You may call the Houston area home – but you’re not the only one.

A pesky little single cell organism, Gloeocapsa Magma, also likes to put down roots here. Often times those “roots” are planted firmly in the roofs of our homes. Even though you might not recognize the name of this organism, you’d likely recognize the unsightly, dark streaks it leaves on your roof, driveway, and home siding.

Algae are a problem for appearance and the health of your home. They grow by feeding on the organic material and moisture found inside and in between roof shingles. As they sit there, these algae protect themselves from the sun’s ultra violet rays by producing a dark streak – hence the dark streaks running down your roof. The algae stain usually begins as a small spot and by the time this little blemish grows into a noticeable streak, the algae will have been present on the roof for several months or longer.
 

More Than Just Appearances

As mentioned before, these algae cause your home more harm than just the streaks. By eating the matter inside the shingles, algae compromise the integrity of a roof by shortening its useful lifespan. The damaged caused by algae also makes a roof less effective at protecting the inside of a house from the elements.

Although roofs get most of the attention, other areas around your home are also vulnerable to algae, as they spread via airborne spores. Concrete may look “hard as a rock,” but it’s really a very porous material that resembles an English muffin on the inside. All those air pockets provide comfortable spots for algae to reside. The tiny crevices of home siding material also give algae a place to call its own.
 

Cleaning Your Exterior with Soft Washing

Fortunately, the crew at Good Guys of Texas has a solution for removing algae from roofs and other areas of your home – safely, quickly, and effectively.

Soft washing is the use of water-based, biodegradable chemicals to break down dirt and grime, remove bug nests and webs, kill mold, mildew, algae and bacteria – leaving the surface clean and sterilized. 

Soft washing consumes just one-third of the water that pressure or power washing does, lasts 4 - 6 times longer, and does not deteriorate or harm the surface like power washing often can. Soft washing also does so much more than pressure washing because it does more than simply clean your roof. The products used in the SoftWash System do not just clean; they penetrate, sanitize, and completely remove the root of the issue.

If you're looking for a way to get rid of what's growing on the surface of your roof, deck or fence, break the cycle of irritating pressure washing and use an option that can remove the problem 100%.

Soft washing can be used on a wide variety of materials without fear of damage, including:

• Concrete
• Brick
• Tile
• Wood
• Vinyl Siding
• Aluminum
• And more…

If you’re interested in learning more about soft washing or would like to receive a free quote, call us today at 832.626.7481 to schedule an appointment with one of our SoftWash specialists.