Home Roof washing
Roof washing in MetroWest, MA
Those black streaks running down your shingles are algae. Soft washing takes them off without high pressure anywhere near your roof.
quoted per roof · Roof pricing depends on size, pitch and how much growth there is, so every roof gets its own quote. It's free and there's no pressure to book.
The dark streaks that show up on asphalt roofs are a type of algae. It spreads on the shaded side first, which is why one half of the roof often looks fine and the other half looks filthy. Plenty of people get told they need a new roof when what they need is a wash.
Roofs get soft washed, never pressure washed. High pressure strips the granules off asphalt shingles, and those granules are what protect the roof. Low pressure plus a cleaning solution takes the growth off and leaves the shingles alone.
What you get
What's included
Asphalt shingle roofs
The common roof around here, and the one that streaks.
Low pressure only
No high pressure on shingles, ever. It's a spray-and-rinse job.
Sodium hypochlorite solution
Same approach as siding: kill the growth rather than blast the surface.
Fascia and trim rinsed
The trim boards right under the roof edge get rinsed down while we're set up.
Rinse down
Roof, siding below it and the ground around the house get rinsed.
Those black streaks have a name
The dark streaking on asphalt roofs is a blue-green algae called Gloeocapsa magma. It feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles, which is why it shows up on asphalt and not on metal. It spreads downward with rain runoff, which is what makes the streaks look like they're dripping from the ridge.
It starts on the shaded, damp side of the roof. That's why one half can look nearly new while the other half looks like it needs replacing.
Why roofs only get low pressure
Asphalt shingles are protected by a layer of granules, and those granules are what shield the asphalt underneath from sunlight. Once they're gone the shingle ages fast. A pressure washer strips them, so the roof looks clean and then fails years early.
Soft washing applies the solution at low pressure and rinses it off. Nothing scrubs the surface, so the granules stay where the manufacturer put them.
How roof washing is priced
Every roof is quoted on its own, because size, pitch and how much growth there is all change the work involved. A low-pitch ranch roof is straightforward. A steep three-story with heavy streaking takes longer and needs more care around the landscaping below.
The quote is free, and we'll tell you if the roof doesn't need it yet. If we spot actual damage up there, missing shingles or lifting edges, we'll mention it, though we don't do roof repairs ourselves.
How it works
Four steps
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1
Free quote
Send your address and a photo of the streaked side if you can. We'll give you a price.
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2
Pick a day
You don't need to be home. We need an outdoor spigot and room to work around the house.
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3
We wash
Applied at low pressure from the edges, working across the roof.
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4
We rinse and check
Everything gets rinsed and we look over the house before we go.
FAQs
Questions people ask
Don't see yours? Text us at (508) 978-5026.
Will washing hurt my shingles?
We never put high pressure on a roof. It's applied at low pressure and rinsed, which is the method made for asphalt shingles.
What are the black streaks?
Algae. It feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles and spreads on the shaded, damp side of the roof first.
How often should a roof be washed?
Most roofs around here go a few years between washes. It depends on shade and how much tree cover you have.
Do I need a new roof if it's streaked?
Usually not. Streaking is growth on the surface, not damage. If we see actual damage up there we'll tell you.
Can you do the house at the same time?
Yes, and most people do. It's the same setup, so it's cheaper together than separately.
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Other services
Service area
Towns we cover
Based in Framingham, working across MetroWest and Greater Boston. Don't see your town? Ask anyway.
Ready for a clean house?
Tell us what needs cleaning and we'll send you a free quote. Or call (508) 978-5026 and talk to us.