A consistent and regular cleaning of a metal roof is recommended to ensure that your roof lasts for a lifetime. If you clean your metal roof on a regular basis, not only will it look clean, it will also stay in shape and can increase your house’s overall value or resale value.
First of all, before you start to clean, make sure that you have all of these items prepared for your own convenience: ladders, brushes, cleaning supplies, and power washer. After you had already managed to gather all items together, assess and check your roof’s condition thoroughly. If you have an old roof that is filled with corrosion and excess paint, you will require extra steps in restoration, preparation, and cleaning, whereas a brand new or a properly maintained metal roof will require less work.It is really crucial to evaluate the work beforehand in order to do a good job with cleaning the metal roof, so if you are planning on cutting corners, it will cause you more work later on.
The next thing you should do is to ensure that you will be able to clean and work safely. You should also make sure that you will be able to reach every area on your roof you plan to clean with ease. It might cause you a huge blunder if you are unable to reach the intended area or are facing a hard time reaching it. Avoid wasting too much time, and while you are at it, always remember to wear safety belt if necessary and strap it on around your waist for extra protection and comfort.
Next, you need to attach a rope and belay onto a solid support such as a heavy rock in order to prevent yourself from accidental falling off the roof. What you should do next is to scrape off any corrosion or excess paint, in which you will need a wire brush to do it. Never use metal implements on the roof unless it is required. If you need to use it, get a flat-bladed putty knife because it is able to handle most paint-scraping tasks. Never scrape the paint unless you need to remove chipping paint, excess paint build-up, or peeling paint.
You’ll should also prepare a solution of TriSodium Phosphate (TSP) which is available at most paint stores, and mix it with a half cup per gallon of water. Bring the mixed solution up on the roof in a big-sized bucket. Apply the mixed TSP on any mildew or mold covered areas and scrub it until the dirty spot is clean by using a soft brush. Repeat this step if the entire roof area is excessively dirty. This step may be time-consuming but it is the best way to ensure a complete cleanliness of your metal roof. Rinse your roof with water and leave it to dry.
The final step is to spray the entire roof with a power washer. When you are using the power washer, make sure to do the spraying process at one section at a time and spray it from a consistent distance.