We have discussed in previous posts why it is important to clean your roof and gutters. Alternatively, we have talked about safety measures to be taken when doing any work on the roof. In this article we wanted to talk about getting some exterior spring cleaning done.
First and foremost, if you are in any way nervous about going onto the roof or standing on a ladder, hire a professional to clean your roof and gutters. They have the experience and equipment to properly navigate steep surfaces, evaluate the safety of an area, and determine if any maintenance is needed without creating more roof damage.
Roof Cleaning 
You will need:
- Non-toxic roof cleaner of your choice
- Heavy, rubber-soled boots or shoes
- A ladder
- Full body roofing harness
- A soft bristle brush and dustpan
- Heavy duty garbage bags
- A long garden hose with a spray nozzle (Don’t use a power washer on asphalt shingles)
- A pump sprayer
- Dry weather
Set the ladder up on dry, even ground. Strap yourself into your harness, tie it down according to its directions.
Sweep down your roof with the soft bristle brush. Ensure any debris are moved off the roof safely using the dustpan to pick up smaller debris. Put them all in the garbage bag or in a small bucket. Make sure anything you bring up is something you can bring down again when it is filled.
Once the roof is free of debris, head down to the ground and mix the cleaning product according to its directions. Wet the roof down to keep the chemicals from the cleaner from evaporating too rapidly. Apply the cleaning solution as according to its directions, let it sit for about 20 minutes, then rinse off.
If there is heavy duty moss build up or debris on your roof, it’s time to call in the professionals. Scraping off moss or blasting it with a pressure washer will only damage your roof.
Gutter Cleaning
You will need:
- Heavy, rubber soled boots or shoes
- A ladder
- Latex gloves
- Heavy duty work gloves
- Safety glasses
- Trowel
- Two buckets with hooks
- Garden hose with spray nozzle
- A few dry days of weather
Set up your ladder on solid ground and bring up your buckets. One is for tools and one is for the debris you’ll be collecting. You can pull out large debris with your gloved hands and use the trowel to dig up any packed-in material.
Once you have gotten out as many debris as possible, use a hose to flush out the remainder. Spray out the gutters starting with the end that is opposite the downspout.
Here’s a great video that gives step-by-step instructions for cleaning your gutter and making minor repairs.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_9WJSzV6fw]