Power Washing Slate Roof

You should never power wash a slate roof.

Power washing slate roof.

While you might be tempted to reach for a strong chemical or a pressure washer it s better to leave them behind and give your slate roof a little tender loving care. Debris and moss buildup hold moisture in the slates that can split them during winter freezes. This homeowner attempted to clean his roof and you can see the granules that were removed due to his imprope. One end has a sharp point for punching into the slate while the other has a claw for removing nails.

Power washing the tiles will remove fines in the concrete which will affect the lifespan of the tiles. A proper slate hammer is one foot long and made out of a single piece of stainless steel. Such harsh chemicals are incompatible with the copper components of your slate roof. As a manufacturer of concrete roof tiles we would not advocate power washing or recoating tiles as this would invalidate any guarantee.

Advice from nfrc national federation of roofing contractors. Any pressure greater than a garden hose pressure poses the risk of damaging the slate and or the sheathing underneath. Slide the flashing under the slate but over the nail head. Buildup of moss and debris on slate roofs hold moisture in the slates that can split them during winter.

To avoid damaging your roof it s better to use an alternative cleaning method. Step 3 replacing. As a manufacturer of concrete roof tiles we would not advocate power washing or recoating tiles as this would invalidate any guarantee. Unfortunately the simple answer to that is no.

Because of the possibility of an older and fragile slate roof no pressure should ever be used during cleaning. If you cannot obtain a slate hammer a comparably heavy hammer will work. While power washing is ideal for concrete surfaces slate tiles are too delicate to be blasted with a power washer. Most contractors don t recommend pressure washing or power washing a roof.

Power washing the tiles will remove fines in the concrete which will affect the lifespan of the tiles. Soft wash roof cleaning how to wash your roof safely best roof wash method video link you can share of this video https youtu be owkh b0brt8 in this video. When having the slate cleaned it should be only be done from a ladder or lift to avoid damage to the roof. Pressure washing your roof can damage your roof.

Any form of weight can crack or break a slate tile so no homeowner or roof cleaning professional should ever walk on the roof. Regular roof cleaning is critical for your roof as slate is easy to cleave and water absorbent. This is because the water comes out too forcefully and can damage the material.