Q: We recently purchased a home in South Surrey BC (near White Rock) and we have several large trees in and around the property and I notice quite a bit of pine needles and leaves accumulating on my roof, especially in the valleys. I have two questions:
1) How often should I have my roof cleaned?
A: Thank you for your question. There truly is no bad time to ever have your roof cleaned. Far too often homeowners fail to remove the debris off the roof, such as pine needles, twigs and branches. This will actually lead to the growth of organic material such as moss and algae. By not removing or clearing the debris off the roof, it allows the moss to grow because it is given a perfect breeding ground-shade and moisture. I strongly recommend having someone come out to assess your roof as some problems may be lurking under the vegetation/leaves such as rotting shakes or shingles.
Knowing little about the type of roof you have, whether it is Asphalt, Cedar, Tile or Composite roof and also not knowing the amount of vegetation (trees) in and around the property I can only give you a general recommendation of when and how often your roof should be cleaned. Here they are:
· Roof Cleaning and Gutter Cleaning should be done once every one to two years depending on the amount of trees/vegetation on or near your property. Sections of the roof and gutter near or under overhanging trees and vegetation should be cleaned at least two to three times a year as dead leaves and other debris may collect on the roof, in the valleys and in your gutters resulting in clogged downspouts.
2) When is the best time of year to have my roof cleaned?
Have your roof cleaned in the spring, summer or fall when it is dry. This ensures a better cleaning because you will be able to remove all of the debris off your roof. When cleaning in wet weather/conditions or in the winter it is often tough to get it completely clean because the debris is wet and sticks to the roof. Cleaning your roof in the winter is generally more expensive as it is more labour intensive.
Lastly, living in Vancouver and in your case Surrey, almost every single roof is affected by moss, algae, lichen and other forms of organic growth. It is important to treat your roof with a moss/algae treatment that will kill all organic growth on your roof. This, along with the annual roof cleaning/debris removing will significantly increase the life and longevity of your roof.
I hope you have found this information helpful. I will continue to answer the questions I get on a regular basis so that you, the homeowner can keep better informed on how to maintain your roof. At Enviro-Green Roof Restoration we are always happy to assist any customer with their roof maintenance needs including:
Visit our website today at www.enviro-roofrestoration.com or phone us at (604) 505-9744 for a free estimate
We serve Vancouver and the lower Mainland including West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Surrey, South Surrey, Richmond, Burnaby, Delta, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Tsawwassen, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Ladner, White Rock, Langley, Coquitlam, Lions Bay.