What soft washing actually is
Soft washing uses low pressure — about the same as a garden hose — combined with a specialized cleaning solution to kill and rinse off moss, algae, lichen, and the black streaks caused by gloeocapsa magma (a common roof algae). It's the method the shingle manufacturers themselves recommend.
Why not pressure wash a roof?
High-pressure washing on asphalt shingles blasts off the granules that protect the shingle from UV. It can void the roof's warranty, shorten its life by years, and drive water up under the shingles. A quick fix that costs you a roof isn't a deal.
What soft washing removes
- Black streaks (roof algae)
- Green and orange moss
- Lichen colonies
- Mildew and general grime
- Stains from overhanging trees
How often does an Oregon roof need it?
Between the rain, the shade, and the tree cover, most Oregon roofs benefit from a cleaning every 3 to 5 years. Homes with heavy tree cover or persistent moss might need attention sooner. A quick visual inspection tells us right away.
What a Halen Homes soft-wash includes
- Walk-around inspection and estimate on-site
- Landscape protection — plants and shrubs are pre-wetted and rinsed after
- Low-pressure application of a shingle-safe cleaning solution
- Careful rinse where needed, with the pitch and shingle type in mind
- Optional zinc or copper strip installation to slow moss regrowth
Will it damage anything?
Done correctly, no. The point of soft washing is that it's gentler than a rainstorm. The bigger risk is hiring someone who treats it like pressure-washing a driveway. Ask any roof cleaner two questions: what pressure do you use on shingles, and how do you protect landscaping? The answers will tell you a lot.
Halen Homes serves homeowners across Oregon. Licensed and insured.