Publication date: 06/24/2011

Well-kept roof is also part of curb appeal

Curb appeal is something real estate agents talk a lot about when selling a home. But there is nothing wrong with enhancing your home's curb appeal even if you aren't planning to sell.

When you drive up to your home, does it have good "curb appeal?" While nice landscaping or a stylish front door can enhance a home's appearance from the street, don't overlook the importance of keeping your roof and home's exterior surfaces clean.

One of the first things I notice when I drive by a home is the condition of the roof. Drive through any neighborhood and you are likely to see homes with dark streaks that look like the shingles are dirty and wet. Upon closer inspection, you will find that the streaks are actually cyanobacteria that form on the roof due to moisture. This blue-green algae grows when airborne bacteria finds a perfect breeding ground on moist roof shingles. They are also most frequently found on the north-facing side.

If you have that ugly streaking problem but your shingles are still in good shape, there are products that will remove the algae. Wet & Forget, (888) 727-8524, www.wetandforget.com, is one product that gently removes algae stains from roofs, without scrubbing or pressure washing. You can just spray it on the roof and let the weather do the rest. It can also be used on siding, concrete and even decks where mold and algae are a problem.

Other products include Moldex Deep Stain Remover, (877) 463-2628, www.envirocarecorp.com, and ConcrobiumXT, (866) 811-4148, www.concrobium.com, which has an Eco-Wash cleaning solution. Most of these products have a companion spray product to slow the return of the problem.

A home's siding also can get dirty and faded and hurt curb appeal. Painting vinyl or aluminum siding can bring it back to life, and I'll address that in next week's column. But first you need to clean it.

Brad Elder, vice president of marketing at Siamons International, manufacturer of Concrobium products, said the company's Eco-Wash product not only works on roofs, but also on most of the home's exterior surfaces, including decks, patios, fences, walkways, gutters and vinyl and aluminum.

"Bleach-based products can kill grass or plants surrounding your home." Elder said. "Eco-Wash is harmless to vegetation and environmentally friendly, so it is much easier and safer to use."

Krud Kutter, (800) 466-7126, www.krudkutter.com, makes two exterior cleaning products, House Wash and Exterior Siding Cleaner, that don't contain bleach or ammonia and are also environmentally friendly.

Older brick homes with siding or shutters made of either wood, painted aluminum or vinyl often suffer from white pigment chalking onto the brickwork. Unfortunately, this is a problem that requires the use of very harsh cleaning solutions, including acids, and is best left to professionals. Doug Woodcock of Universal Weatherstrip and Building Supply, (800) 878-0277, www.universalweatherstrip.com, is an expert in masonry cleaning products and he suggests D&J Associates of New Hudson, (248) 437-5294, a company that specializes in this specific project.

Oil stains on your concrete or asphalt driveway can also detract from your home's overall appearance. Products that can clean that oil right up are either of the ACT Cleaners by ACT Bioremediation Products, (866) 919-2872, www.actcleaners.com, and Pour-N-Restore by Edgewater Industries, (800) 508-7939, www.pour-n-restore.com, specifically for concrete.

Note: This article was accurate at the date of publication. However, information contained in it may have changed. If you plan to use the information contained herein for any purpose, verification of its continued accuracy is your responsibility.

For more articles:

Browse-by-date Index