Soft Washing And Pressure Washing – Which Is Better?

You can do both pressure washing and soft washing and to keep your surface neat. But you might be considering which choice is right for your surface. In the further explanation you will get to know everything about soft washing and pressure washing with their differences and functions.

The Fundamentals

Soft washing and pressure washing, both are methods of cleaning your roof surface and around your house. They are both considered a type of power cleaning. Pressure washing is known to be rougher in washing the surface than soft washing. Pressure washing can reposition deep-rooted contaminants with the surface, making it a perfect method for cleaning hard and porous surfaces like concrete. Soft washing has a lighter pressure which can minimise the cleaning power while making it simple for softer surfaces to handle. Luckily, most pressure washers have adjustable pressure settings. You can pick a high pressure or a low pressure wash with different machines, likewise, all pressure washing companies have adjustable pressure washers and they can choose the right one for you based on the type of surface you have.

Soft Washing vs Pressure Washing

While it is possible to pressure wash and soft wash your roof, roof cleaning is best left in the hands of professionals. This is because roofs are made from more delicate materials such as wood, ceramic, slate, tiles, concrete, clay and asphalt. These materials require a more precise and gentler cleaning approach.

When pressure washing is done by an amateur, it can cause more damage than good. Hence, the need for professionals.

Professionals will employ the use of a specific type of cleaning method called soft washing or pressure washing to effectively clean your roof.

Soft washing a roof is different from pressure washing.

Pressure washing is not ideal for roofs that are old or made of a soft material like asphalt, ceramic and clay because high pressure water can damage the delicate roof materials. Soft washing is a much better alternative for these kinds of materials because it relies on the use of a biodegradable cleaning solution to remove moss, dirt, algae, debris, dust, mildew, mould and other unwanted substances from the roof.

In addition, soft washing is much better at addressing the issue of mould, algae or mildew on your roof. The cleaning solution used by soft washing does not only kill the unwanted materials, but also prevent them from germinating again. Hence, your roof will remain clean and attractive for a longer period of time.

A professional pressure washing can achieve some really fantastic results. Where regular cleaning and maintenance fails to work, only pressure washing can take care of the build up of grime.

Pressure washing involves the use of high pressure water to clean the surface. Soft washing is similar to pressure washing. In the case of soft washing, the pressure per square inch, or PSI is lowered to less than 500, making it safer to use on less durable surfaces.

Pressure washing removes growths and contamination on the roof surface with great force. Unfortunately, this often causes damage, which has been seen countless times. This is the case with manufacturers of the most common roof and exterior building products continuously warning against using pressure washing to clean their products. It can make warranties of such products void.

Chemical cleaning or as simply called soft washing is a much gentler method that uses no more pressure than a garden hose. The result of soft washing, particularly on roofs and building exterior is by far superior. The results are obvious in a few minutes.

Does Soft Washing A Roof Work?

Soft wash roof cleaning has become a rampant way to clean roofs without damaging them. With this method, you can get rid of all the dirt and grime on the surface of your roof while also getting up close and personal with any moss or mould problems. This is a major reason why soft wash roof cleaners are becoming more popular these days. Even though it takes longer than a traditional pressure washing process, it is worth waiting for it because it leaves your roof cleaner for a much longer time afterwards. Pressure washers will often leave behind residue that can end up corroding your metal chimney or even cause leaks in the future. If you are looking for a great way to keep your home in excellent condition, then soft wash roof cleaning is an excellent option to consider.

Soft washing roof cleaning is an environmentally friendly process that entails adding a special soap solution to the surface of the roof. The best method for soft wash roof cleaning is to use the safest detergents available, which are non-hazardous and environmentally friendly. They are biodegradable, free of fragrances or perfumes, with no petroleum distillers or harmful solvents, making them safe for you and your family. As much as soft washing is safe on your rooftop shingles, these chemicals washes away years of debris accumulation without harming any plant life around your garden. A soft wash washing system uses less water than pressure washing equipment, as such, it protects the environment by minimising the volume of water that flows into your surroundings. You can also use your lawn’s sprinkler system to water your grass after the cleaning process is completed instead of using a hose to get rid of any leftover soap.

Soft washers typically only see results in 1 to 2 cleanings per year because it takes much longer than the pressure washing method. Also note that pressure washing leaves an unsightly residue behind where the chemicals have been used, which can damage metal chimneys and cause problems in the future. With soft washers, you can get a thorough clean anytime you need it.

How To Soft Wash A Roof

Below are what you can expect when a professional uses a soft washing method on your roof.

Inspect The Roof

Before soft washing, professionals will conduct a thorough inspection on your roof. It is important to address roof issues beforehand in order to ascertain the level of damage and to maximise the effect of the roof soft washing.

Pre Washing The Roof

Professionals will use low pressure water to saturate the roof. Pre-washing the roof can improve the adherence or the effectiveness of the soft washing cleaning solution.

Applying The Cleaning Solution

The professional will use a soap dispenser nozzle to apply the cleaning solution to your roof. They will work in small sections at a time for a more systematic approach. The cleaning solution will be allowed to sit on the surface for at least 15 minutes before rinsing off.

Soft Wash The Roof

Professionals will then use a soft washer to rinse the solution from the roof. A soft washer uses low pressure water so there is no risk of damage to the surface of your roof.

Application Of Sealants

If there is need, the professionals will apply a sealant to restore the protective layer of your roof. They will only apply the sealant once the roof has completely dried up. In some cases, it may take more than 24 hours for the surface to dry.

Not only do they leave unattractive stains on your roof, but they can cause shingles and other roofing materials to get bad.

In the face of all these issues with roofs, a proper roof cleaning maintenance can be used to solve them.

A professional roof pressure washing should be carried out at least two times a year. One can be done during the spring while the next can be done during the fall. Pressure washing not only restores the appearance of your roof, but it can also effectively flush away the harmful substances that damage the roof materials. Pressure washing is also a critical step that needs to be taken before re-applying protective sealants on the roof.

Professionals can get a good look at your roof and identify issues before pressure washing.

One of the problems of pressure washing is that, pressure washing loosens the UV protective granules and practically guarantees that your roof will fail either immediately or in the course of time if mishandled.

How Pressure Washing Operates

With pressure washing, you can channel a fully-compressed water at a surface in order to blast away contaminants. Pressure washers have different power ratings given in pounds per square inch (PSI). In general, pressure washing is considered the best method for getting rid of loose paints or stains from surfaces, let’s say you’re trying to remove old paints or stains for another layer. The huge setback of pressure washing is that it can damage surfaces when used badly. Applying high-powered pressure to a deck for instance, can cause a serious damage to your surface. Wood is much softer than concrete, so you need to make use of a different PSI.