As far as I know, at least here on Earth, gravity never fails.   What this brilliant insight means in terms of exterior home maintenance is that it is always wisest to start at the top and work your ways down.

This time of year, many homeowners get a lot of work done on their homes exteriors:  roofs, gutters, siding, windows, decks and pavement as well and yard work and landscaping.   All of these projects require a lot of effort and it is a shame to spoil work already done.

In addition to being at “top” of this list, roof cleaning and gutter cleaning should also be done first for another reason – they often produce a much larger amount of debris.

Moss and tree debris (needles, leaves and small branches) have to go somewhere and that somewhere is downward, towards the other surfaces.   Windows, siding and deck, while obviously subject to getting very dirty, don’t produce much tangible debris.   Pavement can on occasion produce a moderate debris volume, particularly if a lot of moss was present on it.   Additionally with pavement, the washing process itself can cause a lot of water volume that can easily displace newly distributed bark dust or disturb newly planted flowers.

Failure to do this will inevitably result in both some disappointment and the need to re-clean some previously cleaned surfaces.    Always be sure to communicate with us about your other, upcoming projects so we can be sure to work together and avoid any frustration.   Why not make that call today?

Roof Moss Removal

When To Proceed With Roof Moss Removal

I was just asked the other day whether a small amount of moss was currently harming a customer’s tile roof.   Essentially, they were asking when was it necessary to perform roof moss removal.

Determining when roof moss removal is necessary can be difficult.

As attractive as the opportunity for a project might be, I’ve never been one to sell fear just to obtain work.   And fear definitely can get pushed upon the unsuspecting homeowner.   Yet there is a critical determination to be made with any home maintenance project in terms of when to proceed.   Like most situations, deciding when to proceed with roof moss removal depends on perspective and objectives.   For these purposes, I’ll leave the entire issue of aesthetics out of the consideration, since it is a personal preference.

Why Roof Moss Removal Is Needed in the First Place

Let’s start very briefly with what moss can do to a roof.   Roofs were designed to have rainwater quickly run down them into the gutters.   Large moss acts to block the flow of water, acting as a miniature dam and diverting water to where it should not be.   It causes the roof to stay wet when it should be drying out, accelerating deterioration.   While moss does not technically have roots, it has rhizoids, which act like roots by attaching to the roof’s surface.   This attachment works to breakdown the roofing material.   The bottom line is that moss shortens a roof’s live and increases the chances of leaks.

That being said, a small, new presence of moss is much different than large clumps.   No damming is occurring when there is just a green sheen on the roof.   Not until moss gets to be the size of a marble or gumball is there much chance of any “micro-damming” occurring.   Nonetheless, there are different types of moss and some types are more aggressive in attaching to the roofing material.   Aggressive moss is indeed fully capable penetrating into the porous areas of the roof and becoming strongly attached to shingle granules.

At this point, perspective comes in.   Just like one cigarette not likely killing you, it is the start of something that could.   The same principal is true with moss.   A small amount will not cause immediate problems however, the longer you wait, the harder and more costly it will be to get rid of.   Roof moss removal can be a labor intensive job so the quicker it is brought under control, the less money it will cost you.   At All Surface, we strongly recommend adhering to a preventative treatment program once the roof has been cleaned.   It is always more affordable and gentle on the roof to just keep the moss from returning than it is dealing with a full blown problem every couple of years.   As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

We just happen to offer both “ounces of prevention” as well “pounds of cure” – call Portland’s roof moss removal experts today for whichever you need.

Deck Cleaning followed by deck staining offers much more than only aesthetic benefits

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A cedar deck before deck cleaning and staining

A cedar deck after deck cleaning and staining

Unprotected wood soon looses all of its natural protection against all of the elements.   The wood’s natural oils, which provide initial protection against moisture and UV rays, dissipate fairly soon after it is subject to continuous outdoor exposure.   At that point, every cycle of constant moisture retention followed by months of drying and scorching work to slowly break down the wood’s fiber.   Within just a few years, the unprotected wood can have several years taken off of its maximum potential life.

This being said, decks look so much better after deck cleaning and staining.

Getting this work done during the spring will allow for months of summer enjoyment.   Spring deck work always requires patience on the homeowner’s part, as long stretches of good weather are not yet common.    Sometimes, a couple weeks can pass between the preparation of the deck and the staining.   However, that patience will pay off soon.   A deck that is refinished in the spring is ready to provide enjoyment for months to come.   Our experience is that the sooner your deck is refinished, the more you enjoy the outdoors the rest of the season.

If you’re ready to start your outdoor living season, give us a call today for a free estimate on refinish your deck.

PS   Nothing helps extend a deck’s usable season more that a retractable awning, installed by All Surface.   Check out our designated awning website to learn more about how affordable and enjoyable a retractable awning can be!

Never think that there is just one type of moss, nor just one method of removing roof moss from your roof.

As this video show, on the same roof, there can different types of roof moss.   An experience roof cleaning contractor (we know a great one in Portland if you need a recommendation!) needs to know exactly how to approach each unique roof.    When an estimator from All Surface comes out to review your roof, they take many factors into consideration when determining how best to clean your roof.   They will chose a method that will both address your moss problem but yet be as gentle as possible.

Of course, some roofs that don’t have moss still need maintenance to protection them from other natural enemies, such as a cedar roof that needs treatment for against UV damage.   No matter what your roof’s specific issues are, we have seen it before and can provide you with an appropriate solution.

If your ready for a custom solution for your roof’s unique needs, let’s talk today!

Tile Roof Cleaning – An Important Project

Let’s face it – there is nothing cheap about a tile roof.   They are a major investment that greatly increases the value of your roof.   Like all investments, they must be properly reviewed and maintained in order to stay in good condition and therein lies a big decision for Portland area homeowners.   Here is a helpful video on tile roof cleaning.

Who can you trust to perform your tile roof cleaning?

You need a company that is experienced in tile roof maintenance.   Of course the contractor wanting your business will say he has cleaned tile roofs before.   But even if that is true, does that company really know how to treat a tile roof?   Tile roofs are much less common that composition or cedar shake roofs in the Portland Metro area, so unless a company has been established for a while and large enough to have worked on many tile roofs, they might not have  built an adequate experience base.

All Surface has worked on several hundred tile roofs in recent years.   We know how to treat them differently – how we walk on them, how to remove moss off them, how to “properly” replace tiles and what treatments work best for keeping them clean.   We actually have our own proprietary cleaning treatment – TileGuard.   We know tile roof cleaning.

Don’t trust your expensive tile roof to just any roof cleaner, trust it to the experienced Pro’s at All Surface who will give you a FREE estimate today!

Gutter Leaks and Downspout Leaks – Annoying But Usually Straightforward.

When water is shooting out of your gutter or downspout, it can be a little confusing, especially if you just had them cleaned.  A gutter leak or downspout leak can cause significant foundation or basement damage.  There are a few issues that could be the cause of water spilling out of the gutter and possibly running down your siding.   Many homes don’t have or need replacement of the drip flashing from the roof down into the gutter.   Occasionally, there might be a hole on the backside of the gutter that is allowing the water to exit prematurely .

Other times, it might be an issue within the connection between the gutter and downspout.    Regardless of the problem, we will be happy to stop by, take a look at your gutter leak or downspout leak, and let you know what we think the issue is.   Give us a call today.

More and more Portland roof cleaning companies are claiming to use green and environmentally friendly roof cleaning methods and treatments each and every day!

OK, Portland roof cleaning has finally made it to the disreputable place that so many other industries have already reached – overstating their green and environmentally friendly status.

Personally, I am tired of seeing Portland roof cleaning contractors promote themselves as using “safe” and green roof treatments when I see them continuing to only use treatments such as copper napthenate, zinc napthenate, zinc chloride and Chevron roof oil mixes on Portland roofs.   I guess they’ll do anything to show up on a Google keyword search!

These companies continue to proceed with the roof maintenance method of power washing the roof and then putting on a heavy metal treatment as their methods and treatments of first choice.   I fail to see the environmentally friendly roof cleaning aspect of all this.

On rare occasion, we will use a couple of these if that is what the customer insists upon.   Our goal has always been to offer a wide variety of roof cleaning practices that fit many situations instead of trying to make one method work for all situations.   However, this is rare and we generally recommend to our customers the environmentally friendlier options first.

Part of this issue stems from access.   Most roof cleaning companies are simply not able to access the products, often proprietary, that offer a gentler interaction with the surrounding environment yet still provide excellent results.

If you are looking for some gentler, greener approaches to maintaining your roof, let’s talk today!

Portland Roof Moss – A Very Common Problem.

That sounds like a tongue in cheek statement but in reality, you would be hard pressed to find a metropolitan area that consistently has more of the elements necessary for an abundance of roof moss.

The often cloudy skies we have during long stretches of the year are a main contributor to Portland roof moss.

Certainly we get our share of beautiful sunny weather also, but that weather can’t counteract the ideal atmosphere created during the periods of darker skies.   Then add in the high moisture level we have.   It is not always about the volume of rain but rather the high frequency of rainy weather.   Often, our houses and yards are kept in a continually damp condition over extended periods by just relatively small amounts of frequent rain.   Add in the preponderance of large, established trees providing additional shade and acting as a source of organic matter, and you have an ideal breading ground for moss.

An example of typical Portland roof moss

Moss (and it’s cousin lichens) are much more than a superficial issue.   It appears on all roofing material types – asphalt or composition shingles, roll roofing, cedar shakes, tile (organic or concrete), synthetic composite and even metal roofs.  By holding excess moisture against the surface of the roof, moss accelerates the wear of the roof surface. In freezing conditions, damage is increased by frost damage to the mineral granule coating on the composition shingles and fiber damage to cedar shakes and tile by the expansion of the frozen water.   All in all, there are numerous ways moss can cause damage to your roof.

Fortunately, Portland homeowners can avail themselves of roof moss professionals who have years of experience dealing with this exact problem.

In some parts of the country, roof moss might be a rare problem so those enlisted to work on it really do not know much about the proper methods and techniques for removing it.   Here at All Surface however, we have actually identified several distinct types of moss growth patterns.   By identifying different growth patterns, we are able to match specific, careful, removal methods that are best suited for that type.   We also cross reference the growth pattern against the specific type of roofing material when determining the best solution for our customers.   This is just one example of the knowledge and commitment All Surface has toward providing the leading roof moss solutions for Portland homeowners.

If your ready to learn more about your roof’s moss problem, contact the highest rated Portland roof moss Pro’s today!

Steep Roofs and Mild Pitch Roofs Alike Can Be Dangerous

In my opinion, no one should ever be on a roof who in not very familiar with the safety requirements of doing so.    I say that not just to get more business but because ladder and roof falls are one of the leading household accidents involving trips to the emergency room every year.

A low and mild pitched roof can be very dangerous.

The danger of one story, mild pitched roof is often much more that a steep roof with a several story drop off.   Why?   Because the seemingly “easy” roof to be upon lures many unsuspecting and improperly trained individuals, whether homeowner or handyman, to climb on up.   Not many of those same folks would ever think about accessing a roof like the one shown below.

Steep roof pitch or mild, walking on a roof is best left for a pro.

One slip can result in very serious consequences.   In a weak economy, many unskilled individuals are tempted to offer roof cleaning services, even if they are not properly trained, licensed or insured for such work.  All Surface has been cleaning Portland roofs since 2003 and every employee receives safety training before ever setting foot on a roof.   Additionally, we are fully licensed, bonded and insured which is very important if an accident ever does occur.   An accident by an uninsured individual can result in a financial disaster for a homeowner.

My recommendation is to play it safe whenever ladders or roofs are involved – Let Portland’s highest rated roof cleaning Pros handle the job for you!

Improper Downspout Drains Are as Bad As Overflowing Gutters

Overflowing Gutters in Portland are a common problem.   Hopefully you are aware of the damage that they can cause.   Quick attention from a Portland gutter cleaning professional will help eliminate any potential repercussions and keep you off your ladder!

However, the potential damage caused by overflowing gutters is not always averted with just a gutter cleaning.

Gutter Downspout Extension

Where the rain water runs after the the gutters are clean and flowing again is of considerable importance.   A downspout may either be connected to an underground drainage hookup or it might just drain freely.   Sometimes, when a gutter is not connected to the underground drain it is because the old drain is no longer functional, while other times it might be a result of a downspout that was installed after the drainage system was put in place and there is simply no drain for it to connect.

Another reason is that a lot of Portland homeowners, at the encouragement of the local governments, have intentionally disconnected there downspouts to prevent the water from overburdening the storm drain systems.   Water that flows in to your yard has the opportunity to perk through the soil in a more natural fashion, putting less stress on local rivers.

Regardless of the reason, it is critical that the drain does not simply dump the gutter’s water too close to the house’s foundation.   All Surface can help with some simply solutions to get the draining water away from the house and out to an area where it will not cause any harm.

Please give us a call today to see how we might be able to help you.

503-590-9274.