Roof washing here means clearing the black Gloeocapsa magna streaks and green growth off asphalt shingles with gentle, low-pressure rinsing. Most Pingree Grove roofs are young, so Rob often advises waiting a season. He works alone out of Woodstock, with no subcontractors, from $250. A few photos sent to (815) 451-0106 get you a free quote.
People expect roof streaks on old houses. They are less prepared to see them on a roof that is only eight or ten years old. Yet black staining can start on shaded slopes surprisingly early, because the organism behind it needs only moisture, some organic film and a few seasons. A cluster of dark lines on the north slope of a newer Pingree Grove house is not a sign of a bad roof.
What it does call for is a decision. Cleaning a young roof the wrong way can strip the granules that protect it, and cleaning it too soon may be money wasted. This page lays out how Rob thinks about that decision, using what is physically different about roofs in this part of Kane County.
Decision guide: wash it now, or wait another year
Wash soon if the streaks widen from one year to the next, if a whole slope has gone dark, or if a listing is coming in the next few months. Growth on shaded slopes keeps spreading and holds moisture against the shingles.
Wait if the roof looks mostly clean with only faint shadows, or if the shingles are still within their first couple of years. Rob will look at photos and say which way he leans. If the answer is to wait, you have lost nothing but a text message.
Why a ten-year-old roof here can stain on one side only
Northern Illinois roofs stain unevenly. The north-facing slope sees sun for fewer hours and stays damp after rain and dew, while the south slope dries quickly. Nearby tall structures, a neighbor's two-story wall or a row of evergreens can shade a slope even further.
On the newer streets there are few mature trees, so shade usually comes from the house itself and from the neighbor's gable a few feet away. That explains a streaky slope beside a clean one. For the biology behind the dark lines, see What Are the Black Streaks on Your Roof, and Should You Remove Them?.
How Rob cleans shingles without harming them
The mineral granules on top of a shingle are its sunscreen. Manufacturers lean toward gentle methods for that reason, since a hard jet knocks granules loose and shortens the roof's service life. Rob mists on a cleaning mix, waits while it breaks down the growth, then rinses with a soft, wide flow. A jet nozzle never touches the shingles.
Safety is part of the method. Steep pitches, wet shingles and slick algae are a poor combination for amateurs, and a fall from a two-story roof is far worse than a few streaks. The answer to whether it is safe for the roof itself is in Is Roof Washing Safe for Asphalt Shingles?.
- Low-pressure application only
- Plants and landscaping wetted before cleaning
- Gutters and downspouts rinsed clear afterward
- Windows and siding rinsed as the water runs down
- No pressure aimed up under shingle edges
Signs the problem is the roof, not the stains
Cleaning cannot repair anything. Heavy granule piles in the gutters, curling or cracked tabs, bare mat, lifted shingles or daylight in the attic all point to a roofer. Those need repair or replacement, and washing first only adds cost.
If the photos show that, Rob will say it. He would sooner lose the job than wash a roof that needs a roofer. Since many village roofs date from similar build years, neighbors may be weighing the same question.
Roofs, gutters and the water that runs down
Rinsing a roof washes loosened growth and granules into the gutters, so book gutter cleaning during the same visit or just after. Skip it and the next rain pushes everything to the downspout outlet in one clump.
If streaks on the roof also reach the siding below, a quote on soft washing can take care of the walls at the same time, and there is often a driveway to rinse beneath the eaves. Rob is happy to fold these into a single quote.
Roof Washing through the year in Pingree Grove
Spring
Inspect slopes from the ground with binoculars after the snow melts. Spring and early summer are common times to book, once overnight temperatures stay mild.
Summer
Heat and humidity make algae spread faster on shaded slopes. Early morning is best for roof access, and wet dew-covered shingles should be avoided.
Early fall
A good window to clear growth before leaves land on the roof and winter moisture starts to sit on shingles.
Winter
No roof washing on frozen or icy shingles. Watch for ice at the eaves and call a roofer or insulation specialist if it keeps coming back.
Getting a quote
Your roof is the part of the house you can least inspect yourself, which makes photos the starting point. Send Rob a few from the street and from the side yard at (815) 451-0106, and he will describe what the shingles seem to be telling him and whether a wash makes sense this year. If what you really need is a roofer, he will say that as well.