A dirty, discolored roof can be far more than a mere eyesore. Although accumulations of dust and debris will certainly detract from the curbside appeal of your commercial building, they can also indicate serious underlying issues. Thus, before you hire a pressure washing company to clear discoloration up with "soft wash" treatments, it's important to know exactly what you're dealing with. It may be that hiring roofers to perform a thorough roof inspection instead is the best course of action.
Rusty Roof Components
Dusty, red-brown stains on your roof are a likely indication that metal components are becoming corroded. Roofs that are largely metal may need to be treated by professional roof painters. In this case, several coats of quality paint will likely limit further corrosion. Conversely, if evidence of rusting is only visible around various metal components such as at metal flashing, antenna mounts, or HVAC equipment, consider having these treated with oxalic acid or vinegar. This will mitigate the problem and keep future rusting to a minimum. Whenever rust exists at the rooftop, be sure to have professionals roofers verify that corrosion-related damages to metal components have not diminished the roof's overall integrity.
Fading & Aging
Commercial roofing tends to discolor just as the end of their lifespans are reached. Commonly referred to as bleed-through, this discoloration is the result of constant and long-term exposure to the natural elements. Harsh winds, excessive temperatures, prolonged exposure to the sun's UV rays, and constant changes in humidity invariably lead to deterioration. If your roof hasn't been replaced in quite some time, you may want to call roofers for an inspection as soon as any noticeable color streaks appear.
Algae Infestations At The Rooftop
A fast-developing coating of algae can leave your rooftop dirtied with dark black and green streaks. Algae is a fairly common issue for roofs in humid areas given that these organisms feed on the limestone-based fillers that surround shingles. In this case, having the roof treated with a "soft-wash" that includes an appropriate algae-fighting solution should be enough to clear the discoloration up. Letting algae infestations fester and spread, however, can result in the fusion of algae with fungi. This leads to lichen, which is ultimately far more difficult to get rid of.
Addressing roof discoloration at its source is essential. Certain problems cannot be simply hosed off. With bleed-through and extensive corrosion, repairs, replacements, or special maintenance tasks may be in order. If you have concerns about the changing colors of your roof, give Matrix Roofing Systems a call. We are the Mid-Atlantic region’s top source of roofing help!
