First off, I apologize for the slightly blurry photo.   It's not your eyes or monitor – it is our photo.   I still chose to post it because it is a good example of a young moss infestation.   This roof is a prime example of a roof that only requires a treatment to solve it's moss problem.

The vast majority of roof cleaning and treating jobs we handle in the Portland area are for infestations much heavier and mature than what is show in this photo.   The moss has grown into clumps and has spread across the majority of the roof's surface.  These roofs require eradication of the majority of the moss, cleaning the fallen moss out of the gutters and surrounding areas, and then treating.  

The treatments, of which there may be a couple of options, serve to kill the remainder of the smaller moss left intact and then as a preventative to slow the return of new moss. We recommend that when you see the first shimmer of green on your roof (such as the one in the photo,) before you see any clumps of moss, that you address the problem.  

A young infestation can often be addressed by simply treating the roof.   This is the most gentle and affordable method of roof cleaning. However, beware.   Some inexperience or irreputable contractors  will try to sell you on a treatment only option even when the moss is of a larger size.   In such instances, a "treatment only" process is insufficient.   If the moss is too large, the treatment usually will not penetrate the moss completely and the kill will be incomplete.  

Additionally, the moss, even if dead, is too large and established to eventually crumble and roll off.   Thus, the importance of sticking with the above mentioned methods of removing the larger moss prior to the treatment to make sure that the job is done in a comprehensive and adequate method. Also, bear in mind, that ANYONE who puts ANYTHING on your roof with the intent to kill moss, must be licensed with the Oregon Department of Agriculture as a Commercial Pesticide Operator.  

You may check our license (AG-L1011902CPO ) right here:  http://oda.state.or.us/dbs/licenses/view.lasso?&division=pest&key=AG-L1011902CPO. If you are a Portland area homeowner and unsure about where your roof stands in terms of which cleaning process is appropriate, please feel welcome to give us All Surface Cleaning Company a call.    We will gladly evaluate it for you at no cost.

I’m never certain whether it is the result of lack of experience and knowledge or an intentional plan to provide a service of limited value.

Regardless, some Portland roof cleaning contractors continue to offer to treat roofs (most commonly cedar) with treatments that should be preceded by power washing. Don’t get me wrong; we prefer to clean cedar roofs with less invasive methods such as brushing and treating and to avoid power washing.

The key, however, is using the right roof treatments. Not every treatment that preserves wood or prevents moss growth has any cleaning capabilities by themselves. Our proprietary treatments do, but most other treatments require the roof to be previously cleaned. Copper and Zinc treatments are meant to be applied to a clean cedar roof only. They possess no ability to clean the roof. This would require power washing.

Yet, when faced with a homeowner who has done some research (maybe on our site!) and who states a preference not to have their roof power washed, some contractors will just offer the treating portion of the job. This results in all the dirt, pollutants and fungus just getting sealed right into the roof. This is very inappropriate and not beneficial to your roof.

So beware – if someone offers to simply treat your cedar roof, make sure it is with a treatment that possesses actual cleaning capabilities and is designed to be applied to a dirty roof, such as our sodium silicate based CedarGuard.

After a long, wet, blustery fall and winter, you deck can look less than pristine.   The previous summer's UV rays slowly disappated some of the color pigment in the stain.   Then the constant wetness made the wood swell, even further limiting it's ability to dry out.   Slippery mildew or fungus may have started to grow, especially if it spend extended periods of time covered with leaves or needles. Then, the sun breaks through one day in March and you have the thought of sitting out on the deck for a while or maybe even bar-b-queing.   That is when you notice it.   Your deck isn't the same one you remembered from last Labor Day!

This is the time of year that All Surface starts our deck refinishing season.

Decks are too wonderful of a space to go unused or be neglected.   Once the weather starts to turn, they are a wonderful way to increase the livable footage of any dwelling. We find decks needing a wide array of services.   Some simply need what we call an "off season" washing.   This is simply a gentle wash with mild detergent for decks that have an ample amount of stain or seal remaining.  

As odd as it may sound, you can "over stain" a deck.   While thinking you are taking good care of it by re-staining or re-sealing yearly, you may actually be reducing the period of time that the finish will be functional before needing a major overhaul.   An off season washing just gets off the dirt and pollutants accumulated over the winter and actually help the stain last longer. Other decks might require a deeper washing followed by an application of a similar stain.   This is the most common process.   It is appropriate when the deck doesn't require a full service stripping yet but the previous coats of stain or seal are getting quite "tired" and have very little protection left in them.

Finally, for whenever a deck has so much old stain on it that a new coat would not be accepted or you absolutely can not stand the current color, a full service stripping is required.   This involves removing 99% of the old stain and virtually starting from scratch, as if the deck was new and unfinished.   This option provides you with more color options as you are not trying to chose a similar color to your previous stain. Whichever method is appropriate, you deck will quickly become the center of your outdoor living.   Our estimators are skilled at helping you decide just what your deck needs.  

Additionally, All Surface offers another great way for you to maximize your outdoor time in our Portland climate – we sell and install beautiful and affordable retractable awnings – www.pdxawnings.com. We are here to help you enjoy your outdoor living – please give us a call.

Sometimes it might be tempting to tell ourselves that cleaning the gutters is not really necessary.   "As long as they don't overflow right on to my head, why should I bother?" you make think.   This article outlines exactly why the unpleasant job of gutter cleaning needs to be done regularly, particularly in the Portland Oregon area. – Tom

Why Gutter Cleaning is Important By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Malisa_Holderbaum]Malisa Holderbaum

Several thoughts come to mind whenever people hear the phrase gutter cleaning.

For example, arduous, mind numbing, an all day chore, and potentially dangerous are some of the more common reactions. Like many things in life, there are no tangible rewards for doing the work involved with cleaning your gutters. However, if you do not clean your gutters at least annually and preferably semi-annually, you run the risk of not only tangible, but also expensive consequences to clogged downspouts.

The purpose of your gutter system is to handle the rain and snow run-off of a large surface area.

This large surface area is also known as your roof. A healthy gutter will channel water away from your house forcing the water to drain into a nearby sewer or into the ground several feet away from your house. The entire system keeps the interior of your house dry while keeping your siding, windows, and foundation relatively dry. So what can happen if your gutter does not function as designed? Water travels with the force of gravity until it meets a barrier that halts that travel. At this point, the water pools together until it is high enough to flow over whatever barrier stopped it in the first place. Initially, water flows down the roof and into your gutter. Next, it flows down the gutter until it reaches the downspout or a wall of debris of leaves and twigs. In the case of an obstruction, water will fill up your gutter until it begins to flow over the sides of the gutter. Now all the water coming off your roof is traveling down the side of your house. Water is tenacious and unrelenting. It will enter any gap in your siding or crack in your foundation that it comes across. If water enters your house through a gap in your siding it can cause mold growth or structural damage to drywall or wooden studs. The biggest danger in this situation is that you might not even be aware of the problem until it becomes very expensive to fix. If flowing water enters any cracks in your foundation, it will often flow in and subsequently flow out of the crack taking minuscule pieces of your foundation with it. These cracks can grow over the course of months and years to the point where water enters your basement. Instead of facing the trouble of cleaning your gutters, you now have a leaking foundation which is a problem several magnitudes larger than your original chores. For the two reasons mentioned above along with a host of other reasons, it is a good investment of time and energy to take care of small chore today before it becomes a huge problem down the road. Malisa Holderbaum enjoys writing about [http://breakfastnookset.com]breakfast nook sets as well as giving people great [http://guttercleaningtips.com/]gutter cleaning tips Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Malisa_Holderbaum http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Gutter-Cleaning-is-Important&id=2067602

One last item that the article does not mention but is of particular importance to those of us in Portland and the surrounding areas, is the degradation and erosion of the surround soil and the chance of landslides. – Tom

I found this article and think it will be very helpful to a Portland homeowner faced with the decision of roof replacement.   One important item I would like to add about All Surface is that we NEVER use subcontractors for roofing projects.   Everyone who works for us is an employee and an experienced roofer. – Tom

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Carl_M_Baker]Carl M Baker

What is a roofing contractor?

Well a roofing contractor is somebody who agrees to complete a undertaking such as a residential or commercial flat roof. In exchange for completing the undertaking, the contractor would receive compensation. This is where the term contractor was coined, somebody completing a contract in substitute for money. At times if the roofing contractor cannot finish the assignment, he can hire subcontractors to help with completing the assignment. This is more common with sizable sites such as churches, shopping centres, warehouses and other really big buildings. Subcontractors may likewise be used when work is completed on residential homes. Examples would include chimney mending, debris disposal and all-metal flashing. The ideal roofing contractor is someone who exercises hardly a couple subcontractors. By utilising less subcontractors, it is more promising that the roofing company is much more knowledgeable and may complete an array of roofing related repairs and installation. Some other great bonus of utilizing less subcontractors is that the undertaking would presumably cost less. These savings are normally passed along on to the client.

Roofing is a really specialized skill.

Few general contractors get engaged with roofing because it necessitates a squad of roofers who are comfy working on a roof and are able to function in the all-powerful sun. This is why roofs are normally completed autonomous from the remainder of the house. A roof is an integral part of whatever building structure, be it a theater, bungalow, warehouse or office tower. This makes it more crucial for a property owner or property managing director to obtain the copesetic contractor. Keeping up and mending roofs are important to keeping up a sound roof structure. The roof is unclothed to the elements all the time, rich summertime sunshine on one extreme and frozen winter snow on the other extreme. This variability in temperature and atmospheric condition can wreak mayhem on a roof and is thence paramount to make sure the roof is adequately upheld. If a modest blemish or worn down condition is perceived by a property owner, then a roofing contractor should be called out to make sure that the roof can be renovated so that the whole roof does not have to be replaced in the near future. When choosing a roofing contractor, one has to be very deliberate in arriving at the selection. The greatest way to acquire a roofing contractor is to employ one for a insignificant repair or for roof maintenance. By engaging a contractor for a small job you can see how good that contractor really is.  If you like the work the contractor did, then by all means higher that contractor in the future when you have a massive repair or a complete re-roofing of your roof. Another frequent option is to get an estimation from a contractor. Estimates are ordinarily free or cost a small fee. After obtaining an estimate you can then get an idea on how practised, professional and experienced a particular roofing contractor is. Obviously, you can ask friends or neighbours who have recently had work finished on the roof and find out if they would recommend that roofing company. At times these recommendations are not always the advisable direction to select a roofing contractor because your friend or neighbor may not really realize how well or inadequate of a condition their original roof was in. They may have not asked the fitting questions and hence could have had what they comprehended to be a upright job but cost them a little more. Another great place to check for roofing contractor's qualifications is the [http://www.nrca.net/]National Roofing Contractors Association.  Did you know that roofs today also come with [http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=roof_prods.pr_roof_products]Energy Star Information. One fundamental factor that I must stress is to find out if a likely contractor utilizes subcontractors. Again by employing subcontractors, this make  the undertaking much more expensive than it really requires it to be. I trust that this informative essay has aided you in readying an informed conclusion when taking a roofing contractor. If you are in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. Then visit [http://www.atlantisroofing.com]AtlantisRoofing.com for your Commercial Flat Roof and Residential Roofing Needs.  Here is another link to an article about [http://www.atlantisroofing.com/resources/roofing-contractors]roofing contractors. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_M_Baker http://EzineArticles.com/?Roofing-Contractors—Understanding-What-a-Roofing-Contractor-Does-and-Tips-on-Selecting-One&id=2025062

Thanks, Carl, for writing such a through and important article.   I really agree with most everything he covered. – Tom

Sometimes, a new way of performing a job comes along and it involves an entirely new process. Other times, what seems like a new approach might actually be a rediscovery of an older method. And then there are the other times, when it may be a little of both.

Going back 25 or 30 years, power washing started gaining much popularity as a method for cleaning roofs in Portland Oregon.

It was found that moss, lichen, and algae would quickly come off of the roof with the spray from a power washer. Once the operator learned how not to cause immediate damage to the roof, it proved to be an efficient way to handle the job. Then, as portable power washers started coming down in price and appearing at the big “box” stores at more affordable prices, do it yourselfers where able to join in the fun.

Professionals, however, realized early on that even without causing immediate damage to a roof, the high pressure caused damage to all roof types (cedar, composition, tile) that reduced the roof’s life. Granule loss and shingle tearing are most common for composition roofs, tile roofs will lose some of their protective glaze and crack, and cedar shake roofs actually have a layer of the wood completely removed by power washing. The shakes actually become thinner with every cleaning in addition to being stressed.

A partial solution to this was to use special machines that had lower pressure and higher water volume. While this is an improvement, however, the underlying negatives are still present. The principle of being rough on the roof in order to perform necessary maintenance is just flawed.

Regarding treating roofs, it is common to use treatments that were derivatives of metallic solutions, such as zinc and copper. While effective at preventing moss or preserving wood, they often are not long lasting as new treatments and can have some environmental repercussions.

Today, fortunately, there are some better methods for roof maintenance.

One method involves employing an old fashioned solution; hand brushing moss off of the roof. The end result is a much more gentle, albeit slower moss removal method. It isn’t flashy or high powered, but it is often what is best for the roof. Coupled with the availability of lightweight backpack blowers or compressed air to further aid the removal and cleaning, roofs are more able to realize the longer life expectancy they were designed to obtain.

Treatments also have advanced. The use of sodium silicate base products has been revolutionary. Not only do they offer greater longevity than the metal-based solutions, they are much greener. They are much more friendly to the surrounding environment and occupants. Combining these old and new methods now allows for maximize the life of your roof like never before.

Cedar roofs are definitely unique and require their own, special way of maintaining them.   This brief article on maintaining your cedar shake roof, is quite applicable for anyone owning a cedar shake roof in the Portland Metro area.    – Tom

Maintaining Your Cedar Shake Roof

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Chris_Smitts]Chris Smitts

A cedar roof can give buildings a lovely natural appearance, and while wood is somewhat resistant to adverse weather effects, it experiences somewhat more of them than most other roofing materials.

If you have a roof made of a material like cedar shake maintenance is going to be a routine part of the upkeep of your roof. Most minor repairs can be done with basic tools and knowledge, and in this article we'll go over the general aspects of basic upkeep for your wooden roof. The first thing to do in cedar shake maintenance, as with any type of roof maintenance, is to clear off any excess debris that may have accumulated. Debris, especially of the organic variety like tree branches, leaves, garbage and dirt, can help water accumulate on the roof, thus causing damage to sealants and under layers. Fungus and algae are a common problem on cedar shake roofing, and should be cleared off after debris. Flashings, which are long, thin strips of metal that are used to waterproof seams and angles, should be checked for holes or damage and replaced if necessary. Gutters and drains can also get clogged with debris and kept from working properly, and should be cleared out. If there are overhanging tree branches, they should be trimmed back to minimize the amount of debris. Cedar shake maintenance will sometimes require you to check the chimney mortar and the mortar on surrounding surfaces, but if it is damaged it will likely require the attention of a professional mason. The open valley metal should be checked for rust, and if rust is present, it should be brushed with wire and then primed, repainted, and coated with a protector. There are numerous other hazards that can damage wooden roofing, such as falling heavy debris, which can crack or completely break cedar shake tiles. Cedar shake maintenance consists largely of keeping an eye on your roof for any signs of damage, and doing a few routine checks a year to look for water damage or cracked shingles. If you do find broken tiles, a professional repair team can replace them, and if symptoms of roof damage like leaking are apparent without any noticeable damage to the roof, the layer beneath the shingles themselves may be damaged. A repair team can also remove tiles and repair the layer underneath, then place the tiles back into their original positions, unharmed. You will find more information and local contractors by visiting our website. Author Chris Smitts has many other roofing articles on his website. His website is a roofing resource guide, helping those who want to learn more about roofing. You can visit the website at http://www.metal–roofing.net Copyright info: This article can be reproduced and duplicated only in its exact state with our website link attached. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Smitts http://EzineArticles.com/?Maintaining-Your-Cedar-Shake-Roof&id=2011069

If youhave a cedar shake roof, live in the Portland Metro area,  and are uncertain whether or not it needs maintenance or replacement, please give us a call.   We have two divisions;  All Surface Cleaning Company for roof maintenance and All Surface Roofing and Construction for roof replacement .

There seems to be pockets of the country where cedar shake roofs have been one of the original roofing choices.

Usually, it resulted from a mix of nearby available natural resource and the climate of the area.   The Portland area was a natural match for both.  With an abundance of timber and a moderate climate, cedar was quickly enlisted as the material of choice, particularly on higher end homes. Recently, however, cedar has gotten a bad reputation in the Portland market.   Hundreds, maybe thousands, of homeowners convert away from cedar roofs yearly, due in part to their reluctance to replace one short lived roof with what they fear might be another. Cedar is still a good option for a new roof, but you need to chose wisely.   The problems with cedar roofs started in the 1970s and 1980s as drastic changes in the timber supply were occurring.   The bottom line is that lower grades of cedar started getting used.   This was coupled with builders, eager to profit from a boom after some difficult recessions in the past decade, did not pay enough attention to the quality of the roofing materials used.   There was a high demand for a particular, quality look that cedar provides to a home just when the supply of quality cedar was waning.

Maintenance is the key to longevity and beauty with a cedar shake roof.

During this same period, a sub-industry was starting to expand.   Roof cleaning companies started prospering from the abundance of cedar roofs in the Portland Oregon region.   While all roofs need regular maintenance and protection against moss, results of a recently cleaned cedar roof are more obvious and dramatic.   Unfortunately, most of the cleaning was done by companies that not only used power washing as the mechanism for cleaning, but the wrong type of power washing to boot.   Too high of pressure and unskilled workers resulted in accelerating the deterioration of the roof and reducing the roof's lifespan.    Misuse of lower quality materials together with incorrect maintenance techniques resulted in thousands of Portland roofs having their expected life drastically reduced.   This simple conclusion was to blame cedar.

How to make a cedar shake roof last 40 plus years.

There really is not that much to it.   First, start off with quality shakes.   At All Surface, we only use 100% vertical grain, premium shakes.   Don't be fooled by #1 grade shakes.   It might sound good, afterall, what is better than #1?   Premium, that's what.   If you can afford to, make the jump to the heavy shakes,   the additional thickness of these shakes equates to an additional 10 t0 15 years of life. Next, avoid power washing the roof, even if it is touted as "high volume, low pressure" cleaning.   While it is better than the high pressure machines used in the old days, it is still stressing the wood and removing a small layer of it.   We only offer this method in extreme situations.   The correct way to maintain cedar is with a treatment that not only preserves the wood and keeps the moss off, but that actually does the cleaning action formerly done by the power washing.   This type of cleaning method is radically more gentle to your roof.   The trade off for this gentle cleaning is that it requires patience on the part of the homeowner – the treatment usually takes 3 to 9 months to lighten up and fully clean the roof.   Not a bad trade off in my opinion. Ask us about our exclusive CedarGuard treatment – we will be glad to explain how it will benefit your roof and help maintain your home's value.