How to Clean a Carport's Metal Roof

Cleaning your carport's metal roof takes a lot of water and a little elbow grease.

Carports, which often consist of aluminum or steel canopies, offer a generally low-maintenance solution for automotive protection. Modern metal carports often contain weather-resistant paints and materials that rarely chip, peel or fade. Performing routine maintenance on your carport's metal roof helps extends its life for many years to come. Clean your carport once every season, especially after heavy winter snow, for the best results.

Things You'll Need

• Ladder
• Pole pruner
• Hose
• High-pressure hose nozzle
• Household bleach
• Hose sprayer
• Pressure washer (optional)
• Trisodium phosphate cleaner
• Garden trowel

Instructions

1. Set up a ladder on stable, flat ground in your work area. Support single ladders against the roof of the carport. You will have to dismount and relocate the ladder throughout the cleaning process to reach different areas of the roof. Employ a partner to hold the base of the ladder as you work. Do not walk on your carport's metal roof unless you are absolutely certain it can support your weight.

2. Trim any tree branches or foliage that hang over your carport's roof with an extendable pole pruner. This preventive measure helps keep the roof free of corrosion-inducing dirt and debris throughout the growing season.

3. 

   A high-pressure hose nozzle serves as a valuable tool for cleaning carport roofs.

   Equip your garden hose with a high-pressure nozzle. Spray the carport's metal roof with the hose thoroughly, clearing it of any loose debris.

4. Fill a hose sprayer with household bleach and attach it to your hose. Spray the entire surface of the roof with the bleach solution to remove mold, mildew and algae. Use a pressure washer and bleach solution if your hose doesn't cut through tough buildup. Remove the hose sprayer and rinse the roof with clean water.

5. Spray the roof with a trisodium phosphate cleaner, available at home and garden stores, just as you did with the bleach solution. Hose down with clean water to rinse thoroughly.

6. Scoop any debris from the carport's rain gutters, if it has them, using a narrow garden trowel. Flush the gutters clean with the garden hose. Direct a high-pressure stream of water down the drainpipe to clear it of debris.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear rubber-soled shoes when working from a ladder. Equip yourself with heavy gloves and safety goggles throughout the cleaning process.

• Patch any holes and touch up paint as necessary each season. This helps prevent rust and corrosion. When repairing your carport, use only screws made out of the same type of metal as the surface of the roof.

• Substitute white vinegar for bleach for an eco-friendly roof cleaning solution.

References

• Roofing Material Supplies: Roof Cleaning Tips -- The Abominable Algae

Resources

• Home Tips: Metal Roofing Materials
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Portable Ladder Safety Tips