Despite forgetting about your roof when it comes to cleaning and maintenance, you probably know deep down that your roof really needs professional care to ensure that it can last through the decades. Giving your roof a proper clean will add curb appeal and make sure it’s safe and intact for your home. The real question though is how often you should be cleaning it.

How Often Should You Clean Your Roof?

Generally, it’s recommended that you clean your roof once a year. You don’t need to really clean your roof any more often than this since one year will be often enough for you to catch problems early on. The only time you can get away with cleaning your roof every two years is if your roof was only just recently installed.

A professional Orlando roof cleaning every year will get rid of the debris sitting on top, get the gutters cleaned out, and alert you to any problems with loose or missing shingles. All of this extends the life of your roof by checking for issues that would be much worse if you had left them for later.

You may want to consider cleaning your roof more often if you notice anything wrong, like discoloration. Darkened areas on your roof aren’t necessarily a cause for alarm, but if you have tiles that are made of asphalt, there will often be more algae that you need to wash off to keep your home looking cleaner.

With this being said, do not get up on your roof to do the cleaning yourself. It might be tempting if you have a ladder nearby, but cleaning your roof is always better left to the professionals. 

The professionals know what problems to look for—things that you might not catch—and they have all the necessary equipment to move around your roof safely. If there’s a lot of moss or fungi on your roof, a professional will know what to do to prevent slipping.

Factors Affecting Roof Conditions

Some roofs need cleaning more often than one year, and some roofs can go an entire year without you needing to worry much. It really depends on these factors affecting your roof conditions.

Moisture

With more moisture, it’s more likely that your roof will grow moss, fungi, algae, and bacteria. If you notice a lot of rain coming down on your roof then, you’ll likely have to clean it more than that one year to get rid of these. This problem will only be made worse if you have a lot of shade over your roof, which keeps the home cool, but which prevents moisture from evaporating off of the roof.

There will be more moisture on the roof too if you have a lot of leaves sitting on top of it, especially wet leaves that trap bacteria.

Damage

Your roof should be pretty strong, but no roof is immune to damage. There might be more damage on your roof if you’ve had a snowy winter that left a lot of snow on the roof for months at a time. Wind and hail may also contribute to cracked shingles or tiles, just like a fallen tree branch would.

All of these factors contribute to problems like leaks, which an inspector would be able to catch on a yearly cleaning. Strong winds and punctures can cause water damage too, leading to bacterial issues that you’ll need a professional to fix.

Your Roof Itself

What your roof is made out of does matter. If you have a metal roof, it’s more likely that you won’t notice that much damage, since algae cannot grow on metal. If you have asphalt or any other material, it’s more likely that you’ll notice issues sooner.

Of course, when it comes to your roof, the construction also matters. There needs to be flashing around the openings in your roof to be sure that water doesn’t get in.

Even with all this though, age is important. Every roof has a lifespan, and over time, old shingles will simply lose their waterproofing. This can lead to more issues down the line.

Conclusion

Ultimately, you can usually wait a year to clean your roof if you want to keep it in top shape. A yearly cleaning will ensure that your roof stays strong and that your home value does not deteriorate over time. Call a professional to help you out, and you’ll be able to extend the life of your roof that much more, which means less money spent on a whole repair in the long run.