Roof Cleaning in Falls Church, VA

Roof cleaning is low-pressure work, and Clearly Amazing does it on residential and commercial roofs inside the City of Falls Church, from our Northern Virginia office in Sterling. Our products are eco-friendly.

Call (703) 723-7770 for a free on-site estimate.

What the City’s permit pages say about roofs

The City of Falls Church’s permit overview says that in single-family dwellings you can replace a roof without a permit. Its longer page on when a permit is required says “Replace your roof, as long as you are not replacing rafters or a major portion of the decking,” and adds: “Please note that the permit requirements for multifamily and commercial construction differ from the above.” Those lines are about replacing a roof, not cleaning one.

The City’s advice to solar buyers

The City’s Rooftop Solar page is written for residents thinking about panels. It says: “If you know your roof is due for repair or replacement, keep that in mind when considering solar panels.” That is advice about buying solar, not about cleaning a roof.

What the Code says about roof coverings

In the City’s Property Maintenance Code, one clause of section 33-5 reads “roof coverings shall be substantially free from broken, rotted, split or curled materials.” For residences built during or before 1910 and other structures the City designates, the historic overlay’s protective-maintenance section states its purpose as “to prevent the demolition by neglect of any building or structure by permitting permanent damage by weather or vandalism,” and it lists “Stabilizing walls, roofs and other parts of the building or structure” among acts an owner may be required to perform. Its enforcement step begins when a property is “in a seriously deteriorated condition.” The same division says replacement in kind of exterior features is not an alteration, and it defines in kind as “the same profile, material, design and operating mechanism.” None of these passages mentions cleaning, moss or algae. They are the City of Falls Church’s own words, and the City’s Address Finder notes that some Falls Church mailing addresses are in Fairfax County.

What shingle makers and their trade association say

ARMA is the trade association for asphalt roofing manufacturers, and its algae and moss page states: “Never use a pressure washer to clean an asphalt shingle roof.” ARMA’s page on algae discoloration of roofs also says the discoloration may recur. Owens Corning, CertainTeed and GAF, which all make asphalt shingles, each advise against power washing them.

Roof forms and flashing in the City’s guidelines

The City’s 2001 guidelines for commercial and office buildings say to “Use shed roof or flat roof design behind a parapet wall for most buildings in the Downtown/Town Center sub-area and step the roof back on taller buildings.” That is a design guideline, not a description of any roof that exists. The 2001 guidelines for historic buildings say to “Maintain critical flashing around joints and ensure proper functioning of the gutter system.”

Call (703) 723-7770 for a free on-site estimate in Falls Church, or request one online.

Roof cleaning in Falls Church, in a few answers

Is commercial roof cleaning something you do?
Yes, for commercial roofs as well as residential ones.

Could I clean my own roof?
ARMA warns that the cleaning process “may make the roof slippery” and that it “encourages the use of professionals” when someone attempts to clean shingles. It also calls it dangerous to walk, climb or work on a roof and recommends that only trained professionals do so.

Does the City say anything about cleaning roofs?
None of the City passages quoted on this page mentions roof cleaning. The permit pages are about replacing roofs, and the Code’s sections are about roof coverings and serious deterioration.

Are the roof crews insured?
Our crews are our own employees. Both general liability and workers’ compensation insurance are carried. Certificates of insurance are available upon request.

Clearly Amazing — Northern Virginia
43676 Trade Center Place, Suite 140, Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 723-7770

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