Roof Cleaning in Chattanooga, TN
Roof soft washing in Chattanooga
Chattanooga Washing Co. does roof cleaning in Chattanooga the way the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association tells homeowners to: a sodium hypochlorite and water solution, with no power washer and no brush or broom on the shingles. We treat black streaks, green moss, gray lichen and mildew on asphalt shingle, architectural shingle, standing-seam metal, tile and slate roofs. Our roof mix runs 4-6% SH with a surfactant, applied by a 12-volt soft wash pump and rinsed at low volume. Gutters, downspouts and the siding below get rinsed too, so nothing dries where it shouldn't.
Chattanooga Washing Co. provides roof soft washing and black streak removal to Chattanooga and surrounding Tennessee and North Georgia cities, including Signal Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Red Bank, Hixson, Ooltewah, Soddy-Daisy, East Ridge and Ringgold. Pair it with house washing and the whole exterior is done in one trip.
Why Chattanooga homeowners trust us on their roof
- No power washer and no brush on shingles, as ARMA advises
- Roof mix held inside the 15-20 minute dwell window
- Plants soaked before and after, gutters and siding rinsed
- A written roof warranty with every soft wash
- Free estimates; send photos for a faster quote
- Insured crew with evening and weekend appointments
Types of roof cleaning we offer
Roof cleaning covers several different jobs. The roofing material and what is growing on it decide the mix strength, the dwell time and how we rinse.
Asphalt shingle roof cleaning
Asphalt shingles cover most Chattanooga homes. Three-tab shingles usually last 15-18 years and architectural shingles 24-30 years, so a roof often gets cleaned more than once before it's replaced. We apply a 4-6% sodium hypochlorite mix, let it dwell and rinse at low volume. No granules get blasted loose, and the streaks fade as the algae dies.
Black streak removal
The dark streaks running down from the ridge are Gloeocapsa magma, a cyanobacterium (blue-green algae) carried on the wind. Its pigment turns a light roof brown to black and gets mistaken for soot or dirt. ARMA calls it the most prevalent cause of roof discoloration. A soft wash kills it, and the streaks clear over the next few rains.
Moss removal
Moss grows as dense green mats in damp, shady spots, which puts it on north-facing slopes under oaks and pines. Thick mats hold water against the shingles and lift the edges of tabs. We kill moss with the roof mix and hand-remove loose clumps where it's safe, never by scraping. The rest dries out and releases over the following weeks.
Lichen treatment
Lichen is a fungus living with an algal or cyanobacterial partner, and about 90% of known lichens have an algal one. It grips the granule surface harder than algae does, so the gray and pale green rosettes on older roofs need a longer dwell and sometimes a second pass. Dead lichen bleaches first, then rain carries it off over a few months.
Metal roof cleaning
Standing-seam and exposed-fastener metal roofs collect chalky film, mildew and pollen rather than streaks. We use a lower-strength mix, rinse each panel run toward the eave and keep pressure off seams and fasteners. Painted metal keeps its color longer when grime isn't left sitting through Chattanooga's 83 days a year with a tenth of an inch of rain or more.
Tile and slate roof cleaning
Clay tile, concrete tile and slate turn up on some of Chattanooga's older and historic homes. Fixr's cost guide says a typical tile roof should be cleaned about once a year. We soft wash these roofs with low-pressure rinses and only step where the tile can carry weight, because a few cracked tiles cost far more to fix than the wash itself.
Commercial roof cleaning
Offices, churches, apartment buildings and retail centers carry the same algae, plus mildew and pollen around rooftop units and parapet walls. Our hi-lift equipment reaches buildings up to 10 stories, and the same no-pressure soft wash applies to shingle mansards and metal panel roofs. Commercial roofs can go on a service agreement alongside building washing.
Roof cleaning before a home sale
A streaked roof makes buyers and inspectors assume it's older than it is. A soft wash before listing photos shows the real condition of the shingles in about half a day. If the roof is near the end of its 15-18 or 24-30 year life, we tell you so instead of selling a cleaning that won't help.
How much does roof cleaning cost in Chattanooga?
Roof cleaning in Chattanooga typically costs $399 to $699 for most homes, with large, steep or heavily mossed roofs running higher. HomeAdvisor's 2026 national range is $296 to $626, averaging $461, and Fixr puts soft wash roof cleaning at $0.30 to $0.75 per sq ft. Roof size, pitch, height and growth set the final price.
| Job | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranch roof, up to 1,500 sq ft | $399 | $449 | $549 |
| Roof of 1,500 to 2,500 sq ft | $449 | $549 | $699 |
| Roof over 2,500 sq ft or steep pitch | $599 | $749 | $999 |
| Metal roof soft wash | $399 | $499 | $699 |
| Heavy moss or lichen treatment (add) | $100 | $150 | $250 |
These are typical starting ranges, and we confirm the final number before work starts. Roofs too steep to walk need extra rigging and time, and HomeAdvisor's $100 to $250 national range for moss, algae or lichen treatment is a fair guide to what heavy growth adds.
What causes black streaks on Chattanooga roofs?
Black streaks on Chattanooga roofs are colonies of Gloeocapsa magma, a cyanobacterium that spreads on the wind and grows on shingles. ARMA says algae growth is worst in warm, humid regions, and Chattanooga fits: 55 inches of rain a year, average humidity near 72% and about 52 days a year at 90 degrees or hotter.
Shade and slope decide where it starts. North-facing slopes and roofs under oaks and pines stay damp longest through the December to March rain peak, when each month brings more than 5 inches of rain. That's why streaks usually show first on the back of the house, then creep down from the ridge on the sunnier faces a few years later.
Timing follows the same pattern. A soft wash in late winter or early spring catches growth before summer humidity speeds it up, and results usually last about 2 to 3 years on a typical Chattanooga roof, depending on shade, trees and humidity. HomeAdvisor says most pros recommend cleaning every two to five years. When it's time to reroof, algae-resistant shingles with copper granules slow regrowth.
How our roof cleaning visit works
- Inspection and estimate
We look the roof over from the ground and the ladder, note missing tabs, soft spots or failing flashing, and give you a price. If it needs a roofer rather than a wash, you hear that first.
- Protect plants and the house
Shrubs and beds get soaked with plain water, downspouts are turned away from beds where we can, and patio furniture and cars are moved out of the drip line.
- Apply, dwell and rinse
The 4-6% roof mix goes on at low pressure and sits within ARMA's 15-20 minute window. We rinse the roof gently, then flush the gutters and rinse the siding and plants.
- Walkthrough and warranty
You get before and after photos and the written roof warranty. Leftover lichen and moss keep releasing with the next few rains, which is normal.
Roof cleaning near Chattanooga
- Collegedale, TNTurnover washes for rentals near Southern Adventist University, first cleanings for 2010s homes and flatwork along SR 317.
- East Ridge, TNBrick ranches from the 1950s, original carport slabs and Ringgold Road storefronts, washed at the right pressure for their age.
- Fort Oglethorpe, GAShaded homes on the battlefield edge, 2000s vinyl subdivisions and the 1904 quarters on Barnhardt Circle, all on our Georgia route.
- Harrison, TNDock, boathouse and seawall cleaning timed to the winter lake level, plus lake-safe soft washing for Harrison homes.
- Hixson, TNSoft washing for the split-levels and ranches off Hixson Pike, roofs under Big Ridge oaks and docks above Chickamauga Dam.
- Lookout Mountain, TNPre-war brick, sandstone walls and lichen on shaded brow lots, cleaned with detergent and patience instead of pressure.
- Ooltewah, TNSoft washing for 2000s and 2010s subdivision homes, HOA-ready roofs and broom-finish driveways east of White Oak Mountain.
- Red Bank, TNA town named for red clay, with pre-war cottages, 1950s ranches and Dayton Boulevard storefronts that all need that clay washed off.
- Signal Mountain, TNRoofs under a full Walden Ridge canopy, cleaned of black streaks, moss and lichen by soft wash, with gutters done the same day.
- Soddy-Daisy, TNDeck cleaning, long rural drives, barns and escarpment-shaded roofs along the 9-mile US 27 corridor.
Roof cleaning FAQ for Chattanooga homes
Does roof cleaning damage shingles?
Not when it's a soft wash. ARMA, the trade group for asphalt shingle makers, warns against power washers, brushes and brooms on asphalt roofs because they strip the protective granules. A low-pressure sodium hypochlorite treatment kills the algae without touching the granules, so the shingles keep their surface and the roof keeps its expected life.
How often should a roof be cleaned in Chattanooga?
Every two to five years for most roofs, which is what HomeAdvisor says most pros recommend. In Chattanooga a soft-washed roof usually stays clean about 2 to 3 years, less on shaded north slopes under oaks and pines. Tile roofs are often cleaned yearly. We'll give you a likely interval for your roof at the estimate.
Will roof cleaning chemicals hurt my plants?
Not when plants are protected. ARMA warns that the bleach solution has to be applied carefully around buildings and plants, so we soak beds with plain water before, during and after the wash and keep runoff diluted. Delicate plants right under a downspout can be covered. Lawns and established shrubs come through a normal roof wash fine.
Can you remove moss from a roof without pressure washing?
Yes. Moss dies once the roof mix soaks into it, and the dead mats dry out, shrink and wash away with the next rains. We hand-remove loose clumps where it's safe to stand. Scraping or pressure washing moss off a roof pulls shingle granules with it, which shortens the life of the roof.
Is it better to clean or replace a streaked roof?
Clean it if the shingles are sound. Streaks and moss are surface growth, and a soft wash at $399 to $699 costs a small fraction of a new roof. Replace it if tabs are curling, granules are gone or the roof is past its 15-18 year (three-tab) or 24-30 year (architectural) life. We'll tell you which you have.
When is the best time of year to clean a roof in Chattanooga?
Late winter through spring is the best window. Chattanooga's December to March rain peak gives algae and moss months to spread, and cleaning before the humid summer slows regrowth. Roofs can be soft washed any time of year, though, as long as it's above freezing and dry, so book whenever the streaks bother you.