If large pine trees are growing on your property and pine resin has been dripping from branches and onto some of your home's asphalt-shingled rooftop and cedar deck, you may not only be concerned about the stickiness of the substance and the diminished appearance of your home, but also potential damage to the roof and deck materials. The following tips will assist with removing resin from asphalt and cedar surfaces and restoring the beauty of your home's exterior.
Gather the Appropriate Supplies
extension ladder
safety gear
broom
oil-based cleaning spray
sponges (slightly abrasive and non-abrasive surface)
plastic putty knife
mineral spirits
turpentine
water hose
adjustable nozzle
push broom
the wood cleaning agent
deck brush
Prepare a Ladder & Safety Gear
Lean an extension ladder along the side of your home. Make sure that the bottom of the ladder is placed on the stable ground so that it isn't at risk of tipping over while you are on the roof. If you don't have a lot of experience climbing ladders, ask someone to spot you while you are standing on one of the ladder's rungs.
Put on safety gear before climbing up the ladder. A hard hat, goggles, thickly-padded work gloves, and harness will help protect you from injuries associated with falling debris or losing your footing.
Remove Sap from Asphalt Shingles
Carry a broom and an oil-based cleaning sprays up the ladder with you. Visually assess the asphalt shingles and sweep off roofing materials that have loose debris on them.
Use the oil-based cleaning spray to saturate hardened pine resin. Wait for the cleaning product to penetrate the pine resin. This may take several minutes. Pine resin will soften as a result.
Eliminate Hardened Resin & Stains
Use the tip of a plastic putty knife to lift the pine resin from the asphalt. Avoid pressing firmly against the tool's handle while the tip of it is touching the asphalt because permanent gouge marks may appear on the surface of roofing materials.
After eliminating as much resin as you can, dampen a sponge with a few drops of turpentine or mineral spirits before wiping stained shingles. Use a water hose that has an adjustable nozzle attached to it to rinse the treated shingles with a strong stream of water.
Remove Sap from Cedar Boards
Remove furniture and other loose items from the cedar deck. Use a push broom to sweep the deck's surface. Spray an oil-based cleaning product on resin-covered surfaces. Wait for the product to penetrate and soften resin.
Loosen and remove thick sections of resin in the same manner that you did with the resin that was previously attached to asphalt shingles. Avoid scraping the wooden boards with the tip of the plastic scraper to prevent permanently marking the wood.
Eliminate Stains & Clean the Entire Deck's Surface
Pour a small amount of turpentine or mineral spirits onto a freshly dampened sponge. Move the sponge across stained surfaces, with the grain of the wood. As long as you do not apply excessive amounts of turpentine or mineral spirits to wooden boards or use an abrasive cleaning tool to apply either product, stain or sealant that has been applied to the deck's surface will remain intact.
After treating stains, clean the entire deck with a deck brush and wood cleaning agent. Rinse the deck's surface with water when finished. Prevent pine resin from spilling onto your home's exterior by occasionally trimming tree branches until the ends of them are not overhanging the rooftop or deck. Maintain the roof and deck materials by setting up an appointment to have the materials professionally inspected, cleaned, and repaired as needed.