Roof Cleaning Services
Professional roof cleaning services
What are those ugly black streaks and smudges on my roof?
Many Charlotte homeowners ask themselves this question when they first notice black streaks and smudges spreading across their roofs. These dark stains not only affect a home’s curb appeal, making the roof look worn and aged—even if it’s relatively new—but also signal a deeper issue. The black streaks are more than a cosmetic concern; they’re caused by an organic algae called gloeocapsa magma that thrives on exterior surfaces in the Southeast.
The subtropical climate we have in the Charlotte region is the perfect environment for organic matters (fungi and bacteria) to grow on exterior surfaces (not only on roofs, but also on concrete surfaces and siding). Since roofs are exposed to the weather and surrounding vegetation year round, they are the perfect surface for gloeocapsa magma to grow on. This blue-green algae is very common in the Charlotte area and is easily identifiable – it leaves long ugly back streaks and smudges on roofs that mimics mold and mildew that is spreading. Algae usually first appears on the north side of a roof and can spread throughout the entire roof with time if left untreated. Once you’ve noticed those ugly black streaks and smears on your roof, you’ll start seeing them everywhere on other roof structures and concrete surfaces.
Algae growth is such a problem that insurance companies may require roof cleaning to prevent policy cancellation or renewal. If an insurance inspector finds signs of algae, moss, lichen, or bacteria on your roof, they may threaten to cancel your policy, there are some good reasons why. In order to function as intended, a roof must be kept clean, free of debris and organic growths. Organic debris and growth can and will cause damage to the roof covering and its structure.
Gloeocapsa magma, the algae responsible for causing black streaks and smudges on asphalt shingles feeds on minerals that are part of the shingle’s lining. As it grows, the algae causes premature aging of shingles (granular loss), damage to roof structures (water infiltration) and a decrease in shingles ability to reflect sunlight that leads to an increase in energy consumption to keep the house cool. Having your roof professionally cleaned will remedy this problem and keep organic growth at bay for years.
Bluewhale Powerwash offers safe and effective roof cleaning services that will eliminate all organic growth and will improve functionality and longevity of your roof as well as restore curb appeal.
Types of contaminants found on roofs
Algae growth on shingle roof
Does your roof have black streaks similar to the ones on this home in Charlotte? This is an example of gloeocapsa magma, a type of algae that grows and proliferates on roofs in the Southeast and causes dark and ugly discolorations on shingles and other roofing materials.
Bluewhale Powerwash safely and effectively treats and removes those ugly stains using the soft washing method that uses lower water pressure to apply and specially formulated cleaning solution. The result is a roof that looks almost brand new!
Above is an example of a roof treated by Bluewhale Powerwash in Charlotte. You can see how our treatment restored the look of the roof and removed the black streaks (algae) from shingles. We treat asphalt shingles, clay tiles, concrete tiles and metal roofs.
Moss and lichen growths on roofs
Moss and lichens are common in the Charlotte area. While they may seem pretty harmless, moss and lichens hold moisture directly on top of the roof surface. As moss grows in size, it can cause shingles to move and lift from their original position. This allows moisture to penetrate below the roof covering causing wood rot, mildew and mold growths that could compromise the entire structure of the roof. By holding moisture against the roof surface, lichens and moss speed up the wear of the asphalt shingles and in freezing temperatures, will increase the frost damage to the mineral granite coating on shingles.
If you have algae, moss and/or lichen build up on your roof, having your roof professionally cleaned regularly (every 3 years or so) by a professional roof cleaning company like Bluewhale Powerwash is the best way to protect and extend its life. The Asphalt Roof Manufacturers Association recommends using low pressure to clean roofs to avoid damaging shingles and other roofing materials. If you live in or near Charlotte and your roof has algae, moss, lichens and/or debris, call Bluewhale Powerwash to request a free estimate to clean your roof.
Why hire a professional roof cleaning like Bluewhale Powerwash to clean your roof?
Cleaning your roof yourself can be hazardous – you might need to climb a ladder and walk on your roof, use strong chemicals and cleaning solutions that produce strong fumes and be able to apply the potent cleaning solution without damaging your shingles or roof surface all while making sure the vegetation around your home is protected. We recommend leaving the roof cleaning work to the professionals like the ones at Bluewhale Powerwash. We clean roofs professionally in Union County and Mecklenburg County including Charlotte, Matthews and Mint Hill. We do quality work and achieve great results. Once we are done with cleaning your roof, it will look almost like new and will last for years.
Bluewhale Powerwash follows best industry practices and ARMA directives to professionally clean roofs. We use our commercial-grade soft washing equipment (lower pressure power washing) and approved biodegradable cleaning solutions to safely and effectively clean all types of roofing materials including shingles, slate, metal and clay tile. With our professional soft wash roof cleaning service, there is no damage to shingles or other surfaces and we achieve excellent results.
Our professional roof cleaning service will not only refresh the look of your roof making it look newer, it will also dramatically improve the curb appeal of your home and prolong the life of your roof by removing unwanted organic growths.
- Plant protection protocol
- Removal of debris on roof (branches, leaves and dirt)
- Application of biodegradable cleaning solution to remove algae, mildew, moss and lichens
- Second treatment as needed if there is substantial fungal and organic growth build up
- Final rinse as needed
A clean roof will not only look better, newer and improve the curb appeal of your home, it will also help your roof perform better by eliminating contaminants that can destroy the lining of shingles, rotten debris that can attract wood eating insects and plug your gutters and organic growths that can cause health problems, moisture infiltration and surface decay. Bluewhale Powerwash is a professional roof cleaning company serving Union and Mecklenburg Counties including Charlotte, Matthews and Mint Hill.
Cleaning a roof is a process that may take a couple of visits to your property. Our roof treatment is a leave-on application of algaecide and surfactant that will keep working after our technicians have left your property. Our roof cleaning solution is washed off naturally with rainwater. If your roof is heavily soiled with algae, moss and lichens, our technicians will apply two or more roof treatments while onsite. If stains are still presents a couple of weeks after our initial treatment, our technicians will come back to your property to spot treat the areas that need it. This is part of our normal roof cleaning service. Roof cleaning is not an easy job by a long stretch and requires special equipment and cleaning solutions. Climbing on tall ladders and walking roofs can be hazardous especially if a roof structure is complex, the pitch of the roof is steep or if a roof is two-story high or more.
Having a professional roof cleaning company like Bluewhale Powerwash to wash your roof is the best way to get your roof professionally cleaned, stress-free, without running the risk of hurting yourself or damaging your property.
If you live in Union County or Mecklenburg County including Charlotte, Matthews and Mint Hill, Bluewhale Powerwash can make your roof look new again. Call Bluewhale Powerwash today at (704) 272-4726 to request a free quote or click below to request an online quote.
- Removes ugly stains caused by algae, residue, mildew and mold, as well as bird droppings and other organic and inorganic debris;
- Prolongs the life and preserves the structural integrity of your roof by removing and slowing the return of unwanted organic growths like moss and lichens that cause water infiltration, wood decay and structural damage;
- Transforms the look of your home almost instantly by freshen up your roof;
- Improves the curb appeal of your home immediately.
Across the Charlotte NC region, there are quite a few different types of roofs. Algae, moss and lichens are commonly found on roofs in the Charlotte area, especially if tall vegetation is present around the property. Not only do they affect the look of your roof and look ugly, they also harbor moisture atop the roof surface. This can eventually lead to moisture retention and infiltration which can cause wood rot and damage to the structure of your roof if not corrected.
We clean ashphalt and composition shingles, metal roofs, tile (concrete and clay) roofs, wood shakes and slate roofs.
The cost of our roof cleaning services starts at $350 (view our pricing page) and is affected by several factors including the size of your roof, the type of roof your have, how easy or difficult it is to access, how dirty your roof is, as well as whether or not you have gutters. While our technicians are cleaning your roof, you should consider having them clean your gutters and downspouts. We offer interior and exterior gutter cleaning services.
FAQ
No. On the contrary, having your roof professionally washed by a company like Bluewhale Powerwash is the best way to ensure your roof looks its best while maximizing its lifespan by removing unwanted organic growths from its surface. Organic growths on roof surfaces like mildew, mold, Gloeocpasa Magma algae, lichens and moss can produce excessive moisture and compromise the integrity of your roof.
Some companies still clean roofs using high-pressure washers. At Bluewhale Powerwash, we use soft washing equipment to wash roofs. Soft washing involves the use of soaps, approved chemicals and water to gently remove staining and organic growths while using low pressure washers. Low pressure washing or soft washing avoids damages that would result from washing with high pressure while achieving superior results.
Yes! Bluewhale Powerwash warranties its work against defects in workmanship for a period of one year from the performance of work. Please note that some exceptions apply so be sure to read our warranty statement. In addition, our process involves doing a final walkthrough with you, the customer, once the work is complete. If we find an area we missed during the final walk through, we’ll correct it on the spot. However, in the event we missed an area that is only discovered within a week of our team completing the work, we will happily come back to your property to correct our mistake at no charge and will give you a 10% discount to be used on your next service with Bluewhale Powerwash.
Bluewhale Powerwash uses formulas to determine the cost of the roof washing service. The cost to wash a roof is based on the size of the roof (square feet), the type of roof (shingles, tile, metal, etc…) and the complexity of the work (one-story home, two-story, complex roof structure, etc…), as well as how dirty a roof is. Washing the roof of a two-story home will cost more per square foot than the cost per square foot to wash the roof of a ranch style home. Our roof wash estimates are quick and free and our quotes are good for 30 days. To learn more about our pricing, check out our starting prices for our services.
