As a board member, you may be wondering what roof cleaning methods are best for the roofs in your community and how often you should be cleaning them.
I recently spoke with Marcel Rosen, Owner and President of Fiddler Roof Cleaning. Marcel notes that one of the first things that you will notice when entering a community are dirty roofs. To maintain a good image, it is important to keep the roofs clean with the proper solutions.
There are various methods that a roof cleaning company can use to clean your community’s roofs; some are safer than others. Before selecting the roof cleaning contractor, make sure you understand what methods they will be using to clean the roofs and that they have all the proper safety protocols and insurance coverages that are necessary.
Fiddler Roof Cleaning offers two kinds of roof cleaning solutions depending on how dirty the roofs are and depending on the association’s budget. First, they offer a non-bleach, eco solution that can be applied from the ground or using ladders. This solution, called “Eco Roof,” should be applied every two years to maintain its efficacy. If the roof is too dirty, then a second option is available. This often requires the roof to be cleaned using a bleach solution applied roughly every three years. This process needs to be done from the roof.
Some roof cleaning companies may use pressure washing to clean the roofs, but this may cause unexpected damage. Power washing roofs at approximately 3000 psi can be too harsh on some roofs and lead to leakage. Additionally, many power washers have heavy hoses which when dragged along roof tiles, can chip and damage tiles. Many residents also prefer not to have workers on their rooftops.
Pricing is the second important factor when selecting a vendor. Depending on your Association’s budget, you may be inclined to stretch out the frequency of which the roofs are cleaned. However, by prolonging this time, you may end up having to use the power washing method, since the roofs may be too dirty. Various companies may provide long term contracts to maintain a fixed cleaning schedule. For example, Fiddler Roof Cleaning offers 2 to 3 cycle roof cleaning programs, where price remains the same throughout the period. This allows boards to maintain their scheduled roof cleaning budget costs and removes the need to constantly go out for bids.
Another consideration is the company’s insurance. Once an employee steps on the roof, they are considered a roofer to insurance companies. At that point, the insurance quadruples from power washer worker’s comp code (9014) to roofer worker’s comp code (5551). It is most important that the contractor you use has the proper insurance code to be covered.
You can get in touch with Marcel Rosen from Fiddler Roof at 561-732-9850.