Roof soft washing in Surf City

What usually prompts the call

• Black streaks running down the shingles, usually worst below a chimney or a vent
• Dark patches on the north slope while the south slope still looks new
• Moss or lichen sitting in the shingle courses on a shaded roof

Why this comes up in Surf City

Ocean and bay are close together through the borough, so salt reaches most of the grid and the shaded gaps between close-set houses hold damp. Neither exposure dominates, which is why so many houses here have a clean side and a green side. That is the context any crew working in Surf City is dealing with.

Small lots on a tight numbered grid, with surviving mid-century cottages sitting between substantial new elevated builds. Vinyl dominates, with cedar and painted trim on the older stock nearer the ocean blocks.

Practicalities in Surf City

A tight grid with narrow driveways and heavy street parking in season. Most jobs are worked from the driveway with hose run around the house rather than a rig moved to each elevation.

Coating work needs a permit through Surf City, and no municipality in New Jersey will issue one to an unregistered contractor.

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.