Aiken SC Power Washing & Roof Cleaning: 2012

Thursday, November 15, 2012

How to Help Sell Your Home Faster

How To Improve Your Curb Appeal and Sell Your House Faster
Bob Keenan - Aiken Soft Wash Power Washing & Window Cleaning
www.AikenSoftWash.com

In the down real estate market we have seen over the past few years, it has been a much more difficult process to sell a house.

You may already know the "old standbys" when it comes to getting a house ready to pristine condition for a showing; de-clutter rooms and closets, paint walls neutral colors, clean, dust, bake cookies etc.... But what if you can't even get buyers past the front door because of the way the exterior of the home looks? Ugly mildew on the siding, filthy concrete driveways and walkways, unsightly black stains on the roof?

If buyers are seeing this kind of image on the MLS listing or as they drive by, they are likely thinking the INSIDE is probably as bad as the outside - as they keep on driving.

Give yourself a better chance of attracting those potential buyers by giving the exterior a much needed boost of curb appeal. Pressure washing the driveway and sidewalk concrete and brick steps can instantly brighten things up. If you have vinyl siding and it is covered in green and black mildew, power washing or softwashing with low-pressure systems - DONT blast away at vinyl siding with damaging HIGH PRESSURE!!! Even if you ignore that advice, how are you going to get all the way up to second story siding and gable trim to blast away anyway?

Likewise, if you have a high, steep roof, how to get up there to clean the unsightly black mildew stains?

You may not want to run the risk of potentially damaging your siding or roof by trying to accomplish the cleaning yourself with a pressure washer. Utilizing a professional, local licensed contractor will be well worth the cost to safely and efficiently clean your exterior. Call the experts at Aiken Soft Wash in Aiken, SC for all your exterior and window cleaning needs. 803-439-1867

www.AikenSoftWash.com

How To Clean Unsightly Roof Stains

Does Your Roof Look Like This?

If it does, do you know why it looks that way? Even if your roof does not have these unsightly streaks, you certainly may have noticed others that do have them. (If you’ve not noticed, I bet after reading this you will start to notice them all over Aiken!) Whether you have them or not, or noticed them or not, Aiken is filled with homes that have stained asphalt shingles just like the ones above.

What causes shingles to stain and streak like this? Well, it’s not some sort of droppings from pine trees, nor acid rain, nor dirt or soot. You may not want to hear it, but the answer is ALGAE. Specifically, an airborne, single-cell Cyanobacteria organism called Gloecapsa Magma. This airborne spore gets deposited on the shingles and is usually most prevalent on the north-facing sides of roofs due to more shade time on northern exposures. It’s the heat and humidity that allow the proliferation of these spores, which actually feed on the crushed limestone additive fillers in asphalt shingles.

The accumulation of dead colonies of these Cyanobacteria causes the visually dark streaks and stains on the shingles. Left untreated, this algae growth can build up on the roof, which causes the shingle to hold moisture. A darker, moisture-holding shingle can cause premature aging of the roof due to rotting, or granule loss.

The Good News? YOU DON’T NEED A NEW ROOF! The stains are remedied using professional roof cleaning methods recommended by the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturer’s Association. As recommended by the ARMA (www.asphaltroofing.org), a zero-pressure “softwash” process utilizing high-quality, safe, detergents and surfactants is used to restore the roof. (Never let anyone clean your shingle roof with a pressure washer! Pressure washing will remove the algae -- along with most of the shingle granules, permanently damaging the shingles and voiding the warranty!)

Once the stains are softwashed, killing and rinsing the algae, a dramatic difference will be noticed as the original color of the shingle is restored. You will see an instant improvement in curb appeal of the property – along with an improvement in the health and longevity of the roof. The average homeowner may not be able to accomplish roof work safely. Consider using a professional, licensed contractor, with the knowledge, experience and proper softwashing equipment to safely and efficiently restore your roof – SAFELY, per the roof shingle manufacturers specifications - for less than 1/10^th of the price of replacing it.

Bob Keenan is a SC licensed General Contractor, and the owner of Aiken Soft Wash, LLC, as well as a resident of Woodside Plantation.

Visit www.AikenSoftWash.com

Friday, February 24, 2012

How To Clean Black Stains On My Roof?

Does Your Roof Look Like This?

If it does, do you even know why it looks that way? Even if your roof does not have these unsightly streaks, you certainly may have noticed others that do have them. (If you’ve not noticed, I bet after reading this you will start to notice them all over Aiken!) Whether you have them or not, or noticed them or not, Aiken is filled with homes that have stained asphalt shingles just like the ones above.

What causes shingles to stain and streak like this? Well, it’s not some sort of droppings from pine trees, nor acid rain, nor dirt or soot. You may not want to hear it, but the answer is ALGAE. Specifically, an airborne, single-cell cyanobacteria organism called Gloecapsa Magma. This airborne spore gets deposited on the shingles and is usually most prevalent on the north-facing sides of roofs due to more shade time on northern exposures. It’s the heat and humidity that allow the proliferation of these spores, which actually feed on the crushed limestone additive fillers in asphalt shingles.

The accumulation of dead colonies of these cyanobacteria causes the visually dark streaks and stains on the shingles. Left untreated, this algae growth can build up on the roof, which causes the shingle to hold moisture. A darker, moisture-holding shingle can cause premature aging of the roof due to rotting, or granule loss.

The Good News? YOU DON’T NEED A NEW ROOF! The stains can be remedied using professional roof cleaning methods recommended by the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturer’s Association. As recommended by the ARMA, this “softwashing” process is a zero-pressure method that is done with high-quality, safe, detergents and surfactants. Never let anyone clean your shingle roof with a pressure washer! Pressure washing will remove the algae -- along with most of the shingle granules, and void the warranty of the shingles!

Once the algae stains are softwashed, a dramatic difference will be noticed as the original color of the shingle is restored. You will see an instant improvement in curb appeal and aesthetics of the property – along with an improvement in the health and longevity of the roof. The average homeowner may not be able to accomplish roof work safely. Consider using a professional, licensed contractor, with the knowledge, experience and proper softwashing equipment to safely and efficiently restore your roof for less than 1/10^th of the price of replacing it.

Bob Keenan is a SC licensed General Contractor, and the owner of Aiken Soft Wash, LLC, as well as a resident of Woodside Plantation.

Visit www.AikenSoftWash.com

Sunday, February 5, 2012

How to Clean Water Spots on Windows - Aiken Softwash PowerWashing

Why do my windows have spots?

Just like the glass dishes in your dishwasher, spots come from DIRTY WATER. In your dishwasher, this dirt may come from food - or hard water. Hard water means there are naturally occurring minerals that are part of the water. Some water, depending on what part of the country, or if it comes from a well, is worse than others.

When drops of these types of water dry on your windows, it is the minerals in the water that leave the spots behind. It might come from rain, or even from your garden hose or sprinkler system if it lands on your window glass.

Aiken Softwash Powerwashing and Window Cleaning uses purified (de-ionized) water to clean your exterior windows. Through special filters, we remove 100% of the dissolved minerals in your water as it comes our of your spigot. We then use this purified water to clean and rinse your windows, and when the water drops dry, because they have no more dissolved minerals in them, they leave no spots.

We do this all with expert care, and expert equipment, using water-fed poles to reach your second and third story windows instead of putting ladders against your house and siding, and risking damage.

You moved to Aiken to retire or play golf right? Not retired? How much is YOUR time worth? Is it worth risking trying to reach windows on a ladder and falling trying to get your windows clean?

Don't risk it. Go play golf - let us take care of the hard stuff!

Call Aiken Soft Wash Powerwashing and Window Cleaning - you'll be glad you did - I Guarantee it!

Aiken Soft Wash PowerWashing and Window Cleaning
www.aikensoftwash.com
803-439-1867

How to clean Mildew from vinyl siding - Aiken Soft Wash

We see it in just about every neighborhood here in Aiken, and the whole southeast for that matter.

What causes the unsightly green and black mildew that forms on vinyl siding? How do I get rid of it?

Usually, this organic material - mildew - is prevalent on the north-facing side of a house. This is due to the northern exposure is in the shade more of the time during the day. When vinyl gets moisture from condensation overnight, or rain, and it stays damp and dark, just like your shower, mildew grows. This mildew, combined with dirt from the air, and the seasonal pine pollen makes for an unsightly mess.

Since there are multiple sources - mildew, and dirt, we use different types of ingredients in our house wash mixes to deal with them. Algae-cides based from the same stuff you use in your laundry and to clean your bathroom targets the organic mildew. Safe, mild detergents and surface-acting agents are used to deal with the dirt. This mixture is applied with state of the art high-volume water pumps that can deliver the powerful cleaning agents up to three stories high, with minimal, low, safe pressure. Damaging high-pressure is not what cleans mold and mildew!!!

Either doing it yourself, or letting some non-knowlegable person blast away at your siding with high pressure will certainly lead to poor results, and more than likely do damage to siding or windows. Usually, trying to clean a typical-sized home without the right equipment or high-quality detergents will be a maddening undertaking for a homeowner. Pump up sprayers with bleach and water can only spray arms-reach high, and will take someone HOURS and HOURS to do. Using a pressure washer to try blast away will lead to marks on siding, or blowing out the insulated glass seals in windows.

Leave the hard work to the EXPERTS at Aiken Soft Wash Power Washing and Window Cleaning to SAFELY clean your siding. We have the knowledge, the expertise, and the right equipment to get the job done efficiently - providing immeasurable value to you.

You won't believe how clean your house will feel and smell! Not to mention healthier without problematic mildew. It's like and instant shot of curb appeal!

Call the experts at Aiken Soft Wash
www.aikensoftwash.com
803-439-1867