Lake Mary runs heavier to tile roofs than the rest of the county — and tile is exactly where “just pressure wash it” goes wrong.
Cracked tiles and stripped shingle granules are the two most common ways a well-meaning power wash turns into a roof problem. We soft wash instead: low pressure, a cleaning solution that kills algae and moss at the root, and a method chosen for what's actually on the roof.
- Soft washing only — no high-pressure equipment touches your roof
- Serving Heathrow, Magnolia Plantation, Grande Oaks at Heathrow, Heathrow Woods, Timacuan, The Crossings and the rest of Lake Mary
- Free written estimate, no obligation
Soft wash vs. pressure wash
The comparison every Lake Mary tile-roof quote should start with.
| Soft wash | Pressure wash | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Low-pressure cleaning solution, dwell time, gentle rinse | High-pressure water only |
| Tile roofs | Safe at correct dwell time | Can crack or dislodge tile |
| Shingle roofs | Granules stay intact | Strips protective granules |
| Algae regrowth | Killed at the root, slower to return | Surface only, returns faster |
See the full method guide for sourcing on each row.
Five services, one method
Every service below starts from the same soft-wash process — the difference is dwell time and pressure tuned to the material.
Roof Soft Washing
A low-pressure application of a cleaning solution that kills roof algae, moss and lichen at the root, then rinses away at a fraction of the pressure a power washer uses.
More on roof soft washing →Tile Roof Cleaning
S-tile and flat concrete tile hold up to soft washing well but not to a pressure washer — high pressure cracks and dislodges tile and can force water under the profile.
More on tile roof cleaning →Shingle Roof Cleaning
Asphalt shingle roofs lose their protective granules under high pressure, which shortens their life.
More on shingle roof cleaning →Moss Removal
Moss needs shade and standing moisture to take hold, which is exactly what Lake Mary's oak-canopy lots and lake-adjacent yards provide.
More on moss removal →Gutter Brightening
Oxidation streaks and roof runoff stain gutter faces long before the gutters themselves fail.
More on gutter brightening →One city, two roof problems
Lake Mary's largest master-planned communities — The Crossings, Greenwood Lakes, and Timacuan's earliest phases — were built mostly in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which gives the city a real stock of 30-plus-year-old roofs carrying decades of algae streaking. At the same time, Heathrow and its surrounding communities were built newer, mostly 2000s-era tile and architectural shingle, and are guard-gated with active HOA and CDD architectural review that specifies approved roofing materials and colors. That's two different arguments on one map: aging shingle heavy with black streaks in the older sections, and newer tile losing curb appeal — or drawing an HOA notice — in the gated ones. A generic roof-cleaning page written for the next town over doesn't carry both of those. This one does.
Add in the city's own geography — Lake Mary is built around numerous named lakes and retention ponds, with mature oak canopy in the older residential areas north of downtown and in large-lot communities like Heathrow Woods and Carisbrooke — and you get the humidity and shade that Gloeocapsa magma (the black-streak algae) and moss actually need to take hold, especially on north-facing slopes.
Questions homeowners ask before booking
Is soft washing better than pressure washing for a roof?
For roofs, yes, in nearly every case. Soft washing uses a diluted cleaning solution and low pressure — closer to a garden hose than a power washer — to kill algae, moss and lichen at the root. Pressure washing relies on force instead of chemistry, and roofing materials aren't built to take that force: it strips granules off asphalt shingles and can crack or dislodge concrete and clay tile. We use soft washing on every roof and reserve pressure washing for hard surfaces like driveways and pavers.
What causes black streaks on a roof?
Almost always Gloeocapsa magma, an airborne algae that feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles. It shows up as dark streaks, usually on the north-facing or shaded side of a roof where moisture sits longest. It spreads by windborne spores, which is why it often appears on several roofs in the same neighborhood around the same time.
How much does it cost to clean a roof?
Statewide, soft wash roof cleaning in Florida commonly runs about $0.25–$0.75 per square foot, with asphalt shingle toward the lower end and tile a little higher because it takes more care. Most single-story to mid-sized homes land in a $400–$900 total range. Those are researched market estimates from third-party cost guides, not a quote — every job gets a free written estimate after we look at the actual roof.
How often should you clean your roof in Florida?
Central Florida's humidity means algae and moss come back faster here than in drier climates — industry guidance generally points to roughly every 1 to 3 years, sooner on a heavily shaded or north-facing roof and later on one that gets more direct sun.
Does roof cleaning remove moss?
Yes. A soft-wash solution kills moss (and the lichen that often grows alongside it) at the root, so it lifts away in the rinse instead of needing to be scraped. Scraping or pressure washing moss off tends to leave the root structure intact — it grows back faster and risks lifting shingles or cracking tile in the process.
See what soft washing does for your roof
Tell us the roof material and rough size and we'll get back to you with a written estimate — no pressure-washer sales pitch.
Request your estimate