Most anything that is exposed to Mother Nature is going to get dirty or suffer from mold and mildew depending on the climate. Your home and entire property is no exception. Concrete, brick, vinyl siding, wooden decks, and gutters are all affected by these natural pollutants and will need cleaned eventually.
Your home’s asphalt shingle roof is also something that will eventually need attention. A common problem with asphalt roofs is an airborne algae simply known as roof algae. This alga appears as black streaks or black roof stains normally first appearing on the north facing slopes. Like most any surface exposed to the elements, your asphalt shingles can be cleaned to restore their original appearance.
Hiring a professional roof cleaning company that will use low pressure techniques to clean your roof is vitally important so no damage is done to your roof shingles. This black roof moss or algae, if not taken care of, will only get worse never better. The black roof streaks will soon spread and take over the entire roof. This not only breaks down the black algae infected roof and causes it to fail prematurely, but it also increases your home’s cooling cost.
Never allow a contractor to pressure wash, scrub, or brush your shingles, doing so will remove the shingle granules which are there for protection. The chief shingle manufacturers have recommended low pressure cleaning methods and roof cleaners that should be used to clean asphalt shingle roofs suffering from black roof algae.

Power wash services are popular among home owners whom understand that their home is their largest investment. Home owners know that keeping their house and properties exterior clean does not only boost their home’s curb appeal, but it has been proven to increase a home’s value by up to 5% to 10%.
Pressure wash services, done correctly by a professional house cleaning company, are an extremely good value considering the increased value they bring your property. Water pressure cleaning also saves you money by stopping the damaging effects of dirt, grime, mold, and mildew which can and will cause rot and decay of the building materials that make up your home.
These natural and man made contaminants can cause costly future repairs, renovations, and replacements that could have been stopped by regular professional exterior maintenance. Creating a yearly power wash cleaning budget for your home and property is a great way to avoid these expensive and unnecessary future repairs.

Wood deck restoration is one of the most misunderstood services in the cleaning industry. Most people don’t understand that there is more to deck cleaning than just blasting away at the wood with water and then sealing it. An important factor to remember is that the most common reason a deck sealer fails is because the wood wasn’t prepared correctly. When the wood is not prepared properly the wood deck sealer will not adhere correctly and will fail prematurely.

Wood is soft and may damage easily with too much water pressure, therefore it is necessary to adjust the pressure to achieve the results with the correct chemicals. Various factors will determine which chemicals to use to restore a deck. If the wood is gray from UV damage, a decent deck cleaner should work well. On the other hand, if traces of an old deck sealer are present, then a stripping agent will need to be used to remove all the remnants of the old failing wood sealer.
Once the proper deck cleaning chemicals are determined, they are applied to the wood deck and allowed to dwell. The deck can then be washed with the right amount of pressure using a pressure washer. No more than 1000 psi of water pressure should be used or the wood can be damaged.

After the deck has been correctly cleaned or stripped a pH balancing step is performed. This step is a must to neutralize the caustic cleaning chemicals, preparing the wood for sealer. This neutralizing process is achieved by applying a special mild acid solution to the wooden deck. The deck should is then allowed to dry for a couple of days before being sealed with a quality oil based deck sealer.

You may want to consider hiring a competent pressure washing company to restore a deck properly so it will last. Be sure to ask the contractor the right questions to determine their amount of knowledge of wood deck cleaning and refinishing so you can be sure the you get the quality of service you expect.

This is a concrete cleaning and sealing job we did back in 2006. This Plymouth home owner was tired of the leaf and stick tannin marks and irrigation rust stains that were being left on his cement driveway and sidewalk. After consulting with the home owner, we were both excited about the concrete driveway and walkway cleaning and sealing project.

We performed a complete cement cleaning to remove all the stains and tire marks. We then applied a special cleaner to remove the irrigation rust stains. After allowing the cement to dry for several days we returned to put down a couple coats of concrete sealer. The home owner chose a color to bring out the red in their brick home. The cement sealer will help to protect against staining and prolong the life of the concrete.

Do you have black steaks on your shingle roof? Have you seen black steaks on other roofs? These black roof streaks are a hardy type of airborne algae. Similar to the mold and mildew that collects on your home’s siding, black roof algae can be cleaned and removed to restore your roof’s appearance. But did you know that 50% of roofs are replaced in the Midwest due to their appearance and not their functionality? That’s right, half of the asphalt shingle roof’s replaced only needed cleaned. This may sound like a shocking truth but it’s a fact.

Most people are not aware that shingle roof’s can be cleaned. Even some roofing contractors are uneducated about roof streaks, if they are aware of roof cleaning, they don’t tell potential customers any different. There is also some debate on roof cleaning doing damage to the shingles. This is true only when the roof is not cleaned properly. Using high pressure to clean a roof will remove the black algae streaks but it will also blast away the shingle granules which are there to protect the shingle, thus lessening the longevity of the roof. Furthermore, by not using the proper roof cleaners to kill the algae it will return in full force in a relatively short time. Never allow someone to power wash your roof.

The major shingle manufacturers have suggested methods and cleaners to kill and remove roof algae from their shingles without doing damage. A professional roof cleaning company will use these recommended methods and cleaners to kill the algae so it does not return anytime soon. Roof algae can raise your home heating and cooling costs, diminish your home’s curb appeal and value, and lessen the life expectancy of your shingles. Proper roof cleaning services will save you money by stopping these damaging effects and can cost only a fraction of a total roof replacement.

Wood is the most popular choice material for decks. Not only is wood gorgeous, it is also strong, durable, and easy to work with. Wood is vulnerable, however, to moisture damage and should be checked frequently. Deck boards that are split, splintered, cracked, or have raised nails may point to a potential problem with moisture saturation. Moreover, wood is an absorbent substance, not unlike skin; wood pores can develop clogged and deteriorated conditions. The best way to prevent troubles with your wooden deck is to have it sealed and maintained. Now, let’s discuss some different types of woods that are commonly used for decks.
 Cedar: The wood from this hefty, coniferous evergreen tree is a trendy favorite for decks. It not only looks beautiful and has a wonderful aroma, it is also enormously durable. The feel of cedar is soft, and the grain of cedar is elaborate and stunning. Cedar produces natural tannins that are said to be naturally defiant to insects. However, these tannins can spot, especially after it rains, and this carries on until the wood becomes fully acclimatized (three years or so). After a wood deck cleaning the cedar should be sealed. Sealer colors that work predominantly well with cedar are the likely redwood or cedar tinted. These deck sealers allow the natural grain of the cedar to show through, while still protecting the wood through a shielding pigment.
Redwood: Used commonly in timber construction, redwood is (as the name advocates) a reddish colored wood. Besides the color, redwood is very similar to cedar, and is a stylish choice for wooden deck construction. 
Pressure Treated Pine: This long-needled tree also has wood that is very common in the building of decks. Pine varies from extremely soft wood, as with the white pine, to very rigid wood, as in the long leaf pine. The term “pressure treated” refers to wood that has been chemically treated to repeal insects and rot. Cedar and redwood are never treated due to their nature, it isn’t necessary. The downsides to using pressure treated wood are rapid staining, splitting problems, and inconsistent look due to the many chemicals that are in the wood. As with all woods, it is always a good idea to have your pressure treated deck cleaned and sealed so that these natural problems can be evaded. It’s best to hire a company that specializes in pressure washing decks and wood deck restoration. Depending on personal liking, pine works well with any color deck sealer. As with cedar or redwood, there are natural colors that can heighten the natural grain and color of the wood. Advantages of using pine are its versatility, affordability (compared to cedar or redwood) and its dependability.
Wooden decks can be subjected to very severe exposure, plus abrasion and extreme friction from foot traffic. The horizontal surfaces, such as the floor and top hand rails, receive abundant amounts of sunlight and moisture. Continuous swelling and shrinking of the wood severely breaks down any continuous film coating, resulting in cracking, flaking, and peeling. These deck coatings or sealers are not recommended for these surfaces. Deep penetrating oil based deck sealers are recommended coatings. They require frequent refinishing, but it is an easier task than the scraping and sanding needed to prepare paints, solid stains, and waterborne sealer for refinishing. Latex sealers or paints are to be avoided where water can collect on flat surfaces. Silicone enhanced sealer products should also be avoided.
Coatings fall into one of two categories. Film forming coatings are primers, paints, heavy bodied and solid color sealers which form coat or film over the surface. Penetrating stains, the second category, dive deep into the wood past the surface resulting in very little surface film. This type of penetrating sealer is not prone to cracking, peeling, or flaking like the film forming type. Oil based penetrating deck sealers to an excellent job of locking out moisture and protecting against harmful UV rays. These types of sealers are normally semi-transparent but can still have a tone or tint added to them in a variety of colors. Therefore, your deck can have a particular color or tone to it, but yet the beauty of the wood grain will still show through. A rule of thumb is the darker the tone of deck sealer, the more sun protection it provides.

As a home owner, you are aware that your home is probably your largest investment and that taking care of it is an important necessity in maintaining its value. Unlike the inside of your home, the exterior is exposed for all to see, and it can reflect heavily on your image. Maintaining great curb appeal is pretty high up on the maintenance budget. Lawn care services, landscape maintenance, painting projects, and exterior cleaning are all definite home improvements that give you the best bang for your buck. There is nothing that screams curb appeal more than a good house cleaning, fresh mulch, trimmed shrubbery and a thick green lawn.
One of the biggest eye sores and curb appeal killers is roof algae. Roof algae appear as black stains or streaks on your roof’s shingles. It can really take away from the beauty of an otherwise gorgeous home. So what can be done about these unsightly black streaks? We will answer this question and some of the other most frequently asked questions about roof cleaning.
Q: Can this roof alga be removed?
A: The good news is yes. Roof cleaning is a service offered by many professional exterior cleaning companies. The roof alga can be killed and removed safely to restore your roof’s appearance.
Q: Will cleaning my roof damage the shingles?
A: When the wrong methods are used, the answer is yes. Inexperienced contractors or home owners can easily damage shingles by removing excessive amounts of shingle granules, which are there to protect the shingles. The main culprit of roof cleaning damage is using too much water pressure to blast the shingles clean. Never allow a pressure washer to be used on your roof!
Q: So, how can the shingles be cleaned without causing damage?
A: By using the low pressure methods recommended by the shingle manufacturers themselves. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, GAF, and Owens Corning have all suggested cleaning methods and solutions to clean roofs suffering from roof algae. They recommend using a low pressure chemical application followed by a low pressure rinse.
Q: What is the solution that will be used on my shingles?
A: The proper cleaning solution that is recommended by ARMA, GAF, and Owens Corning is a bleach- based roof cleaner. This type of cleaner is effective in killing the algae when applied with low pressure. A light rinse is then needed to wash the dead algae off the roof to restore its original appearance.
Q: Do some of the other lye or sodium hydroxide-based roof cleaners work well?
A: Unfortunately, they do not. The shingle manufacturers do not recommend these products because they are not very effective. They only work when used in conjunction with excessive pressure from a pressure washer, which leads to lessened longevity of the roof. When not used with pressure, some of these products even state on the label that the roof may take 2-3 months to begin appearing clean after an application, and in some cases more than one application is necessary.
Q: Will the bleach-based products harm my landscaping?
A: It can when handled improperly; after all, roof algae are plants. You’ve probably used bleach before when doing laundry, right? Would you give the same gallon jug of bleach to a 4 year-old and tell them to do the whites with it? Of course you wouldn’t; because in the wrong hands it can be harmful either to them or your clothes. Well, it’s the same thing with roof cleaning. This is why it is important to let a roof cleaning professional clean the roof for you. They will know how to handle the cleaner to protect themselves and your property from damage.
Q: How long will my roof stay clean?
A: There are some biocides and sealers on the market that claim to keep the algae away for good, but their test results are very limited so no one really knows. The best thing to do after getting your roof cleaned is to sign up on the cleaning company’s maintenance plan. For a fraction of the original cost they will come out every year or two and give your roof a maintenance coat so the algae doesn’t return.
Q: When I do get a new roof, are algae-resistant shingles effective?
A: Well, they call them algae-resistant (not algae-proof) for one simple reason; they help in eradicating the roof algae problem but they aren’t a full proof answer (not yet anyway).  As a roof cleaning contractor, I have seen algae-resistant shingles suffering from roof algae, so a low pressure roof cleaning was still necessary.

Here is a deck cleaning and staining job we did in South Bend, Indiana. This deck had an old failing deck sealer on it that had to be removed. This was done using a deck sealer striping agent followed by a low pressure wash to ensure the wood was not damaged. A pH balance process was then executed to brighten the wooden deck and to prepare it for the new deck stain.

After a two day waiting period the moisture content was checked and the deck was ready for a coat of semi-transparent penetrating oil based wood deck sealer.

The sealer was allowed to cure for a couple of days before these South Bend home owners started grilling and enjoying their restored living space.