Tile Roof Soft Washing
Glen Eagle

Glen Eagle Golf & Country Club sits off Davis Boulevard in East Naples, with about 1,234 residences spread over 15 neighborhoods around its par-70 course. Recent listings show tile-roofed, concrete block and stucco homes, many of them one-story ranch plans, along with attached villas and two-story condo buildings. The community was completed in 2006, so even the newest roofs here have been through many years of Naples rain and sun. Every recent Glen Eagle listing we looked at was tile-roofed, on homes built from 1992 to 2003.

Streaks first, then lichen. The dark streaks that run down a tile roof are mostly a blue-green algae, often called Gloeocapsa magma, that feeds on moisture and the minerals in concrete tile. Left alone for several seasons, it gives way to lichen: pale gray or greenish crusty spots that cling to the tile and slowly roughen the surface. Lichen is harder to remove than algae and takes longer to fade after treatment, so roofs cleaned before lichen settles in tend to come out more evenly.

Why we never pressure wash tile here. Concrete tile that has been on a roof for twenty years or more can be brittle, and the mortar along ridges and hips weathers and cracks. A pressure washer can chip the surface, break tiles, wash out mortar and push water under the tile where it reaches the underlayment. Soft washing relies on a cleaning solution and time rather than force. The solution kills the algae and lichen, a low-pressure rinse removes what is loose, and the rest fades with the next few rains. Older tile and mortar call for a lighter hand, not a heavier one, because some tiles become brittle and ridge and hip mortar weathers and loosens.

Walking an older roof. On aging tile, where you step matters as much as what you spray. Our crew walks only on the lower part of each tile, near the overlap where it is supported, and avoids ridges and broken pieces. Even with care, very brittle tile can crack underfoot. If we see tiles that are already cracked, slipped or missing, we photograph them and tell you before we leave, so a roofer can replace them before the next storm.

Golf course exposure. Homes along the fairways deal with things other roofs do not. Irrigated turf keeps humidity high near the ground, slopes that face the course often stay damp longer after morning dew, and stray golf balls can crack a tile. Course-facing roof planes are usually the first to streak. We treat every slope so the whole roof dries to an even color, not just the dirty side.

Villas with a shared roof line. In attached villa neighborhoods, one continuous roof often covers two or more homes. Cleaning only one side leaves a clear line where your half stops and your neighbor’s begins. Depending on your neighborhood’s documents, the association may arrange roof cleaning for every building, or owners may arrange it themselves. We can quote a single villa, coordinate with your neighbor to do the whole building together, or clean a full row on the association’s schedule.

Condo buildings. Two-story condo buildings at Glen Eagle are association property, and roof cleaning there is booked by the board or manager, not individual owners. We work building by building, protect the landscaping and parked cars around each one, and send a separate service record for every building to keep the association’s files straight.

Plants, pools and gutters. We pre-wet shrubs and flower beds, rinse them again after cleaning, and cover sensitive plants when needed. Pools under a cage are protected from runoff, and we keep the solution diluted so it is safe around landscaping once rinsed. Where homes have gutters, we check that downspouts are clear so rinse water drains away from the foundation.

Clean before you decide on a new roof. Many Glen Eagle roofs are at an age when owners start to hear about replacement, and some insurers may ask for an inspection of an older roof before renewing a policy. A roof covered in algae and lichen is harder to judge. Once it is clean, an inspector or roofer can see the actual condition of the tile and mortar. Sometimes that shows the roof has more life left than it seemed; sometimes it confirms the need for replacement. Either way, the decision is based on a clear view.

Pricing. A single-story tile roof starts at $299. Adding treatment for weathered ridge and hip mortar starts at $349, and split-level or two-story roofs start at $399. If you want the stucco walls, soffits and garage front washed at the same visit, the roof and house combination starts at $599.

How long results last. On a soft washed tile roof, results usually last two to three years before streaks start to return, depending on shade, slope and nearby trees. Roofs near fairways and lakes may need cleaning a little sooner. More detail on our approach is on our tile roof cleaning page.