Can You Pressure Wash A Slate Roof

To avoid damaging your roof it s better to use an alternative cleaning method.

Can you pressure wash a slate roof.

Always stand on a dry area of the roof as wet shingles can be very slippery. Pressure washing can break apart slates or drive water up under slates and cause leaks. 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. The use of high powered jet washes is not recommended as it can damage the surface of the slate or tile thus reducing its expected life considerably.

Aim the pressure washer down the roof toward the gutters and keep the tip of the wand at least a foot away from the surface when starting. For starters we never recommend. There is also a risk of flooding to the loft space. Tempting as it might be to blast away unsightly moss and algae using a pressure washer to clean your roof is dangerous not to mention potentially damaging.

Never aim your pressure washer up the roof as it can push water under the shingles. Second we apply special sealants designed to seep into the flagstone or slate that penetrates the stone to keep out moisture. Read more about why pressure washing a roof is a very stupid thing to do. Unfortunately the simple answer to that is no.

With regards to roof moss they claim that. Debris and moss buildup hold moisture in the slates that can split them during winter freezes. You should never power wash a slate roof. As stated by several roof tile manufacturers and the uk s trading standards organization pressure washers can damage roof tiles strip the surface granules from the tiles and shorten tile life expectancy.

Spraying water under your shingles can. We use gentle environmentally friendly detergent to remove the stains and bring back the original color of the stone. In normal circumstances the moss growths are not harmful to the tiles or slates. While power washing is ideal for concrete surfaces slate tiles are too delicate to be blasted with a power washer.