On average, a new roof can cost as much as eight thousand dollars so it is important that you take care of your roof to prolong the life of the roof. One way to accomplish this is to do periodic roof cleaning. Having a roof that looks, splotchy and streaky is not normal. Bacteria known as gloeocapsa magma generally is the cause of those stains and streaks you see on the roof. This is a form of algae growth. Inside your roof's shingles granules there is limestone filler, which is eaten away by this bacteria once to take hold of your roof. If it is not caught, it will cost the loss of roof granules eventually. Mold and mildew can also cause dirty streaks and eats away at the roof shingles. The way to stop this from happening is to have regular roof cleaning done. Some homeowners think that the streaking is just normal wear and tear and their roof should only last twelve to fifteen years. If the streaking is cleaned from their roof it can last as long as twenty to twenty-five years.

Although you can clean the roof yourself, it is best to hire roofing contractors who are familiar with the soft wash method. This method will use a cleaning solution that is biodegradable and will adhere to your roof instead of running off and causing damage to your property. The soft wash uses low-pressure water. Avoid companies that use pressure wash because this type of high-powered wash can cause more damage to the shingles. It can also spread the algae spores into the atmosphere, causing them to get into your home or quickly re-attach to your newly cleaned roof. To clean a roof can cost a few hundred dollars but is a lot cheaper than having a new roof installed.

In order to know if your roof needs to be cleaned you cannot stand on the ground and look at the roof. You will have to take a ladder and climb up and inspect the roof. Before you climb up the ladder to the roof, make sure that you are using a sturdy ladder and that you have someone there to monitor you if there is trouble. At the top of the ladder, take time to see if there is any damage from any past storms, such as bent, broken, or missing shingles. If you see any damage, it will have to be fixed before you do roof cleaning. If you are unable to climb up and inspect your roof, hire a professional to do the inspection. They would also be able to repair any damage and then clean the roof.