Roof Cleaning Cost: $296 to $626 + Soft Wash vs Pressure

This page covers shingle, tile, wood and metal roofs on houses. Solar panels need their own method; see solar panel cleaning. Siding, driveways and decks are on the pressure washing cost page.

How much does roof cleaning cost

Published US prices. HomeGuide's guide was published April 2024 and is titled 2026. Fixr's $612 assumes pressure washing a 1,500 sq ft roof.

Most quotes are per square foot or per square (100 sq ft), HomeAdvisor says. Fixr's figures by size show how wide that spread is: $150 to $900 for a 1,500 sq ft roof and $200 to $1,200 for 2,000 sq ft. The other drivers are height, pitch and how much growth there is. HomeGuide adds $0.10 to $0.20 per square foot for an extra story and $0.15 to $0.20 for a steep roof, and HomeAdvisor notes that steep pitches and third-story roofs need more safety gear.

Roof cleaning cost by method and roof type

HomeGuide 2026 guide; Fixr, January 2025. HomeAdvisor (June 2026) lists a low-pressure wash for wood or slate at $600 to $1,100 and a high-pressure wash for metal at $350 to $700.

Soft wash roof cleaning vs pressure washing

A soft wash sprays a cleaning solution at low pressure, lets it work, and rinses gently. Pressure washing blasts the surface with water. On asphalt shingles, the shingle makers' trade group and GAF say no to the second one.

• ARMA, the asphalt roofing trade group: "High pressure washing systems are likely to damage asphalt roofing and should not be used on asphalt roofing for removing algae or for any other purpose."
• GAF, in its technical bulletin on algae: "Do not power wash the shingles," because it can remove granules and cause early shingle failure.
• HomeGuide says contractors "strongly recommend against" pressure washing shingles, and that RCIA and ARMA advise against it on shingle or tile roofs.

Other materials have their own limits. HomeAdvisor says clay tile is porous and should not be pressure washed, wood needs a low-pressure wash, and slate can crack if someone steps on it carelessly. Metal is the exception: HomeGuide and HomeAdvisor both price metal roofs with a pressure wash. If you have a metal roof with loose panels or fasteners, that is a metal roof repair job first.

Black streaks on the roof: roof algae removal

Bob Vila says dark streaks running down a shingle roof are algae, not mold or soot. ARMA says Gloeocapsa magma is "probably the most prevalent" of the species involved, and that it is most widespread in the Gulf States and along the Northwest and Eastern Seaboards, though it occurs in all regions, especially warm, humid ones. GAF describes it as a blue-green algae that travels through the air.

ARMA's Tom Bollnow told Bob Vila the algae is mainly cosmetic, but the moisture it holds can age shingles early. ARMA's suggested treatment is one part chlorine bleach to one part water, left on 15 to 20 minutes and rinsed, with no scrubbing because friction loosens granules. GAF's bulletin gives its own mix (4 gallons of water, 1 gallon of bleach and 1 cup of TSP or a phosphate-free substitute) and says to rinse with low-pressure water. Both warn that the treated roof gets slippery, and GAF says to protect the shrubs below. ARMA adds that other chemicals or methods should not be used without the shingle maker's approval. These are the publishers' mixes, not a recommendation to apply them yourself.

Roof moss removal

Moss is the green growth, and Oregon State University Extension says it depends on shade. OSU says moss does not directly damage roofing, but it traps soil and holds moisture, which shortens the life of wood roofs, and on asphalt and metal roofs it can lift shingles and let water underneath. If water is already getting in, the roof leak repair page covers that.

• Price. HomeGuide puts moss removal at $0.20 to $0.75 per square foot; Fixr says $0.20 to $0.70 and that moss removal is usually included in a chemical clean or soft wash.
• Clean first, then treat. OSU Extension says to clean the roof before any moss treatment, and warns that pressure washing by someone without experience can damage shingles.
• Watch the copper. OSU says not to use zinc sulfate on a roof with copper gutters, downspouts or flashing, because zinc corrodes copper. HomeGuide also says to avoid zinc sulfate powder because runoff can harm landscaping.
• Let the sun in. OSU calls trimming trees the most effective long-term fix: "You've got to let the sun in or it will return."

Zinc or copper strips and algae-resistant shingles

Zinc or copper strips run along the ridge. Rain washes over the metal and carries trace amounts down the roof, which inhibits algae, per Bob Vila. HomeGuide prices zinc strips at $30 to $60 per 50 foot roll. The University of Washington's Miller Library, quoting Oregon State, says most zinc strip brands are effective for up to one year, galvanized flashing can work for decades, and strips work best before moss is well established. The same page says to keep runoff away from plants, ponds and water supplies.

Sources disagree on adding strips to an existing roof. GAF writes that ARMA advises against it, while the University of Washington page above describes physical removal followed by zinc strips as an effective long-term approach. Ask the company which it recommends for your roof and why.

If the roof is near the end of its life anyway, algae-resistant shingles are the longer fix. GAF's algae-fighting shingles use copper and carry a 25-year StainGuard Plus warranty on Timberline HDZ and others (30-year StainGuard Plus PRO on Timberline UHDZ). Bob Vila says algae-resistant shingles from Owens Corning, CertainTeed and GAF cost a few dollars more per square foot. The roof replacement cost page has full prices.

How often should you clean a roof

The publishers do not agree. HomeGuide says every 1 to 3 years, more often in rainy areas and every year under thick tree canopy. HomeAdvisor says most pros recommend every 2 to 5 years. Fixr says at least once a year. In practice, clean when streaks or moss come back, and clean out the gutters on the same visit; see gutter repair and cleaning.

Should you clean your roof yourself

We do not recommend it. A roof wet with bleach solution is slick, and falls are a serious risk. The CDC says more than 500,000 people a year in the US are treated for ladder-related injuries and about 300 die. In construction, the Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 389 deaths from falls, slips and trips in 2024, and 95.9% of them were falls to a lower level. OSU Extension says roof moss removal "is not for everyone" and to hire a professional when in doubt.

Roof cleaning near me: what to ask before you book

1. Soft wash or pressure wash? On shingles, the answer should be soft wash at low pressure, per ARMA and GAF.
2. What solution, and how do you protect plants and pets? HomeGuide says most companies tarp plants before soft washing. Ask whether the chemicals are safe around pets.
3. Do I have copper gutters or flashing? If yes, the company should not use zinc sulfate (OSU Extension).
4. Per square foot or flat price, and what is included? Ask whether moss treatment, debris blowing and gutter cleaning are in the price or extra.
5. How do your crews stay safe up there? Ask about fall protection, especially on a steep or second-story roof.
6. Will you photograph damage? Ask the crew to note lifted or broken shingles and flashing so you can take them to a roofer; the roof repair page explains what those fixes cost.

Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes roof cleaning jobs. How calls work.