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Remove Pine Needles From Roofs

Remove Pine Needles From Roofs

You ask “do I need to remove pine needles from roofs”? The answer is yes. You do need to remove pine needles from roofs. They retain moisture which will prematurely age your roof. Below is the recommendations from PABCO®Roofing Products on how to maintain your roof.

Remove Pine Needles From Roofs

PABCO®Roofing Products recommends the following maintenance practices for our asphalt shingles. There may be additional practices for other components of the full roofing system. PABCO® is only addressing the maintenance practices for our shingles.
• Avoid unnecessary foot traffic. The surface granules provide the appearance of the roof, but also cover and protect the core asphalt from harmful ultraviolet light. Excessive scuffing will shorten the useful life of the roof. (Newly installed asphalt shingles commonly carry some extra granules riding on the surface of the shingle.
These normally come off of the roof in a short period of time by the actions of rain and/or wind. After this initial release of granules, it is part of the normal weathering process for additional granules to be released over the life of the shingles.)
• Never allow water from a downspout to discharge directly onto a roof below. Connect an upper story downspout to a lower level gutter.
• Moss and algae need moisture to grow. To reduce the time moisture is available on the roof, do not allow the accumulation of roof debris, such as leaves or pine needles. Debris should be removed in a safe manner by a leaf blower or similar, non-abrasive method. The air flow should be directed down the slope to avoid driving debris under the edges of the shingles. Keep the gutters clear to promote proper water drainage.
• Periodic roof cleaning may be needed to keep the roof free of moss and algae growth. If keeping debris off the roof does not prevent moss and algae growth, kill the growth by applying a 50:50 mix of liquid chlorine bleach and water. Allow the solution to dwell on the surface (15 to 20 minutes) and then rinse thoroughly with
low pressure water. Extended dwell times may be necessary to kill the moss, however avoid letting the solution dry completely as this may prevent complete rinsing. Repeat the chlorine treatment as needed. After the moss is dead, it will loosen with time until it can be blown off the roof with any other roof debris. Take proper precautions to protect landscaping and surrounding areas from the chlorine bleach solution. Use the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when working with chlorine bleach.
• We do not recommend the use of commercially available cleaning solutions or concentrates, regardless of whether they purport suitability for use on roofs, as our experience has shown that many of these products may damage our shingles or the overall integrity of the roof system. The only cleaning method we do recommend is
the bleach/water solution used in the manner outlined above.
• Avoid other cleaning practices, as they may damage the shingles and void coverage under the terms of the PABCO® Limited Shingle Warranty. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of acids, detergent powders, solvents, and any other material that does not rinse cleanly off the roof. Do not clean roofs with a power
washer, or any other pressurized water device, with or without chemicals, or use abrasive cleaning methods such as a brush or broom.
• The roof surface must be protected from over spray or staining from other trades, such as painting, stucco, or masonry, as there may be no way to remove these foreign materials without damaging the shingles.
• Do not apply paints or coatings to the shingles.
• Periodically inspect the roof for damage and debris, typically each spring or after extreme weather. Repair roof damage promptly to avoid further damage.
• Safety must be the first priority when working on a roof. Observe every necessary precaution, safety guideline, and safe work practice, or have a roofing professional do the work.

This information on Remove Pine Needles From Roofs was take from this bulletin.

Remove pine needles from roofs as often as needed. This could be 4 or 5 times a year.  Safety is the most important thing as being on a roof is a dangerous thing. Most falls are from ladders and these occur when getting on or off the roof. When you go to remove pine needles from roofs, learn the safest way to do the job first.

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