#1 Roof Cleaning Cost Question; Can You Spot Clean My Roof?

by billseith | Jan 18, 2021 | Pressure Washing for Homeowners, Pressure Washing Service FAQ

What Does Roof Cleaning Cost?

Name: Neptune Clean - Pressure Washing Virginia Beach
Telephone: 757-384-0411

I get this question often and my answer is always the same. Customers ask me to treat only the section of roof that has the worst algae growth. In most cases it’s the north- or east-facing side of the home. I understand the question. Homeowners are always looking to save money and why treat the entire roof if only half of it has an algae outbreak. There’s only one problem.

Like I’ve mentioned in previous articles about Roof Cleaning, the algae causing the black streaks on your roof is actually a cyanobacteria called Gloeocapsa Magma. Once the bacteria become noticeable, the stains will continue to worsen as the bacteria colony grows with gravity pulling it downward resulting in smear-like stains running down your roof.

The spores are spread through the air and deposited on your roof. This means that it can be present on the entire roof but may only thrive on the north- or east-facing sides. If you spot-treat what you can see, what you can’t see will soon spread to the recently treated areas. So, no I do not spot-treat roofs. If I did, my customers would be calling me back in a few short months to ask me why the black streaks are back.

Roof Cleaning Cost Factors

Roof cleaning Gloeocapsa Magma is pretty straight forward. A strong 6 percent mix of sodium hypochlorite and a sticky surfactant will do the trick 99% of the time. We spray roofs using a special soft wash (roof pump) to apply just the right amount of cleaning solution. The size, height, and roof pitch will also be a factor in roof cleaning cost.

We always recommend cleaning the entire roof as algae is always spreading but it’s not always seen. Better to be safe than sorry if you’re going to spend the money.

Do you have those unsightly black streaks ruining the appearance of your home? Call the King of Curb Appeal to get a quote on bringing back your home’s natural appearance.

Click here for an Instant Quote or…

Call Neptune Clean today: 757-384-0411

For more information about roof cleaning click here!

The Best Way to Remove Mold From Vinyl Siding

by billseith | Jan 16, 2021 | Pressure Washing for Homeowners, Pressure Washing Service FAQ

How to Remove Mold From Siding

The reason I started Neptune Clean is to remove mold from siding. Hampton Roads is home to lots of military folks who often become first-time homeowners while their stationed here. I often get the question; “why is my siding turning green”? The first words out of my mouth are usually, “welcome to Hampton Roads”. Well, if you’d like to know what’s growing on your home’s siding and roof, keep reading.

The unsightly organisms that grow on the roofs and siding can be moss, algae, lichen, and sometimes mold. All of these can create black streaks, brown or greenish blotches on your home. From a distance, it’s hard for a casual observer to know exactly what it is so I’ll break it down to help you understand.

Before I get into the reasons why it happens, understand Neptune Clean can remove mold from siding when you’re ready. Mosses are classified as plants and use photosynthesis which turns sunlight and water into food they need. Algae, according to the University of Florida, are in the plant kingdom, but technically they are not plants.

Algae range in size from microscopic to meters long like what you see growing on the side of your home as the algae spreads causing huge green, unsightly patches. These organisms may look like true plants, but unlike plants, algae do not have roots or true stems and leaves.

Algae, like Moss use photosynthesis as do lichens, which are combination organisms that have algae or bacteria living within a structure made of fungus, with the fungus dependent on the food the algae or bacteria make via photosynthesis. Mildew are solely fungi, also an independent kingdom from a botanist’s perspective. They get energy by feeding on organic matter where they live. They don’t use photosynthesis, so they don’t need sunlight that’s why you will most likely see mold or mildew living inside walls or crawlspaces where there’s plenty of moisture and no light.

Our climate here in Hampton Roads is the perfect combination of precipitation and humidity for the growth of algae, moss, and lichen which is what you are most likely to find growing on the outside of your home. Don’t let your home be a victim to our climate. We remove mold from siding every day.

Click here to get an instant quote to remove mold from siding! If you’d like to read more about how to remove mold from siding click here.

Call or Text Neptune Clean Today! 757-384-0411

How to Remove Roof Algae

Let’s begin on the top of your home. The most common type of roof algae, Gloeocapsa Magma or blue green algae protects itself from damaging ultraviolet rays by producing a dark pigmented sheath. The algae discoloration typically begins as small spots on your roof then quickly transforms into streaks on the roof plane. By the time the algae are visible, its likely been present for several months or longer.

The safest way to clean roof algae is to simply call Neptune Clean! Removing roof algae is difficult even for the experienced DIY’er. Ladders are one of the leading causes of emergency room visits and walking around on a steep roof is the safest thing to do either. The only effective way to remove it is to apply a strong cleaning

Call or Text Neptune Clean Today! 757-384-0411

How to Clean Concrete And Save Money

by billseith | Jan 3, 2021 | Pressure Washing for Homeowners, Pressure Washing Service FAQ

How to Clean Concrete

In this article we provide the reasons you should considering cleaning concrete at least once per year and the 4 easy steps on how to clean concrete.

Driveways, patios, walkways, and porches are hard surfaces that should be cleaned once or twice a year. Here in Hampton Roads, Virginia, the fall and winter weather recks havoc on your concrete, pavers, or other hard surfaces. It brings leaves, gum-balls, and other debris down causing stains. Moisture also plays a role in providing a breading ground for mold, mildew, or algae.

How to clean concrete depends on the stains. I recommend cleaning concrete with a agent specifially designed for the type of stain. You should consider doing this biannually to avoid a buildup of grime and tough stains that will require a professional cleaner.

If you already have tough stains or like the to push the easy button, the stop right now and call Neptune Clean at 757-384-0411. If you’re a hard-core DIY’er looking to save some money, then please keep reading.

Call Neptune Clean Today! 757-384-0411

How To Clean Concrete, Step by Step

Step 1. The first thing you need to do is to remove any loose debris from the surface. A blower would be my first choice but if all you have is a broom then by all means start pushing it.

Step 2. Now that the surface is free loose debris, look for any standing liquid such as grease, oil, or perhaps wine (you never know). Since grease and oil stains are the most common and you’ve got what looks like wet oil standing, grab some Oil Dry from the garage and pour it on the spot. Kitty litter may work as well so pore it on and allow it to soak up the excess liquid for about 30 minutes.

Step 3. Once it’s all soaked up, grab that broom and dustpan and sweep up the Oil Dry or kitty litter from the surface. Now the surface is ready for cleaning.

Step 4. Choose your preferred cleaning product. You can probably find a ready-made concrete cleaning solution from your local big-box home store. I’ve heard everything from Pine-Sol multi-surface cleaner, Coke, vinegar and baking soda, to good old bleach and water.

Detergents are recommended for smaller grease or oil spills. A strong detergent, water, a scrub brush, a sponge, and lots of elbow grease should do the trick.
Vinegar and baking soda are best for those natural cleaning enthusiasts who have delicate plant life nearby. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and vinegar (or water and baking soda) and add a little dish detergent for a degreaser. Spray it on your concrete surface and let dwell for 30 minutes. Next is the elbow grease scrubbing action mentioned in the previous step.
Concrete cleaners purchased from your local big box store are made from concentrated alkaline soap. These will go to work loosening oil and grease for easy cleanup. If your stains are fresh, this should work well. If the stains have been there for a while, it probably won’t work well.
Bleach is best for cleaning large areas and works well on organic materials staining concrete. Simply fill a bucket with warm water and ¾ cup of liquid bleach and start mopping it on. Again, let the solution dwell for 15-20 minutes. Next get your brush or a push broom with stiff bristles and begin scrubbing the surface. Once you’ve loosened up all the dirt, mold, mildew or algae, simply wash the surface with a hose. The bleach will be diluted even more with rinse water so it’s safe to wash it away.

Another method would be to rent a pressure washer and surface cleaner from your local tool rental store. Of course, by the time you drive there, bring home these heavy tools, clean your driveway, load the equipment back into your truck and return it, you could have spent the same amount and had it cleaned by a professional.

My final recommendation would be to simply press that easy button and CALL NEPTUNE CLEAN today at: 757-384-0411 or click this link for Instant Quotes.

How To Clean Vinyl Siding

by billseith | Jan 2, 2021 | Pressure Washing for Homeowners, Pressure Washing Service FAQ

How to Clean Vinyl Siding

The great thing about vinyl siding is that it offers all the appeal of wood siding without the maintenance worries. More specifically, vinyl siding has the look of wood without the rotting, splitting, checking, cracking, and it won’t attract insects. The Vinyl Siding Institute suggests you can keep vinyl siding looking new with periodic cleaning using mild soap and water from a garden hose.

As a professional cleaner I don’t dispute that you can keep your own home clean using soap and water. Having said that, I can assure you that soap and water will not remove the blue / green algae that is common here in Hampton Roads Virginia. We have an extremely moist, humid climate which is perfect for algae and moss growth. If you want to understand how to clean vinyl siding in coastal Virginia, keep reading.

Another caveat to keeping your home clean doing it yourself with soap and water is that you must doing it regularly. If you want to prevent the algae growth that happens, you’re must clean it monthly. At a minimum every other month. If you let it go for a year or longer, algae will grow, and soap and water WILL NOT remove it.

Human nature being what it is and homeowners being as busy as they are, cleaning your own home on a regular basis just isn’t practical. That’s where Neptune Clean can help!

DIY Best Practices on How to Clean Vinyl Siding

If you plan to wash your vinyl sided home using soap and water, think of it as washing your car. Use a soft cloth or ordinary long-handled, soft bristle brush. If your vinyl siding has a textured finish, the brush will do a better job to keep the grooves in the texture stain-free. Start at the bottom of your home and work your way up rinsing the cleaning solution completely before it dries. That’s important, you don’t want dried soap residue left on the siding. If you have any brick below the vinyl siding, cover it so that runoff doesn’t affect the pores brick surface.

How to Remove Mold and Mildew

You can clean small spots of mold and mildew using common household cleaners. The problem with this is that these spots are usually higher up on gable ends of the home. You’re going to need a latter so please use all safety precautions.

If you have a larger section, the Vinyl Siding Institute recommends a solution of vinegar (30%) and water (70%). You can use a simple pump-up sprayer to make application easy. If you like the easy button on how to clean vinyl siding, click here for an instant quote from Neptune Clean.

How to Remove Black Spots

If you have black spots on your siding near the bottom half of your home, you probably have what is called mulch residue caused by artillery spores. If that’s the case, I’ve got bad news. There is no known cleaner that will remove it from siding. Artillery spores come from a particular fungus living in shredded wood mulch or other organic material around your home. The Vinyl Siding Institute recommends replacing the shredded wood mulch with bark mulch and then replacing the siding. Click the link for more information on artillery spores.

Using Pressure Washers

Many manufacturers of vinyl siding DO NOT recommend using pressure to clean vinyl siding. Water under pressure can be forced behind the siding wetting the subsurface and potentially causing damage. Be sure to check with the manufacturer of your siding to find out what they recommend on how to clean vinyl siding.

The Best Practice for Cleaning Vinyl Siding

If you want your home clean without all the hassle, call Neptune Clean. We use the Soft Wash method to apply a safe cleaning solution a low pressure to your homes surface. The pressure used to apply the cleaner and then rinse is no more than 60 PSI which is about twice the pressure of a garden hose.

We protect any electrical fixtures and any vegetation surrounding your home. We’re fast, effective, and affordable.

Call Neptune Clean Today: 757-384-0411

Dirty Roof? #1 Roof Cleaning Solution with Neptune Clean

by billseith | Jan 1, 2021 | Pressure Washing for Homeowners, Pressure Washing Service FAQ

Roof Cleaning Solution

Have you ever wondered what those black streaks are covering your roof? Once you understand the cause, the roof cleaning solution will make more sense. Those unsightly black streaks are caused by algae. More specifically, gloeocapsa magma or blue green algae. The black streaks are actually a dark pigmented sheath the algae produces to protect itself from damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun.

The algae forms where moisture tends to dwell on roof surfaces. Our humid climate here in Coastal Virginia, creates the conditions most conducive for algae growth.

The algae discoloration typically begins as small spots at the lowest point of the roofline lear gutters and then quickly transforms into streaks on the entire roof plane. By the time the algae is visible, it’s likely been present for several months or even longer.

Other more severe organic material that are found on neglected roofs are moss and lichen. To understand how to deal with this recurring problem on rooftops, it’s important to understand how it grows and spreads. Although some similarities exist, algae and moss are very different and require slightly different procedures to prevent or to remove.

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) says that algae spores are carried by the wind or by animals and can quickly spread from one rooftop to another. That is why it is common to see algae growth on rooftops throughout an affected neighborhood. The same is true for apartment or condominium complexes, townhouses or row houses. Although there is no scientific evidence that algae is damaging to asphalt shingles, it certainly affects the aesthetics of a roof. If you want your roof to look new again, consider a roof cleaning solution provided by Neptune Clean.

Having said that, on highly reflective or “cool” roofs, algae will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the long-term effectiveness of these roof systems. That’s why its important to address an algae problem as soon as possible.

Since moss is a non-vascular plant that obtains water through its leaves, moss must have a moist environment to survive. In Coastal Virginia, moss tends to grow on north facing roof planes. This is because it receives less direct sunlight and stays damp longer than south facing planes. Another factor are any overhanging tree branches. Trees provide additional shade and drop debris on the roof that further holds in moisture and acts as a food source for moss. Pine needles are the most troublesome in sticking to roof surfaces and holding moisture.

Moss spores may also be carried by wind or animals and can easily spread throughout neighborhoods. Unlike algae, moss can be detrimental to asphalt shingle performance. Moss can cause the leading edges of the shingles to lift or curl, which increases the risk of shingle blow-off during wind events. In severe cases, moss build-up can cause lateral water movement resulting in moisture damage to the roof deck or may even cause leaks.

To solve any algae, moss or lichen problem you may have, Call Neptune Clean. We are experts in the safest, most effect removal of these microbial invaders.

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