When is the best time to clean your roof?

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Short answer: The best time to clean your roof is as soon as black streaking becomes visible, rather than waiting for a certain time of year. Most Volusia County roofs are on a 2 to 3 year cycle, and since the algae spreads by wind, earlier is better than later once you notice it on the slope.

Why waiting costs you more than time

The algae behind roof streaking spreads by wind, so a roof left too long doesn't just look worse, it can help seed growth on other parts of the roof. Getting ahead of it is more useful than picking a specific season to act on it.

Does weather affect the timing?

Florida's regular afternoon storms don't rule out scheduling a cleaning, since visits are planned day by day around the forecast. What matters more is catching the streaking early rather than timing it to a particular season on the calendar.

The crew checks the forecast before confirming a visit, since a soft wash needs a reasonable dry window afterward for the solution to finish its work. That's why a booked day can sometimes shift by a day or two if the forecast changes close to the visit.

Tying it to your roof's age

An older roof, especially one that hasn't been cleaned in the 2 to 3 year window, is more likely to already have visible streaking. If your roof is on the older side, that's a reasonable trigger to book sooner rather than later.

What about right before or after a storm season

A clean roof isn't any more or less prepared for a storm, so there's no real advantage to timing a cleaning specifically around storm season one way or the other. It's more about your own schedule and how visible the streaking already is on the roof.

Staying ahead of it going forward

Puma Pass rebooks a cleaning every 6 months at 15% off and lets you skip a visit if the roof doesn't need it, which works well against the natural 2 to 3 year cycle most roofs are actually on.

In Volusia County

Volusia County property records show 56% of homes were built before 1990. That means a large share of the county's roofs have had years of exposure to the algae behind black streaking. The typical roof cleaning across the county prices at $464 no matter what time of year it's booked.

Questions people ask

Should I clean my roof before or after hurricane season?

Either works. A clean roof isn't more or less prepared for a storm, so timing mostly comes down to when the streaking is bothering you or when it's on your maintenance schedule.

Is there a wrong time of year to clean a roof?

Not really, though scheduling around a clear stretch of weather when possible is reasonable, similar to any other exterior cleaning.

How do I know if my roof is due?

Visible black streaking, especially on the shaded side, or being close to the 2 to 3 year mark since the last cleaning are both good signs it's due for one.

Can I schedule a roof cleaning around the same time as my house wash?

Yes, and bundling both together in one visit saves 10% off the combined total for the job.

Keep reading

Roof cleaning across Volusia →