The most common organic growth on the exterior of a homes roof, house siding and driveways are primarily algae, moss, mildew (often called mold) and lichen. Each of these bacteria have slight variations in color and look. The way to take notice is by the colorful typically green appearance on a homes exterior. When standing from far away the bacteria appears to have a slight haze or dripping look often caused by water running down. Upon closer inspection we notice the growth has spores and is in fact a living growing organism.

Most bacteria growth comes from days in constant sunlight, water, humidity and exposure to the outside environment. Out of the four main bacteria's mildew is the only one that does not need sunlight to produce its energy and live on, instead they feed off the organic matter they are attached to. 

Meanwhile the other three bacteria's algae, moss and lichen use photosynthesis to combine sunlight and water into their own food to thrive on. Photosynthesis is a process done by plants where they use light energy, water and carbon dioxide to fuel their growth structure. As a byproduct of this process oxygen is made.

At a quick glance it may be difficult to say which is which, but when we look at what features are present we can better tell what bacteria we have at hand.

​Generally lichens look like this

Moss generally look like this

The differnanciation from mildew and algae is their feel when touched. Lichen and moss feel prickly and like an actual plant forming. The mildew and algae do not have this outward appearance, their look is thin on its surface. Moss and lichen do not have roots exactly but they do have a root like structure with lichens being much more stubborn to pull off. Moss can be determined by its fuzzy appearance and color variation of green, yellow and at times brown. Lichens come in green or light green with a almost barnicle like look.

Here are a few examples on algae and mildew

In conclusion these are the most common bacterias found on a homes exterior.
For tips on cleaning these please refer to our website articles.

​If you would like a quick quote for your home please call us at (561)-305-8154
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Ever wonder what those black streaks are on your roof but seem to be missing on other areas of the roof? We are sure although you dont know what they are, that you have seem them when driving by a home.

The scientific term for the black streaks on your roof are Gloeocapsa Magma. It is a type of algae or organic growth usually found on composition shingles. 

To the naked eye they look like black stripes or streaks coming down from the roof which can be seen from several homes away but when looked at closely we can see they are mold spores. Mold spores that can travel through the air and grow on other neighboring homes or exterior surfaces. Just one unsightly and unclean home can ruin the longevity of the surrounding clean homes.

A recently constructed new home can show signs of these unclean black streaks in as little as three years with the growth progression moving faster if not treated promptly. 

The next question you may ask is "why does this matter"? 

The answer is simple but varies depending on your situation. The answer may be to keep your homes curb appeal up to give off a respectable impression, it may be to prepare for a sale or it may be to save you the added cost of replacing to a new roof because the gloeocapsa magma slowly but surely has been eating away at the shingles fillers such as the limestone to stay healthy and growing.

In preparation to buying a new home the biggest factor aside from plumbing and electrical is the roof. With the average cost of replacing a roof being around $16,000 it is a worth while decision to look into. If no proper documentation is kept to show when the roof was replaced then the inspector can do so by looking at the cleanliness of the shingles. If relatively clean we can conclude the roof is somewhat new, if the roof has heavy dark black stains we can conclude it is very old and going to need replacing soon. As a seller this may ding your asking price greatly as a buyer you may want to ask for a credit in regards to the roof or keep searching for another home. This can be compared to a car for sale, by giving it a good cleaning which adds more perceived value when behind the wheel therefore raising the chances at a better selling price.

If left unclean the bacteria will not only spread but continue to degrade your roofs lifespan by eating away at its fillers.

In recent years roof shingle manufactures have added more fillers to composition shingles in order to save on cost. The big downside is that gloeocapsa magma love to eat these up all day long. To them its all you can eat buffet, to us it is money down the drain. Aside from fillers the shingles have petroleum based oils to increase durability, this is in part why soft washing is a great solution to cleaning off the black streaks. The chemicals used do not degrade the fillers or oils only attack the organic growth on the shingles surface.

As stated before the limestone is eaten by the organisms. Limestone is most often used in composition shingle because it is very inexpensive and there is an abundant supply. The reason why gloeocapsa magma streaks always come down in the same manner is due to gravity and the way rain water drips down.

So now that we have gone over what gloeocapsa magma are and how they can slowly damage your home, we must figure out a way to clean up this unsanitary bacteria.


By far the best and safest way to clean this up is by the professional application of algacides to your home at low pressure and coated over the bacteria. When a low pressure cleaning method is used we are safe from any tile granules being stripped away and lowering a roofs lifespan by years. Please note that high pressure washing on roofs can often times void the roofs warranty. The low pressure applied to the roof is similiar to a rain shower in terms of force. When soft washing it is the chemical algaecide that does all the work. The gloeocapsa magma has no choice but to drink up the chemical cleaning solution and dissipate off the shingles. This method of cleaning does have to be handled with caution by a reputable professional because the chemical can create poisonous vapors when touching the hot shingle tiles, a professional will carry a chemical gas mask and the proper eye protection to avoid any workplace accidents. We must also take into account plant and property protection to ensure no damage occurs while cleaning.

If done properly and safely your roof will be clean for years to come. Typically two years at the least but this depends on varying factors such as the weather conditions in the up coming months, if other growth is still on your homes surfaces that can carry up to the roof and lastly other surrounding homes that remain dirty and unsanitary will carry mold spores through the air and attach to your clean roof, lowering its time of cleanliness. 

To conclude soft washing is the best method of cleaning roofs. This method delivers lasting results for years to come with no damage that conventional high pressure cleaning will do to a roofs delicate fillers. We recommend you contact a professional is you would like this service.

For more information feel free to check out more of our Blogs
If you would like a quick quote for your home please call us at (561)-305-8154
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Visit us on Facebook  for the latest completed projects.
We service Boca Raton, Delray, Parkland and the surrounding areas.

 When hiring any contractor for home improvement there are many reasons we may choose a specific person or company but the truth is there are three main factors we must take into account.

                                                Reputation,    Quality   and    Price

In many situations homeowners either do to much research or not enough research into a qualified pressure washing professional.

When we worry on who is the best or the lowest cost contractor we often forget the big picture of the task. The main target is to get the job done right and at a reasonable cost for most people. We fall into this trap of searching high and low for the lowest price contractors for the highest quality, which in many cases will not occur. After hours of research and calling around for quotes we realize pricing as well as how the job will be done varies greatly. Typically the lowest bidding contractor wants to get in and get out, without worry of how well the job will come out. On the other hand  the highest bidding contractor works with attention to detail and wont leave until you are satisfied. 

Doing to much research can result in no action taken or even worse, doing it yourself. Which is not a bad option but if you want quality and to keep your safety intact it is best to hand the work over to an insured professional. 

Doing to little research can result in poor results and an unfinished job. These types of contractors are the fly by night characters who have no respect for how to job gets done, all they are intrested in is the pay day.


Our recommendation is to go for something in the middle. Do a good job of research into a credible pressure washing professional. This can be done by holding the three factors in mind throughout the search.       

​                                                  Reputation,    Quality     and   Price  


The first factor we must look into is the companies reputation. We must ask ourselves a list of questions such as if this company or individual is insured, capable of starting and completing the task, will they respect my home, will they show up, what if I am not satisfied with the work done?
Questions such as these can be answered by checking up on online review such as those from google. To refer to for credibility

We can also check on the company or individuals reputation by asking neighbors in the community if they have done work for them in the past or to who they may refer. This is a gold mine of resources because now we have a credible cleaning company from a credible source and many times we can see the work done with our own eyes, therefore reassuring our thoughts.
Another way we can check for reputation is asking the company or individual for references from previous clients and customers. In our experience when a client is satisfied with the work provided they are happy to share  us with the world on how great we were.  If a service provider does not have any or chooses not to give any, this can be checked off as a red flag. It may be best to move on to another power washing service provider.


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The next factor we have is quality. Quality encompasses a variety of aspects such as details in workmanship, showing up on time, leaving the place better than it was found, not just starting the job without making it known to the residence that you have arrived, answering any questions or concerns before starting any work, following a process for exterior cleaning and so on. 

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Often times it is difficult to know how a pressure cleaning job will come out unless we try them out the first time, then we see if we love it or hate it. The best way to find out if quality is high is if you have seen them perform work on a neighbors home, this can show you face to face what level of service you will receive in most cases. Reviews left on google from previous customers is a big sign of quality level. If the google reviews left are low and only speak about how mediocre the level of quality was then we know where we stand. If we see that google reviews are high and the customers speaking from experience are amazed with the attention to detail then we can have more clarity into what we will get.


We do not recommend you go with a service provider who has no google reviews because this tell us they may not be qualified to do the exterior cleaning with quality in mind. We suggest going with a service provider who has at least 30 google review and up with an average score of 4.5. With a score like this we can tell the pressure cleaning professional has experience and can tell based off the reviews text what sort of a job they can provide.  

Quality can is always echoed through the company. From when they answer the phone, to quoting, to following the job to its completion.

Does the company or individual pick up on the first ring or not at all and leaves you talking with the voicemail?

Does the company or individual send your quote over quickly or gets back to you within 2 business days?

Does the company or individual have procedures and systems in place to ensure a detailed scope of work is completed?

Below we have provided you with a few results of positive 5 star google review ratings left by previous clients.

The final factor to keep in mind is pricing. This factor is very dynamic due to the customers preferences. Some customers may want the cheapest service provider out there no matter the quality. This can be compared to a fast food restaurant, providing quick service but quality may not always be the highest. Other customers may want an expensive service provider because they understand that quality is the highest possible and they can have peace of mind after a power washing job is completed. The truth is that the vast majority of homeowners all want the same features in a pressure cleaning company. A reasonably priced service with attention to detail in mind, a service provider who will show up and look after the homeowners home just as they would, if not more. 

The factor of pricing varies from state to state, company to company and service to service. 
The best method to find a pricing to fit your needs is to determine what your budget is and call on three power washing service providers for a quote and pick the one you most feel confident in to do the work. 

In conclusion it is best to find the pressure cleaning professional that best suits your needs in terms of reputation, quality and pricing. This is not a one size fits all approach, only you know what is the best choice for exterior cleaning.

For more information feel free to check out more of our Blogs
If you would like a quick quote for your home please call us at (561)-305-8154
​
Visit us on Facebook  for the latest completed projects.
We service Boca Raton, Delray, Parkland and the surrounding areas.