Roof soft washing in Barnegat

What owners tend to describe

• Dark patches on the north slope while the south slope still looks new
• Black streaks running down the shingles, usually worst below a chimney or a vent
• A neighbour's roof cleaned last year that still looks clean, next to yours that does not

Why this comes up in Barnegat

Here is what makes Barnegat particular: pine-barrens edge to the west, open bay to the east. Pine needles and sap rather than the leaf load of Manahawkin, and irrigation on well water is close to universal through the developments — which makes this the heaviest iron-staining ground anywhere we cover.

The newest stock in the service area by some distance. Large planned developments, including a substantial fifty-five-and-over population, mostly vinyl and stone-front on uniform lots, alongside older village housing near Route 9 and waterfront toward the bay.

Practicalities in Barnegat

Wide streets, full driveways and room to work on nearly every property. The constraint here is not physical: in the planned communities it is the association's rules about what may be done, and when.

Any permit for this runs through Barnegat Township. State registration has to be current before one is issued.

What the job looks like

The black streaking is a cyanobacteria, Gloeocapsa magma, that feeds on limestone filler in asphalt shingles. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association's guidance is low pressure and a cleaning solution; pressure washing strips granules and is excluded under most shingle warranties. Ask what pressure the crew works at and what they do to protect the gutters, plantings and the run-off path before they start.