Roof Cleaning Chemicals and Products Guide

Roof Cleaning Safety Products For The DIY Enthusiast.

You all should know by now that I discourage DIY roof cleaning because of the hazards involved, but I know that some people will attempt to do it anyway.  So I wanted to throw together just a short list of safety products for roof cleaning that many of the pros use (yes it can get expensive to buy all this stuff but roofs with slippery chemicals on them are a recipe for disaster if precautions aren't taken (don't say I didn't warn you)).

1. Get some Cougar Paws - amazing traction.  The grip on these shoes is so good you'll feel like spiderman (or a cougar, I suppose).  In fact it is so slip-resistant that it can almost give you a false sense of security.  Wearing good shoes does not mean you can turn your brain off.
2. Wear jeans or long pants.  No matter what chemicals, products, or procedures you're using some of the stuff is bound to get on you, and better it land on denim than skin.  Of course whatever does get on your skin should be rinsed off immediately.
3. Wear latex gloves.  Cheap dish gloves from the grocery store will work fine.  Again this will help in keeping chem off your skin.
4. Wear goggles.  If most of this stuff is bad for your skin just imagine what it can do to your eyes.  If something does splash in your eyes flush them immediately! 
5. Wear a respirator.  You DO NOT want to get the fumes from this stuff in your lungs.  Trust me.  Make this a priority.  Getting dizzy from exposure 45 feet off the ground is playing with fire, not to mention the potential long-term effects of repeated close-range exposure.
6. Use a fiberglass ladder if possible to minimize the possibility of electrocution from bumping a power line.
7. You'd be wise to invest in a roof harness system if you're uncomfortable or unfamiliar with heights, ladders, or roofs in general.  Heck, everyone would be wise to use one.

Sounds like a lot, right?  Why not do yourself a favor and just hire a professional roof cleaning service that already has the equipment and know-how to do it right.  Considering all the chemicals and gear you'd have to buy to do it yourself it would probably be cheaper to hire roof cleaners anyway, so why wouldn't you?  Even if you think that it might save you a few pennies to do it yourself, is it worth it when the potential risks include paralysis or death?  I want to say this one more time to make it perfectly clear:  chemicals or water on a roof will render it EXTREMELY SLIPPERY (think ice), so you better be prepared if you're a hard core DIY guy.

Roof Cleaning Chemicals Can Be Dangerous

As I've tried to point out in previous posts, roof cleaning can be a dangerous endeavor, especially for those that don't know what they're doing or that don't take the proper precautions.  If you need further proof just take a look at this article in the St. Petersburg Times about a roof cleaning chemical explosion that sent one man to the hospital and put a two-foot wide hole in the roof.  No matter what roof cleaning chemicals, products, or procedures you use, the most important thing is that you take your time, assess all the risks, and pay attention to any directions for use.

On top of the risks associated with misuse of chemicals, you also need to be cognizant of the fact that being up on a roof or ladder is of course very dangerous!  I once saw a guy scaling his steep roof in an effort to clean it with the latest fad roof cleaning product, and he was wearing flip-flops!  I could hardly believe my eyes.  You're going to put your life in the hands of a $2 pair of Wal-Mart flip-flops?! Unbelievable.

I've said it before and I'll say it again that your best bet is to hire a reputable, experienced roof-cleaning company to take care of it for you.  They already have the proper equipment, chemicals, and safety procedures in place so that you and your family can remain firmly and safely on the ground.  Preferably, you'd find one that specializes in no-pressure roof cleaning.