Roof Cleaning in Kannapolis

Drive down almost any street in Kannapolis and you'll see it. Dark streaks running down the north side of a roof, sometimes covering half of it. Most people assume it's dirt or age. It isn't.

What those black streaks are

The streaks are a type of algae, usually called Gloeocapsa magma. It spreads on wind and feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles. It loves shade and humidity, which is exactly what a Kannapolis summer gives it. Over time it holds moisture against the roof and can make room for moss and lichen.

Moss shows up as green, spongy patches, often near trees. Lichen looks like small, crusty gray or pale green spots that grip the shingle tight.

All three can be treated. None of them should be blasted.

Why shingles should never be pressure washed

This is the one rule a good roof cleaner doesn't bend. High pressure on an asphalt roof:

• Strips off the granules that protect shingles from the sun
• Can lift and break shingle tabs
• Forces water under shingles and into the decking
• Leaves the roof looking clean for a short time, then aging faster

Many shingle makers warn against pressure washing in their own care guidelines. A roof that should have lasted another decade can lose years in one afternoon with the wrong equipment.

How Kannapolis roof soft washing works

1. Prep the ground. The crew soaks every plant, shrub and bed around the house with plain water and checks where gutters drain.
2. Apply the solution. A mild, bleach-based mix goes on at low pressure, about like a garden hose. It's sprayed from the ground or with careful access, and foot traffic on the roof is kept to a minimum.
3. Let it work. The solution kills the algae, moss spores and lichen. The black streaks often start fading within minutes.
4. Rinse. The crew rinses the plants and the house below, and flush the gutters' outflow areas.
5. Let the weather finish. Thick moss and lichen don't always fall off the same day. They die, loosen and wash away with the next few rains. That's normal.

A typical roof takes two to four hours. Steep or two-story roofs may take longer.

What to expect after

Most streaking is gone or nearly gone by the time the crew packs up. Heavy moss and lichen take a few weeks of rain to fully clear. Don't let anyone scrape them off with a brush or tool, since that takes shingle granules with it.

A clean roof often stays clear for a few years. Shaded roofs under big trees will see growth come back sooner.

Before the crew arrives

• Close windows and doors, including skylights.
• Move cars, grills and patio furniture away from the drip line.
• Make sure the crew can reach an outside spigot.
• Keep pets inside until the job is done and everything is rinsed.

What a good roof cleaner won't do

• Pressure wash your roof. Not even "on low."
• Walk all over a fragile or very old roof to finish faster.
• Tell you a cleaning will fix a leak, a missing shingle or a sagging deck. If they see damage, they should take photos and tell you so you can call a roofer.

Roof and house together

The runoff from a roof wash ends up on your siding and gutters anyway, so a lot of people pair it with a house soft wash the same day. If you have a solar array, the crew can also clean the panels while they're up there. It's also a good time to add window cleaning, since a roof wash means rinse water on the glass.

Roof soft washing is priced by size, pitch and how much growth there is, and it usually runs more than a house wash. If your gutters are packed with pine straw, gutter cleaning is easy to add on the same visit. See our price guide, or call (980) 324-2648 for a firm quote.