When should you clean your roof in Florida?
The best time of year to clean a roof in Central Florida, the signs it is due, what to do before a sale, an HOA deadline or solar install, and how rainy season and pollen change the timing. · 3 minute read
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The short answer
There is no bad month to clean a roof in Central Florida. The best time is when you first see black streaks or green on the shaded side, because it only spreads from there. If you get to choose, fall and early spring are the easiest windows: fewer afternoon storms, and it gets the roof clean before the holidays or after the pollen.
Signs your roof is due
Black streaks running down from the ridge, green or gray growth on the north and shaded slopes, dark patches under overhanging oaks, lichen spots on tile, or a letter from the HOA. Any one of those means it is time. Most Central Florida roofs need it every 18 to 24 months. Our black streaks guide explains what the streaks are.
Fall: October to December
After the rainy season the roof has had a full summer of heat and moisture, so this is when growth looks worst. Afternoon storms ease off, scheduling is easy, and the house looks its best for holiday photos and visiting family. It pairs well with a holiday ready cleaning of the house, driveway and lanai.
Spring: March to May
Oak pollen coats everything in late winter. Cleaning the roof once the pollen drops means it stays clean longer, and it is a good time to wash solar panels and the house in the same visit.
Summer: June to September
Still fine. Storms usually build in the afternoon, so we start roof work in the morning and keep an eye on the radar. If a downpour is due right after the wash, we move the visit rather than rush it.
Timing it around big events
Selling the house: clean the roof two to three weeks before listing photos. HOA letter: book as soon as it arrives and tell us the deadline, and we will text you before and after photos and can send a completion notice to the HOA; the HOA letter guide walks through it. Solar going on: clean the roof first, because once panels are installed the roof underneath is hard to reach; see clean your roof before solar. New roof coming: skip the cleaning and let the roofer replace it.
How we clean it
We soft wash roofs at low pressure, never with a pressure wand. Plants are soaked before and rinsed after, and we finish with a walk-around with you. Text a photo of the roof and your address to (321) 450-4586 and we will tell you if it is due and quote it. If you would rather not think about timing at all, a Care Plan puts the roof on a schedule and we text you the week before.
Questions people ask about this.
Can you clean a roof in the rainy season?
Yes. Summer storms in Central Florida usually come in the afternoon, so we book roof work in the morning and watch the radar. If heavy rain is due right after the wash, we move the visit.
How long does a roof stay clean after a soft wash?
Usually 18 to 24 months before streaks start to show again on the shaded slopes. Heavy tree cover shortens that; open lots stretch it.
Should I clean the roof before or after the house?
Roof first, then the house and driveway, so nothing that runs off the roof lands on clean walls or concrete. When we do all three in one visit that order is built in.
Is it too late if the roof is already black?
No. Dark streaks and green growth come off with a low pressure soft wash. The longer it waits the more it spreads, so sooner is easier on the roof.
Want us to take a look?
Text a photo of the roof, wall or driveway with your address and we will tell you what it needs and quote it, fast during office hours and always within one business day.