Service · Birmingham, AL
Roof washing in Birmingham
The black streaks running down Birmingham roofs are Gloeocapsa magma, an algae that feeds on the limestone in shingles and spreads a little further every wet season. Attention To Details soft washes shingle and metal roofs: the solution kills the growth and the weather finishes the rinse. No pressure touches the roof. Call or text 205-521-1663 for a quote.
How it works
No pressure on the roof. Ever.
Pressure washing a roof strips the granules that protect the shingle and can void the manufacturer warranty. A roof wash here is a soft wash: the solution goes on at low pressure from the eave or the ladder, dwells, and the growth dies. The streaks fade within days and the rest lifts with the rain.
A streaked roof is not just a cosmetic problem. The algae holds moisture against the shingle, which speeds up the granule loss it is feeding on, and a roof that stays wet longer ages faster. Moss and lichen are worse: they root into the surface and lift shingle edges as they grow.
The wash is set up from the ground and the ladder. Gutters and downspouts are flushed so the runoff carries away instead of pooling, landscaping below the eaves is wet down and rinsed, and nothing walks on a wet roof.
The method
Soft wash only. The solution is applied from the roof edge, a ladder or a lift, never walked on when wet, with gutters and downspouts flushed and landscaping rinsed before and after.
On the ticket
What it covers
- Asphalt shingle roofs
- Metal roofs
- Black algae streak removal
- Moss and lichen treatment
- Gutter face rinse
- Landscape protection and rinse
When it is time
Four things you can check from the driveway
- 01Black streaks running down from the ridge
- 02Green or grey moss along the shaded eaves
- 03Lichen spots that look like dried paint
- 04A north slope noticeably darker than the south
Spot one of these? Text 205-521-1663
Straight talk
If the quote says pressure wash for the roof, that is your answer
Shingles are held together by granules and asphalt. Pressure removes the first and tears the second. A roof gets chemistry and time, applied by someone who has stood on enough of them to respect them.
Proof over promises
What roof washing looks like when it is done right
Halfway
AfterOne roof, halfway and finished
Same property
Ladder up, roof wash in progress
Cedar shake roof, halfway through the soft wash
Step by step
How a roof washing visit goes
- 01
Look at the roof
Pitch, material, how far the growth has spread and where the runoff goes. A moss-covered north slope and a light streak on a south slope are different jobs.
- 02
Protect below
Downspouts are diverted or bagged where needed, beds and lawn under the eaves are wet down, and windows and siding under the drip line are pre-rinsed.
- 03
Apply and let it work
The solution goes on at low pressure and dwells. The algae dies on contact; moss and lichen take longer and lift over the following weeks.
- 04
Rinse the surroundings
Siding, glass and plants get a thorough rinse. The roof itself is left to the weather, which finishes the job without a drop of pressure.
Field notes
What Gloeocapsa magma actually is
It is a cyanobacteria that arrived in the Southeast decades ago and thrives in exactly the conditions a Birmingham roof offers: heat, humidity and limestone filler to eat. It shows up as black streaks because the colony builds a dark protective coating against the sun. Rain does not wash it off; it spreads it. A soft wash kills the colony, coating and all.
Why the rinse is left to the weather
Rinsing a roof with a hose means walking on it or spraying up under the shingle edges, both of which do damage. The solution is designed to finish its work and break down with the next few rains, which lift the dead growth off and carry it into the gutters. The result is a roof that keeps getting cleaner for a month after the truck leaves.
What moves the quote
- Pitch and height
- A steep two story roof needs more setup and reach than a walkable ranch roof.
- Material
- Shingle, metal and tile each take a different mix and rinse. Painted metal needs the gentlest hand.
- Moss and lichen
- Streaks are quick. Established moss and lichen need a stronger treatment and sometimes a second visit.
- What sits under the eaves
- Beds, ponds, pools and delicate plants under the drip line change how the runoff is managed.
Before you book
Asked before every job.
Answers in plain words. If yours is not here, text 205-521-1663 and you will get one.
01Will the streaks be gone the same day?
The algae is dead the same day and the streaks fade fast, but the last of the discoloration lifts with the weather over the following weeks. Moss and lichen take longer to release.
02Is soft washing safe for my shingles?
Yes. It is the method shingle manufacturers recommend. No pressure touches the roof, so no granules are lost and the warranty is not at risk.
03How often does a roof need washing?
Most Birmingham roofs go four or five years between washes, less under heavy shade. Text a photo of the streaks to 205-521-1663 and you will get a straight answer.
Get a quote
Point us at the dirty side
The form wants three things: your name, a number to text, and what needs washing. Add a line about the property if you like.
Call or text 205-521-1663 · 24/7