Pennsylvania Roof Cleaning Information

PA Roof Cleaning Company Cleans Roofs Without Pressure

2011-01-21T21:36:00.003-05:00

Our Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware non pressure roof cleaning methods produce immediate results! Don't replace your roof, clean your roof! Those black streaks that you see growing on your asphalt shingle roof are not old defective shingles. They are shingles that are covered in a form of blue green algae called gloeocapsa magma. This algae is causing black streaks on shingle roofs all over the Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland areas.

Don't use a pressure washer to try to clean these black streaks! High pressure severely damages asphalt shingles! Our certified roof cleaning company cleans your roof without the use of any pressure at all! We use the shingle manufacturers approved cleaning chemicals to perform your cleaning so that there is NO damage to your shingles and you do not void any warranties.

Do you have algae resistant shingles installed on your roof? These shingles still get infested with this algae that causes the black streaks. Our PA roof cleaning company has performed several warranty roof cleaning on these type of shingles. The shingle manufacturers actually paid for the cost of the cleaning for the home owner.

Please call or e-mail us for a free, no obligation roof cleaning estimate. We are fully insured and capable of handling any type of roof cleaning you may need.

The Roof Cleaners LLC 610-842-2104
theroofcleaners@gmail.com

The Roof Cleaners clean roofs in Chester County Pennsylvania, Delaware County Pennsylvania, Lancaster County Pennsylvania, New Castle County Delaware, Cecil County Maryland and all surrounding areas.

PA Roof Cleaning Coupon

2010-12-16T22:28:00.003-05:00

The Roof Cleaners of Pennsylvania are offering all of their customers a discount for jobs that are booked during the winter months. Our PA roof cleaning company shuts down for the most part between the months of December & March. The cold temperatures make effective roof cleaning very difficult. The algae growing on the roofs in the Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware areas is very hardy and must be killed completely to provide customers with the most effective cleaning process.

Any PA, MD or DE roof cleaning job that is booked between December 1st, 2010 and March 30th, 2011 will receive a 10% discount off of the regular roof cleaning price. The work must be completed between April 1st, 2011 and May 15th, 2011. Spots are booking up quickly. Please call today for a free, no obligation estimate on your roof cleaning needs. Spot demonstrations are available upon request.

Call The Roof Cleaners LLC today! 610-842-2104

Visit my non pressure PA roof cleaning company web site. www.cleanmyshingles.com

The Roof Cleaners Cleaning Roofs In Pennsylvania

2010-09-24T22:28:00.003-04:00

The non pressure roof cleaning was performed in Spring City Pennsylvania. This customer did a Google search on roof cleaning companies in PA and found my company The Roof Cleaners LLC. We are based in Oxford Pennsylvania and scheduled this roof cleaning along with another in Exton PA and Downingtown PA for the same day. The Roof Cleaners service Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. Call for a free, no obligation roof cleaning estimate today.

The Roof Cleaners LLC 610-932-9090 www.cleanmyshingles.com

Kennett Square PA Roof Cleaning Company Transforms Roof

2010-07-07T11:45:00.005-04:00

This Kennett Square Roof Cleaning Customer was completely fed up with his black roof stains. He called his local roofing company and had them come out to take a look at the shingle streaking. Fortunately the roofing company was an honest reputable company that informed this customer that his problem was just algae stains on his shingles and that they could be removed by a roof cleaning company. The customer decided to do a search on Google for a certified non pressure roof cleaning company in Pennsylvania. He found The Roof Cleaners LLC and called us for an estimate. He decided to go ahead and have the roof cleaning performed. All of this roof cleaning work was performed using non pressure cleaning methods. The shingles were not damaged in any way and we only use cleaners approved by the shingle manufacturers themselves!

The Roof Cleaners LLC perfomed certified non pressure roof cleaning in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. We offer free, no obligation estimates and spot cleaning demonstrations.

PA Roof Cleaning Company Helps Sick House Syndrome

2010-02-10T22:56:00.003-05:00

Dirty roofs, black streaks, algae and fungi causing "sick house syndrome"? According to one widely renowned professor of neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, those black streaks on your asphalt shingle roof can seriously effect the health of some home owners.

For more roof cleaning information, visit my certified roof cleaning company website at www.cleanmyshingles.com or call at any time 610-842-2104

Here is a reprint of Doctor Victor H Morgenroth's roof cleaning informational article:

ALL ABOUT ROOF CLEANING
by Dr. Victor H. Morgenroth
Dr. Morgenroth is a Keys Gate resident who is a semi-retired, adjunct professor of neurology at UM. He was a principal administrator in the Environment Health and Safety Division of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for 20 years; prior to that I was a Group Leader in the Toxicology Division at the Center for Food Safety and Nutrition in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Previously, he was on the faculty of several medical schools in neurology, pharmacology and psychiatry.
Having your roof cleaned actually makes sense. I know most of us were slightly put out by receiving a roof cleaning notice from the Keys Gate Management Association. Although it read a little like an ultimatum and you probably wondered who the inspector of your roof was and what their qualifications were, it turns out that roof cleaning is not a bad idea at all.
It isn’t just aesthetics. While people like to say that dirty roofs lower a property’s value and may make it hard to sell, the “dirt” on a roof actually shortens its life span and can even present a health hazard. Furthermore, the “dark stains” on a roof act as a sponge to absorb the sun's heat, which causes a rise in the temperature inside a home or building, creating higher air conditioning bills.
The dirt isn’t just dust – It’s alive. Some of the black or very dark roof stains are caused by a resilient type of algae, Gloeocapsa magma (a type of blue-green algae commonly found in climates with warm, humid summers). The algae grow in standing water, as well as in our lakes and ponds. The algal spores are carried to our roofs from the water sources by the wind and birds, and then from roof to roof where it grows and feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles and the real dirt on tile roofs maybe in some cases the tiles themselves. Worse still, as the algae grow, they retain water and foster the growth of other roof inhabitants.
The black stains are also very likely to harbor a number of molds or fungi. Unlike algae the fungi on our roofs lacks chlorophyll. They are unable to manufacture food from raw materials. So, it must get nutrition from some form of organic matter. To thrive, these heterotrophs, who used to be called saprophytes, also require a warm, humid environment.
Fungi normally begin their life cycle as an airborne spore that settles on roofs, especially the asphalt-shingle ones. The spores on the northern exposure of the roof stand a better chance of survival because that portion of the roof is the last part to dry after a rain or morning dew. This raises the humidity on the surface of the shingle, thus creating a perfect feeding and breeding ground.
The tar used in roofing is fossilized, dead organic matter -- and an important food source for fungi. Asphalt, at the granule base, is normally consumed first. Once these granules dislodge, accelerated deterioration will occur. Ceramic granules represent the outer hard shell that protects against hail and other falling debris. Ceramic granules protect against damaging UV radiation and insulate the roof against extreme heat. So you can understand that their dislodgement by the growing fungal colonies can be detrimental to our roofs’ longevity. Surprisingly, the blue-green algae are also food for the fungi.
While not all mold (fungi) and algae pose a health danger, some are harmful, especially for us older folks, younger children and people who suffer from asthma and respiratory problems. Their spores, which are on your roof, can get inside your home because they end up on the driveway and walkways from rain, and are easily tracked inside. They can even be drawn into our air conditioning systems and eventually populate our ducts.
Different mold species can have varying health effects, but it is important to remember that any excessive mold growth needs to be taken care of, regardless of the species. Any excessive mold growth can lead to increased allergies, toxicity, and house/building structural problems.
For those interested, this box describes some of the most common fungi likely to be found on our roofs and their possible health effects. While “sick building syndrome” has been talked about frequently in the media, it isn’t always reported that this syndrome is often caused by faulty or leaking roof assemblies that result in fungal infestations. It isn’t, as reported, always due to chemicals in carpeting.
Don’t Panic!
Most of us have immune systems that are fully capable of resisting the effects of fungi described below. As a result it would be highly unlikely for any of us to suffer any of the ill effects described. But if fungal colonies are allowed to persist and multiply then the high concentrations of the molds and their volatile organic chemical metabolites might be sufficient to increase the risks from our exposure to them.
Stachybotrys chartarum (atra) molds can thrive on water damaged, cellulose-rich material in buildings such as sheet rock, paper, ceiling tiles, insulation backing, wallpaper, etc. In the majority of cases where Stachybotrys is found indoors, water damage has gone unnoticed or ignored since it requires extended periods of time with increased levels of moisture for growth to occur. Stachybotrys is usually black and slimy in appearance. Events of water intrusion that are not addressed quickly tends to support the growth of more xerophilic fungi such as Pencillium and Aspergillus.
Stachybotrys is another fungi that has the ability to produce mycotoxins, ones that are toxic and can be immunosuppressive. Exposure to these mycotoxins can result through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal exposure. Symptoms of exposure include dermatitis, cough, rhinitis, nose bleeds, cold and flu-like symptoms, headache, general malaise, and fever.
The Cladosporium genera of mold are pigmented dark green to black in the front, and black on the reverse with a velvety to powdery texture. One of the most commonly isolated from indoor and outdoor air, Cladosporium spp. are found on decaying plants, woody plants, food, straw, soil, paint, textiles, and the surface of fiberglass duct liner in the interior of supply ducts.
There are over 30 species in the Cladosporium genus. The most common are C. elatum, C. herbarum, C. sphaerospermum, and C. cladosporioides. These fungi are the causative agents of skin lesions, keratitis, nail fungus, sinusitis, asthma, and pulmonary infections. Acute symptoms of exposure to Cladosporium are edema and bronchiospasm, and chronic exposure may lead to pulmonary emphysema.
Aspergillus is the most common genus of fungi in our environment (it especially likes to grow on corn plants) with more than 160 different species of mold. Sixteen of these species have been documented as causing human disease. Aspergillosis is now the 2nd most common fungal infection requiring hospitalization in the United States.
Aspergillus fumigatus. The most encountered species causing infection. It is seen abundantly in decomposing organic material, such as self-heating compost piles, since it readily grows at temperatures up to 55 C. People who handle contaminated material often develop hypersensitivity to the spores of Aspergillus and may suffer severe allergic reactions upon exposure.
Aspergillus flavus. The 2nd most encountered fungi in cases of Aspergillus infection. It is also known to produce the mycotoxin aflatoxin, one of the most potent carcinogens known to man. In the 1960s, 100,000 turkey poults in Great Britain died from ingesting contaminated feed. Most countries have established levels for aflatoxin in food. However, the risks associated with airborne exposure are not adequately studied and no exposure standards exist.
Aspergillus niger. The 3rd most common Aspergillus fungi associated with disease and the most common of any Aspergillus species in nature due to its ability to grow on a wide variety of substrates. This species may cause a “fungal ball”, which is a condition where the fungus actively proliferates in the human lung, forming a ball. It does so without invading the lung tissue.
Fusarium spp.,common soil fungus and inhabitant on a wide array of plants, this fungi is often found in humidifiers and has been isolated from water-damaged carpets and a variety of other building materials. Human exposure may occur through ingestion of contaminated grains and possibly through the inhalation of spores. Fusarium spp. is frequently involved with eye, skin, and nail infections.
Several species can produce the trichothecene toxins which target the circulatory, alimentary, skin, and nervous systems. Vomitoxin is one such tricothecene mycotoxin that has been associated with outbreaks of acute gastrointestinal illness in humans. Zearalenone is another mycotoxin produced by Fusarium. It is similar in structure to the female sex hormone estrogen and targets the reproductive organs.
Penicillium fungi are commonly found in soil, food, cellulose, grains, paint, carpet, wallpaper, interior fiberglass duct insulation, and decaying vegetation. Penicillium may cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis, asthma, and allergic alveolitis in susceptible individuals.
The genus Penicillium has several species. The most common ones include Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium janthinellum, Penicillium marneffei, and Penicillium purpurogenum.
These fungi have been isolated from patients with keratitis, ear infections, pneumonia, endocarditis, peritonitis, and urinary tract infections. Penicillium infections are most commonly exhibited in immunosuppressed individuals.
In conclusion, during the digestion of substrates, fungi secrete enzymes into nutrients in order to break down complex compounds into simpler compounds that can be taken up by the fungi and used as nutrition. These digested nutrients produce secondary metabolic byproducts called mycotoxins that are released to give the fungi a competitive edge over other microorganisms and fungi. Unfortunately, mycotoxins can also be toxic to humans causing a variety of responses including cold/flu-like symptoms, sore throats, headaches, nose bleeds, fatigue, diarrhea, dermatitis, and immune suppression. Some mycotoxins may also be carcinogenic and teratogenic. Molds that have been known to potentially produce these toxins are Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys.
Even though these molds may potentially produce mycotoxins, they will not do so unless specific environmental conditions exist. Currently, it is unknown exactly what conditions promote the growth of mycotoxin production and more scientific research needs to be conducted on this topic for it to be fully understood.

Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655 8777 By Apple Non Pressure Roof Cleaning Tampa Florida

2010-01-05T09:28:00.000-05:00

Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655 8777 By Apple Non Pressure Roof Cleaning Tampa Florida

Why Clean Black Algae Streaks From My Roof?

2009-12-30T00:01:00.005-05:00

My roof cleaning customers, who are located in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, ask all the time, "Why should I clean those streaks off of my roof?" Any Certified Roof Cleaner can give them multiple reasons why it would benefit them to clean their roof.

The Roof Cleaners of Pennsylvania are certified by The American Roof Cleaners Association and The Roof Cleaning Institute of America to informatively answer any questions about the harmful effects of black algae stains on your asphalt shingle roof.

Here are the main reasons as I see them:

The build up of algae on a roof retains excessive moisture in the asphalt shingles. The moisture stays around long after the rest of the roof has dried. This excess moisture is harmful to your shingles over a long period of time. Shingles have a shorter life span when they are kept in an excessively moist environment. After a rain or frost in the morning, look at the section of the roof that has black algae stains/streaks on it and watch how long it take for that section to dry. Compare that section of roof to a neighbor's house. You will see that those shingles covered with gloeocapsa magma (better known as a blue/green algae) will often take several hours longer to dry than those shingles without black stains caused by algae.
Asphalt shingles darkened by the presence of algae, moss or lichen will often create much hotter temperatures on the roof than similar clean shingles. For example, a neutral colored asphalt shingle roof may reach temperatures of 120 - 130 degrees in the summer time. The same algae infested roof may reach temperatures of 150 - 160 degrees on the same day. This extra heat that is retained in the shingles helps lead to premature shingle failure. The higher the average temperature of asphalt roof shingles, the shorter the average life span. Don't shorten the life expectancy of your homes most expensive investment.
A second complication caused by excessive roof temperatures is the home's difficulty cooling the attic. Higher attic temperatures lead to higher cooling costs in the summer. There is a reason people routinely install attic fans to help reduce attic temperatures. The least efficient utility in your home is your air conditioning system. The hotter your attic is, the harder your air conditioning compressor has to work to cool the house off.
Last but not least is simple curb appeal. People spend a lot of money every year to beautify the outside of their home. They spend money on lawn care, landscaping, mulching, leaf removal, painting and flowers. Why spend money on those things and still have a dirty, algae infested roof? The dark stains on your shingles really are an eye sore. They make your home look old and worn down. Most people think that you need a new roof when they see those black streaks. You roof is the largest visible feature that your house has. Don't let that billboard sized roof say, "My house looks old and unkept". Realtors routinely tell their clients to find a company to clean their roof before the House is put on the market. A house with a clean roof sells much faster than a house that is covered in black algae streaks.
The Roof Cleaners are certified to safely clean your roof using non pressure cleaning methods. Our methods and cleaning agents are the only ones approved by the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association. They will not void any shingle warranties or cause any damage to your shingles. Any company that has to rinse or use pressure on your shingles (high or low pressure) is not using the proper roof cleaning solution.We have multiple references available in your area (residential and commercial) and we will perform spot cleaning demonstrations if you are still skeptical about the effectiveness of our process.Don't let gloeocapsa magma (black algae stains or streaks) damage your shingles or take away from the curb appeal of your home. It can be safely and effectively cleaned by a professional, certified roof cleaner.Call The Roof Cleaners today! 610-842-2104 or visit our web site: http://www.cleanmyshingles.com/

10 Steps to Algae, Moss and Lichen Growth and what to do about it. - Roof Cleaning Institute Of America

2009-10-26T09:23:00.000-04:00

10 Steps to Algae, Moss and Lichen Growth and what to do about it. - Roof Cleaning Institute Of America

Here is some great roof cleaning information for anyone with black algae roof stains. This information was written by one of the instructors & founding members (Dave Westerman - owner of Roof Clean USA) of The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America.

If you need your roof cleaned and live in Pennsylvania Delaware or Maryland, check out my PA certified roof cleaning web site and look at some before and after roof cleaning pictures.

If you are looking for more roof cleaning information in PA, DE or MD, just visit my roof cleaning blog.
610-842-2104 www.cleanmyshingles.com

Certified Professional Roof Cleaners

2009-10-20T22:42:00.003-04:00

The Roof Cleaners are one of only two Roof Cleaning Institute Of America certified roof cleaners in Pennsylvania. If you live outside of Pennsylvania, Delaware or Maryland and are looking for a certified roof cleaner, click on a link for your area. If you do not see your area covered, please feel free to call me and I will help you find a certified professional to clean your roof the proper way.

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I live in PA. How should I clean my asphalt shingle roof?

2009-10-20T21:48:00.006-04:00

There is only one proper way to clean your PA roof without damage and without voiding any warranties. That way is by using non pressure chemical cleaning! The Roof Cleaners have written a lot of information on the proper ways to clean asphalt shingle roofs in Pennsylvania. If you use the proper chemicals, you will not need to use any pressure to remove those algae streaks on your roof. Think about it this way, do mold remediation companies use pressure to kill the mold in your home? NO, they use chemicals to kill the mold. The use of the proper chemicals is the only way to ensure you kill all of the algae and it will give you a longer, better cleaning than pressure washing does.

There are a lot of companies out there claiming to have the only safe roof cleaning chemicals. There are a lot of claims on the internet that are unfounded. Some claims are complete fabrications! The best way to find the truth out about the proper roof cleaning chemicals is to find an association that represents asphalt shingle manufacturers and ask them what the approved cleaning method is. They will not recommend any chemical that will damage or void your shingle warranty! Here is a link to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association. They are an association of the largest shingle manufacturers in North America! They recommend only one combination of roof cleaning chemcials to remove the algae from your asphalt shingle roof. This chemical combination has a very, very short shelf life. When it is combined, it will last less than two weeks before the cleaning power is rendered ineffective! With this in mind, if you come across a company that is selling roof cleaning chemicals over the internet, steer clear of them! With a shelf life of 2 weeks or less, you would not be able to sell this product. It would be ineffective before you received it from that company. If a company is selling roof cleaning chemicals they have a vested interest in making sure they convince you that they have the only roof cleaning chemical that works. Listen to professional non pressure roof cleaners about the proper cleaning chemicals. They are not trying to sell you chemicals. They are not using pressure to clean your roof. They are following the only shingle manufacturer approved cleaning process!

Some companies claim to use a low pressure rinse to clean your roof. That low pressure rinse is accomplished by using an apparatus up on the roof that is attached to a pressure washer with the pressure cut down to under 1000 psi. That is still way too much pressure! Every day rain storms remove some of the protective granules from your shingles. Look in your gutters some time and you will see shingle granules laying in the bottom of them from the force of the rain. The force of the rain is nowhere near the force being put out by one of these "low pressure" rinsing tools! Remember, if you are using the proper cleaning chemicals, you will not need to use pressure to remove the streaks! The proper chemicals remove the streaks for you!

Look at these amazing results:

What Are Those Black Streaks On My Pennsylvania Roof?

2009-10-13T10:29:00.004-04:00

Got Roof Stains or Streaks? Does your Pennsylvania, Delaware or Maryland roof need to be cleaned? The Roof Cleaners, based out of Chester County Pennsylvania, are your number one roof cleaning experts in the tri-state area! 610-842-2104 or www.cleanmyshingles.com for a free estimate!

The black streaks on your roof are called Gloeocapsa Magma. It is a form of very hardy algae that grows on the northern exposure of your asphalt shingle roof! It is a living organism and actually feeds off of the crushed limestone that is used in the shingle manufacturing process. If left uncleaned, the algae will continue to grow until your entire roof is covered in thick black streaks!

The only safe way to clean your asphalt shingle roof is with a no pressure chemical application that actually kills the algae and keeps you roof clean for a longer period of time. Some companies use pressure to clean the algae from you shingles. It will look clean after they use this high or low pressure, but it will not stay clean as long. There will also be significant shingle damage after the use of pressure on your roof! Regular rainfall will remove some of the protective granules from your shingles. Imagine what 500 to 1000 psi will do to those same shingle granules!

Our Chester County PA roof cleaning company is certified by the Roof Cleaning Institute of America and has plenty of reference and before and after pictures to make you feel confident with your decision to use our non pressure roof cleaning service. Give us a call today or visit us on the web!