Power Washing Slate Roof

Any form of weight can crack or break a slate tile so no homeowner or roof cleaning professional should ever walk on the roof.

Power washing slate roof. Because of the possibility of an older and fragile slate roof no pressure should ever be used during cleaning. Buildup of moss and debris on slate roofs hold moisture in the slates that can split them during winter. While you might be tempted to reach for a strong chemical or a pressure washer it s better to leave them behind and give your slate roof a little tender loving care. A proper slate hammer is one foot long and made out of a single piece of stainless steel.

When having the slate cleaned it should be only be done from a ladder or lift to avoid damage to the roof. As a manufacturer of concrete roof tiles we would not advocate power washing or recoating tiles as this would invalidate any guarantee. Debris and moss buildup hold moisture in the slates that can split them during winter freezes. You should never power wash a slate roof.

While power washing is ideal for concrete surfaces slate tiles are too delicate to be blasted with a power washer. This homeowner attempted to clean his roof and you can see the granules that were removed due to his imprope. Unfortunately the simple answer to that is no. Such harsh chemicals are incompatible with the copper components of your slate roof.

Pressure washing your roof can damage your roof. Most contractors don t recommend pressure washing or power washing a roof. Soft wash roof cleaning how to wash your roof safely best roof wash method video link you can share of this video https youtu be owkh b0brt8 in this video. To avoid damaging your roof it s better to use an alternative cleaning method.

Slide the flashing under the slate but over the nail head. Instead soft washing with a garden hose is least likely to chip dent or crack the tiles or panels. Any pressure greater than a garden hose pressure poses the risk of damaging the slate and or the sheathing underneath. Power washing the tiles will remove fines in the concrete which will affect the lifespan of the tiles.

This is because the water comes out too forcefully and can damage the material. Regular cleaning is an important part of keeping a slate roof in working order. If you cannot obtain a slate hammer a comparably heavy hammer will work. As a manufacturer of concrete roof tiles we would not advocate power washing or recoating tiles as this would invalidate any guarantee.

Advice from nfrc national federation of roofing contractors. Regular roof cleaning is critical for your roof as slate is easy to cleave and water absorbent. When cleaning a slate roof don t use chemicals like ammonia or chlorine bleach.