Clean Your Tile Roof with Wet & Forget
When it comes to curb appeal, nothing quite beats the allure of a tile roof. However, lurking within the depths of your tour clay, terracotta, slate, and composite tiles are mold spores, algae, and other stain-causing biological material.
Unfortunately, getting someone to clean your tile roof invites all sorts of risks. Not only are there the personal dangers of scurrying up a ladder, but you can easily break tiles with a single wrong step.
Even if things go perfectly, you can end up paying a pretty penny.
Instead of putting yourself through all that, try Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End. It can save you money, time, and energy, all while keeping your roof free of stains for up to a year.
So, the next time you wonder how to clean your tile roof, remember Wet & Forget!
Why Do You Need to Clean Your Roof?
Because we live under them, we tend not to give much thought to our tile roofs until it’s absolutely necessary. However, that can leave us in the lurch when it comes to mold growth, damage, and our HOAs.
There’s some debate as to whether these dark streaks can damage your tile roof by themselves. Some experts state they may start to eat away at roof surfaces, causing them to weaken and ultimately shorten the life of your roof.
However, should mold occur with the black algae, you’re dealing with an issue that needs to be resolved. Mold spores can quickly spread, working their way beneath the surface of porous roof materials and even finding a way into your home.
Moss can also be a concern. Though its green, fuzzy stain may add an ethereal forest-like aesthetic to your home, it can also crack and pull apart roof tiles and incur rotting.
If you’re wondering how long do tile roofs last, the answer depends on the materials used. Asphalt shingles are perhaps the most common roofing material and last around 15 to 25 years.
Concrete tiles typically last around 50 years. Clay or slate tiles can last 100 years or more.
That answer can change, though, if mold, algae, or moss are allowed to fester.
Because these are all biological organisms, they are in a constant search for sustenance. And, if they’re on your roof, something is up there satisfying their hunger.
While you should be concerned about how these stains affect how long your tile roof will last, we understand that some people have an external motivator for cleaning their roof: their HOA.
HOAs often require residents to upkeep their tile roofs. That means a lingering stain can result in a major financial penalty.
So, whether you’re concerned about damage to your roof or HOA fines, it’s clear you need to be proactive in cleaning your tile roof.
How to Clean a Tile Roof
Now, there are a variety of cleaning options out there. In many cases, people either do the DIY route with power washers and bleach solutions or hire professionals to climb onto their roofs and clean them.
Unfortunately, with each of these options, you risk causing further damage to your tile roof.
Take power washers. While these tools may seem effective, they are often quite dangerous.
Power washers can break windows and damage shingles or siding. Because it does nothing to combat mold, algae, or moss, the stains will soon return.
Bleach and bleach-based cleaners can also cause issues. Bleach is significantly more caustic than Wet and Forget Outdoor products, which means it can damage surfaces and surrounding vegetation.
Using bleach can also hide the problem instead of getting rid of it. Moss and algae, for instance, may look paler and more difficult to discern on your roof, but they could still be there, lying in wait to spread again.
Finally, having someone on your roof can put them and your roof in danger, even if they’re professionals. Unstable ladders, sloped surfaces, and improper safety gear can lead to devastating personal injury.
Once someone gets up there, they’re stuck on a surface made of extremely fragile materials. A single misstep can cause damage that’s expensive to repair.
For example, take a look at terracotta tiles. If you cause damage while cleaning terracotta roof tiles, you could end up with a repair bill of between $700 and $1000 per square foot.
Considering hiring professionals to clean tile roofs already costs north of $400, you’ll quickly find your out-of-pocket expenses ballooning.
Fortunately, there is an easier way.
Why Barry L. from West Palm Beach, Florida Chose Wet & Forget Roof Cleaner
Living in Florida’s humid climate, Barry felt like he was fighting a constant battle to keep his tile roof clean. He’d already tried several methods, but they all left him wanting.
Bleach: “If you’re working with the roof, the bleach can actually mess up your flashing […] You know, any metal.”
“[The professional cleaners] were up there spraying bleach, and the whole neighborhood stunk of bleach. They had to use a ton.”
Professional cleaners: “I don’t want anybody on the roof now because the guy picks at the tiles, and [they’re] kind of sensitive. And [the cleaners] go up there, and [the tiles] break.”
Pressure washing: “I noticed that when I pressure washed last time, all [the stains] are back very bad […] When you pressure wash, you probably don’t kill all that stuff down in the porous areas. It looks good for a while, and then before you know it, it’s back right away.”
But when Barry started to use Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End, he found it easy to use.
“You don’t have to sit there with a [gas-powered pressure washer] and set up a whole big thing. Just attach the hose and spray it, and you’re on your way.”
He also found it to be a cost-effective solution.
“You save money [with Wet & Forget]. Right now, you save money. [And] it does save you money in the long run.”
Perhaps most importantly, it worked.
“Boy, [Wet & Forget] gets it done, 1-2-3.”
We’ve placed photos of Barry’s roof throughout this section. In them, you can see a clear difference in how he cleaned his tile roof with Wet & Forget.
The spots on his terracotta clay roof tiles that he didn’t spray remain black and grimy. However, the spots where he did spray are clean and stain-free.
A single bottle of Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End costs around $40 at most retailers, and it can cover up to 2,000 square feet. (Roofs made of porous materials may absorb more of the product.)
You can improve your cost savings by loading up on Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End refill bottles. These carry the same amount of spray but cost less because they don’t include the Xtreme Reach™ Nozzle.
Compare the cost of our Wet and Forget Roof Cleaner to hiring professional cleaners or using potentially hazardous tools. Even if you avoid all damage, you’re still paying almost ten times as much for a single service.
On the other hand, depending on your local weather and climate, a single application of Wet & Forget can keep tile roof stains away for up to a year.
And that’s because, as Barry notes, it’s not just covering up the stain, it’s removing the source:
“The biggest thing is that Wet & Forget…it’s not masking it, it’s actually [getting rid of it.]
How to Clean Your Tile Roof
Whether you’re clearing asphalt, terracotta, or clay roof tiles, you don’t have to splurge on professionals who may. Instead, use Wet and Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End to quickly and easily get rid of stains caused by mold, algae, and moss.
Purchase a bottle of our Wet & Forget roof cleaner today by heading to your local retailer.
