Santa Barbara Soft Wash

Roof Cleaning in Santa Barbara

The low pressure method roofing manufacturers actually recommend. We remove the black streaks, moss, and algae without cracking your tiles or voiding your warranty.

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Or call 805-689-4079. I'll take a look and send you a number.

Clay tile roof mid-clean: algae- and lichen-covered tiles beside bright cleaned tiles

4-6
times longer lasting than pressure washing
1/3
the water of pressure washing
4.9
stars across 40 Google reviews

Those Black Streaks Are Alive, and They're Eating Your Roof

The dark streaks running down your roof are not just dirt. They're a living algae called Gloeocapsa magma, and it feeds on the limestone filler in your shingles and the minerals in your tiles. Left alone, it holds moisture against the surface, spreads into the shaded and north-facing sections first, and shortens the life of the most expensive part of your home. Rinsing it with water does nothing. You have to eliminate the organism itself, which is exactly what soft washing does.

Never Let Anyone Pressure Wash Your Roof

High pressure is the worst thing you can do to a roof. On asphalt shingles it blasts off the protective granules, the exact layer that shields your roof from the sun, and it can void your manufacturer warranty in the process. On the clay and concrete tile roofs so common here in Santa Barbara, high pressure cracks and chips brittle tiles, strips the factory glaze, and forces water up underneath where it leads to rot and leaks. This is not just my opinion. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association and the major roofing manufacturers specifically call for low pressure cleaning. Soft washing is the method they recommend.

What We Clean

Asphalt and composition shingles, cleaned without stripping the granules
Clay and concrete tile, the Santa Barbara classic, cleaned without cracking or walking damage
Spanish barrel tile
The black streaks (Gloeocapsa magma), moss, lichen, and algae that cause the staining
Shaded and north-facing sections where growth always starts first

How It Works

1
Assess the roof
I identify your roofing material and where the growth is worst, and plan the safest approach.
2
Protect the property
Landscaping and delicate areas around the home get pre-wet and protected before anything is applied.
3
Apply the treatment
A biodegradable solution goes on at low pressure and eliminates the algae, moss, and lichen at the source.
4
Gentle rinse and walkthrough
Everything is rinsed at low pressure, then we confirm you're happy. If anything isn't right, I fix it before I leave.

Licensed California contractor #1105057, insured to $2,000,000, and 4.9 stars across 40 Google reviews. Every job is backed by the Make It Right Promise: if you're not happy with any part of it, I come back and make it right.

What Santa Barbara Homeowners Say About Our Roof Cleaning

Read all our reviews on Google and Yelp, and when we're done with your home, we hope you'll add one.

Common Questions About Roof Cleaning

Will roof cleaning void my warranty?

The opposite. High pressure washing is what voids warranties. Soft washing is the low pressure method that ARMA and the major roofing manufacturers recommend, so it protects your warranty instead of risking it.

Can you clean my tile roof without cracking the tiles?

Yes. Clay and concrete tiles are brittle and crack under both high pressure and careless foot traffic, which is exactly why soft washing is the right method. Low pressure and a careful approach clean the tile without the damage.

How long will it stay clean?

Because soft washing eliminates the algae at the spore instead of just rinsing the surface, a soft washed roof stays clean 4 to 6 times longer than a pressure washed one.

The Make It Right Promise: if you're not happy with any part of the job, we come back and make it right. Simple as that.

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Protect the Most Expensive Part of Your Home

Free quote, fast reply, and a finished job backed by the Make It Right Promise.