What are the black streaks on my roof?
The dark streaks running down so many Florida roofs are algae, often a type called Gloeocapsa magma. Spores travel on the wind, settle on the roof and grow in the heat and humidity, usually starting on the shadier, north-facing side. Moss and lichen can follow on roofs that stay damp.
Left alone, the streaks spread and darken, and an HOA may send a letter about them. They come back over time, which is why the roof is part of the Plus plan once a year and the Full Club every quarter.
Why soft wash a roof instead of pressure washing it?
A pressure washer can strip the granules that protect asphalt shingles, crack or loosen tile, and force water under the roof covering. Asphalt shingle makers and their trade group advise against using a pressure washer on roofs and describe low-pressure cleaning with a diluted bleach solution instead.
That is what a roof soft wash is: a low-pressure application of a cleaning solution that kills the algae, moss and lichen where they grow. Some of the staining fades over the following days as rain rinses the dead growth away.
Will a roof wash affect my roof warranty?
Check your own roof warranty or ask your roofer; every manufacturer words it a little differently. Many warn against pressure washing and allow or describe low-pressure cleaning. We never use a pressure washer on a roof, and if your warranty asks for something specific, tell us and we will work within it.
What does roof cleaning cost?
On a membership, the roof is included: once a year on Plus ($129 a month), and every quarter on the Full Club ($171 a month and up), along with a roof blow-off each month on request.
For Essentials members, or an extra visit, a roof soft wash is from $395, with your plan discount off. See all plans and prices.
What is a roof blow-off?
Leaves, pine needles and debris hold moisture on a roof and feed the growth. Full Club members can ask for a blow-off once a month: we blow the loose debris off the roof and out of the valleys.