If you aren’t familiar with soft washing, you should be! This system was designed to be minimally invasive and significantly more effective than a traditional roof power washing. If you’ve had pressure washing before – prepare to be amazed at the efficacy and ease of this incredible system. This treatment is available in almost any climate, from the humidity of Florida to the arid air of Arizona. But what exactly makes soft wash different? Instead of potentially damaging your roof with the powerful water pressure it takes to clean it, soft washing is a gentle chemical alternative that treats for mold and algae and leaves your roof cleaner than ever.

What Exactly Is Low Pressure Cleaning?

Regardless of where you live, you have dirt, dust, and mold growing on your roof. Organic material like leaves and soil accumulate in the nooks and crannies of your roof. While traditional power washing uses a high psi to remove the surface of the mold and algae, it does not solve or treat the underlying problem.

Similar to how a gardener treats their plants to prevent bugs and harmful fungi, soft wash utilizes a gentle cleaning solution that kills the unwanted organic life hiding in your roof. Additionally, soft wash leaves behind an inhibitor that helps to prevent the growth of new fungus and mold. Where traditional pressure washing will damage your roof and fail to treat the entire problem, soft washing shines as a quick and effective treatment to clean and protect your home.

You may be asking yourself, how does power washing damage my roof? It can damage it in a few ways. One way is that it may strip the paint or protective coatings that prevent weathering. Additionally, it can break down or destroy important parts of your roof that deflect heat from the sun. Most homeowners have what is known as a composition roof. Typically, a composition roof includes a warning from the manufacturer against any aggressive cleaning of the surface. Overall, improper pressure washing on your roof could lead to the breakdown and erosion of the roofing material.

Is It Dirt…Or Something Else?

Those dark streaks on your roof likely are not only dirt. Those are most likely a bacteria known as Gleocapsa Magma and are the leading cause of roof stains in the United States. Organisms that live on your rooftop wreak havoc on your roofing materials by breaking down and decomposing them. In states like Florida, soft washing has seen a meteoric rise in popularity because hot and humid climates are where your destructive rooftop organisms like to thrive. Many of these organisms are able to feed on the material that your roofing is made out of. In fact, a typical shingle contains limestone, which contains nutrients that mildew and bacteria are able to grow and populate more of your roof.

There is some good news, these annoying bacteria can be removed safely with the use of the soft wash!

What Can Algae and Fungus Do To My Roof?

Besides the discoloration of shingles and other roofing materials, these harmful fungus and molds can do more damage to your roof than you may have believed possible. As mentioned above, the bacteria known as Gloecapsa Magma can thrive on surfaces like wood, concrete, and even aluminum! As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to know exactly what these little pests are capable of. Gloecapsa Magma will create a miniature ecosystem for itself and will produce an acidic waste that is powerful enough to destroy the materials around it, further allowing the bacteria to flourish.

Another common form of contaminant that can live on your roof is a blue-green algae. Some of these are known as “nitrogen fixing algae.” What this means is that they are able to subsist in environments that would otherwise be unable to support life. This blue-green menace creates a root system for itself and once attached to your roof or surface, the root system will begin to break down the area by creating cracks and fissures.

Spray and Forget!

Soft washing goes beyond a surface treatment. A soft wash will eliminate destructive bacteria and mold while preventing new growth from occurring. It is an incredibly simple process – a trained professional uses a soft wash system to evenly coat your roof with a powerful mixture of bacteria and mold fighting chemicals. The next step is easy – forget! Gone are the days of an invasive and loud power wash that damages your roof and doesn’t treat the mold. Welcome to the future of total roof cleaning with the soft wash system.

Choosing the Right Company

Finding a company that provides your home with the soft wash it deserves can be difficult. There are many contractors out there that claim to soft wash your roof, but will use bleach, or simply use a lower psi on a standard pressure washer. That’s why you should call FCI Painting! We deliver an incredible cleaning solution to your roof with minimal hassle to you and your home. Don’t wait until it’s too late!

You can find us online at https://fcipainting.com/ or by calling us at (239) 435-1001.