Tile Roof Soft Washing
Riverstone

Riverstone is a GL Homes community off Logan Boulevard, north of Immokalee Road and east of I-75. Its grand opening in late January 2012 drew more than 2,000 visitors, and the 640-acre site now holds roughly 800 single-family homes among about 300 acres of lakes and preserve.

Riverstone was built around lakes, and lakefront lots get the morning moisture first. Roof slopes facing the water, and those on the shaded side of the house, are where black algae streaks begin.

Listed homes were built from 2012 to 2017, with floor plans of about 2,100 to 4,700 square feet and two to six bedrooms. Most have tile roofs, three-car garages and paver drives, walkways and patios.

Because the homes share a recent, fairly uniform build standard, a streaked roof stands out against its neighbors. On a street of similar homes, one dark roof is easy to spot from the sidewalk.

The dark streaks are mostly Gloeocapsa magma. In the view of the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association it is likely the most common of several algae that stain roofs, and it spreads most widely across the Gulf States in warm, humid weather.

Owens Corning’s bulletin on the subject explains that the organism travels in the air and lands on roofs, so even a new roof picks it up. Lake air across Riverstone keeps the tile damp enough for it to grow.

Newer tile is the easiest kind to clean. The growth is thin and the solution works fast, so the job is quick and the color comes back even. Waiting several years means more dwell time and a patchier result on shaded slopes.

Tile makers set the limits. Eagle Roofing Products, a concrete tile manufacturer, recommends water alone for routine cleaning, with pressure never above 1,200 psi, because more pressure can change the tile’s pH and leave it discolored.

Where growth is heavier, Eagle permits a cleaner only in its most diluted form and only if it is compatible with concrete, since some products can etch the tile. On a young roof a mild mix and a short dwell usually do the job.

Eagle warns that a wet tile roof is hard and risky to walk, and tells owners to hire a licensed, bonded and insured tile contractor using fall protection. Our crews are harnessed on every two-story plan.

Family yards here are busy places. We pre-wet and rinse landscaping, keep runoff controlled and leave nothing behind that kids or pets could get into.

Owens Corning advises flushing the roof and the surrounding greenery thoroughly after any bleach-based cleaning. Beds and lawn edges are soaked before we begin, pool cages and play areas below the eaves are rinsed, and runoff is turned away from the lakes.

Before the first application we photograph each slope. Eagle recommends routine checks for cracked tile and drainage problems, and on a newer roof the photos are a simple baseline to compare against later.

ARMA is clear that a roof cleaning does not last forever and that discoloration may come back. Lake-facing slopes show it first, so we suggest booking again when streaks return, not on a fixed calendar.

A 40-foot cascading waterfall greets visitors at the entrance, and lakes run through much of the community. Homes that back onto water get the most morning moisture, and those are the roofs where we set a slightly longer dwell on the water side and keep the rinse well away from the bank.

Gutters on a newer home still collect wind-blown grit and leaves. We flush every gutter and downspout once the roof is rinsed and wash the walls beneath them, so no drip lines are left on fresh stucco.

The record we send covers more than a date. It lists the surfaces cleaned, the method used, the slopes that carried the heaviest growth and our Florida license number, with before-and-after photos attached, which makes it easy to compare against the next visit.

ARMA asks that solution be applied with care to protect the house and landscaping, and it warns that a cleaned roof is slippery. We keep spray low, rinse as we go and ask that kids and pets stay inside until everything is rinsed and dry.

Riverstone maintains community appearance standards. Our written record after each job lists the date, surfaces, method and our Florida license number, ready for your file if the HOA asks.

The six-acre amenity center includes a 13,000-square-foot clubhouse, an indoor sports complex, resort and lap pools and courts. Those buildings belong to the association and are quoted separately from homes.

Single-story roofs start at $299, two-story plans at $399, and tile with ridge cap treatment at $349. Pairing the roof with a house wash starts at $599; our tile roof cleaning page covers the method.

Crews are registered at the Riverstone gate before each visit, and we are licensed and insured. Call 239-544-1165 to put a Riverstone roof on the schedule.