BLOG Flat Roof Maintenance: Expert Tips for Restoration and Preservation Aug 24, 2024

Flat Roof Soft Washing

Flat roofs are fairly common in southwest Florida. A flat roof does not have to be completely "flat" to be considered one; it can have a slight pitch, such as those on carports or garages, to create an under-roof space above a screen enclosure or pool lanai. Since flat roofs are often smaller and harder to see, they tend to receive less attention than regular pitched shingle or barrel tile roofs. This lack of attention can lead to higher amounts of organic growth and environmental debris on flat roofs compared to regular roofs.

One of the major issues with flat roofs is that, once they develop a leak, they are very difficult to repair. Often, this means the entire roof must be replaced. Regular cleaning through soft washing, gutter cleaning, and general debris removal is the preferred maintenance plan to keep the roof in good and healthy condition. Regular maintenance is inexpensive, while replacing a roof is costly. Maintaining a flat roof regularly will help the homeowner or building owner get full use from the roof throughout its lifespan and keep it in superior condition.

My Soft Wash Guys will remove debris to expose a clean surface and then use our proprietary blend of chemicals to emulsify dirt and grime, kill mold, mildew, algae, and bacteria, and completely sanitize the flat roof's surface. All of this must be accomplished to stop organic growth in its tracks. Gloeocapsa magma is a type of bacteria that often eats away at the petroleum in the flat roof, loosening the aggregate attached to it, which weakens the material and accelerates its deterioration.

A clean and sanitized flat roof is now ready for the final step in the treatment process, which we call RESTORE. RESTORE is our Good Stewards blend of sealant for asphalt shingle roof material. RESTORE locks in the shingle aggregate and also protects the underlying shingle material by coating the shingles. This makes the shingles mold-resistant and more physically capable of withstanding damage from physical objects and storms.