Roof cleaning is the one exterior job where the wrong method causes real damage, so it is worth knowing what should actually happen on your roof.
1. We look before we spray. Asphalt shingle, metal and tile all behave differently, and so does a north-facing slope under live oaks compared with an open south-facing one. We check the condition of the shingles, where the algae is heaviest, and where the runoff will go.
2. Landscaping gets protected first. Plants and beds around the drip line are pre-wet before anything is applied, and rinsed again afterwards. This is the step that gets skipped on a cheap job, and it is the reason people end up with scorched foundation plantings.
3. The solution goes on at low pressure. Not high-pressure water. A cleaning solution is applied gently and given time to work, because the goal is to kill the organism rather than blast the surface. Household bleach is not a substitute: it can lighten a stain temporarily without killing the root, and it damages plants and finishes.
4. It kills at the root, then rinses clear. That is why a soft wash lasts. Pressure washing knocks the visible growth off and leaves the organism behind, so the streaks come back within months and the shingles are worse off for it.
5. We check the work from the ground and the gutter line. Streaking often lingers where two slopes meet or under a ridge vent, and those spots need a second pass.
What is included
- Full roof surface treated, including shaded and north-facing slopes where growth is heaviest
- Black streaks, algae, moss and lichen treated at the root
- Landscaping pre-wet and rinsed
- Gutter exteriors and fascia rinsed of runoff
- Asphalt shingle, metal and tile roofs
- Written estimate before any work starts
What changes the price
Roof cleaning is not priced by a flat rate, because two houses of the same square footage can be very different jobs. The things that actually move the number:
- Roof size and pitch. A steep roof takes longer and needs more care than a low-slope one.
- How long it has been. Heavy lichen that has been growing for years takes more solution and more dwell time than a light first-year haze.
- Access. Tight lots, gated communities, second-storey runs and delicate landscaping all add time.
- Surrounding trees. A roof under a full oak canopy holds more moisture and more debris, and will need attention again sooner.
We give a written estimate before starting, so the number you hear is the number you pay. Get a free estimate and we will come look at it.
How often, in this climate
Most Lowcountry roofs benefit from a soft wash every two to three years. Shaded and tree-covered roofs come back faster, sometimes closer to two, because the canopy holds moisture against the shingles and the algae never fully dries out. If the black streaks are visibly returning, that is the signal, not the calendar.
