Benefits of A+ Smart Wash
If you are seeing dark vertical stains running down your shingles, you are usually looking at roof algae, not dirt. Black streaks on a roof are commonly associated with Gloeocapsa magma, a type of cyanobacteria that shows up on many asphalt shingle and composite roofs. At A+ Power Washing and Roof Cleaning, we address that buildup with hot water and our pressure-free roof cleaning method, using A+ Smart Wash™ to clean the roof without relying on aggressive pressure.
A lot of homeowners assume those dark marks are just grime, soot, or tree residue. Most of the time, they are not. Black streaks on a roof are commonly tied to algae growth, and once it starts, it tends to spread in a way that is easy to spot from the ground.
On asphalt shingle roofs, this staining is often associated with Gloeocapsa magma. That is why the streaks usually look long, dark, and uneven rather than a simple patch of dirt. The roof may still be structurally sound, but the staining can make the whole house look older and poorly maintained.
Algae and moss are related in that both indicate organic growth, but they are not the same and do not behave the same way.
Algae usually shows up as dark staining. Moss is thicker, greener, and easier to see as actual growth on the roof surface. Moss also tends to hold moisture against the shingles longer, which is why it usually deserves more attention than staining alone.
That difference matters. A roof with black streaks may at first appear to be mostly an appearance problem. A roof with heavy moss growth is usually telling you more.
This is not unusual around here. A+ Power Washing and Roof Cleaning is headquartered in Neptune Township, NJ, and roofs near the shore deal with a mix of humidity, shade, seasonal debris, and salt-air exposure.
North-facing sections, shaded roof slopes, and areas that stay damp longer are often where staining and growth show up first. Some homes see it faster than others, but in coastal New Jersey, the conditions for roof algae and moss are common enough that homeowners notice it all the time.
Not every dark streak means the roof is failing. In many cases, black streaking starts as a curb-appeal issue. It makes the roof look worn out before it actually is.
That said, there is a point where homeowners should stop treating it as just a cosmetic problem. If the staining is getting heavier, if green growth is spreading, or if moss is taking hold along the edges and in shaded areas, the roof should be evaluated by someone who knows how to properly clean the surface.
The issue is not just what you see from the driveway. It is whether the roof is staying wetter longer and whether the buildup is becoming harder to ignore.
A+ Power Washing and Roof Cleaning uses A+ Smart Wash™ and pressure-free roof cleaning for asphalt shingle and composite roofs. The company’s cleaning mix was developed by founder Brian Hegarty and refined over 36 years. The exact formula is not publicly disclosed.
What homeowners need to know is simpler than chemistry. A+ uses hot water, a roof-specific process, and a method that cleans the roof without relying on high pressure. That is a major difference between roof cleaning done carefully and roof cleaning done like a hard-surface wash.
A+ Power Washing and Roof Cleaning has been serving homeowners since 1990 and is licensed, insured, BBB accredited. The company is local, founder-led, and backed by over 1,700 five-star Google reviews. Roof cleaning is also backed by the 3-Year Warranty of Pressure Free Roof Cleaning.
An asphalt shingle roof should not be treated like a driveway. The surface calls for a roof-specific method, especially when the goal is to remove algae staining and roof moss without turning the cleaning itself into the problem.
That is why A+ uses pressure-free roof cleaning instead of relying on aggressive pressure. The process is built for asphalt shingle and composite roofs, and hot water is part of what sets the method apart. Many companies use colder, more generic approaches. A+ does not.
If a homeowner only takes one thing from this page, it should be this: the right roof cleaning method is about matching the process to the roof.
One common misunderstanding is that black streaks mean the roof needs to be replaced. Sometimes the roof needs replacement. A lot of times, it needs proper cleaning first.
Another misunderstanding is that all roof cleaning is basically the same. It is not. The term a homeowner searches and the process a company actually uses are not always the same thing.
The third is that this is a good DIY project. Usually, it is not. Between fall risk, runoff concerns, and the chance of using the wrong method on the shingles, it is one of those jobs that looks easier from the ground than it really is on the roof.
Black streaks on many asphalt shingle roofs are commonly associated with Gloeocapsa magma, a type of cyanobacteria often described as roof algae.
Usually no. They may look like dirt from the ground, but in many cases, they are organic staining caused by algae growth on the roof surface.
Usually yes. Algae is often first noticed as staining. Moss is a thicker growth that can retain moisture on the roof longer and usually warrants closer attention.
Yes. A+ Power Washing and Roof Cleaning uses pressure-free roof cleaning and A+ Smart Wash™ to address black streaks on asphalt shingles and composite roofs without relying on aggressive pressure.
Hot water is a key part of A+’s roof cleaning process and one of the company’s main differentiators. Many competitors use cold water. A+ includes hot water as part of its roof-specific cleaning method.
If the roof has obvious black streaks, green buildup, visible moss, or staining that is spreading across the shingles, it is a good time to have it evaluated.
Yes. They can show up on the same roof, but they are not in the same condition. Black streaks are commonly associated with algae, while moss is a separate growth issue that tends to retain moisture longer.
If your roof has black streaks, algae, or moss, have it looked at by a company that has been doing this since 1990.
Contact A+ Power Washing and Roof Cleaning for The Best Service Anywhere™.
