Roof Cleaning Costs: How To Budget for Roof Cleaning
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Did you know that excessive dirt, moss, and algae can cause damage to your roof, leading to costly repairs? Roof cleaning costs range between $294 and $592, with a national average of $432. Scheduling this work can minimize costly roof repairs.
- Typical Range: $294 to $593
- National Average: $433
Depending on the type of roof you have, it will last anywhere between 20 years and 100 years. However, the lifetime of a roof can be cut short simply by the buildup of moisture-rich organisms such as algae, mold, moss, and lichen that can penetrate the roofing shingles and slowly erode the sheathing below them. To extend the life of the roof, it is a good idea to keep your roof cleaned, and it’s also a good idea to have it cleaned every 1 to 2 years, which will cost $294 to $593 on average.
If a portion of your roof is heavily shaded and you cannot remove the obstruction, expect to need your roof cleaned at more frequent intervals, as it can be a breeding ground for mold and algae. How frequently the roof is cleaned may affect costs, too; a yearly cleaning can cost less than the price of a cleaning that’s been put off for years. Other factors that drive up costs include how big the roof is, tough stains, the application of preventive treatments, and the number of stories the house has.
Need a roof cleaning?
Maybe it's time to call in an expert. Get free, no-commitment estimates from roof cleaners near you.
Factors in Calculating Roof Cleaning Costs
The national average for roof cleaning is $433. However, this cost may be substantially lower or higher based on many factors. For example, the price you pay for roof cleaning in a big city in California or New York may be drastically different than what you may pay in a small town in Vermont or Arkansas. The national average cost typically consists of a simple cleaning of the entire square footage of the roof. If there are unique circumstances with your roof, such as the pitch being very steep, this will drive up labor costs because cleaners will have to work carefully and slowly to clean it, increasing the amount of time on the project. Also, the more stories the home has, the more roof cleaning will cost.
Cleaning a roof isn’t just about taking a high-power washer and cleaning away the dirt, debris, leaves, and microorganisms on the roof. Different roof types require different roof cleaning products, which can also factor into total costs.
Labor
Some roof cleaning companies charge for roof cleaning by the square foot. However, there are some that also charge for labor by the hour. For roughly 2.5 hours, you can expect to pay between $43 and $92.
Roof Size
Since most roof cleaners charge by the square foot to clean a roof, a large roof cleaning can be much pricier than the national average of $433. The rule of thumb is that the larger the roof, the more expensive it will be to clean.
House Height and Number of Stories
A roof cleaner may not only charge you more for a larger roof but may also charge more for a house with more stories. If you have more than one story, you can expect to pay $0.10 per square foot more. The pitch of the roof may also increase the cost to have your roof cleaned.
Need a roof cleaning?
Maybe it's time to call in an expert. Get free, no-commitment estimates from roof cleaners near you.
Geographic Location
Roof cleaning costs vary from one geographic location to another. Typically, roof cleaning in metropolitan and urban areas will cost more than in smaller, suburban, or rural areas. However, the assumption shouldn’t be that costs in a large city will always be more than in a small city, as many considerations factor into a roof cleaning.
Roof Material and Slope
The cost of cleaning a roof will vary by roofing material. Different roofing materials typically require different types of cleaning solutions and levels of care, which can increase the total cost of cleaning. For example, if a professional charges by the hour, increased care may mean more time spent cleaning, leading to increased costs.
The slope of your roof may affect costs, too. While steeper slopes tend to keep dirt off better than lower pitched roofs, a steeper slope may require a professional to use additional time and safety equipment to get the job done, resulting in potentially higher costs.
Cleaning Method
Depending on the method used by the roof cleaner, the cost can range from $0.05 to $0.75 per square foot for soft wash, chemical wash, and other methods. Additional charges may accumulate for services like roof blowing or preventive treatments, which could range from $25 per roll for zinc strips, which prevent moss and algae from growing, up to $250 or more to apply moss treatments or roof coatings.
Cleaning Frequency
It’s a good idea to have your roof cleaned at least every 2 years. However, if you live in a coastal region where salt accumulates on your roof regularly or a damp region where moss and other organisms consistently grow, you will need routine cleaning more regularly. This will drive up roof cleaning costs.
If you opt for a regularly scheduled roof cleaning with your preferred professional, a written agreement may get you a discount on individual cleanings.
Additional Costs and Considerations
If your roof isn’t cleaned regularly, then a simple roof cleaning will probably not be ideal. For example, if there are lots of stains from Gloeocapsa magma, a type of airborne algae that causes the roof to darken, then removal may drive up the costs. This formation is usually prevalent on the side of the roof that rarely receives any sunlight,and the problem is exacerbated in areas that receive a lot of rain. Gloeocapsa magma also is prone to growing on homes that have asphalt shingles as they love to feed on the calcium carbonate within the shingles. This, along with other microorganisms, may form on the shaded side of the roof, which will not only require extensive cleaning but will also need preventive treatments to keep this from happening as frequently.
Aside from the cost of extensive cleaning to remove stubborn stains and moss, you may incur additional charges by opting for additional services like gutter cleaning or for minor roof repairs. Having the gutters cleaned can go a long way toward maintaining the roof’s integrity. Not only will cleaning them protect the roof, but it can also prevent other issues. Dirty gutters can have a domino effect, creating unnecessary, costly problems in your home. Cleaning them can prevent pest problems and minimize problems with the foundation that are caused by water pooling around the base of the home as a result of blocked gutters. These pools of water can also result in foundation issues and flooding in the basement or crawl space.
Need a roof cleaning?
Maybe it's time to call in an expert. Get free, no-commitment estimates from roof cleaners near you.
Moss Removal and Prevention
If you need to have moss removed from your home, expect to pay between $0.20 and $0.70 per square foot. A roof cleaning company may suggest applying a special treatment if moss is a consistent problem for your roof. This can typically run between $150 to $250.
Stain Removal
What appears to be stains on a roof may actually be algae. It usually appears on a roof as black streaks which, to the untrained eye, looks like dirt but is a living organism. This algae can cause damage to your roof if left untreated. Stains can also have other causes, such as salt buildup. Depending on the type of stain and how long it will take to remove, the cost to clean stains may run an additional $50 to $100. To minimize stains between roof cleanings, you can opt for a stain-blocking solution. A roof cleaner may charge an extra fee for this stain-blocking solution, which costs about $20 to $30 per gallon and covers about 300 square feet.
Roof Coating
Cleaning your roof will undoubtedly get mold, moss, and lichen off your roof. However, if your roof is prone to attracting these organisms, you will need a way to prevent it between cleanings. A roof cleaner may charge an additional $975 to apply a roof coating that will help keep these damaging growths off your roof.
Additional Services
Regular roof cleaning is important to keep your warranty intact, but solar panels can complicate the cleaning process and increase costs. Cleaning the roof requires using a cleaning solution to remove moss and mold. Solar panels require a different cleaning solution and will most likely be handled by cleaners specializing in solar panels. Getting solar panels cleaned will tack on an additional $150 to $350. Adding gutter cleaning may also be an additional cost of about $160.
Roof Repairs or Replacement
When you are having your roof cleaned, you will most likely only need to pay for the roof cleaning materials, labor, tools, and preventive treatments. However, if your roof has missing shingles, bad flashing, or rotting decking, then you will need roof repairs or replacement. This can run you from $150 to $400 for minor work all the way to $11,000 for full-scale replacement.
Roof Cleaning Costs: Types of Roof Cleaning Methods
Roof cleaning costs can vary by the cleaning method. The type of roof cleaner and the amount of product used can drive up costs exponentially. How many applications are used can also factor into costs, especially if you have a large roof with very stubborn stains. It is rare for a roof to be cleaned with only water. In most cases, the roof cleaners will use a cleaning agent such as bleach, chemicals, or some eco-friendly wash to help get stains and microorganisms off the roof.
If there are bushes or other plants growing around your home, a cleaning crew will cover them or water them extensively so that the chemicals won’t destroy them. Depending on what type of product is used for cleaning, some crews may also even use a temporary pipe on the gutter to run the dangerous water away from your house and into containers they’ve brought with them. This keeps environmentally unfriendly products from destroying plants or causing harm to your pets and any animals that frequent your yard, such as birds and squirrels.
Need a roof cleaning?
Maybe it's time to call in an expert. Get free, no-commitment estimates from roof cleaners near you.
Soft Wash
Soft washing is a method of cleaning a roof using low-pressure water, similar to that of a garden hose, and a cleaning solution to remove dirt, stains, and moss from the roof. This technique can run between $0.30 and $0.75 per square foot. Using a soft wash prevents damage to shingles, particularly asphalt shingles.
Low-Pressure Wash
If a roof cleaner tells you that they will use a low-pressure washer to clean your roof, you don’t have to panic. This type of pressure washer is gentle like a soft wash, but it’s strong enough to remove debris and moss from stronger roofing material. You can expect to pay between $0.30 to $0.70 per square foot on this type of roof cleaning.
Pressure-Wash
If a roof cleaner plans to pressure-wash your roof, this could void your roof warranty, particularly on asphalt, shake, slate, or tile. A metal roof can take a pressure washer, but the roof cleaner should still use a gentle pressure-wash. This method can run you between $0.20 and $0.70 per square foot.
Roof Blow
If a roof is full of loose debris, a roof cleaner may use a roof blower to remove it before cleaning the roof with chemicals. Should a roof cleaner need to blow your roof before cleaning it, expect to pay between $0.05 and $0.10 per square foot. The roof blower will remove leaves, twigs, and pine straws from your roof.
Zinc Oxide Application
If moss is a big problem for the roof, a roof cleaner may install zinc strips to keep moss and other growths from building up on the roof. Zinc strips interact with rainwater and release zinc carbonate, which keeps moss from growing on the roof. These strips come in rolls that cost about $0.05 to $0.15 per square foot and may be included in the final price.
Chemical Wash
When it comes to removing moss, mold, algae and the like, a roof cleaner will use a chemical wash to do so. This is typically a low-pressure wash, but it is very effective because the chemicals remove the mold and moss. Don’t be alarmed if you still see moss on the roof once the roof has been treated. It takes a few days for the organisms to start dying after treatment. The cost of this type of roof cleaning is between $0.20 and $0.30 per square foot.
