Black streaks on a roof are algae, not dirt. We use a low-pressure soft-wash process to kill it and rinse it off, instead of blasting shingles with a pressure washer.
Most of the dark streaking you see on asphalt shingle roofs in North Carolina’s humidity is a algae called Gloeocapsa magma. It spreads over time, holds moisture against the shingle, and eventually can shorten the life of the roof if it's left alone.
Shingle manufacturers specifically warn against high-pressure washing on roofs — it can strip the protective granules and void your roof warranty. That's why we soft wash: low pressure, the right cleaning solution, enough dwell time to actually kill the algae, then a gentle rinse.
If your roof has solar panels, we work around them carefully — low pressure, low-flow rinsing so panels and mounting hardware aren't put at risk.
High-pressure washing can, which is exactly why we don't do that on roofs. We use a soft-wash approach: low pressure with a cleaning solution that kills algae and moss, then a gentle rinse. It's the method shingle manufacturers recommend.
Most of the visible algae rinses off the same day. Depending on the treatment used, you may see the last of the staining continue to fade over the following days as it's fully killed off.
Yes — the same low-pressure approach applies. Message us the roof type and we'll confirm the right process and a quote for it.
We rinse and protect plants around the work area, and use cleaning solutions at concentrations meant for exterior home use. Let us know about any particularly sensitive plants when you request your quote.
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