manufacturers such as Owens Corning. Not taking care of roof algae can lead to increased home and cooling costs and will deteriorate the shingles. Roof algae will definitely lessen the longevity of your shingles because it does not allow the shingles to reflect heat like they need to. Years of life can be shaved off the roof when roof algae is left untreated. It is like anything else that is exposed to the elements. For example, if vinyl siding is neglected it can also accumulate mold, mildew, and algae and if left untreated it will lessen the longevity of the siding. Roof’s are the same and when they get dirty or get infected by roof algae, they just need cleaned. It is not rocket science but I am amazed at the amount of homeowners and even roofing contractors that are not aware of what roof algae appearing as black streak are. I have heard all kinds of explanations of what these unsightly black streaks are. I’ve heard it said they are water marks, nail rust, the tar paper showing through, and even tree sap. None of these are true, it is an airborne algae technically called Gloeocapsa Magma. It gets on the roof, survives by feeding on nutrients in the shingles, and is spread down the roof by rain creating the black streaks. It is no different than mold on vinyl siding, or mildew on a wooden deck it can be cleaned like anything else. And like noted, the proper roof cleaners and cleaning methods are recommended by the major shingle manufacturers whom recognize roof algae as an ongoing problem. Educate your family, friends, and neighbors as to what this airborne algae is because it can jump from roof to roof. This is why you’ll see many roof’s affected in an area and none affected in other areas. In the south your the climate is more prone to grow algae and mold, roof’s are cleaned almost yearly. In the more northern states the algae is a problem but once a roof is cleaned properly it will stay clean for a minimum of several years. But because roof cleaning is not as popular in the northern states it seems that not many people know that it even exists nor what those black streaks on roofs are. Help spread the truth about black roof algae streaks and roof cleaning.
When you think of house cleaning you might not think about the exterior of your home, but exterior house cleaning is just as important as cleaning the interior. House cleaning done right, by a professional, will increase the value of your home. Increased curb appeal directly affects the value of a home and cleaning up the exterior of the house is a surefire way of increasing curb appeal. House cleaning is a project that is best left to a professional. Many inexperienced power washing operators and weekend warriors have damage vinyl siding and caused water intrusion. The proper house cleaning chemicals, methods, and equipment are a must in doing an effective and efficient job. For most homeowners, professional exterior house cleaning services are very affordable considering the return on the investment. You can not really put a price on increased curb appeal and home value. Vinyl siding, asphalt shingle roofs, sidewalks, driveways, and decks are just a few examples of surfaces that can benefit from a professional cleaning. Just remember that house cleaning the outside of your home and property is just as important as cleaning the inside. House cleaning the exterior of your home is a great investment and can give you the best bang for your buck when it comes to home improvements. Search online for a local professional exterior house cleaning contractor in your area.
Most homeowners around the country have a deck to enjoy cookouts and family get togethers. In the past, wood was normally the first and usually only choice when building a deck. Today wood decks are still very common and when taken care of can last a very long time. But it is that “taken care” of process that some homeowners have fallen behind with or are just sick and tired of doing. Many different types of wood are used for decks. Pressure treated wood is the most popular choice followed by cedar, ipe, and many other exotic and hardwoods. The bottom line is no matter what wood is used for an outdoor deck, maintenance is the key to its longevity. Every couple of years the deck needs to be cleaned and sealed to protect it against water and sun damage. To have this done properly can be expensive and in many cases decks have been ruined by weekend warriors or do it yourselfers. Professional deck restoration services are a must in order for the deck to last a long time. It is because of this hassle of maintenance that in recent years composite decking has become increasingly popular. Most composite decking material is 50% wood and 50% plastic. It does make a nice deck but in my opinion the reason it is becoming so popular is because it is sold as “maintenance free.” For the above homeowner that is sick of the high maintenance wood deck, a composite material seems to be a logical choice. Many neglected wood decks are being torn down and replaced with this man-made material and many new home construction contractors have gone to the composite decking as their first choice on new decks. But do homeowners really know what they are getting? Is this material really maintenance free? What does maintenance free actually mean? Well according to Google the words “maintenance” and “cleaning” mean the same thing. Maintenance free, to most people, means free from having to clean or do anything to the material once it is installed. Unfortunately, this is not the case with any composite decking material on the market today. That’s right, unsuspecting homeowners are being falsely sold on this man-made decking! Because this material is half wood, the sun turns it grey just like a wooden deck and mildew is a huge problem with this material. Mildew loves this material and appears in the form of little black spots or blotches. Once it is there it spreads and will take over the entire deck. It can be cleaned but many homeowners are extremely upset that their “maintenance free” deck needs to be cleaned. It is no secret that this material is not maintenance free, at least not on the Internet. Just do a search for “composite deck lawsuit” and you will see page after page of complaints, lawsuits, and outraged consumers fighting back. It has become common practice for these composite deck companies to become so overwhelmed with consumer complaints that they simply shut the doors only to start up again under a different name. Again, I want to stress that there is nothing wrong with a composite deck, it makes a nice surface for enjoying time outdoors, as long as homeowners know what they are getting. The fact that big box stores, deck building companies, and general contractors sell this material as maintenance free is what is borderline illegal. It is false advertising and they are betraying consumers when they sell composite decks as being maintenance free, because it is not. It is also a fact that there are composite deck sealers on the market. Why would you need a sealer for a maintenance free material? The bottom line is before ripping down your old wooden deck and having a new composite deck built, just know what you are getting. Nothing that is subjected to Mother Nature is maintenance free, composite deck cleaning will be necessary every couple of years just like it is for a wooden deck.
As the old saying goes; you get what you pay for. I’m sure you’ve heard this before or how about this one; you can’t get a Cadillac for a Volkswagen price? These are two factual statements when it comes to hiring a contractor for services. The cheapest guy is not always the best option and many have been burned by the ridiculously low priced contractor. Every industry has a slew of unethical contractors that show up every year only to disappear the next. The pressure washing industry is no different, and in the opinion of many, it is often times one of the worst industries when dealing with fly by night companies. It is a shame but these fly by night type of contractors have always plagued the pressure washing industry, mostly due to somewhat low start up costs. To start a professional pressure washing company with the right equipment, chemicals, insurance, and all the proper requirements it can be a substantial amount just like any business venture. But it is possible to go buy a pressure washer, a few chemicals, and some other equipment for just a couple thousand dollars and call yourself a pressure washing contractor. It is this type of company that ruins the pressure washing industry. Most of these unethical companies have no insurance, no clue about what they are doing, the wrong chemicals (if any), and cheap equipment. They have no capitol to invest in advertising so when they do get a call they bid it cheap to be sure they get the job. They are then forced to take shortcuts in order to turn a profit. This leaves a wake of unhappy customers but once they have the check in hand they don’t care, and they seem to disappear. Most go out of business within a year, but unfortunately the following spring a new wave of them is ready to start up again. It is a vicious cycle and if you have hired a cheap painter, handyman, or jack of all trades type of company that just happened to offer pressure washing services, you know what I’m talking about. The best way to combat this is to hire a contractor that specializes in pressure washing, or better yet, someone who does it full time. A professional pressure washing company that does nothing but pressure washing can be your best bet for a quality cleaning job done right. A full time pressure washer that is insured, does it full time, has been in business for a few years, has customer testimonials, and pictures of their past jobs will give you the results you expect when it comes to exterior cleaning. There are professional pressure washing companies like this in most areas. Search the Internet for local terms to see which pressure washing company keeps popping up.
There are many types of wood to choose from when building a deck. There are also composite materials that have become increasingly popular in recent years. Mahogany, ipe, and cedar are a few of the woods that can make beautiful decks. Different hardwoods and exotic woods can be quite expensive but if protected, can last for many years. The most popular choice for a wooden deck is pressure treated wood. It is less expensive than some of the other woods but still makes for a durable and beautiful deck. Pressure treated wood will also last a very long time if correctly maintained and protected. Cleaning decks and waterproofing them with a deck sealer is important to the longevity of the deck no matter what type of wood it is. Contrary to what a lot of people think, pressure treated lumber does need to be protected with a deck sealer. There is some confusion because it is called pressure “treated” lumber. Many people believe that it is already treated or protected from the elements. The chemical that pressure treated lumber is treated with at the lumber mill is to deter bugs and insects from eating the wood. The chemical treatment does not protect against the sun or water damage, it is still necessary to protect the wood with a sealer. Another popular choice for decks in recent years is composite man-made material. This material can make a nice deck but it also needs to be maintained on a regular basis. Many companies actually sell this composite material as “maintenance free” and have homeowners that are sick of maintaining their wooden decks buying into it. Many homeowners have actually had their wooden decks tore down to have a composite deck built in its place. Unfortunately, this material is not maintenance free and there are many lawsuits and cases of homeowners suing these companies because of it. Composite decking is about 50% plastic and 50% wood. Both of these materials are susceptible to the elements. Because of the wood that is present, this material will turn grey just like a wooden deck, and the plastic will collect mold, mildew, and algae just like vinyl siding, and vinyl fencing. Composite deck cleaning and maintenance is not as involved as cleaning wood decks, but it is still necessary. There are even composite deck sealers on the market to protect the material. The fact that these materials are sold as maintenance free is a shame and should be considered false advertising. Many of these companies have filed bankruptcy and closed the doors only to start up under a different name. This isn’t to say that composite material does not make a nice deck because it does, just do not be fooled into thinking it does not have to be maintained as does a wooden deck. As mentioned earlier, plastic will also collect green mold and mildew, so a 100% vinyl deck or fence is not going to get you away from maintenance either. The vinyl will not have to be sealed but it will need to be cleaned and maintained in order to keep it free of mold and mildew.
If you have a wooden deck you know all too well how tough it is to maintain it. Wooden decks have to be maintained every couple of years, even when they are done right and coated with a quality deck stain. For Warsaw residents and most anywhere else across the country, keeping up with your deck on your own can be bit overwhelming. Residents in Warsaw, In and surrounding areas can benefit greatly from deck staining services. Deck restoration is a skilled trade that is becoming increasingly popular among homeowners. A deck staining Warsaw company can keep your deck looking good all the time by restoring it and then returning every two years to maintain it. Some of you may have noticed that some of the deck stain cans at the hardware store claim that the stain will last 3, 4, 5, and even up to 8 years old. Unfortunately, this just isn’t true. There is no deck stain or sealer on the market that will last that long on a wooden deck. To make matters worse, these products are normally solid stains that are enhanced with silicone acting more like a paint. So when the stain does fail it is almost impossible to do anything else with the deck except to paint over the old stuff with new. This creates a huge problem because the deck stain is not meant to adhere to itself, it is meant to penetrate wood. So the new layer begins to peel and flake just about every year. Sometimes homeowners will apply layer after layer as years go by and then they decide they want the deck to look like a deck again. Sadly though, the deck is just about ruined at this point because it is impossible to get all that old stain back off the deck. If you own a wooden deck or you are thinking about building one, be aware that maintenance is an ongoing thing. But there are deck staining companies out there that can help. Finding a reputable full time deck restoration company will be your only challenge. It’s best to find the right deck staining company and have them put you on a maintenance plan. Some people are turning to composite decking, thinking that it is maintenance free. We will discuss composite deck cleaning Warsaw services in our next blog, stay tuned.
Those that have been affected by the current economic conditions are cutting back on large purchases like family vacations and such. This spring break, some have chosen to take a quick weekend get away as opposed to a week long extravagant vacation. This means people are around the house and yard a little bit more and because they’ve saved a couple thousand dollars by not splurging on a big vacation or other wants, spending a little money to have the exterior of the house cleaned is no big deal. At home services like carpet cleaning, landscaping, house cleaning, and pressure washing can actually flourish during a recession. Companies that can weather the storm usually come out looking good once the dust settles. The trick is to be a strong enough company that people can see the value in your services. If you have always presented professionalism, delivered quality, and have outstanding customer service than you have done things right to make it through tough times. Exterior house cleaning services are probably one of the best returns on the homeowners investment. A fresh clean house, roof, deck, and driveway can really boost a home’s curb appeal and overall value. Homeowners will not loose money with cleaning maintenance. House cleaning and pressure washing services can add up to 5-10 percent of value to the home. House cleaning services will also save the homeowner expensive future repairs and replacements that can be caused by neglect. During a recession people cut back on wants but understand how important it is to take care of the things they have. People become more possessive and feel more proud of what they have, they are more grateful even if it is subconsciously. Because of this gratefulness, they feel more obligated to take care of the house, car, yard, and even their health. Providing a useful and valuable house cleaning or other service can be the perfect prescription for an economy that is a little under the weather.
Cleaning and maintaining a vinyl siding home is an important part of home maintenance. A clean home is worth more than the same home that is neglected. Curb appeal is everything, a good first impression can literally increase a home’s value by 5 to 10 percent. It is so important these days to take care of the things we have, especially your home which is probably your largest investment. The best way to get and keep a clean exterior is to hire a professional house washing service company. A reputable pressure washing service company can clean your home’s siding and put you on a maintenance plan to come out every year or two. This will mean you will have a nice clean home all the time, it will never get to a neglected or overly filthy point again. A quality pressure washing service company will use safe low pressure methods coupled with effective contractor grade house cleaners. Using the right house cleaners is especially important so that the house is not only clean, but that all the mold, mildew, and algae are killed so they do not return any time soon. Just blasting the siding with hot water and/or high pressure will not clean effectively or kill these contaminants; allowing them to grow right back again. Finding a good quality pressure washing service company is essential to a quality job done right that will last for a year or more. Some companies may even offer a guarantee or warranty on their work. Some warn against hiring lawn care or painting companies that happen to own a pressure washer. A pressure washer alone is not enough in delivering effective results. The proper equipment, knowledge, methods, and cleaners all play a part in giving a premium house washing service. Be sure you find a full time house washing company so you can get the results you expect.
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