Humidity just wrecks havoc with coatings, totally agree. I’ve seen guys do everything right, but if the roof isn’t bone dry, it’s almost pointless. I’m always surprised how much gunk pressure washing pulls off, but yeah—mildew hangs on for dear life. I haven’t tried the soy-based ones yet. Curious if they’re really that much better or if it’s just a lucky break with weather and prep like you said. Sometimes it feels like you need a week of perfect conditions just to get a decent result...
Yeah, humidity’s a killer for coatings. I’ve had the same frustration—spent hours on prep, waited for a dry spell, and still ended up with peeling after a season or two. I tried one of those soy-based products last year on my shed roof (asphalt shingles), and honestly, didn’t notice a huge difference. Maybe it’s just the weather roulette we’re all stuck with. Pressure washing helps, but mildew always seems to come back unless you hit it with something stronger. It really does feel like you need perfect timing and a bit of luck to get a lasting finish.
It really does feel like you need perfect timing and a bit of luck to get a lasting finish.
That’s honestly been my experience too. Have you ever tried using a mildew inhibitor in your wash mix? I’ve had mixed results, but sometimes it seems to slow the return. Wondering if certain roof types just hold up better in humid spots...
I hear you—timing feels like half the battle, and even then, it’s a gamble. I’ve tried mildew inhibitors too, but honestly, on some of our older asphalt roofs, it barely made a dent. Metal roofs seem to shrug off the humidity better, but they’re not immune either. Sometimes I wonder if the prep work matters more than the product itself...
Yeah, prep work’s a pain but I swear it’s the secret sauce. Last year, I skipped a step (got lazy, blamed the heat) and the coating peeled like a bad sunburn within months. My neighbor power-washed his metal roof first and his still looks decent. Maybe it’s all in the elbow grease... or just dumb luck.