Due to the perfect conditions in Michigan, or imperfect rather. Roof cleanings are a requirement every few years and sometimes sooner to keep them in good shape and free of leaks. It’s so common to see black streaks or green from moss and lichen that when we point it out to home owners they hardly ever noticed it before. Leaving these contaminants on your roof can lead to serious and costly damages, which is why its important to have your roof professionally cleaned.
The national average cost to clean roofs start at $463 and upwards of $875 with larger homes obviously costing more.
How do I know how much my roof costs?
First, you will want to call a reputable roof cleaning company to come out and provide you with an estimate. Having an in person estimate performed is best for you and the company you hire. This will allow for both of you to know what to expect without any surprises arising. While the roof cleaning company is there. While they’re there, they will measure the house and find the pitch of your roof. This will allow them to know how much detergents are needed as well if they will need climbing gear.
How Do I Hire The Right Roof Cleaning Company?
Finding the right roof cleaning company near you in Michigan doesn’t have to be difficult. It can be easy if you know what to look for and ask.
Insurance: First you want to ask if they’re insured. Besides knowing what their processes are, which I’ll cover next you will want to make sure if anything goes wrong you’re covered. Hiring an un-insured or even under insured company can leave you holding the bill if something goes wrong. So what could go wrong? Well, keep reading as I cover this further later on.
Does the roof cleaning company have a good reputation?
Reputation: Don’t be afraid to ask for a companies references from past clients. We take pride in being asked this as humble as we are, we like to brag! While you’re waiting for the references you asked for. Take a look around the internet and see what their reviews say. Most companies aren’t going to have 100% positive reviews. It is impossible to make everyone happy and to not make mistakes. What’s really important, is seeing how they handle the bad experience their customer had with them.
Previous Work: Ask to see previous work. Pictures of their past roof cleaning jobs will give you the ability to see and know what to expect from the business.
https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/cleaning-services/clean-a-roof/
https://www.angieslist.com/articles/what-does-roof-cleaning-cost.htm
https://www.thumbtack.com/p/roof-cleaning-cost
https://www.improvenet.com/r/costs-and-prices/roof-cleaning
https://www.fixr.com/costs/roof-cleaning
Average Cost Of Roof Cleaning In Michigan
Properly maintained asphalt roofs can last up to 25 years or more in some cases, whereas metal roofs can last 40-70 years. No matter what material your roof is made of, maintenance is a key component to longevity. Much like oil changes in a car, a house has necessary maintenance to keep it in good working order. Roof washing services is another great way to upkeep the condition of your home.
Roof cleaning is a great way to maintain your home’s appearance as well as ensuring a long life span for your roof. Most homeowners aren’t aware of these home improvement services or even the requirements set out by the roofing manufacturers to stay within their warranties.
Hiring a professional roof cleaner in your area will ensure the project is completed properly & safely. This can often be a costly expense & even more so if left undone. Many factors go into the price of a roof.
One thing to note, you never want to allow anyone to use a pressure washer on your roof. This is an improper way to clean your roof and can quickly cause irreversible damage or possibly an insurance claim. Properly cleaning a roof is a process and can take time depending on how bad it is. It’s best to make sure the professional you hire is using a soft wash system that’s approved by ARMA (Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association).
Roof Cleaning Cost Factors
As you may already know, many factors play into the cost of roof cleaning services. The main cost factor to consider is the size, shape, pitch and possible difficulties a professional will face. Homes with large pitches, awkward valleys, peaks or hidden by obstacles such as dormers and complex roof designs will result in costlier cleaning. Many homes shaded by trees and or around lakes will typically be dirtier than those that aren’t. Roofs with heavier amounts of roof, algae and or lichen pose another level of difficulty. Often homes with excessive amounts require more than one visit and several treatments to ensure the job is done right and safely for the roof.
Roof Types
Different roof types require different approaches to ensure they’re properly cleaned. Knowing your roof type will help you understand the process a roof cleaner will be faced with. Professional roof cleaning companies will have different cleaning methods based on the type of roof shingles you have.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt roofs are one of the most common types of roofs today. Asphalt shingles aren’t made of only asphalt. The composition varies with each manufacturer, but most of the contents of asphalt shingles are mineral fiber and cementitious fillers. Some studies have revealed that as little as 5% – 35% of shingle contents are actually asphalt. This material is known as ACM, or “Asphalt Containing Material.”
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic roof tiles are also known as clay roof tiles. They are a great option for low sloped and pitched roofs. With widely used design elements and ranges of applications including facades. Generally, these type of tiles will last around 50 years, with some homes in climates like Arizona lasting even longer. Tile roofs perform better in harsh environments such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and other extreme weather conditions. They also carry a class-A Rating against fire. However, they are not very common in colder climates such as here in Michigan which is commonly found in warmer climates without freeze-thaw cycles which degrades them even quicker.
Concrete Tile
Concrete tiles are made of a mixture consisting of sand, cement, and water which are then molded under high heat and pressure. Exposes areas are then coated with a paint-like material. Concrete tiles have additional interlocking ribs on the edges that prevent water infiltration. Again, much like ceramic tiles, they are found in warmer climates. The difference between clay/ceramic tiles and concrete tiles is that they generally last longer than concrete tiles do.
Slate
Soft and Hard Slate roofs are one of the strongest forms of roofing material to use. Utilizing 100% natural stone and extremely durable, they often outlast the buildings they’re on. It is estimated that this type of roofing material will last anywhere from 75-200 years.
Metal Roofs
Metal roofs are as you already know becoming a more popular form of roofing homes and building today. With a friendlier cost over most materials and longevity, they certainly can outlast the homeowners if maintained properly. Only set back to not one metal roofs is oxidation. As we know, anything in the sun long enough will eventually become oxidized. This too goes for metal roofs. However, they don’t get moss buildup like many others and the oxidation can be corrected and brought back to looking new again. This is a whole other process which you can learn more about on our post about Metal Roof Oxidation Removal.
Reasons to clean your roof
Fully understanding the benefits of cleaning your roof will help your decision on whether to have it done or not. Roof cleaning has many purposes such as aesthetics for curb appeal, energy efficiency, and preventative maintenance against possible damage. Not to mention regular roof cleaning is recommended by ARMA and other roofing manufactures. In some instances, insurance companies may require homeowners to clean their roofs or they will drop coverage. This is something that is becoming a large issue with insurance companies not wanting to cover potential damage from neglected roofs. We’ve found many clients letting their roofs go so long that they have to replace the roofs instead, costing them thousands in repairs or termination of coverages.
Roof Cleaning Prices In Michigan
Roof cleaning prices in Michigan can vary based on what area you live in. With the vast amount of lakes we have, it’s common to see a lot of homes with Algae, Moss, and Lichen buildup. The average cost of roof cleaning in Michigan ranges between $00.25 to $00.50 a square foot or $250 – $500 per 1,000 square feet. This square footage is not based on the homes square footage. Rather, it is based on the home, then the pitch which is then multiplied by the square footage price.
For example, if your home is 1,000 square feet with a pitch of 6/12. You would see a pitch factor of 1.118 added to get the actual square footage of the roof. So a 1,000 square foot home with a 6/12 roof would actually be 1,118 and cost $279.50 to $559.00.
Cheap Roof Cleaning
We all do it, search for the cheapest route we can find. Seeking the cheapest roof cleaner may cost you in the long run. Inexperience, improper techniques and or simply not carrying insurance and other necessary licensing may cost you even more.
