Wingspan Tech
Can You Power Wash A Shingle Roof
The clear answer is: absolutely not.
Bombarding your asphalt shingles with high-pressure water will instantly strip away the protective particles on the surface, causing serious roof damage, and your warranty will be voided immediately. The only safe and ARMA (Asphalt Roof Manufacturers Association) approved cleaning method is a low-pressure cleaning technology called “Soft Washing”. This process uses a special cleaning agent, which, combined with the water pressure of an ordinary garden hose, safely dissolves the dirt, so as not to cause the roof to age prematurely or cause troublesome leaks.
High-Pressure Water Guns And Asphalt Shingles
Faced with ugly dark spots on the roof, pushing a standard pressure washer out looked like the quickest solution. Hitting high-speed water on asphalt roofing materials is definitely the fastest way to destroy them. When you’re “shooting” into a roof, this is what really happens:
- Peel-off protective particles: The surface of asphalt shingles is covered with a layer of fine crushed mineral particles. These particles are crucial as they protect the underlying asphalt from UV damage and also provide fire protection. High-pressure water can instantly wash these particles away, leaving your roof defenseless in the face of inclement weather.
- Causes serious roof damage: The impact of a pressure washer can easily lift tiles directly, breaking their seal and forcing water under the tiles. This completely tears the roof material apart and the structural integrity of the entire roof system collapses.
- Make the warranty void completely: Roof manufacturers clearly write maintenance terms. Because damage from high-pressure flushing is so predictable and severe, using it to wash asphalt shingles will immediately void your original factory warranty. This means that you will have to pay for all the heavy losses that follow.
O-Series High Pressure Washer 220V
The durable ceramic pump and powerful four-stage motor provide high-performance cleaning power, with adjustable pressure, support for customized voltage and power.
380V 1500Bar Water Blaster
1450 RPM ultra-high pressure water jet pump, high cost performance, suitable for 50Hz voltage. It’s a great tool for removing rust and deburring in factories.
Diesel Power High Pressure Cleaner
The pump unit is the core component of a cleaning machine or water treatment system. Composed of a high-pressure plunger pump and an electric motor
Foam Cannon for car washing
Foam Cannon S V3.0 (Thicker Snow Foam Technology) with 1/4 Inch Quick Connector for Pressure Washer, 34 oz Bottle (V3.0 (1/4″ Quick Connector) + SOAP Sample)
What Exactly Is “Soft Wash”?
How can you safely handle this dirt if you can’t use a pressure gun? The Asphalt Roof Manufacturers Association (ARMA) officially recommends only one method: soft washing.
The technology completely abandons violent scouring in favor of a gentle, chemical-reaction-based treatment. This line of thinking is the mainstream in today’s professional cleaning industry.
Low Water Pressure
It is completely different from using a strong water column to hard flush dirt for high-pressure cleaning, and uses ultra-low pressure for soft wash. The PSI (pounds per square inch) output from the equipment we use is actually about the same as that of a regular garden hose in our home. This guarantees that the tiles themselves, the adhesive, and those fragile protective particles remain intact throughout the cleaning process.
Dedicated Cleaning Formula
Precisely because of the low water pressure, it is actually professional industrial-grade cleaning fluid that really does the dirty work. We lightly spray these highly effective formulas onto the roof surface and let it sit for a while. When the liquid covers the tiles, they actively break down and safely dissolve dirt, dark spots, and pull out the roots along with those organic attachments.
Prevent Premature Aging And Expensive Leak Repairs
Choosing the right cleaning method is really not just about looking good, the key is to preserve the life of the roof.
Using low-pressure soft wash and professional potions not only cleans the roof cleanly, but also avoids the devastating consequences of high-pressure water. Not only will you “melt” those ugly stains off, but you won’t have to worry about particles running off and causing your roof to fail prematurely. What’s more, because the tiles were intact and water wasn’t forced under the roof deck, this completely eliminated the sky-high repair bills caused by rotting wood structures and indoor leaks.
Author: Mark Henderson
I am a professional exterior maintenance specialist with over 17 years of hands-on experience in the roofing industry. My mission is to educate property owners on the safest, ARMA-approved techniques like soft washing, ensuring that you can maintain a pristine home exterior without compromising the structural integrity or warranty of your roof.