The team of professionals at Rick Winrod’s Rolling Thunder Window Cleaning & Pressure Washing can rid your home of moss, algae, mold and mildew

By Mimi Vanderhaven

You may have heard the old adage, “Moss grows on the north side of the tree.” It’s helpful insight if you’re ever lost in the woods. It’s also helpful if you’re a Northeast Ohio homeowner.

Go outside and take a walk around your home. If there is moss, algae, mold or mildew on your vinyl siding, you’re more likely to find it on the north side of your house.

“It’s all because of the tilt of the earth on its axis,” explains Rick Winrod, founder of Rolling Thunder Window Cleaning & Pressure Washing. “Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun never makes it directly overhead. It’s always a little to the south. That means the north side of our homes are more likely to be in constant shade, and may never completely dry out. That allows damaging mold and mildew to propagate.”

Pressure Washing
Rick and his team not only tackle the moss, mold, mildew and algae on the north side of your house, they also remove dirt and grime from all other nooks and crannies in every direction the compass points.

“We use a soft-wash process to protect your siding, trim, gutters, and shingles,” he explains. “And our specially-formulated detergents are safe for your family, pets and flowerbeds. We also clean and seal concrete, including driveways, sidewalks, and patios. We even clean roofs.”

Rick has personally trained each of his technicians on how to perform power washing to his own exacting standards. His team arrives with all of the leading-edge equipment required to get the job done safely and effectively.

Gutter Cleaning

This year, much of Northeast Ohio experienced a bumper crop of maple seedlings, those “spinners” that fall from the trees and become trapped in your gutters. And if your gutters become clogged, these seedlings can sprout into maple trees.

“The last thing you want to see are trees growing in your gutters,” Rick says. “Not only is it unsightly, but it’s a sure sign that your gutter system is completely clogged, meaning water is overflowing onto your home’s foundation, which can cause wet basements and even foundation damage.”

Gutter cleaning is dirty, dangerous work and Rick and his team have been doing it safely for over 20 years. “Keeping your gutters clean is absolutely essential,” he says. “That’s why we clean out all of the odd corners and downspouts. There’s a true science behind it. If we clean your gutters, water will be diverted where it’s supposed to be, not in your basement, and you won’t have mulch washing onto your driveway.”

Safety is also a concern, says Rick. “One of the most dangerous things a homeowner can do is climb a ladder to clean their gutters,” he cautions. “Don’t risk it. Unlike the average homeowner, we’re trained and experienced in ladder safety. We do this every day.”

Window Cleaning
Contrary to most exterior home cleaning companies, Rolling Thunder also cleans windows—both inside and out. In fact, “window cleaning” is in the company name. “We started doing windows back in 1997,” Rick says. “People often don’t realize the difference clean windows can make, especially if they haven’t been cleaned for a long time,” Rick adds. “The entire home is lighter, brighter and feels so fresh. It can be an emotional experience. It changes everything.”

Rick’s company is big enough to tackle almost any cleaning job—commercial or residential—but he’s also small enough that he can typically charge less than the big guys.

“We keep our overhead low, we don’t have to pay franchise fees, and we don’t spend a bunch of money on advertising,” he explains. “We like to keep our costs down so our services are affordable for everyone.”

The Rolling Thunder Window Cleaning offices are located at 33480 Liberty Parkway in North Ridgeville, and the company services homes throughout Northeast Ohio. For more information or to receive a free estimate, call 440-897-6317. The website is RollingThunderWC.com.