Shingle Roof Cleaning in Orlando, FL
Orlando Roof Cleaning removes black algae streaks, moss, and lichen from asphalt shingle roofs across Orlando, Seminole, and Lake County using low-pressure soft washing — the cleaning approach the shingle industry itself recommends. If your shingle roof has gone streaky and gray, this page covers what is happening and how the cleaning works.
Why shingles streak — and why it spreads
The black streaks are Gloeocapsa magma, an airborne algae that lands on the roof and feeds on the crushed limestone used as filler in modern asphalt shingles. Your roof is literally its food source, which is why the streaks darken and widen every year instead of fading. It favors the slopes that stay damp — north-facing, shaded, under oak — and it travels on the wind, which is why one streaky roof on a street becomes five.
The granule problem
Everything about cleaning a shingle roof correctly comes back to granules — the mineral surface layer that blocks UV and sheds water. Granules sit in asphalt that softens in Florida heat, and they do not grow back. High-pressure washing strips them wholesale; even aggressive scrubbing dislodges them. The industry answer, endorsed by shingle manufacturers, is a low-pressure application of a bleach-based solution that kills the algae chemically while the granules stay put. That is exactly the soft wash process used here, and it is the reason a properly cleaned shingle roof loses streaks without losing life.
Moss and lichen are the urgent cases
Algae is mostly cosmetic in the near term. Moss and lichen are not: moss holds water against the shingle surface like a wet sponge, and lichen anchors into the granules so that ripping it off mechanically takes the surface with it. Both shorten roof life while they sit there. Soft washing kills them in place so they release gradually without tearing granules — slower-looking, but the version that protects the roof.
What the price range depends on
For shingle work the variables are simple: roof size and stories, pitch, growth severity (streaks rinse; established lichen takes more product and dwell time), and how much landscaping sits under the drip lines. Most shingle price ranges come together quickly once those are confirmed — see the cost factors page for the full picture.
Streaks getting worse every summer?
They will keep spreading until the algae is killed. Send the roof details form with your city and stories — shingle price ranges are usually fast.
Frequently asked questions
Do the black streaks actually damage shingles?
Over time, yes — the algae feeds on the limestone filler and holds moisture, and heavy growth shortens shingle life. In the near term the damage is mostly to curb appeal, which is why HOAs send letters about it.
Will cleaning make my shingles look new?
It removes the biological growth, which is most of what makes a roof look old. It cannot restore granules already lost to age — a cleaned 15-year-old roof looks like a clean 15-year-old roof, which is usually a dramatic improvement.
Can I clean shingles myself with a garden sprayer?
The chemistry is the easy part; working safely on a pitched roof, managing runoff, and protecting plants is not. Roof falls are a leading cause of serious DIY injuries — if you do attempt it, never do it from on the roof, and never with a pressure washer.
How soon before the streaks come back?
Typically a few years, shorter under heavy shade. Zinc or copper ridge strips can stretch the interval — covered in the roof algae guide.