Service · From $395
Soft-wash roof cleaning — Grand Rapids.
Roof cleaning in Grand Rapids costs from $395 flat-rate for a typical residential roof. We soft-wash only — low pressure with surfactants that kill the gloeocapsa magma algae causing black streaks plus moss on north-facing slopes. High-pressure washing on asphalt shingles strips granules, voids shingle warranties, and shortens roof life by 5-10 years; we never do it. Treatment lasts 3-5 years. Text 616-254-9465 with a roof photo for a same-day quote.
Why soft-wash is the only right method
Asphalt shingles are manufactured with a granule layer — colored ceramic-coated mineral chips embedded in asphalt — that protects the underlying material from UV degradation. Granules are not designed to withstand high-pressure water. A 2500 PSI pressure washer aimed at a roof for cleaning will:
- Strip granules — visibly. You'll find them in the gutters and downspouts after.
- Lift shingle edges — opening the underside to wind and moisture.
- Drive water under shingles — interior leak risk.
- Void the manufacturer warranty — most asphalt shingle warranties explicitly exclude pressure-washing damage.
- Shorten roof life by 5-10 years — exposed asphalt without granule protection degrades fast.
The "after" of a pressure-washed roof looks great on day one. Year three it looks worse than the original streaking, with bare patches and curled shingles. Soft-wash is slower (the surfactant needs dwell time) but it's the right method.
How soft-wash actually works on a roof
- Roof inspection from the ground or eaves. Identify algae load, moss patches, shingle condition. Note any damaged shingles (we'll flag them; we don't repair).
- Pre-rinse landscaping and gutters. Saturate beds adjacent to downspouts.
- Apply soft-wash mix from a long-reach gun. Targeted application from ground level or eaves — we don't walk on the roof. Surfactant coats algae and moss.
- Dwell time: 15-30 minutes. Chemistry does the work. You'll see immediate visual change on heavily-streaked sections.
- Rinse with clean water at low pressure. Surfactant + dead algae flush off the roof and through the gutters. Continued dieback happens over the next 4-6 weeks.
- Post-rinse landscaping. Full water rinse over any beds in the runoff zone.
- Photo log. Before/after sent to your phone.
4-6 weeks after treatment, residual algae and moss continue to die and shed in light rains. The roof looks even cleaner at the 60-day mark than on day-1.
What we don't do
Walk on your roof unnecessarily. We use long-reach guns from ground level or eaves on most jobs. Walking on asphalt shingles in warm weather causes scuffing and granule loss; cool weather is safer but still a wear event. Avoidable when the chemistry can be delivered from a distance.
Scrape moss physically. Damages shingles. Chemistry handles it over 4-6 weeks.
Pressure-wash any part of an asphalt roof. Including the ridge cap, the valleys, the flashing transitions. All soft-wash.
Replace shingles or repair damage. If we see damage during the visit, we flag it; coordinate with a roofing contractor for repairs.
The streaks you can see from the curb are the visible 20%. Algae is on the rest of the roof too — soft-wash treats the whole surface, not just the streaked sections.
What roofs we don't clean
- Tile roofs — different cleaning method (we don't currently offer it; we'll refer)
- Metal roofs — usually don't need cleaning; if they do, it's a different process
- Cedar shake — soft-wash is technically possible but specialty work; we'll refer
- Slate — specialty work; refer
Service area
Same 18-city Grand Rapids metro: Grand Rapids · Wyoming · Kentwood · Grandville · Walker · Forest Hills · Cascade · Caledonia · Hudsonville · Jenison · Byron Center · Rockford · Comstock Park · Cutlerville · East Grand Rapids · Ada · Allendale · Belmont.
Book roof cleaning
Text 616.254.9465 with a roof photo from the curb. We'll quote same-day.