Our Services
Roof Cleaning
What are the black streaks on your roof? The scientific term is Gloeocapsa magma. What is this exactly? To put it in terms that I would use, it's algae. The reason this occurs, the algae feeds off of the limestone that is used to make the shingles.
What is the problem with this?
The black streaks may just seem like a cosmetic problem to most but there is more to it then that. The growth and spread of the algae can lead to higher energy bills due to the black streaks absorbing more heat. This also leads to premature aging of your roof. Other issues that can occur is that the algae will lead to moss and lichen forming on your shingles. The lichen in it's self can destroy your roof. The lichen actually roots into the shingle and can destroy it.
How to get rid of the algae!
Some homeowners believe that they can just power wash the algae off the roof. This will lead to more problems then the algae itself. By power washing a roof, it remove the granules from the shingle. Which in the end will possibly cost tens of thousands of dollars. In the Knoxville, Tn area, the average roof replacement cost between $10,000 - $14,000.
An alternative solution to this problem is letting a professional company complete a soft wash on the roof. Soft wash is the process of using a biocide, attractant and water to kill and remove the organisms. To apply the chemical, we use a 12 volt pump that is rated at 60 psi. This ensures that the roof will not be damaged with pressure.
House or Building Wash
Aside from the common dirt and cobwebs that accumulate on a house or building, what are the green and black streaks on the siding?
The streaks are typically algae, mold and fungus.
What is the solution for this?
Vinyl Siding
we can use what is called downstreaming to complete the cleaning process. This is done by using a pressure washer and biocide mixture as in cleaning a roof( The mixture isn't as strong as the roof cleaning mixture.) The chemical will be applied from the gutters down and will typically dwell for 5 - 10 minutes before being rinsed off. The dwelling process ensures that the bacteria is dead. The typical house will stay clean for a couple of years typically. But this isn't a guarantee due to outlying variables.
Stucco and Brick
On stucco and brick homes, the same issues arise on vinyl. It will have green and black streaks on it. We will use our 12 volt pump to apply a stronger mix then used on the vinyl siding. We will let it dwell and it will be rinsed.
concrete cleaning
Are the black and green spots on concrete organic growth?
Just like on your roof and siding, these organic growths attack your concrete. Aside from just being an eye sore, this can cause hazardous situations. The concrete can become very slippery and cause you or your loved ones to fall.
Solution
High pressure along will not solve this problem. To effectively clean the concrete, I apply a pretreatment to assist in the cleaning. If there is moss on the concrete, it will turn white. When the moss turns white, it means the organism is dead. The black and green marks will turn brown. This means it is dead also. The concrete will then be cleaned using a surface cleaner, this ensures a more efficient cleaning. In some cases, a post treatment will need to be applied to remove any stubborn organic growth.
Gutter clean out
Aside from the typical issue of gutters overflowing due to them full of leaves and debris, this can cause bigger issues. With gutters not being maintained by annual cleaning, this can lead to insects, birds and other species making your gutters their home. Backed up gutters can also cause problems inside your home, due to water entering through cracks. This also can cause materials of your home to rot. We offer gutter clean outs and gutter flushing.