Soft wash · Blacksburg & the New River Valley
Roof Cleaning
The black streaks running down asphalt shingle roofs across the New River Valley aren’t dirt — they’re a living algae called Gloeocapsa magma. It feeds on the limestone filler inside shingles, holds moisture against the roof, and spreads a little further every humid season.
A roof with heavy streaking looks decades older than it is, and the algae shortens shingle life the longer it stays. Soft washing kills it completely and rinses it away, without a single PSI of damaging pressure touching your shingles.
Sound familiar?
Signs it's time
If any of these describe your place, a wash will make a bigger difference than you'd think.
- Black streaks running down from the ridge line
- Green moss or lichen patches, especially under tree cover
- A roof that looks old and shadowed even though it isn’t
- Neighbors or an HOA pointing out roof staining
- Planning to sell — a streaked roof drags down curb appeal fast
Our approach
Never pressure wash a roof — here’s what we do instead
Pressure washing strips the granules that protect asphalt shingles from UV, taking years off the roof in an afternoon. Shingle manufacturers are clear about it: low pressure only.
We apply the industry-standard soft wash solution — the same approach the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association describes for algae removal — at garden-hose pressure. It kills the algae, moss, and lichen at the root. Streaks vanish either same-day or over the following weeks as rain rinses the dead growth away; moss and lichen release their grip and drop off as they die.
Gutters, downspouts, and landscaping below the roof line are rinsed thoroughly when we finish.
What's included
- Full soft wash treatment of all shingle surfaces
- Moss and lichen treatment (they die and release over the following weeks)
- Gutter faces and downspouts rinsed after treatment
- Landscaping pre-wet, protected, and rinsed after
- Honest assessment first — if your roof doesn’t need it, we’ll tell you
What affects the price
Every property is different, so we quote each one individually — free, fast, and with no obligation. These are the things that move the number:
- Roof size and pitch — steeper takes longer and needs more care
- How established the algae, moss, or lichen is
- Access around the house for our equipment
FAQs
Roof Cleaning questions
Is soft washing safe for asphalt shingles?
Yes — it’s the method shingle manufacturers recommend. No pressure touches the roof; a low-pressure application lets the cleaning solution do the work, then everything rinses away.
When will the streaks be gone?
Black streaking is usually gone by the time we leave. Moss and lichen die immediately but hold their grip for a few weeks before rain and wind carry them off — picking at them by hand would damage shingles, so patience is part of the process.
How long does a roof cleaning last?
Typically two to four years before streaks begin returning, depending on shade and tree cover. That’s far longer than a pressure-only rinse, because soft washing kills the algae rather than just knocking the visible part off.
Will it damage my gutters or plants?
No. We control where the solution goes, flush gutters and downspouts afterward, and pre-wet and rinse all landscaping below the work area.
While we're there, we can also handle…
Bundling services in one visit is the cheapest way to do this — one setup, one trip charge, better price per surface.
Ready to get your roof cleaning handled?
Free quote, same or next business day. No pressure — except where the concrete's involved.