What You Need To Know

Shingle roofs are manufactured with different degrees of quality. Pricing is one way to tell the quality of a roof and the manufacturer's warranty is another. Most roofs applied by builders and roofing contractors are in the low to medium quality range. Higher quality roofs are generally found on expensive custom homes and where the owner has taken a special interest in the quality of his roof.

 HOW IS YOUR ROOF HOLDING UP?
It is safe to guess that the vast majority of shingle roofs are medium to low quality with warranties that range from 20 to 25 years. Manufacturer placed petroleum distillates, copper and zinc granules in varying amounts in and on the shingle prevent fungus growth over varying periods of time from uncontrollable variables. As the shingle ages and is subjected to the extremes in local weather, it deteriorates losing its granules and its fungus fighting capabilities. It is not uncommon for low quality shingles to exhibit a lot of fungus staining in just five to eight years while most roofs are stained partially or completely within the eight to twelve year range. This will happen if you haven't maintained your roof.

 WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOUR ROOF BEGINS TO STAIN?
The answer is KLEANCO clean it immediately! Here's why: As the fungus grows on your roof, it eats away the base of the shingle and expands and contracts with the outside temperature. This growth and movement loosens the granules, creating premature granule loss, dramatically shortening the life of your roof. A 25-year roof may not even last 15 years if nothing is done. Moss growing on a roof causes the shingle tabs to raise allowing wind and rain underneath. The wind will blow off the tab causing expensive exterior roof repairs. Water under the shingle tab will enter the house and cause interior ceiling damage resulting in expensive interior repairs.

 HEALTH
A fungus covered roof is unhealthy. Do you want fungus spores all over, around and in your home? And what about those people with allergies?

 ENERGY COSTS
The fungus covered roof keeps under roof temperatures a lot higher by preventing the reflective capabilities of the granules from doing their job. These soaring under roof temperatures make your air conditioner work a lot harder and increase your electric bills sometimes as much as several hundred dollars a year.

 PROPERTY VALUE
A fungus covered roof is an eyesore. It also adversely affects the resale value of your home. Homeowner associations are becoming more abundant, primarily to maintain and enhance the value of individual homes and neighborhoods. You are not alone in the appearance of your home, therefore, at the first sign of fungus staining, do the right thing and clean your roof.

 HIRE A PROFESSIONAL
You should hire a professional company that offers several roof-cleaning services designed to meet your needs and budget. KLEANCO, Inc. uses an environmentally friendly biodegradable chemicals to clean and seal your roof. The chemicals will not harm shrubbery or grass.

 WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOUR ROOF HAS BEEN CLEANED?
When your roof is clean the one thing you can count on is that it will get dirty again quicker, sometimes a lot quicker, than the first time, especially if your neighbors don’t clean their roof’s. Why? Because your roof's fungus fighting capabilities have diminished over time and you have had granule loss. There are also the uncontrollable variables that help hasten fungus staining. First, fungus will always appear initially on the north side of the house and roof.

 REPLACING YOUR ROOF
You should clean your roof even if you’re thinking of putting a new roof on top of a stained roof. This is because fungus needs three things to grow: moisture, heat and some sort of nutrient. The overlay roof makes a perfect incubator for the fungus to grow and prosper right onto your new roof in about eight years.

 FUNGUS GROWTH
Other factors besides the direction your house faces are the type, grade and manufacturer of your shingles, whether you have a pond or pool nearby creating abundant moisture and how hot and humid the weather is. Continuous warm weather promotes fungus growth. Also, if you have trees near your house and they shade the roof, that promotes quicker fungus growth. If you haven't cleaned the leaves and pine needles off, that keeps your roof ripe for fungus growth too.

 WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
It's safe to say that its impossible to control all of the above mentioned variables, but you can fight them and win with preventative maintenance. You can do this with KLEANCO, Inc. professional roof care systems. Let us do all the work and give you a no-stains lifetime guarantee and peace of mind.