My roof's got these ugly black streaks all over it, kinda looks like a zebra now, lol. Thinking about either using a bleach-water mix or buying one of those specialized roof cleaners. Anyone tried either? Which worked better for you?
"My roof's got these ugly black streaks all over it, kinda looks like a zebra now, lol."
Haha, been there myself. When I first moved into my place, the roof looked like it had racing stripes—definitely not the look I was going for. I tried the bleach-water mix first because it was cheap and handy. It worked okay, but honestly, it took a lot of scrubbing and multiple applications. Ended up buying one of those specialized roof cleaners from the hardware store afterward, and it was way easier. Spray it on, let it sit, rinse off... done. No scrubbing marathon needed.
If you're looking to save yourself some elbow grease and frustration, I'd say go straight for the specialized cleaner. Costs a bit more upfront but worth it for convenience and results. Good luck getting rid of your zebra stripes!
I get why you'd recommend the specialized cleaner, but honestly, I had pretty decent luck with just bleach and water. Maybe it depends on how bad the streaks are or the type of shingles you have? Mine weren't super dark, just noticeable enough to bug me. I mixed bleach with water and a little dish soap, sprayed it on, let it sit for about 20 minutes, then rinsed it off with a garden hose. Didn't really need to scrub much at all.
Not saying the specialized stuff doesn't work—I'm sure it's great—but if you're on a tight budget like me, might be worth trying the cheap route first. Worst case scenario, you're out a couple bucks and some time, and you can always upgrade later if needed. Just my two cents...
"I mixed bleach with water and a little dish soap, sprayed it on, let it sit for about 20 minutes, then rinsed it off with a garden hose."
That's pretty much exactly what I've done in the past, too. Worked like a charm for me. One thing I'd add, though—make sure you wet down any plants or grass around the house before you start spraying the bleach mix. Learned that one the hard way when I accidentally gave my wife's flower bed a bleach bath... she was not amused, lol.
Also, if your roof has really stubborn streaks or moss patches, you might need to repeat the process or let the solution sit a bit longer. Just don't go overboard with the bleach concentration—more isn't always better, and you don't wanna damage your shingles.
Specialized cleaners definitely have their place, especially if you're dealing with heavy algae or moss buildup. But for basic streaks, the DIY bleach method usually does the trick without breaking the bank. Good luck!
Good points about wetting down the plants first—definitely seen some landscaping casualties from bleach runoff. Curious though, has anyone noticed if repeated bleach treatments shorten the lifespan of asphalt shingles? I've heard mixed things about that. Also, for those who've tried specialized cleaners, did you notice any difference in how quickly the streaks came back compared to bleach?
