Roof Soft Washing on Pickwick Lake, TN
Those black streaks down your shingles are Gloeocapsa magma — a roof algae that grew there because the lake humidity feeds it. We treat shingle and metal roofs with a soft-wash chemistry that kills the algae at the root. The streaks fade over the next few weeks and stay gone for years.
Call (731) 244-8907
Why Soft Washing Is the Only Right Way to Clean a Roof
Pressure-washing a roof — even at "low" pressure for a pressure washer — strips granules off asphalt shingles, voids the shingle warranty, and shortens roof life by years. It also doesn't address the actual problem: the algae and lichen that grew there in the first place. A pressure-blasted roof comes back streaked within months.
Soft washing is the method recommended by the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA). A properly diluted sodium-hypochlorite mix is applied at low pressure, allowed to dwell, and rinsed gently or left to be rinsed by rain. The algae dies at the cellular level. The streaks fade over the following 2-4 weeks as the dead algae washes away. The roof stays clean for 3-5+ years on most properties.
What We Treat on Roofs
- Black streak algae (Gloeocapsa magma) — the dark vertical streaks running down shingles
- Roof mildew and mold
- Moss — especially on shaded north slopes and under tree cover
- Lichen — the crusty patches; takes longer to die but does
- Tree sap and pollen residue
Roof Types We Clean
- Asphalt 3-tab and architectural shingle roofs
- Standing-seam metal roofs
- Painted metal and corrugated roofs
- Slate (with care — modified technique)
- Cedar shake (modified technique — not all cedar shakes are candidates)
Don't Tile, Concrete, or Clay?
We don't do hot-rinsed-pressure tile roof work — that's a specialty trade. If you have a tile roof, ask and we can refer you to a tile-cleaning specialist.
What to Expect During Service
We pre-wet landscaping at the dripline, apply the soft-wash solution from the ground (or from the roof using fall protection where safe), let it dwell, then rinse. Gutters get flushed at the same time. The roof may not look dramatically different the day we leave — the algae dies first, then washes off over the next 2-4 weeks with normal rain. By a month out you have a clean roof.
How Long Does It Last?
3-5+ years for most lake-area roofs. Heavily shaded properties under heavy tree cover come back faster (sometimes 2-3 years). South-facing, sun-exposed roofs can stay clean for 5-7 years from a single treatment.
How We Price Roof Washing
By roof size, complexity (pitch, valleys, dormers), and accessibility (one-story ranch vs. tall lake-home with cathedral ceilings). Written quote in advance. Here's how our quotes work.
Schedule a Roof Wash
Call (731) 244-8907 or request a quote.