How To Clean Slate Roof Shingles

Asphalt shingles are easy to install last anywhere from 10 to 50 years depending on the type and are less expensive than other roofing materials such as slate tile and metal.

How to clean slate roof shingles.

Use the sprayer to saturate a strip 3 feet high x 10 feet wide. The goal when cleaning a slate roof is to soften and loosen the undesirable buildup. In addition choose a day with little wind so that when you spray the solution it stays on your roof 1 x research sourcestep 2 perform maintenance on your roof. Spray the cleaner on a section of roof and let it sit for about 15 minutes.

Step 1 choose a cool and overcast day. Cleaning roofs is slippery work. No pressure washers please. Before you begin it s important to repair loose shingles and flashings to minimize roof damage.

The more applications and sitting time the better. They re likely to damage the shingles just be sure to wet your foundation plantings first and rinse everything in clean water when you re done. Step 2 replacing the shingles. Start at the lower portion of the roof moving up as you clean each lower section.

Buildup of moss and debris on slate roofs hold moisture in the slates that can split them during winter. Slide the replacement shingle into place. The day you perform deep cleaning on the shingles should be cool and overcast. That way you always stand on dry surface and reduce the chance of slipping.

Use heavy rubber gloves to scoop up material in areas you can safely reach. Hook the nails and pull them out. If a slate shingle needs to be replaced use the slate ripper a 2 foot piece of cast steel that includes a blade and a hook for the removal of slate nails and broken shingles. You want to keep it wet once you ve begun.

The trick to doing this successfully is applying the solution with a garden type sprayer and letting it sit and reapply and reapply and reapply. Such harsh chemicals are incompatible with the copper components of your slate roof. Then spray the cleaner onto the shingles photo 1. Punch a hole into shingle from the back.

Limit cleaning to removing organic debris and delaminated slate flakes from valleys snow guards gutters and the area behind the chimney. When cleaning a slate roof don t use chemicals like ammonia or chlorine bleach. Wait about 20 minutes then rinse. That ll prevent the cleaner from drying out too quickly.

Regular roof cleaning is critical for your roof as slate is easy to cleave and water absorbent. Before applying the cleaner spray the roof with water to cool it down.