Roofs are a vital but expensive part of your property, so it pays to keep it in good condition and it also adds curb appeal and value to your home.
Always question the company that is offering roof cleaning services. Here are some of the reasons why questioning them will give you are good insight into their practices, knowledge and standards:-
Government guidelines stipulate that for Health and Safety reasons you should not be using ladders for longer than 20 minute periods at a time and avoid using them if at all possible.
This does not mean you should allow someone to walk on your titles, as this should be avoided as it can damage your roof, break tiles, dislodge ridge mortar or indeed cause a fall from the roof.
If a broken roof tile needs to be replaced, you can use a roof ladder, which is specifically designed to spread weight evenly across the roof. It is also set up for harnessing yourself to it for added safety.
Instant results can be gained from using bleach,and pressure washing methods. However, if the bleach is allowed to drip down onto your vegetation below, or into a fishpond, it will destroy your vegetation and kill your fish and other wildlife it comes into contact with.
Beware anyone who wants to pressure wash your roof upwards instead of downwards because the water could go into your loft or damage the felting underneath your roof. A good company would have a jet washing roof cleaning attachment, they would asses all of the tiles and flashings beforehand, and they would not ask for money upfront.
Beware of anyone who asks for money for any job before the job is complete and you are happy with their standard of work and finish you received.
Chemical Awareness
Before the company you have asked to undertake the cleaning of your drive, patio, render, concrete window ledges etc. begin work, find out whether they are using Sodium Hypochlorite (it's known in the trade as Hypo). Hypo is a very strong form of bleach (i.e. normal toilet bleach is 2% Hypochlorite, whereas Hypo is 15%!).
Hypocholorite (Hypo)
If it is being used near vegetation or wooden fences or gates, all items need firstly to be sprayed thoroughly with water, which will then dilute the Hypo and protect the greenery and wood.
Animals
Care must be given to all animals when using any chemicals which clean your property. When using Hypo, they should be kept in while it is being used (and being washed off) and then for at least 3 to 4 hours after treatment has taken place.
Check Company you propose to use
Social media - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ https://www.instagram.com/tdexteriorcleaningcltd/
Company Name - is it registered - https://www.gov.uk/get-information-about-a-company https://find-and-update.company- information.service.gov.uk/company/13635574
Is the Company listed on Google (ensure the company has a Blue Shield signifying it is Verified, Yell - https://www.yell.com/biz/t-d-exterior-cleaning-co-ltd-norwich-10314780/
Trustpilot - https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/tdexteriorcleaning.uk - the company should be Verified with a Green Shield tick
Ensure they have Public Liability Insurance (we are insured by AXA)
Ensure they have a landline telephone number and not just mobile numbers
Registered address (not a PO Box)
No pressure selling
No "It's this price if you take it now or it will be more"
Look and read their Website
Look at their Before and After pictures
Cleaning is very easy to do if you have the correct equipment, know-how, ability and skills HOWEVER - it is also very easy to get it so drastically wrong and cause thousands of pounds worth of damage in a very short space of time.
We hope that this has made you more aware of the pitfalls of choosing a rogue trader or "cowboy" company to carryout your work, and the benefits of picking the correct Company, who has it's Customers at the front and centre of it's business.