Roof Soft Washing & Black Streak Removal
Those dark streaks running down your shingles are not dirt, and they are not stains. They are Gloeocapsa magma — a blue-green algae feeding on the limestone filler manufacturers put in asphalt shingles. It is eating your roof, and it only comes off one way.
Everything in scope
- ARMA-compliant low-pressure treatment — never a pressure washer on shingles
- Full roof coverage including north-facing and shaded slopes where growth starts
- Ridge caps, valleys and around penetrations
- Gutter exteriors rinsed as part of the roof rinse
- Landscaping and hardscape protected and rinsed
- Optional gutter clear-out bundled at a reduced rate
High pressure strips the protective granules off asphalt shingles. Those granules are the shingle's UV protection and its fire rating. Removing them shortens roof life measurably and voids most manufacturer warranties outright. If a company quotes you "pressure washing" for your roof, that quote is a liability, not a bargain.
The process
Assess pitch, age and growth depth
Shingle age and condition determine dwell time and approach. A 20-year roof with brittle granules is handled differently than a five-year roof with early streaking.
Protect everything below
Beds, shrubs, hardscape and any adjacent surfaces get pre-wet. Downspouts get managed so treated runoff doesn't concentrate in one bed.
Apply and let chemistry work
Low-pressure application, then dwell. The algae dies during dwell — that's the entire job. Any technique that relies on force is damaging the roof.
Rinse and verify from multiple angles
Streaking can look gone from one vantage and persist from another. We check from the ground on all elevations before calling it done.
Bundle and save the trip charge
Most of our work goes out as a package, because setting up once and cleaning four surfaces costs less than four separate visits.
Straight answers
What causes black streaks on a Georgia roof?
Gloeocapsa magma, a blue-green algae. It thrives in the humidity and shade the Southeast provides year-round, spreads roof to roof on wind currents, and appears first on north-facing and shaded slopes because those stay damp longest.
Does it actually damage the roof, or just look bad?
Both. The algae feeds on limestone filler in the shingle, holds moisture against the surface, and absorbs heat rather than reflecting it. That combination shortens shingle life and raises attic temperatures. Many metro Atlanta HOAs also cite homeowners for visible streaking.
Will the streaks come back?
Eventually — it's airborne and your neighbors' roofs are a reservoir. A proper soft wash that kills the organism typically holds a year or more. Heavy shade shortens that. Anyone promising permanence is overselling.
How much does roof soft washing cost in Atlanta?
$320 to $680 for most metro Atlanta homes, priced by roof area and pitch. Bundling with gutter cleaning and brightening runs $310 to $840 for the combined scope, which is less than booking them separately.
Tell us what needs cleaning
We send a real number, not a "starting at" that triples once we pull up — and we tell you honestly when we can get there.
- Veteran-owned, licensed and insured
- Published pricing — you already know the range before you call
- 10% off for military, veterans, first responders, teachers and seniors
- Satisfaction guaranteed, and we come back if anything needs a second look
Get your free quote
Tell us what needs cleaning. We'll send a real price — not a "starting at" that triples on arrival.
Neither box is required to get a quote — leave both unchecked and we'll email you instead. Consent to marketing texts is never a condition of purchase. We do not sell or share your mobile number with third parties for marketing. See our SMS Terms and Privacy Policy.
Free quote, no obligation.
Tell us what needs cleaning and we'll send a real number. No inspection fee, no pressure.
Request My Free Quote (855) 748-8997