Soft-wash roof cleaning. The black streaks come off. The shingles stay on.
Those dark streaks on your north-facing roof are gloeocapsa magma — a roof algae that feeds on limestone filler in asphalt shingles. High pressure will strip granules and void the shingle warranty. Soft wash with the right SH dilution kills it at the root. Streaks are gone same day. Next rain rinses the rest.
Last updated: 2026-04-23
What's included in this service?
- ARMA-compliant soft-wash (low-pressure SH application on asphalt shingle)
- Clay and concrete tile roof cleaning (moss and algae)
- Metal roof soft wash without stripping coatings
- Pre-wet of all landscaping and gutters before application
- Downspout flush to clear algae kill-off runoff
- Zinc or copper strip recommendation for prevention
- Moss pre-treatment (Southeast Softwash moss mix) 48 hours before wash
- No walking on tile where avoidable (ladder-reach and pole-gun technique)
When do you need this service?
- Black streaks running down the north or west side of the roof
- Green moss patches between shingle courses
- Shady tree-covered side of the home has visible growth
- HOA has flagged the roof
- You're listing the home within 6 months
- Coastal salt-air black streaking on a 5+ year old roof
What do homeowners ask about Roof Cleaning?
Will soft washing hurt my shingles?
No — soft washing is the method the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) recommends. High-pressure washing of asphalt shingles is what damages them. Correctly diluted SH with a surfactant, applied at low pressure, kills the algae without touching the granules.
Why does only one side of my roof have streaks?
Gloeocapsa loves shade and moisture. The north-facing slope (and the west-facing in some San Diego microclimates) stays damper longer, so that's where the colony takes hold. It spreads slowly from there. That's also why coastal homes get streaks faster — marine layer fog feeds it.
How long does the cleaning last?
Typically 4 to 6 years before streaks are visible again. We can extend that significantly by installing zinc or copper strips near the ridge — rainwater picks up metal ions as it flows down, which inhibits regrowth. We'll include a strip recommendation on the quote if your roof benefits.
Can you clean tile and metal roofs too?
Yes. Tile (clay or concrete) soft-washes well and we're careful about where we step to avoid cracking. Metal roofs take a low-pressure rinse after chemistry — high pressure can strip the Kynar or acrylic coating and cause premature rust, so we never push it.
What about gutters?
We flush the gutters after the wash so algae die-off does not clog them. If you want full gutter cleaning at the same visit, we add that for less than booking it separately — see the window and gutter page.
Where do we offer Roof Cleaning in San Diego County?
We provide roof cleaning in every city and community in San Diego County. Pick your city for local climate notes and service specifics.
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Homeowners who hired us for this
North-facing side of our house was black with streaking. They softwashed the siding and the roof the same morning and left the place looking five years younger. No pressure damage to the stucco, no splatter on the windows. Honest pricing.
Got three quotes. Rinse Pro was the only one to explain the hot-water surface cleaner versus a cold-water wand. You can see the difference in the finish. Driveway looks like it was poured last week.
I was worried about them walking on our clay tile roof. They did the whole thing from the ground with a long soft-wash wand and the black streaks were gone in one visit. Professional, clean, and they showed up when they said they would.
Need roof cleaning in San Diego County?
Call for a free quote. Most work scheduled within the week.