Roof Cleaning
Black streaks are algae feeding on the limestone in your shingles. We kill them at the root with an ARMA-recommended soft wash. No pressure, no lost granules.
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Algae and moss take years off your roof.
Those black streaks are a living thing. Gloeocapsa magma is an algae that feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles, and it takes the north and shaded slopes first because those stay damp longest. Moss is the bigger problem. It holds water against the shingle, lifts the edges, and gives ice somewhere to start in January.
Cleaning a roof is maintenance, not cosmetics. Many shingle manufacturers expect reasonable maintenance over the life of the roof, and letting algae and moss sit for years is not that. Getting the growth off stops granule loss before it costs you shingle life.
Northeast Connecticut is hard on roofs for the same reasons it is nice to live in. Tree canopy, humidity, and long damp shoulder seasons keep a roof from drying out. Oak and maple leaves piled in the valleys hold moisture all winter. A roof that never gets full sun can go green in three or four years. Most roofs here need cleaning every three to five years, sooner under heavy shade.
ARMA-recommended soft wash, no pressure.
The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association recommends soft washing rather than pressure for algae and moss. High pressure strips the granule layer, and the granules are the part of the shingle doing the work. Once they are gone they do not come back.
- Landscaping and gutters wet down before anything is applied
- Soft-wash solution applied at low pressure from a ladder and extension wand
- Dwell time to kill the algae at the root, not just bleach the color out of it
- Rinse from the peak down
- Final landscape rinse on the way out
- Before and after photos for your records
We do not walk roofs unless there is no other way to reach a section. Foot traffic on warm shingles does its own damage, and a ladder plus a wand reaches almost everything.
Streaks are gone when we leave. Moss behaves differently. Dead moss lets go over the following weeks as it dries and rain washes it away, so a roof with heavy moss keeps improving for a month or two after the visit.
Most roofs take two to four hours. There is no flat published price for roof cleaning, because the number moves with roof size, pitch, how we can reach it, and how much growth is on it. A low-slope ranch is a different job than a steep colonial with dormers. Text two or three photos to (860) 553-9326, including one from the street that shows the whole roof, and a flat price comes back, usually within the hour.
While algae is coming off the shingles it is worth clearing what sits under them, see gutter cleaning. If the siding is streaked too, a house wash the same day saves a trip. Coverage map on our service areas page.
We clean roofs across the Quiet Corner. For local details in your town:
Other Services We Offer
Pressure washing isn't the only thing we do. From roof to driveway, every exterior surface, done by the same team you're already considering.
Four things we do differently
365-Day Guarantee
We stand by our work. If algae or growth returns within 365 days, we come back and fix it at no charge.
Owners on Every Job
Applewood is run by two Pomfret natives, friends since elementary school. One of us is on site for every job, not a rotating crew.
2-Step Power Washing System
First we apply manufacturer-approved detergents that kill mold and algae at the root. Then we rinse with controlled pressure that protects surfaces. That's how we get results that actually last.
Fully Licensed & Insured
General liability and workers' comp on every job. Certificate of insurance on request. Plant-safe soft wash, owner-operated on every job.
What Connecticut Homeowners Are Saying
Real reviews from real neighbors. See what families and property managers say after we've cleaned their property.
FAQs
What homeowners ask most about safe, soft-wash roof cleaning. Still wondering about something? Send us a photo.
Soft washing uses low water pressure (about the same as your garden hose) and a biodegradable detergent, the chemistry does the cleaning. Pressure washing uses high water pressure with no detergent. Soft wash for siding, roofs, painted surfaces, and anything porous. Pressure wash for concrete driveways, brick pavers, and stone. We pick the right method per surface.
Yes. Detergents are biodegradable and rinse out at low concentration. We wet down landscaping before applying anything and rinse again when we finish. We've never lost a plant. Tell us about anything specific you're worried about when you book.
The opposite. Manufacturers expect maintenance. We document each job with photos and a method statement if you need it for warranty records.
We prefer photos because we can see what you're describing. Phone quotes tend to under- or over-estimate. Texting photos takes 30 seconds and we'll come back with an actual number.
Most jobs booked Monday hit the calendar by Friday. Peak season (June–August) we book 1–2 weeks out. Off-peak (April, May, September, October) we usually have same-week slots.
Yes, credit cards, ACH bank transfer, check. Payment due on completion unless we've arranged net terms for recurring commercial.
Still have questions?
Text us a few photos and we'll send a flat quote, usually within an hour.
Let's make your house
look like new.
Text us a few photos and we'll send back a flat quote within the hour. We're booking the 2026 season now, and Saturdays fill first.