The Roof Cleaning Process: An Interview with Steve J. Van Oast of Ugly Shingles, LLC

Tell us a little bit about your company and its foundation.

Ugly Shingles, LLC is a Certified Soft-Wash Roof Cleaning Contractor- this basically means we will never use any form of high pressure on your roof as doing so will damage the shingles and void any warranties that the customer may have with the manufacturer. We are also a Registered Licensed Builder with the State of Michigan. Every roof cleaning automatically received a multi-point inspection to ensure the roof is in good condition before cleaning. Each step of the inspection is photographed and uploaded to a server for the customers review.

What are some important questions to ask the roof cleaner before beginning the process?

Are they certified and use a process recommended by the shingle manufacturers?
Are they licensed?
What method do they use- softwash, power washing, high pressure?
*Softwashing is the only method recommended by the roofing material manufacturers.

How do I know if it is time to get my roof cleaned? What dangers can arise if I ignore bacterial growth?

If you see dark staining or green algae and moss begin to appear, then its time. These types of algae and mold feed of the organic fillers (limestone) used during the manufacturing process. If left untreated, the shingles will be become ineffective and fail due to the consistent saturation the algae and mold retains.

What kinds of roofs can you service?

We service all type of roofs- Asphalt / Fiberglass, Cedar, Metal, Tile, etc.

How do you suggest clients prepare for this process? Is it invasive or does it take a long period of time?

On average, a complete roof cleaning will take about 2 hours from start to finish. The results are instant and the roofs look great when we leave.

What are some common issues you face when it comes to cleaning windows?

If our detergents get on the windows, we simply just rinse them off- no issue.

What's the best way for people to get in contact with you?

We always recommend checking out our website - it provides a great deal of information as well as pictures and videos to give customers a better understanding of the entire process: www.UglyShingles.com.

We can also be contacted by telephone or e-mail
888-742-5794 or info@uglyshingles.com.