Roof & Gutter Cleaning, Soft wash, ARMA-compliant.
Black streaks on Houston roofs are gloeocapsa magma — algae that eats roof granules. Pressure-washing strips them and the roof. Soft wash kills the algae and protects the shingle. We do it the way the manufacturer intends.
BeforeAfterDrag the handle to compare. Real B&R Power Washing technique, illustrated.
Why pressure-washing a roof is a mistake
Asphalt shingles are sealed by mineral granules pressed into a base mat. High pressure blasts those granules off — shortening the roof's lifespan by years and voiding most manufacturer warranties. The black streaks you see are gloeocapsa magma, an algae that feeds on limestone in modern shingles. The right answer is the ARMA (Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association) recommended method — a soft wash that kills the algae and lets rain rinse it away over the next few weeks. That's what we do, and it's the only roof method we offer.
How a roof soft wash works
Different surface, different method. We never use one tool for everything — that's how good outdoor surfaces get damaged.
Pre-Inspection
Walk the roof line, identify problem areas, check gutter condition, photograph baseline. Tarp landscaping below, pre-rinse all plant beds.
ARMA-compliant Solution
Biodegradable sodium hypochlorite blend, mixed at recommended dilution, applied at less than 100 PSI from extension equipment — no foot traffic on shingles where possible, no high pressure ever.
Dwell + Verify
Solution dwells while we monitor for run-off control. Algae starts breaking down within minutes. We rinse strategically without rinsing off the protective treatment too quickly.
Gutter Service (optional add-on)
Hand-clear gutters of all debris, flush downspouts, brighten gutter exteriors with the same soft-wash mix. Most clients book this as a package — it's the natural pair-up.
What you get, on every job.
- Full roof soft wash — every accessible slope
- Gutter EXTERIOR brightening (algae streak removal on gutter face)
- Pre- and post-rinse of all landscaping
- Driveway pre-rinse where run-off may flow
- Walk-through with photos
- ARMA-compliant method that preserves manufacturer warranty
- Add-on: Gutter interior clearing & downspout flush ($75–$200 add)
- Full general liability + workers comp insurance, COI on request
Real ranges, no surprises.
Houston-area range for a single-family roof. Steep-pitch, multi-story, or tile roofs run higher. Gutter clearing is a $75–$200 add-on.
What affects price
- Total roof area (sq ft of shingles)
- Roof pitch — steep pitches need more rigging time
- Number of stories & access
- Tile vs. asphalt — tile is more delicate & takes longer
- Whether gutter clearing is added
What people ask, straight answers.
Will roof cleaning void my shingle warranty?
Not when done with ARMA-compliant soft-wash methods, which is what we use. Pressure-washing a roof will void most warranties — that's not a method we offer for that exact reason.
How long do results last?
In Houston's humid climate, expect 2–4 years before regrowth becomes visible. Adding a clear-coat preventive treatment (which we offer) extends that to 4–6 years.
Will the runoff hurt my landscaping?
No. We pre-rinse every plant bed and post-rinse on the way out. The dilution is below the threshold that affects established plants, and our crew is trained to control flow paths.
Do you do tile roofs?
Yes — clay and concrete tile both. The technique differs (more dwell time, less direct rinsing on the surface) but the soft-wash method is the same.
Do you handle the gutters too?
Yes — gutter clearing (interior debris removal + downspout flush) is a popular add-on. Gutter brightening (removing the black streaks on the gutter face) is included with the roof wash itself.
How much warning do you need?
Typically 3–7 days for residential, same-week for commercial. Weather-sensitive — we don't soft-wash a roof in the rain or with rain forecast within 4 hours of finish.
Ready to see your property like this?
Snap a photo of your home, driveway, or storefront. Our AI returns an instant range and we follow up with a real quote.
