Roof and Vinyl Cleaning - Value adding

[Bill B]

I asked the following on another board. No one seemed to have any ideas. Anyone here care to comment?
"Does anyone know of documentation that roof and or house cleaning adds value other than asthetics? While it is evident that maintainance of wood (decks eg) lengthens the life of that asset, I have seen very little information about roof and vinyl cleaning. Would make sense to me that removal of organic growth from asphalt shingles would lengthen life, I am not sure I have seen data that supports this premise. Looking for an additional "customer hook". Any thoughts?

 

[john orr]

Bill,

I have seen/heard comments both ways on the roof. Either the algae does or doesn't hurt the shingles...who knows? and it would be pretty hard to make a case for anything bad happenning to dirty vinyl.

So why clean?
1. It looks better
2. Like a clean car, it rides better...er...well that one doesn't quite work
3. Your neighbors have to look at it.
4. You have to look at your neighbors house.
5. Resale value. Ever try selling a dirty house?
6. The paint. The black crud growing on the paint and turning it black is "eating" it - breaking it down - getting under it to rot the wood under it.

Just my short list.

John

 

[PressureClean]

Around here we get some condo developments and community associations that hit their homeowners with a daily penalty once they decide that the owner has to get their siding cleaned. They actually have inspectors that drive around and look at the houses and decide whether they need cleaned, need painted, decks done, etc. Kind of Orwellian if you think about it, but I guess you agree to those conditions when you decide to move into the neighborhood. I actually did one house in a development last Summer and got 22 others as customers because they had just received their penalty notices from the association.

As for documented positives, I don't think I've ever seen any. I have seen, however, documents from roofing companies that void their warranties if you power wash shingle roofs, so be careful to make sure your customer is advised to read their warranty info before you do the work and write it into your contract that you did advise them to look first.

 

[ron]

ron p

#1 the black fungus eats the stuff that holds the tar to the granules of the the shingle.
this causes the roof to fail prematurely so yes washing shingles will save the customer money
#2 dirt left on vinyl, the wind and rain act like sandpaper and take the gloss off and wear your siding. If you leave mold on the siding the wind/air flow allows the mold spores to get into soffits and attic space then it really grows this causes allergies and poor air quality IN your home.
there are no such things as MAINT FREE everything gets dirty.
so now you have fungus that shortens your roof life
fungus that effects the way you breath
and arsenic in your deck that can kill you [cca pressure treated lumber]
YOU MUST CALL ME NOW YOUR HEALTH AND LIFE DEPEND ON IT!!!!!!!!
LOL
When you do a sales pitch it wont hurt to bring up these points but do it carefully
there are printed materials covering everything i have said.

 

[ron]

ron p

that gray color that your fence, deck,gazebo,dock,ect... is turning too is dead wood
you are watching your wood wear away right in front of you
rain and wind will wear it out plus water getting in and drying causes it to warp and split
i can sell any job.

 

[Bill B]

Good feedback! Ron, where can I find the documentation on the asphalt shingles being "eaten" away? B2

 

[ron]

ron p

i did not bookmark the site but its a national roofers assoc. type site
they recomend bleach for killing the mold.