Blue Sky Power Washing FAQ’s
Common questions and answer about pressure washing.
Got a Question? Send us a message.
Is BlueSky Pressure Washing Insured?
Yes, we are fully insured and licensed to provide your home washing needs. We can provide any necessary documentation upon request
Will detergents from pressure washing hurt my landscaping, gardens, and grass?
No.The Blue Sky solution we use is a powerful cleaning agent that is Eco friendly, but we go to great measures to rinse down all plants and grass surrounding the house before, during, and after the application. The result is that any detergent over-spray or runoff is completely diluted. You may even notice that your landscaping in these areas looks especially green and vibrant in the days following the cleaning due to all the watering!
Do we have to be home?
In most cases you will not need to be home while we wash your home or business.
What is your service area?
Blue Sky is based in Amherst, NH and extend our services to MA and ME. Please give us a call to see when we will be in your area.
New Hampshire: We cover just about all cities and towns from the Southern NH area up to the Lakes Region. This also includes the NH Seacoast and western areas.
Massachusetts: From the NH border to the Boston area and East of Worcester.
Maine: Southern Maine area.
How much does it cost to power wash house siding?
Every roof is different. Fill our out estimate form and include pictures and we will have a quote back to you wihtin 24 hours in most cases.
FAQ’s – Roofing Power Washing
What are the Stains on my roof?
Algae, Moss & Lichen are what you see on your roof. Algae are the black streaks; Moss are the green bumps; Lichen are flat “flower” looking pieces, which root into your shingles.
Those dark stains on your roof are algae. The textbook name for this type of air borne algae is Gloeocapsa Magma. Gloeocapsa magma is found in warm humid environments and often appears on the North side of the home and under trees. The reason that it is usually seen on the North side of the home is because; the north side gets the least amount of sun which causes this area stay wet longer than the others. Gloeocapsa Magma also, forms under trees because of the shade and the fact that when trees drip water after it rains, it keeps the surface wet longer.
Can You Pressure Wash an Asphalt Shingled Roof?
A Hot Water & Soft Wash is the best method to pressure wash a roof without causing damage to your asphalt shingled or other delicate roofing materials. This technique is very effective at safely removing Moss, Lichen, Mold, Mildew, Stains, Algae, and dirt from roofing, siding, wood decking, and other materials that would otherwise be damaged by a full powered pressure washer.
Using a full powered pressure washer on a roof can cause serious damage andcomporosize the ability for your roof to keep out water and the exterior elements.
How Long Does it Take for Algae, Moss, and Lichen to Die after Treating the Roof?
Algae, Moss & Lichen take time to die off & wash away after treatment. Algae takes 1-2 days; Moss and Lichen can take 1-6 Months. The sun will dry out the dead material and the rain will rinse it away.
Why can I still see Moss & Lichen are still visible after roof treatment?
The Moss & Lichen will turn white, gray or brown, which indicates it is dead. To power wash or scrape the shingles would damage them. We would be happy to come back for a re-application should the treatment not kill the moss & lichen free of charge. Note: You can expect 65-75% of the moss & lichen will come off completely.
Please Note: A re-application is not needed if the moss and lichen has been killed, yet still remains on the shingles.
How Do You Wash a Roof without Damaging it?
Roof cleaning is not the same as siding / clapboard washing, and it is not an exact science. Below we try to explain clearly our process so you may have accurate expectations.
- We soft wash, which means we use water pressure only equivalent to a garden hose. More than that could cause shingles to lift and water to find a way into your roof or ceilings like ice backup can do in the winter.
- We use a foaming biodegradable cleaning solution (safe for pets, people, and landscaping), which sits on the shingles for about 15 minutes and kills off the moss, algae, and lichen.
- The black streaks are a type of algae and will come off the same day of service.
- The green is moss and / or lichen, Although they will be killed that day, there will be grey, white, or yellow left on the roof which comes off over time as it dries out. The reason it does not come off that day is because it needs time to die down to the roots, then, as it rains more, it washes off and blows away. It should come off gradually over 30-120 days.
Please note: Some home owners choose to pay to have it manually scraped off, an expensive service. We do not offer this service for two reasons:
a. Manually scraping shingles can damage if not ruin your shingles and roof and nullify your shingle warranty.b. We do not have our men go onto the roof surface itself, due to the safety and liability issues.
PLEASE NOTE: Depending on how long it has been there and how rooted into the shingles it is, some lichen & moss may never come off. Although, 60-75% will die down and come off.
Our roof washing process is warrantied, if the majority of moss & lichen has not died down and washed away at the end of 6 months, we certainly will come back for a re-application, free of charge.
Will detergents from pressure washing hurt my landscaping, gardens, and grass?
No.The Blue Sky solution we use is a powerful cleaning agent that is Eco friendly, but we go to great measures to rinse down all plants and grass surrounding the house before, during, and after the application. The result is that any detergent over-spray or runoff is completely diluted. You may even notice that your landscaping in these areas looks especially green and vibrant in the days following the cleaning due to all the watering!
Will cleaning my roof extend the life of my roof?
Yes. Cleaning your roof can save you money in more ways than one… First, the algae and fungus that grows can cause premature roof granule loss, and shorten roof shingle life. So you save money because your roof lasts longer and you won�t need to replace it. Second, when the algae turns your roof black, it becomes less reflective, and it retains heat; so your air conditioner works harder to overcome the increased heat load, costing more money in electric bills. Third, the aesthetics of cleaning your roof when it comes to selling your home can not only save you money but can make you money too.