How to wash a metal and plastic carport roof

[favorite0295]

Hey all!

Here is my carport roof. It's metal with plastic sheets every couple of meters to let some light through.

I would love to wash the roof, but my concern is getting on top since standing on the sheets of metal itself does not sound like a great idea. What kind of voodoo sacrifice am I supposed to do to get the roof clean?

[EricL]

Hello @favorite0295 

I don't think you need to use voodoo just yet. However, I suggest looking at using telescopic extension poles to brush the surface of your roof without having to step on it. I propose testing the broom heads available at the store to make sure they fit the telescopic pole you'll be purchasing. I also recommend using 30 Seconds 5L Outdoor Cleaner Concentrate for the treatment of mould and mildew on exterior surfaces killing the spores and minimising re-growth. If you have a pressure washer, I also recommend using it on your roof as well.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[Nailbag]

Hi @favorite0295 

Further to @EricL great non-Voodoo tips would be to lay a couple of wide boards across the roof to stand on. Move one and step to the other as this will share the load of your weight. 

And a 2nd tick of approval for that outdoor cleaning product to remove the mould and moss. . I use it regularly and it’s very effective. Make sure you follow the instructions and do the job on a cloudy day or it will dry before it can do its job. 

For general cleaning and despite the name I use this heavy duty truck wash with a broom a lot too for cleaning down dirty outside surfaces. A good dollop in a bucket and fill with water. Just refresh the water regularly and hose it off afterwards so you’re not applying dirty water and leave any residue. Again cloudy days is best. 

Nailbag

[RMead]

We have the identical situation and we pressure cleaned with not a huge success but a little improvement. But after the 3rd section we realised plastic shards were coming off everywhere - the sheeting is quite old pre our house purchase - but are these fibreglass shards? 

we stopped immediately on realising BUT  freaked out!! But understand not asbestos.

Advice appreciated 

[EricL]

Hello @RMead 

It's very likely that the polycarbonate roofing has deteriorated to the point that it has become brittle and is disintegrating. Further use of the pressure washer will further aggravate its condition, I therefore suggest holding off with further washing. Once polycarbonate starts cracking and deteriorating it must be replaced as it cannot be repaired. I suggest measuring your roofing area and visiting your local store so that you can see which polycarbonate panels you can use to repair your roofing.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[RMead]

Thank you we have stopped - just worried about the fibres in environment etc but yes we will need to look to replace 

[MitchellMc]

For the last 30 years, sheeting that has been sold is more likely to be polycarbonate rather than fibre-glass @RMead. If you can show us a picture of it, we might be able to identify what it is made from.  

Fibreglass isn’t like asbestos—it's not highly hazardous but can be a nuisance. Small shards can irritate skin and lungs if airborne and don’t biodegrade. It’s best to clean it up whilst wearing a face mask to avoid spreading it around. If the roofing is deteriorating, replacing it sooner will prevent further shedding.

Mitchell