If you have noticed dark streaking on your roof shingles, usually on the side of the house that faces north, that is not dirt building up. It has a name.
"That's the forming of organics on your roof shingles, from microclimates created by the structure and architecture of your home," says Nick Berezansky, owner of Central Jersey Exterior Cleaning Services. The organism responsible is an algae, Gloeocapsa magma. "Typically in New Jersey, humid summer days are the perfect breeding ground for that to start."
North-facing slopes are where it usually begins. "Just like the north-facing side of homes, this is where most of those microclimates form, and that's where it becomes a breeding ground for organics to build up, things like mildew and algae."
Nearby trees move the timeline. "We typically recommend a roof wash every 5 to 7 years for a home in New Jersey, but that also depends on what type of plant material is around your property. Tall trees around a home may require sooner visits than normal."
Where moss and lichen have already taken hold in the shingles, the fix is gentle rather than aggressive. "Light agitation with a stiff bristle brush by our technicians can remove that without causing any damage or harm to the shingles. Our soft wash service provides a gentle cleaning solution that neutralizes the organics and dirt off your roof shingles."
The gentleness is the point. Soft washing cleans with a solution at low pressure. Pressure washing applies direct force to the shingle surface, which asphalt shingles are not built to take and which can strip away the granules that protect them.
The takeaway for North Hunterdon homeowners: tall trees nearby, or visible streaking on a north-facing slope, is the sign to book a soft wash rather than waiting out the full five to seven years.
About This Guide
Nick Berezansky is the owner of Central Jersey Exterior Cleaning Services, which soft washes houses and roofs, power washes driveways, walkways and patios, cleans gutters, and washes windows and screens for homeowners in Somerset, Hunterdon and Middlesex counties.
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