Shingle Roof Cleaning - Clarksville, TN

Does your Clarksville, TN roof look like this one? Are you thinking of having it replaced?

We can save you money on the replacement costs by cleaning the roof instead of replacing it.

Our cleaning methods are recommended by the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) and is completely safe for your home.

We can make your home beautiful once again for about 1/10th the replacement cost of a shingle roof replacement or less.

For more information visit our web site at www.thecleaningdoc.com/

Metal Roof Cleaning - Clarksville, TN

The Cleaning doctor can handle your metal roof cleaning needs in Clarksville, TN and Surrounding areas. You will find here some before and after pictures of our latest metal roof cleaning endeavors.

This close up picture shows how dull and dirty the roof really is.

We cleaned the entire exterior of this home to remove the grime, mold and algae on the exterior of this home.

Now this roof looks a lot better but we still have some work to do before we finish.

Look how much brighter the rear of this home looks after removing all the mold and mildew.

For the last step in the cleaning process we applied a silicon sealant with a mildew retardant to ensure that this home would remain clean for a long time to come.

For more information please visit our Roof Cleaning web site at www.TheCleaningDoc.com

Beware of low prices and extremely high ones.

Most home owners will call several companies that advertise for the services that are needed to get the best price they can in order to save money. They should do this and do their due diligence to make sure they are not getting ripped off.

Now there are many fly by night companies out there that state that they are the lowest price guaranteed. This is good if you are purchasing like products but services are an entirely different thing. For example if you are purchasing a dishwasher made by Whirlpool, it doesn't matter who you buy from. The dishwasher will be the same no matter who you purchase from. But a service is different in that quality can vary from vendor to vendor. The other thing that is different would be that say someone gave you a bid of $300 to wash the exterior of your home and the next vendor gives you a quote of $99 for the same service.

Then there is the other end of the spectrum, where the homeowner is charged an outrageous price for these same services. These are legitimate vendors but their methods may not lend itself to expeditious cleaning methods, forcing the vendor to charge more for their services.

The differences comes in the procedures used and quality of the finished product. Not to mention that the vendor that only charges $99 for this job usually takes much longer to complete and does not have the professional equipment required to do the job safely and efficiently. This vendor more times than not also does not carry any type of liability insurance to protect your home. Lack of knowledge can also lead to unseen issues that will arise later. One example is the improper use of a pressure washer to clean vinyl siding. You could have those squiggly wand marks that come from using too much pressure or they can force water up under the siding thus causing mold to develop unseen between the siding and the home's interior. If they are using a hot water machine there is a chance they could warp the siding from the heat also. Who's going to pay for the damage if they don't have insurance?

Anyone can buy a pressure washer and claim that they are in the business of cleaning and pressure washing. Did you know that as a home owner you could be held in violation of the CWA (Clean Water Act) if the contractor does not properly protect from run off into storm drains as these usually lead directly to streams and rivers? This can result in fines for the vendor and the home owner regardless of who is at fault. It is your responsibility, as the property owner, to ensure that your vendor complies with these laws. Ignorance of the law will not hold up on court.

No matter who you choose for your cleaning services be sure to ask for proof of insurance to ensure that your home and property will be protected. You will sleep better if you do.

Here at The Cleaning Doctor we do all that is possible to eliminate any violation of the Clean Water Act, thus protecting ourselves and you the property owner. When we clean we do all that is humanly possible whether it is a roof cleaning, house wash, wood restoration or concrete cleaning.

Please click on one of the following links for more information on our services for Clarksville, TN and surrounding areas.

Roof Cleaning Clarksville, TN

House Wash Clarksville, TN

Gutter Cleaning Clarksville, TN

Deck Restoration Clarksville, TN
Pressure Washing Clarksville, TN

Off the shelf roof cleaning chemicals. Do they WORK?

I know you have seen all sorts of advertising about roof cleaning chemicals. You can purchase these products in the big box stores all day long but there is something they are not telling you. These chemicals are not recommended by the Asphalt Shingle Manufacturers Association (ARMA) for your Tennessee roof. Most of these products are Sodium Hydroxide based and can be very dangerous, as any chemical can be if not applied properly. Sodium Hydroxide can cause chemical burns and other irritations and it is odorless. Thus it gives you no warning to clear the area.

ARMA recommends the use of Sodium Hypochlorite for the cleaning of your asphalt shingle roof, thus removing the roof stains from your Nashville or Clarksville, Tennessee home. Sodium Hydroxide is a degreaser and very good at that. It is used to clean commercial kitchen hoods. Your shingles are asphalt, a very thick type of grease. What do you think will happen to your shingles? People are trying to get a one size fits all cleaner. Well there is none, at least not yet.
You will find sites that state bleach is bad for your plants and your roof. Do you think they now more than the shingle manufacturers? They are correct about Sodium Hypochlorite being bad for your plants, but there again protective measures can be taken. You put bleach in your washing machine don't you? Read the bottle and see what the active ingredient is, Sodium Hypochlorite. What would you rather have used on your home, a chemical with no warning or smell or one that smells like bleach? Most of the sites that bash the use of bleach/sodium hypochlorite for TN roof stain removal will have a product to sell you.

Why don't they put Sodium Hypochlorite in their roof cleaning chemicals you ask? Short shelf life is the answer. Sodium Hypochlorite degrades quickly so it needs to be used quickly or it looses it's strength. The same reason you need to keep putting chlorine in a pool. Time and the sun cause the chemical to degrade quickly.

Yes we are in the roof cleaning business but if you don't use us to have your roof cleaned at least use a roof cleaner that uses non pressure techniques utilizing the ARMA recommended chemicals.

Call The Cleaning Doctor for your free demonstration and estimate at 931-933-5421.

Nashville, TN Roof Stain Removal
Clarksville, TN Roof Stain Removal

How is your curb appeal? Does your home exterior need cleaning?

How is the curb appeal on your home? Are you thinking of putting your home on the market?

If your roof looks like the one to the right be prepared to receive lower bids. These shingles look like they are going to need replacing soon.

Roof stain removal is possible and inexpensive compared to other home improvement options.
You can lose a buyer before they even pull into the drive way. They may decide to keep on driving and pick another house. Let's say you have the best finished interior home in Clarksville, TN. This will not matter if you can not get buyers in the door. They will drive up and change their minds saying to themselves that the house sure looked better in the photos. Don't let this happen to you. Secondly a home with a clean exterior will bring a higher bid than an identical home next door or down the street.

There are several things that you can do to the exterior of your home to keep the buyers interest. First is well maintained landscaping, trim back or remove those overgrown bushes and for heaven's sake keep the lawn mowed and trimmed. Cheapest thing you can do.
Next you must clean the outside of your home. This includes the roof as that is the largest single expense to replace (unless you have an large expansive deck). It is also the most noticeable. When a husband and wife walk up to a house the wife generally looks at the landscaping first while the husband will look at the roof first.

Then the next item is the gutters, if you have trees growing in the gutters you have just told the potential buyer that I didn't take care of this house. I was so lazy I didn't take the time to clean my gutters or hire someone to clean them. Well maybe you don't have trees growing in your gutter but take a look at the outside. Notice the black streaks? You need to get those off of there but there is a problem, these streaks are the hardest of the items to clean and most times require scrubbing to remove them. From a distance they look ok but up close they are filthy. Want to sell your home faster and for more money? Clean gutters look like new gutters.

Now we get to the siding. On my house the color of the vinyl siding is a yellowish tan color and it does not look bad from a distance but up close it looked terrible. Dusty looking mildew all over it with darker spotting. Well out comes the house wash and now that siding looks like it should. Clean and no mildew.

Probably the most neglected part of a home is the deck and fence because it is in the rear of the home and it has to have constant attention. Depending on the wood and the weather in Clarksville, TN your deck may need attention every year or two. Fences can go longer because (hopefully no one is walking on it) vertical surfaces hold up better because the water drains easily. If you can't afford to have the entire deck finished then at least have that old gray wood brightened. Make the fence and deck look like it was just built.

Doing all the things or at least some of them will greatly increase your chances of selling your home faster. Unless they are bargain shoppers the buyers usually want a house they do not have to put work into right from the start. This is where Great White Technologies comes in, We specialize in the cleaning of the exterior of your home. From roof stain removal to wood restoration and siding/house wash to gutter cleaning.

Make your Clarksville, Tennessee home shine on the outside like a beacon calling the buyers to view the beautiful interior of your home.

Why Clean Your Roof?

You ask your self why should I spend money cleaning my roof? Well there are several reasons you should do this.

The most obvious reason is for curb appeal. Your home is a big investment and you will want to show off that home. You are proud of all your hard work that it took to get that home and if you have the best curb appeal on the block. You can dramatically increase the bid prices if you are attempting to sell your home. The prospective buyer will not think that the roof needs to be replaced. They will think WOW that looks like a new roof and will probably not even ask about the age of the roof.

We all know from our school days that light colors reflect heat and dark colors absorb heat. Well that still holds true. What is the color of the algae growing on your roof? Oh yea, it's black or dark brown and it is absorbing heat. When it does this the temperature in your attic can rise dramatically. As you know proper attic cooling is essential to keeping your home cool. A rise in the attic temperature is going to require that your air conditioning unit run longer and more often to maintain a comfortable temperature. This over use can lead to a premature air conditioning unit failure.

You have a virtual buffet on your roof for these organisms to thrive. The shingles that are produced today have crushed limestone embedded into the asphalt (not the granules you see on top). These shingles hold moisture and organic "bacteria food" material longer than the shingles of 20 years ago. Additionally, these particular algae enjoy the limestone as a food source. Experts within the subject area conclude the bacteria to be harmful, if left untreated, as the growth holds moisture within shingles causing premature aging, rotting, and/or granule loss.

Once the algae/bacteria appear and become noticeable, the problem spreads year after year if left untreated.

For more information visit our Roof Cleaning Nashville web site for information.

Power Washing or Roof Cleaning Chemicals?

According to ARMA (Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association) and CASMA (Canadian Asphalt Shingle Manufacturers Association), pressure washing of shingle roofs are not recommended. Why is this you ask? Well pressure, even so called low pressure, can dislodge the little granules on the surface of the shingle exposing the underlying membrane to UV rays. This can cause premature failure of the shingle. It can also be cause for voiding your warranty.

These granules are vital to the health of your shingle. It not only provides the coloring of the shingle but prevents the underlying membrane from damage by the elements. Imaging what a flock of birds would do to your unprotected roof!

There are several roof cleaning chemicals being marketed today and most of them require medium pressure to be effective. What this means is that instead of a 3000 PSI pressure washer with one nozzle they want you to use a device with 3 nozzles that reduce the individual pressure at each nozzle down to some where in the range of 800 to 1300 psi. WOW that is still a lot of pressure. Think about it, at one point or another most of us have cleaned our own gutters and have noticed the little granules in the gutter from the shingles. Now these were removed by RAIN. Just think how many can be removed with a pressure washer even at 800 psi. Heck your garden has less than 100 psi and us usually around 60 or 70 psi and it can remove granules. Try it one day on a scrap piece of shingle and see if you remove granules. Do NOT try this on your roof.

The next time someone tries to sell you one of these products just say no thanks. The best and safest way to clean your roof is with a chemical solution recommended by ARMA that will kill the algae on your roof without the need for any pressure. Just spray on the mixture and then you have 2 options, leave it on for it's systemic value and wait for the rain to do the washing or you can completely rinse the roof with a garden hose. Stay tuned for the next post where I discuss the proper method of cleaning your roof.

Keep in mind that even though these chemicals can be dangerous irritants when handled incorrectly, when handled by a professional the risk are much much lower. Let a professional handle the cleaning as they have the proper knowledge, tanks, chemicals, pumps and insurance. This will be the cheapest option in the long run for the home owner.

Visit our Roof Cleaning Clarksville and Nashville web site for more information and videos.

How do I make my roof last longer?

The first thing you can do is - - DO NOT pressure wash the shingles at any time. This will remove the protective granules leaving the underlying membrane exposed to UV Rays which will damage them faster than the algae growing on them.

Now the way to make anything last longer is to implement proper preventive and corrective maintenance procedures. Changing the oil in your car is a preventive maintenance procedure. Getting a tune up could be a corrective maintenance procedure. So it is the same with your home and with the most expensive part of that home, the roof. Proper preventive and corrective measures can increase or at least maintain the lifespan of your roof.

Those black streaks on your roof are often mistaken for mold or fungus but are actually a very hardy algae called Gloeocapsa Magma. The process starts with spores carried by the wind currents being deposited on a roof surface. The algae then attaches itself to your roof and begins feeding. Even though you only have streaks on one side of the house, usually the North side, they are all over the roof surface. They just grow slower on southern facing surfaces. This is why when you have your roof cleaned you need to clean the entire surface.

Without interdiction on your part the algae will eventually start to degrade the integrity of your shingles. About 20 years ago manufacturers started using crushed limestone in the makeup of the shingles and this species of algae actually feed on the limestone. The limestone is a food source allowing the algae to grow unchecked causing the dark streaks that you see.

Take my advice and have your shingles cleaned by a professional. Don't risk your health or worse your life trying to do this on your own, not to mention possible damage to the shingles themselves. Too strong of a chemical mix can do as much damage as pressure washing and too weak is ineffective. With the cost of roof replacement being somewhere in the neighborhood of $5,000 to $15,000 it only make sense to keep it in tip top shape. And what about the danger of working on a roof? Wet roofs become slippery and an inexperienced roof cleaner, such as a typical home owner, are taking unnecessary risks. Before you decide to tackle this problem on your own talk to a roof cleaning professional. They will know exactly what it takes to get your roof clean and have the experience to get the job done.

Visit Roof Cleaning of Clarksville and Nashville for more information

The Dangers of Roof Cleaning

Roof cleaning can be one of the most dangerous undertakings by the average home owner. Lack of experience and improper equipment are just 2 of the dangers physically without even getting to the chemicals that need to be used. Things such as improperly securing a ladder, wet / loose shingles or improper footwear can cause a fall that could cause serious or even fatal injuries. Hint: Don't wear sandals or loose fitting footwear when on a roof.

Is a clean roof really worth taking that kind of risk? What happens to your family if you are injured or worse? Now with the physical equipment mentioned the biggest risk with cleaning your roof are the chemicals and their compatibility with other substances.

How would you like to have a 2 foot hole in your house and get a ride in a helicopter? This actually happened to a man in Tampa, Florida. Check out the story in the St. Petersburg Times and see for yourself. This was a very unfortunate accident but at least the home owner was intelligent enough to hire someone to do the work for him. His mistake was picking the wrong contractor for the job. He hired someone that specialized in pressure washing and not a company that specialized in the application of chemicals to clean roofs.

Your Tennessee home is most likely your largest investment and the roof is the most expensive part of that investment. I have said it before and I probably say it more than you want to hear but it is my opinion that you should leave the cleaning of your roof to a knowledgable, licensed and insured professional. They have the proper knowledge, chemicals, and equipment to keep you and your family safely on the ground. For the sake of your roof, find a contractor that specializes in non-pressure roof cleaning in Tennessee.

For further information about Roof Cleaning in Clarksville and Nashville, TN

Welcome

I would like to welcome all to our new blog. This blog will be dedicated to informing our customers about the maintenance of their commercial or residential property. Be sure to check back regularly for updates.

Once again thank you and welcome to our site.