FAQs

Soft washing was developed by AC Lockyer with his knowledge and experience in plant sciences and horticulture. AC knew that the bacteria, mold, fungi, and algae growing on the exterior of buildings were more closely associated with an infection than a stain. Knowing this, AC drew from his experiences and combined the technology of treating pests and fungi on plants with compatible cleaning chemicals, thereby inventing a method of soft washing.

Soft washing is an alternative to pressure/power washing that does not use harmful high pressure. Soft washing extensively cleans surfaces and kills the bacteria that are the root source of staining on roofing systems, as well as other structural materials.

At H2O Squad, we use a blend of biodegradable surfactants, cleaning agents, and sanitizers to clean and sanitize surfaces. The specific chemicals used can vary depending on the manufacturer and the type of surface being cleaned. Examples of commonly used chemicals include sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide.

Soft washing was developed over twenty years ago. It has been thoroughly checked, and it has been used at large Florida hotels, Disney, Universal Studios, and government setups. Additionally, over 100,000 roofing systems have been effectively cleaned with soft washing.

Soft washing eradicates the microorganisms that trigger tarnishing, whereas pressure washing merely washes off the surface layer. Furthermore, soft washing does not utilize harmful high pressure, unlike pressure washing, and soft washing treatments last much longer than pressure washing treatments.

Normally, a soft washing treatment will last at least 4 times as long as pressure washing before tarnishing reoccurs. In most instances, our treatments last a lot longer than one year.

Microorganisms such as mold, mildew, algae, lichens, and bacteria are responsible for a lot of discoloration on roofs and various other surfaces. Additionally, results of the metabolism of these organisms are acidic, as well as harmful to surface areas such as roof shingles. Removing these microorganisms prevents staining and also boosts the durability of roofs, fences, and decks.

The cleaning solutions we use are 100% eco-friendly and have very low VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions. Our cleaning services are non-toxic and will not release any type of damaging chemicals into the area surrounding your property.

Soft washing is far more environmentally friendly compared to pressure/power washing, for the following factors:

• All of our cleansing services are 100% naturally degradable.
• Our cleaning options have very low VOCs.
• We only use 1/3 the water of pressure washing.
• Our cleanings last four to six times longer than pressure washing, so cleaning is not called for as often.
• Our methods preserve materials, such as roof shingles, which helps property owners save money in the long run

In addition to roofs, we clean up all kinds of building siding, decks, fences, concrete, and paver surfaces. Soft washing can be utilized on all types of building materials consisting of wood, concrete, aluminum, vinyl exterior siding, roof shingles, and much more!

We fully guarantee all our work. If any kind of staining or growth of bacteria persists on your roof that we have soft washed within one year of our treatment, we’ll provide one complimentary clean.

THE TRUE CULPRIT

Gloeocapsa Magma is the true culprit that causes black streaks on roofs and surfaces. Other forms of microorganisms can be found in union with the bacteria, including mold, fungi, algae, mildew, lichens, and moss. The main culprit of most roof staining that causes prevalent black streaks is a bacteria called Gloeocapsa Magma. Many of the organisms that grow on a roof, including mildew, algae, bacteria, moss, lichens, and fungi, copulate in the warm, moist environment created by a roof.

SHINGLE DETERIORATION

Like plants, fungi and algae that are growing on a roof have root systems that can cause damage to shingles such as uplifting, spreading of shingles, and decomposition. Not to mention other forces are responsible for damaging a roof, such as erosion from nature or other forms of roof cleaning.

The roots of fungi and algae open up tiny cracks in the shingles, tiles or other roofing materials. Many of these organisms growing on roofing surfaces do much of the same thing. They spread the shingle like a fan. Because the shingle is attached on the back, the front ends of the shingle flare and roll. This is because the shingle is widened in the front more so than the back.

These microorganisms, such as fungi and algae, will break down a surface and cause decomposition. This, in turn, will also aid the process of erosion caused by running water. A massive example of the power of erosion is the Grand Canyon. Water can be a true force of erosion in nature.

Plus, many roofing surfaces are made with materials that can be metabolized by these microorganisms, such as shingles that now contain limestone that algae, mildew, and bacteria will absorb their nutrients and feed off the shingles.

Soft washing is designed to sanitize, penetrate, and eliminate the root of the issue. The main culprit of most roof staining that causes prevalent black streaks is a bacteria called Gloeocapsa Magma. Soft washing has the ability to kill the pest from the root up, achieving a truly clean surface.

First and foremost, how big is your roof? And how dirty is it? How much moss is on there? What type of dirt is on there? Is there staining, algae, and lichens? This all needs to be considered when cleaning the roof because we want to make it as clean as possible and get rid of everything we can.

What is the roof’s surface area? What type of property is it, and how large is it? What pitch is the roof? What type of tiles are used? These all play a part in how long it takes to clean your roof, the method to be used, the tools and type of access equipment that can be used, and whether it can be cleaned from the ground, from ladders, or whether a scaffold tower or a cherry picker is needed. Can the whole roof be reached at once or will the access equipment need to be repositioned? These factors all need to be worked out to know how long it will take to clean your roof.

The weather can also play a part. Obviously, we’re human beings, and we’re working outdoors to clean your roof. Adverse weather can slow the process a lot, even with all the equipment and access you could wish for.

When cleaning a roof, it’s impossible not to make a mess, and it takes time to clean up. This shouldn’t be underestimated. Make sure the company that cleans your roof has considered this.

An average three-bedroom house with a moderately mossy roof can take three to four hours if there is good access for cherry picker. Then add two more hours to clean up the mess that has fallen from the roof.

We would expect to clean the roof of such a property and clear up afterwards within a day. That’s assuming the factors mentioned above are favorable.

Anything bigger, messier, or with poorer access would take longer.

When calculating the price to soft wash a roof, we have to consider numerous factors to arrive at the figure.

Firstly, the size of the roof. A larger roof will take longer to clean than one that is half its size in comparable circumstances.

Secondly, the level of infestation. A roof that is infested with moss will require more effort to clean than one that has less moss to remove. Disposal of large quantities of moss from the property will inevitably add to the price.

Thirdly, access. Can our technicians achieve adequate access to all areas of the roof to clean it thoroughly? Properties with plenty of surrounding space for our access equipment will require less time to complete, resulting in a lower price.

Fourthly, the specialist equipment, ongoing staff training, specialist cleaning solutions, and insurances required to provide a service that is far above and beyond the expectations of even the most discerning customers.

In summary, the key factors affecting price are size, roof type, ease of access and location, and level of infestation.

Our mission, ‘To provide the most phenomenal service experience ever,’  is more than just a few buzzwords; it’s our mindset. Our ethos. We’re thrilled every time a customer leaves us a 5-star review on Google, but also ask ourselves how we could improve upon it.

Soft washing is a relatively gentle, low-pressure method that uses a chemical solution to kill and detach organic matter from a building’s exterior surfaces. It is widely considered to be a highly effective method of cleaning a roof without the need for technicians to stand on the roof as long as they can get within a few feet of the surface via a scaffold tower or mobile lifting platform. The low-pressure application of soft wash chemicals greatly reduces the likelihood of the roof incurring damage during the cleaning process or water ingress into the property. The soft washing process kills all organic matter and, provided it is undertaken by competent technicians, will leave treated areas spotless and sanitized, and last for a long time.

Soft washing requires extensive training along with highly specialized equipment and chemicals to produce long-lasting, high-quality results. Access to the areas to be soft washed can be problematic in confined spaces, as the solutions need to be sprayed from a few feet away rather than in close proximity to the surface.

Care must be taken to prevent soft wash solutions from entering drains or falling onto landscaped areas or gardens without immediate counter treatment.

Pressure washing can be a highly effective method of cleaning all kinds of surfaces and many homeowners will already have their own pressure washer for car washing etc., making them familiar with the principle. Water is projected under high pressure towards the surface in question in order to remove the dirt, moss, lichens, and other debris. Pressure washing can yield visually compelling results with little experience or expertise from the operator.

However, the use of high-pressure water to clean a roof carries the inherent risk of water ingress to the structure beneath. Water being forced ‘uphill’ on a roof will be forced beneath tiles and into the timber battens, felt, rafters and purlins. A greater risk associated with pressure washing is that the pressure is often so harsh that it can damage and crack roof tiles and remove vital mortar pointing.
Pressure washing can produce visually pleasing results but it is highly unlikely to remove all of the organic matter; causing faster and more prolific regrowth in a relatively short timeframe.

Access to a roof for the purpose of cleaning should only be undertaken by trained individuals with the correct equipment. Roofs can be slippery, and in most cases, it is illegal for operatives to stand upon a roof. The widely accepted best practice method of accessing a roof for the purpose of cleaning is via a mobile platform (also known as a ‘cherry picker’) or with mobile scaffold towers.

Homeowners should make themselves aware of their liability in such circumstances and ensure any companies or individuals they enlist to clean their roof (or any other exterior surface) are adequately insured and have the correct equipment and training to do so.

Zig Ziglar was an American Author. At our organization, we love reading his books and just finished reading Secrets of Closing the Sale.

The part I loved the most in the book was the section about the price versus cost discussion.

We all have to make decisions every day on items or services we are going to buy.

Price is a one-time agreement, right at the initial purchasing decision. The cost is the long-term quality for the entirety of the agreement, including upgrades, repairs, improvements, etc.

Zig provided the example of buying a bike at a price of $64 vs. a $34 bike. They bought the $34 bike, but it cost them much more over time to repair, making the cost much higher than the $64 bike. Seeing that difference brought me a ton of clarity on the true intentions and hesitations of a buyer.

My takeaway: If you are concerned about price, think deeper and see if that true worry is about price or if it’s really about cost (value long term).

When choosing a service, long-term value could outweigh the low price considerably.

Yes. Surprisingly often, particularly when a roof has been left for too long before being cleaned and the organic growth has compromised the structural integrity of the roof’s tiles and potentially damaged the structure beneath. In such instances, the only option to the homeowner is to enlist the services of a roofing contractor to repair or replace the entire roof.

An experienced specialist exterior cleaning company will only undertake a project if they are confident their work will make an improvement to the appearance and/or lifespan of the area to be cleaned and treated. If a surveyor believes the roof cannot be adequately cleaned and treated, they should advise the homeowner of the best course of action to take, even if it really isn’t the news the homeowner wants to hear.

Probably not. As long as we can get clear, safe access to all points of the property and a water supply, you can leave us to get on with it so you could go to work, do the school run, or do a bit of shopping and return to a clean environment.

Soft washing is far gentler on masonry, roofing materials and exterior finishes than pressure washing.

A professional soft wash cleaning system is designed to apply cleaning solutions at 50 – 62 psi, from about 6 feet away. That’s similar to a garden hose or a hard rainfall.

Soft washing equipment is so-called because it washes softly, yet very effectively.

H2O Squad is devoted to providing its customers with the highest level of quality, value, professionalism, and customer service. We will treat you, your home, and your property with respect and as if it were our own. We will not rush to complete a job or cut corners to save time. H2O Squad prides itself on spending as much time as necessary to ensure a high level of value is provided and your 100% level of satisfaction is achieved.