Roof cleaning that takes the black streaks off and leaves the roof alone
The dark streaks on a Florida roof are algae, not age. A soft wash kills it with a cleaning solution and a low-pressure rinse, the method the roofing industry recommends, on shingle, metal and tile. Every roof is quoted from a photo, usually the same day.
What a soft wash actually does
A metal roof in Pasco County, shot from the same spots before and after its soft wash, and a shingle roof in Spring Hill with its valleys cleared of pine needles. No stock photos.
Why roofs here streak, and why pressure is the wrong fix
The black streaks are a blue-green algae, Gloeocapsa magma. It drifts in on the wind, feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles and darkens as it grows. Florida's heat, humidity and summer rain suit it perfectly, which is why almost every roof in Pasco County gets it sooner or later, starting on the north and shaded sides.
A pressure washer knocks the top layer off, along with the shingle granules that protect the roof from the sun, and the growth comes back fast because the roots are still there. On metal, pressure can lift the coating that keeps the panels from rusting. A soft wash works the other way round: a cleaning solution kills the algae where it is rooted, and a garden-hose-strength rinse carries it off. The roof stays clean longer and loses nothing.
It works on every roof you will find around here:
- Asphalt shingle: black streaks, green growth and lichen.
- Metal: grey film and dark build-up, like the roof in the photos above.
- Concrete and clay tile: algae held in the texture, with foot traffic kept to a minimum so tiles do not crack.
No pressure on the roof, ever
A firm number comes back, usually the same day. No site visit, and the number does not move once it is agreed.
Landscaping under the drip line is soaked first. The roof gets a cleaning solution that kills the algae at the root, then a low-pressure rinse.
Every job is photographed from the same spot before and after, and the photos are sent to you when it is done.
Got an HOA letter about your roof? It clears, or you don't pay for that service.
Send the notice with a photo of the roof. You will hear straight away whether washing clears it, before you are quoted.
If the association is still not satisfied, the roof gets re-treated at no charge, any time within 30 days of the job.
If washing cannot clear it, you are refunded for that service. No argument, no re-inspection fee.
Roof cleaning by town
Based in Hudson and working across Pasco County and into Hernando. Port Richey, Odessa and anywhere close by too. If you are just outside this list, call anyway.
Roof cleaning questions, answered straight
What are the black streaks on my roof?
Almost always a blue-green algae called Gloeocapsa magma. It lands as airborne spores, feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles, and turns dark as it builds a protective coating against the sun. That is why the streaks run downhill from the ridge and show worst on the north and shaded sides. It is not dirt and it is not age, and it does not rinse off.
Is roof cleaning worth it, or is it a scam?
Done properly, it is worth it. The streaks start out cosmetic, but the growth holds moisture against the roof, and lichen and moss that follow can lift shingle edges. A clean roof also stops HOA letters and helps when you sell. Where it turns into a bad deal is high pressure: blasting a roof strips shingle granules and the finish on metal, which shortens the roof's life. Ask anyone who quotes you how they do it.
Is roof cleaning safe for shingles?
Soft washing is. The asphalt roofing industry's own guidance is not to pressure wash shingles, and to clean them with a low-pressure bleach-based solution instead, which is what a soft wash is. Plants and landscaping get pre-wet and rinsed so the runoff does not burn them.
Can you clean a metal roof?
Yes, and it is the roof in the photos on this page. Metal gets the same soft wash: a solution that kills the growth, then a low-pressure rinse. Pressure is what damages a metal roof, because it can lift the coating that keeps the panels from rusting.
Does roof cleaning damage tile roofs?
Not with a soft wash. Concrete and clay tile hold black algae and moss in the texture, and a solution reaches it without anyone pressure blasting the surface. Most cracked tiles come from people walking on them, so foot traffic on a tile roof is kept to the minimum the job needs.
How much does roof cleaning cost?
Every roof is quoted on its own, because square footage, pitch, number of stories, material and how heavy the growth is all change the job. Text a photo of the roofline to (727) 809-1499 and a firm number comes back, usually the same day, with no site visit. That number does not move once it is agreed.
How often should a roof be cleaned in Florida?
The algae comes back in this climate whether you treat it or not. A soft wash kills it at the root, so it stays clean far longer than a rinse would, and most roofs here want it every couple of years. Shaded slopes, roofs under trees and homes near water grow back sooner.
Will a roof cleaning clear an HOA notice?
If the notice is about roof staining, algae or mildew, yes, and that is guaranteed. If the association is still not satisfied, the roof gets re-treated free within 30 days. If washing cannot clear it, you are refunded for that service. If the notice is really about damage rather than staining, you will hear that before any quote.
Are you insured to work on roofs?
Yes. Houghton Pressure Washing is a Florida LLC with general liability that includes ladder and roof coverage. Ask for the certificate and you will have it the same day.
Text a photo of your roof and find out what it costs.
Quoted per roof, usually the same day. Owner-operated, insured for roof work, and every job photographed.
Rather not call? Leave your details and I will come back with a firm number.