Those Black Streaks Aren't Dirt. They're Eating Your Roof.
The dark stains running down Michigan roofs are Gloeocapsa magma — a bacterium that feeds on the limestone in your shingles. Our manufacturer-recommended, no-pressure process eliminates it and adds years to your roof's working life.
The Most Misunderstood Cleaning Service in the Industry
Most homeowners assume roof streaks are cosmetic. Roofing manufacturers know better — which is why shingle warranties specifically address algae, and why the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association recommends only low-pressure chemical application. Never pressure washing. Pressure strips the granules that give shingles their weather resistance, and it can void your warranty in a single pass.
Our roof cleaning follows the manufacturer-recommended playbook to the letter. A carefully mixed solution is applied at little more than garden-hose pressure, where it kills the algae colony — roots, spores, and all. The streaks fade as the organisms die, and rain finishes carrying the residue away over the following weeks. No pressure ever touches your shingles.
The payoff is bigger than curb appeal. Algae colonies hold moisture, feed on limestone filler, and shorten shingle life measurably. Roof cleaning starts at $450; replacing a roof costs five figures.
How We Clean a Roof Without Ever Pressuring It
Inspect & Protect
We assess shingle condition, note any fragile areas, and thoroughly pre-wet all landscaping and downspout zones before treatment begins.
Treat, Don't Blast
Our solution is applied at low pressure across the entire roof surface, saturating the algae colonies that cause streaking and shading.
Rinse & Neutralize
Ground-level surfaces and plants get a final freshwater rinse. The roof itself is left to let the treatment finish its work — as manufacturers specify.
Results That Compound for Years
Heavy streaking begins fading immediately and continues improving for several weeks as weather rinses the dead growth away. More important is what you won't see: no more colonies expanding across the shaded north face, no more moss lifting shingle edges, no more granules washing into gutters at an accelerated rate.
A professionally cleaned roof typically stays clear for three to five years in our climate. Pair it with a house wash and your whole exterior resets to baseline in a single visit.
What Will Roof Cleaning Cost at My House?
Pick your home size and condition for a real range in about twenty seconds. Add other services to see the bundled price — one visit is always cheaper than three.
1 · What do you need?
2 · Home size
3 · Condition
Roof Cleaning FAQs
Will roof cleaning void my shingle warranty?
Our method is the one roofing manufacturers explicitly endorse: low-pressure chemical application. What voids warranties is pressure washing — which is why we never put pressure on a roof, period. A "roof power wash" is not a method to accept on asphalt shingles.
How long until the black streaks disappear?
Light staining often vanishes the same day. Heavy, established streaking dies immediately but takes several weeks of natural rainfall to fully rinse away — that's normal, expected, and part of the manufacturer-recommended process. We'll show you what to expect based on your roof's condition.
Is the treatment safe for my gutters and landscaping?
Yes. We pre-wet and rinse all landscaping, protect downspout discharge areas, and use solutions that neutralize quickly. Aluminum gutters are unaffected by the treatment at our working dilutions.
How often does a roof need cleaning in Michigan?
Every three to five years for most homes, sooner for heavily shaded roofs or homes near water. Once you've seen streaks, the colony is established and only treatment will remove it — it never rains off on its own.
What Neighbors Say After We've Done This Work
Live from our Google Business Profile — 4.9 stars across 177+ reviews, nothing filtered out.
Questions about roof cleaning, answered
How much does roof cleaning cost?
Roof cleaning costs about $0.20 to $0.70 per square foot of roof nationally, per This Old House, or roughly $300 to $1,050 for 1,500 square feet…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashIs roof cleaning worth it, or will it void my shingle warranty?
Roof cleaning is worth it when the shingles are sound. The warranty risk comes from pressure washing, not from cleaning done as the Asphalt Roofing…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashMoss on Cedar Shake and Wood Roofs: Why It's Deadlier There
Moss harms cedar shake roofs faster than asphalt because it keeps the wood wet. Cedar stays sound by drying between rains, and moss holds water…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashWhat Are Those Black Streaks on My Roof? (And Why You Shouldn't Ignore Them)
Black streaks on a roof are usually Gloeocapsa magma, a blue-green algae widely reported to feed on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles. It is…
Read the guide → Gutters & GlassSolar Panel Cleaning: Why Output Drops and What's Safe to Do About It
Most tilted rooftop panels in Michigan lose little output to dust, because rain washes most of it off; a UC San Diego study measured about 0.05% a day…
Read the guide → Gutters & Glass7 Signs Your Gutters Need Cleaning (Some From the Ground)
The system tells on itself: water sheeting over the edge in rain, tiger-stripe staining down the gutter face, plants sprouting from the run, birds…
Read the guide →Services that pair well with roof cleaning
Soft Washing
The safe, science-driven way to clean siding, roofs, and delicate surfaces — killing mold and algae at the root instead of blasting at symptoms.
Explore Soft Washing →Gutter Cleaning
Full debris removal, downspout flushing, and a documented flow test — because the cheapest insurance against water damage is a gutter that works.
Explore Gutter Cleaning →House Washing
A complete, gentle exterior wash that erases years of grime, mold, and streaking from your home's siding.
Explore House Washing →Roof Cleaning across Macomb, Oakland & St. Clair Counties
We bring roof cleaning to all 87 communities we serve — zero travel fees in all three counties. Find your city below for local details, or call and we'll confirm your address on the spot.
Macomb County & the Pointes
Oakland County
Troy & the Northeast
Woodward Corridor & South Oakland
Bloomfield & the Lake Belt
West Oakland & the Lakes Area
The Rural North
St. Clair County
Port Huron & the Blue Water Area
The St. Clair River Towns
Inland & Anchor Bay Side
Add Years to Your Roof for a Fraction of Replacing It
Free roof cleaning estimates with clear condition assessments. If your roof doesn't need it, we'll tell you that too.
Get My Free Estimate or call (586) 284-3810 — Mon–Sat, 8am–10pm