Those black streaks running down your roof are algae feeding on the limestone filler in your shingles. We soft-wash it off at low pressure, kill the growth at the root, and leave the granules right where they belong.
Roof cleaning is a low-pressure soft wash that lifts algae, moss, and lichen off your shingles or tile without blasting the granules off the surface. The black streaks running down Boise roofs are living growth, and high pressure cannot kill it. It just blows the top layer off and leaves the root behind to come back by next season.
We answer fast and our crews show up on time. Serving Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Nampa, and Garden City. Call for an estimate any hour.
Your roof is the one surface on your property where high pressure causes real damage. Asphalt shingles are coated in granules that protect the underlying material from UV rays and weather. Hit them with a high-pressure wand and those granules come off, shortening the life of the roof. Tile cracks under concentrated pressure. Metal panels dent or lose their coating.
Soft washing is the right tool. We apply a cleaning detergent at low pressure, the kind of pressure you would expect from a garden hose, and let it break down the algae, moss, and lichen at the root. Then we rinse gently. The growth is dead, not just knocked loose, so it takes years longer to come back.
Call about your roof. You get a number before any work begins.
📞 Call (208) 842-1167Three things show up on roofs around the Treasure Valley:
All three feed on moisture and shade. Boise's north-facing roof slopes, the ones that stay damp after a morning watering or sit under a big shade tree, are where they get their start. From there, they spread.
Boise sits in high desert, and the roof takes the brunt of it. Intense summer sun bakes the shingles and breaks down the asphalt. Cold winters with freeze-thaw cycles open up cracks where moisture sits. Spring wind pulls fine grit off the foothills and deposits it on the roof, and that grit holds moisture and feeds the growth.
The sprinklers are a factor too. Homes with sprinkler heads that hit the roof line, usually on the south or west side where the wind carries the spray, get hard-water mineral deposits and constant moisture on those slopes. That is where algae and moss move in first.
And the dust. Late summer stacks wildfire haze on top of the normal foothills grit, and both leave an oily film on the roof that rain cannot rinse on its own. That film is food for algae. A regular soft wash clears it off before it sets in as permanent staining.
Each roof material gets a detergent strength and rinse pressure matched to what it can handle:
Every roof gets the same four steps, in the same order:
We look over the roof from the ground and eaves first, checking the roof condition, noting any soft spots or cracked tiles, and flagging anything that needs a careful hand.
A plant-safe cleaning detergent goes on at low pressure and starts breaking down algae, moss, and lichen before we rinse a thing.
The detergent sits on the roof and does the work. We let it break the growth down at the root rather than trying to blast it off.
A low-pressure rinse carries the dead growth and staining off the roof, section by section, with a final check of every slope in our final walkthrough.
We are based in Boise. Not a franchise, not a call center dispatching whoever happens to be nearest. When you call Pressure Wash Boise, you get a crew that knows the difference between a North End craftsman with a steep-pitch roof and a newer vinyl build out past Ten Mile with a low-slope front.
Our routes cover the full Boise metro, including Meridian, Eagle, Nampa, and Garden City. Getting to you is no trouble. Reach out and we will find a time that fits your neighborhood.
Our cleaning detergents are plant-safe, and we rinse nearby landscaping before and after the roof cleaning to look after your beds and lawn. Pricing comes down to the roof size, the pitch, and how much growth is on it. Call, and you get a number before any work begins.
We soft wash roofs across the whole Boise metro. Asphalt shingle, tile, or metal, the low-pressure method clears off the algae, moss, and lichen while your shingles and granules come through untouched. Call for a roof cleaning estimate.
One call does it — tell us about your roof and your number's ready before we hang up. No form to fill out.
Call (208) 842-1167Estimate over the phone, real local See your priceWhat sets the price, on the home pageThe three things Boise homeowners ask about most before they book:
No. We soft wash at low pressure, comparable to a garden hose, with cleaning detergents that break down the growth at the root. High pressure is what damages shingles, and we do not use it on roofs. Your granules stay on the shingle.
Yes. The detergents are plant-safe and go on at low pressure. We soak your garden beds and landscaping down before and after the roof cleaning so any overspray gets diluted, and we ask that pets stay inside while we work.
Roof cleaning is priced on the square footage of the roof, the pitch, and how much growth is on it. Call with your address and we estimate it up front. That price is set before the first drop of detergent goes on. You know your number before we start.
Straight answers to what Boise homeowners ask us most.
Yes, when it is done with a soft wash. We use low pressure and cleaning detergents that break down algae, moss, and lichen at the root, then rinse gently. No high-pressure blasting, which is what strips granules off asphalt shingles and shortens the life of the roof. The method matters: low pressure cleans the roof without wearing it down.
Roof cleaning is priced on the square footage of the roof, the pitch, and how much algae, moss, or lichen buildup is on it. A steeper roof takes more setup time and safety gear, which factors into the price. Call with your address and we will estimate it up front. You get a number before any work begins.
Almost always a hardy airborne algae called Gloeocapsa magma. It settles on roof slopes that stay damp or shaded and feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles. The black layer you see is its protective shell. Over time it spreads down the roof in the streaks everyone recognizes. Soft washing breaks the organism down at the root so it is actually gone, not just knocked back for a season.
Every two to three years covers most roofs in the Boise area. If your roof has heavy tree cover, a shaded north slope, or sits where sprinklers hit it regularly, you may need it sooner. If you can see black streaks, green patches, or moss starting to lift the shingle edges, it is time, no matter what the calendar says.
No. High pressure is the wrong tool for a roof. It strips the granules off asphalt shingles, which are what protect the roof from UV damage, and it can force water up under the shingle tabs. We soft wash roofs instead: low pressure with cleaning detergents that kill the growth at the source, then a gentle rinse. The clean lasts longer because the organism is dead, not just blasted off.
A typical single-story Boise home runs two to four hours from setup to final rinse. A larger two-story or a roof with a steep pitch and lots of dormers can take longer because of the setup and safety gear. We keep a steady pace but we never rush the rinse. Every section gets a second look in our final walkthrough.
No. The low-pressure soft wash is gentle on gutters, and we direct runoff away from the gutter channels. If your gutters already have black oxidation streaking on the outside faces, we can treat that as part of the same visit. Just ask about it when you call.
Asphalt shingle roofs, which are the most common around Boise and the Treasure Valley. Concrete and clay tile roofs, which hold algae and moss in their textured surfaces. And metal roofs, which collect dust and pollen that a low-pressure rinse clears off easily. Each roof type gets a detergent strength and pressure matched to what it can handle.
Yes. Algae, moss, and lichen do not just sit on the roof looking bad. Moss lifts shingle edges and lets water get underneath. Algae feeds on the limestone filler in the shingle and breaks it down over time. Lichen etches into the surface. Removing that growth takes the pressure off the roofing material, which is why manufacturers list regular cleaning as part of roof maintenance.
We use plant-safe detergents at low pressure. Garden beds and landscaping near the foundation get wetted down before and after the roof cleaning so any overspray is diluted, and we steer runoff away from anything planted. We ask that pets stay inside or away from the work area while we are on the roof.
Yes. We cover the whole Boise metro, including Meridian, Eagle, Nampa, and Garden City, and we run routes through Ada and Canyon Counties all the time. Getting to you is no trouble. Reach out and we will find a time that fits your neighborhood.
Call about your roof. A real local picks up, and you get a number before any work begins. No form to fill out, no waiting on an email. If the roof is hard to see from the ground, give us the address and we will figure out the scope from there.
Exterior cleaning for homes and businesses across the Treasure Valley. Here's the rest of what we do.
Soft wash that lifts mildew, algae, and foothills dust off siding, gutters, and trim without touching the paint. Safe on vinyl, stucco, wood, and brick.
See House WashingHouse siding, driveways, fences, decks, and commercial buildings. One crew for every exterior surface, with the method matched to what it can take.
See Power WashingHard-water spots, dust, and pollen pulled off exterior glass and frames without streaking. Clear glass and clean sills.
See Window CleaningOil spots, tire marks, moss in the shady seams, years of ground-in grime. We bring concrete and paved driveways back to one clean, even color.
See Driveway CleaningStorefronts, parking lots, walkways, loading docks, and building exteriors, scheduled around your business hours so your customers only ever see the clean.
See Commercial WashingMeridian's newer neighborhoods are full of vinyl and painted stucco. A yearly soft wash keeps them a step ahead of the valley dust.
Meridian Pressure Washing