Midtown Tulsa roofs get black streaks because of Gloeocapsa magma, an airborne algae that settles on shingles and grows wherever a roof stays damp. Oklahoma humidity keeps roofs damp, and the old oaks and elms over Midtown streets keep shaded slopes wet for hours longer than an open roof. A roof soft wash removes the streaks at low pressure, and Hydra Total Care's roof soft washing starts at $500.
What the black streaks are
The streaks are a living algae, not dirt, soot, or shingle wear. Gloeocapsa magma feeds on the limestone filler in many asphalt shingles, and the dark color is a coating it builds to protect itself from the sun. Rain carries it down the slope, which is why the stains run in vertical streaks.
Why Midtown roofs streak first
Midtown has some of the oldest trees in Tulsa, in neighborhoods like Maple Ridge, Swan Lake, and the streets around Utica Square and Philbrook. Those trees shade north and east slopes for most of the day. A shaded slope dries slowly after rain, dew, and humid nights, and slow drying is what the algae needs.
Midtown roofs are also often steep and broken into several gables, so one house can have slopes that face every direction. The sunny slopes stay clean while the shaded ones streak, and that uneven look is common on older Midtown homes.
Why you should never pressure wash it
A pressure washer can knock the dark color off a roof, but it also strips the granules that protect the shingles from the sun. Losing granules ages a roof fast, and many shingle makers warn against high pressure. Hydra Total Care never pressure washes shingles.
How a roof soft wash removes the streaks
A roof soft wash applies a cleaning solution at low pressure, lets it work on the algae, and rinses gently. The solution cleans off the black streaks instead of blasting them, so the granules stay on the shingles. Plants below the roof line are wet before and after.
Roof soft washing starts at $500, priced by roof size and pitch, and every roof is quoted before any work begins. See roof soft washing in Tulsa for what is included.
What else to check on a streaked Midtown roof
- Gutters: the same shade and trees that feed the algae fill the gutters, especially after spring storms. Gutter cleaning starts at $249, or $200 for customers 55 and over.
- North walls: a green film on shaded brick or siding is related growth. A house soft wash starts at $299, and most homes fall between $299 and $799.
- Timing: if you are planning Christmas lights at $4.25 per linear foot, wash the roof and clean the gutters first, so the lights go up on a clean roof line.
Hydra Total Care serves homes near Philbrook, Utica Square, and across Midtown Tulsa. Text a photo of the roof and your address to (918) 922-9348 for a free quote.