Roofs and facades: different defoaming techniques
The beautiful days are preparing to point the tip of their nose! Great news if you plan to do some work in your house: it's the perfect time to attack your exteriors or, even better, your roof and your terrace. Makeover, repair, cleaning .. There is work to remove the mosses and lichens accumulated on these surfaces in recent months. To achieve your goals, nothing like defoaming. Roll up your sleeves! Here are some techniques to overcome all these pests.
Looking forward to the return of spring? We understand you. Who says sun and heat, also says work to be done outdoors. A whole program for some. Terrace, garden, driveway ... And why not roof and facade? A refit would certainly not hurt them after long months of cold, rain, but also snow and frost. Main challenge: the moss and lichen that colonized your roof and walls.
Where does the foam come from?
Any coating deteriorates and may one day be invaded by moss, lichen or any other biological intruder. The causes are simple: lack of sun, low inclination of the roof, humidity ... This dirt causes significant damage to your roof: they retain rainwater and dew, which makes your tiles porous. The latter eventually crack, and foams that come off the roof during bad weather end up in the gutters. Damage in perspective ...
To disguise his roof, the business of all?
The objective of the defoaming is to strip the layer of vegetation that has invaded your roof and prevent its return. The defoaming is suitable for any roof (inclined, flat or even rounded) and any type of building (individual houses, schools or administrative ...). Whether for terracotta, cement, slate or lauze tiles, or a wooden or vegetable roof, regular maintenance (at least once a year) is highly recommended to avoid unpleasant surprises. If you want to start yourself in the adventure of defoaming, it is better to have a roof neither too steep nor too high (not more than one floor). Otherwise, it is better to call a professional. The latter will know directly which product to apply according to the type of your roof and the material. This will give you an ideal result.
The kit of the perfect "disgorger"
If you decide to go alone in the experience of defoaming your roof, equip yourself with basic but necessary equipment. Take a roof ladder, a brush, a safety harness, a sprayer and, if necessary, a pressure washer.
Also, wear gloves, goggles, a mask or non-slip shoes for your safety. Make sure the weather conditions are favorable (dry weather, no wind ...) and that your roof is in an acceptable state. Finally, be sure to have a minimum of know-how, and especially not to be dizzy. If your roof is made of slates, avoid stepping on it: this could damage this material deemed fragile.
Do not wait until your roof is completely invaded by plant substances to attack you. By repeating the operation regularly, you will avoid more important and therefore more expensive treatments. A good defoaming equates to about ten years of tranquility.
Avoid too aggressive techniques
To defoat your roof properly, first remove any debris that clogs the gutters. Then brush the moss and lichens on your roof with a stiff brush and hot water. Rinse at low pressure and spray an antifoam or fungicide from the top to the bottom of your blanket. For roofs, it is better to avoid bleach or any other corrosive product that could damage the tiles.
High pressure cleaning, effective for the roof?
Not necessarily. It attacks dirt, but it can cause water to seep under the tiles and reduce their tightness. If the result is immediate, it is by no means sustainable.
The copper wire method
To clean your roof, the artisanal technique of copper wire is always popular. Copper dissolves in pure water. This pure water is found in rainwater and snow. All you need to do is place a copper wire high on your roof. It will dissolve in the event of bad weather and its ions will be scattered on the roof, which will eliminate mosses and lichens. This technique can be used at any time, before or after conventional defoaming. Install the wire with an adhesive material, preferably when temperatures are mild and when there is no wind.
Extremely durable, discreet, economical and often environmentally friendly, copper has one disadvantage: it damages zinc. Avoid this technique if your gutters are zinc. In contact with the air, copper oxidizes, forming the "verdigris" not always very aesthetic.
To disfigure its facade, why?
We do not necessarily think about it but the defoaming also applies to all elements directly exposed to atmospheric aggressions, including your facades. What purpose ? To maintain your building, keep the exterior of it in a good condition and protect it from attack.
By performing this action from time to time, you remove your outer walls from all the biological pests like mosses and fungi that cause a lot of damage. These soils retain moisture and make your coating brittle, especially when frost appears.
In the long term, the watertightness and the insulation of your facade are threatened. Your house becomes more and more dull, darker, dirtier.
Renovation and resale
The advantages of defoaming are numerous. Do you want to renovate your facade? Clean it first. Once this has been cleared of biological intruders, it will be easier to identify the protection problems to be corrected and the repairs to be made.
And if you plan to sell your home, know that you will be more likely to find a buyer if your facade, and your roof, look like new.
What defoaming for your facade?
Before defoaming your exterior walls, consider several criteria: state of your facade, type of coating, size or budget available. These will allow you to find which defoaming technique is best.
While some are easier to do on your own, others will require the expertise of a professional. Once your walls have been cleaned, plan to apply waterproof or anti-foaming products.
The scrub
This solution is to project on your wall fine powders without water and non-corrosive. These powders do not attack your facade. The hydrogenation is based on the same principle except that in this case, the powder is mixed with water. Cleaning is done at low pressure to protect the coating. Water prevents dust from dispersing.
Bleach for a spectacular result
Dilute it half with water and spray it. You will immediately obtain a satisfactory result. Farewell molds and mushrooms! Your blackened facade becomes impeccable again. Attention, if this method is particularly effective, it is also harmful for the environment but also for your coating which becomes less and less tight.
High pressure cleaning
To be sure to get rid of all the dirt that invades your walls, opt for high-pressure cleaning. This particularly aggressive technique involves throwing water on your most affected facades. To defeat the moss and mold, first apply products to soften biological soils. After half an hour, rinse with a high pressure jet. Be sure to adjust the pressure to your coating.
Additional treatments
If defoaming has already proven itself as an effective technique for refurbishing your roof and facades, know that for an even more effective and lasting result, additional treatments are needed and recommended. Once your roof is clean and rid of all its pests, think to isolate. Your dry roof will be much more insulating than your wet roof. An extra saving for your wallet.
After applying the water-repellent and anti-foaming products, attack your gutters and free them of accumulated plant debris after defoaming.
Advantages and disadvantages of defoaming techniques
| ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES | |
|---|---|---|
| SCRUB (the simplest) |
Fast work, made cheaply | Your roof becomes greyish and the operation is to be repeated every 2 years maximum |
| HIGH PRESSURE (mechanical) |
The roof is clean and the work is fast | Operation to be repeated every 5-7 years and your roof may be damaged |
| CHEMICAL PRODUCT (chemical) |
The result is clean and the roof is clean | Pollutes the environment, requires a mild weather for the application and must be applied to you 5-7 years |
| COPPER WIRE (Natural) |
Effective and ecological technique, its application is unique and low cost |
The appearance of your roof is not clear |