Roof Cleaning in Summerville, SC
The black streaks aren't dirt — they're algae eating your shingles. Soft wash kills them dead, the streaks disappear, and not one granule gets blasted off in the process.
What those black streaks actually are
The dark stripes running down Lowcountry roofs are Gloeocapsa magma — a cyanobacteria that feeds on the crushed limestone inside asphalt shingles. It spreads downslope with rainwater (hence the streaks), holds moisture against the roof, and shortens shingle life while making a 10-year-old roof look 25. Around Summerville it's not a maybe; give any shingle roof here enough shade and humidity and the streaks arrive on schedule. Moss and lichen — the fuzzy stage — do even more direct damage by prying up shingle edges.
Why roofs are never pressure washed
A pressure washer takes the algae off a shingle roof along with the granules that are the roof — instant years of artificial aging, and a warranty-voiding move per every shingle manufacturer. The correct method is the industry-standard soft wash: a sodium-hypochlorite-based mix applied at low pressure, allowed to kill the growth, then rinsed with the roof's own gravity doing most of the work. Streaks typically vanish same-day; heavier moss browns and sloughs off over a few weeks of weather. Gutters get flushed, landscaping below gets pre-soaked, covered where needed, and rinsed after.
Pricing
| Roof | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Single-story ranch | $350 – $500 |
| Two-story / steeper pitch | $450 – $700 |
| Large or complex rooflines | $600 – $900+ |
| Bundled with a house wash | The best per-service rate we offer — quote both together |
A cleaned roof in this climate stays streak-free roughly 2–4 years — longer than any other surface we clean, because the treatment kills the colony rather than shaving its surface.
The two moments people call
The HOA letter — roof streaks are the most-cited exterior violation in Summerville's newer communities, and the letters come with deadlines. And the listing — a streaked roof reads as "needs a new roof" to buyers scrolling photos, even when it has 15 years left. A $500 clean regularly protects a five-figure negotiation. Either way, photos of your roof get you a same-day number: (843) 994-2432.
One honest disclaimer
Cleaning makes a roof look and function its age instead of older — it doesn't repair one. Curled, cracked, or bald shingles are a roofer conversation, and if we see that from the ladder we'll tell you plainly before you spend cleaning money on a roof that needs replacing.
Kill the streaks for 2–4 years
Serving Summerville, Goose Creek, Ladson, Moncks Corner & Cane Bay.
Call (843) 994-2432