Black streaks on your shingles aren't just ugly. They're algae — Gloeocapsa magma — and it's feeding on your roof. The fix is soft wash: low-pressure cleaning solution applied at under 100 PSI that removes the growth without blasting a single granule off your shingles.
We've been cleaning roofs in Mid-Michigan since 2021. Owner-operated. Fully insured. Every quote comes from Jamisen — not a call center, not a sales team. If you want the streaks gone the right way, we'll take care of it.
Every roof cleaning follows the same sequence. No shortcuts, no missed spots, no surprise charges.
This distinction matters more on roofs than any other surface. The wrong method causes real, permanent damage.
Asphalt shingles are covered in ceramic granules. Those granules are the shingle's protection against UV rays, rain, and Michigan winters. Point a 3,000 PSI pressure washer at them and you strip those granules off in seconds. The shingle looks clean, sure. But you just shortened its life by years.
Our method is soft wash. We apply a sodium hypochlorite (SH) cleaning solution at low pressure — under 100 PSI at the roof surface. The solution does the work, not the pressure. It breaks down Gloeocapsa magma (that's the black-streak algae you see on north-facing and shaded roof slopes all over Mid-Michigan) and removes it completely.
After the solution dwells, we rinse from ridge to eave at low pressure. Same direction the shingles overlap. No blasting. No granule loss. No shingle damage.
What we clean: Asphalt shingles — three-tab and architectural. That's 90%+ of the roofs in our service area.
What we don't clean: Metal roofs, clay or concrete tile, slate, and cedar shake. Each of those requires different chemistry, different technique, and different equipment. We'd rather turn the job down than do it wrong.
You can see the clean line where the solution has been applied. Algae on one side, clean shingle on the other. No pressure, no damage — just chemistry doing its job.
Every roof is different. Size, pitch, accessibility, algae severity — it all factors in. We don't do cookie-cutter pricing because that's how people get surprised.
Roof cleaning for a typical Mid-Michigan ranch home starts in the mid-hundreds. Two-story homes, steep pitches, and heavy growth cost more because they take more time, more solution, and more care.
Here's what we do instead of guessing: you send us a few photos of your roof (or we drive by), and we send back a free written estimate within 24 hours. The estimate includes the exact scope, the method, and the price. No hidden fees, no add-ons at the truck.
We accept cash, credit card, Venmo, and Zelle. Payment after walkthrough — not before.
Most homeowners don't know why their roof has black streaks or why a pressure washer is the wrong fix. Here's the short version.
The dark streaks on your roof are a type of algae called Gloeocapsa magma. It feeds on the limestone filler that manufacturers mix into asphalt shingles. It's everywhere in Michigan — our humidity and tree cover create perfect conditions for it. North-facing slopes and shaded areas get hit first.
At first it's cosmetic. Your roof looks dirty. But over time, the algae holds moisture against the shingle surface. That trapped moisture accelerates wear on the shingle and can shorten roof life.
A pressure washer at 2,500 to 4,000 PSI will remove the algae. It will also remove the ceramic granules that protect the shingle from UV damage, rain, and freeze-thaw cycles. Those granules don't grow back. Once they're gone, the shingle ages faster. In many cases, pressure washing a roof can void the manufacturer's warranty.
Soft wash uses a cleaning solution — sodium hypochlorite (SH) diluted to the right concentration — applied at very low pressure. Under 100 PSI at the roof surface. The chemical does the work. It breaks down the algae at the root. We let it dwell, then rinse gently from ridge to eave.
The result: a clean roof with every granule still in place. No shingle damage. No warranty concerns. The cleaning lasts 3 to 5 years on most Mid-Michigan homes before the algae returns.
This is how the shingle manufacturers recommend cleaning. This is how we do it. Every time.
We keep a tight service area so we can show up on time and not charge a travel fee. If you're outside this list, call — we travel for commercial.
The questions we hear most from homeowners in Mt. Pleasant, Midland, and Saginaw before they book a roof cleaning.
Free written estimate in under 24 hours. Text, call, or fill the form – your call. We answer 7am to 7pm, Monday through Saturday.
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