Penn Ohio Roofing
Roof Cleaning in Sharon, PA
In-house crews out of our Sharon, PA shop.
Streaking on the north-facing slope of a Sharon Victorian is not a warranty defect and it is not the shingle failing early — it is Gloeocapsa magma algae feeding on limestone filler. It cleans, and on a Sharon home the cleaning method matters more than most homeowners realize.
Why Sharon Roofs Streak Where They Do
The dark vertical stripes that appear on the north-facing slopes of Sharon Foursquares and Victorians almost always show up first on the sides shaded by mature street trees. Sharon's older residential streets have a heavier tree canopy than the postwar cities around it, and the north slopes stay damp longer. That combination — shade plus persistent moisture — is where Gloeocapsa magma establishes.
Left alone, the algae doesn't shorten a modern architectural shingle's life much in the first five to seven years. What it does do on a Sharon home is reduce curb appeal on a house that already carries a lower median value than surrounding cities, and it makes the roof read older than it is on a real-estate listing.
Soft-Wash, Not Pressure Wash, on a Sharon Roof
The wrong method on a Sharon home is pressure washing. On the 10/12 and 12/12 pitches of a Sharon Victorian, pressure at the nozzle strips granules from the shingle at rates that void the manufacturer warranty and shorten the roof's real-world life by five to ten years. On plank decking with any board movement at all, high-pressure water also drives into the seams and wets the deck itself.
The right method is a low-pressure ARMA-compliant soft wash: a sodium-hypochlorite-based algaecide applied at low pressure, dwelled to kill the biological growth, and rinsed with a garden-hose pressure stream. That protocol is what GAF, Owens Corning, and IKO all list as warranty-compliant. It also handles Sharon's steep pitches safely because it does not require anyone to walk the roof with a wand.
Gutter and Box-Gutter Cleaning As Part of the Same Visit
On the pre-1940 Sharon housing stock the roof cleaning visit is also the right moment to clear the box-gutter debris load. A box gutter that has half an inch of shingle-granule sludge in it after ten years is not draining at design volume, and any wind-driven-rain event backs water up under the shingle course. We bundle the gutter clear-out into the roof cleaning visit on request — one setup, one crew, one visit.
What Is Roof Cleaning?
Roof cleaning is the removal of the black algae streaking, moss, lichen, and debris that build up on shingles. On Sharon homes the black streaks are almost always Gloeocapsa magma, an airborne algae that feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles. It is cosmetic at first and destructive later — moss and lichen hold moisture against the shingle and shorten the life of the roof.
How Roof Cleaning Is Done Correctly
- 1Soft washing: a low-pressure application of a cleaning solution that kills the organism, followed by a gentle rinse. Pressure never exceeds what a garden hose delivers.
- 2The solution is left to dwell so it kills the algae at the root rather than just bleaching the surface.
- 3Plantings, siding, and walkways are pre-wet and rinsed so nothing downstream is damaged.
- 4Valleys and gutters are cleared of debris in the same visit, since that is where moisture sits longest.
Safe Cleaning Practice
- Soft wash only — it is the method ARMA and the shingle manufacturers accept.
- Clean before moss establishes a root structure, not after it has lifted the shingle edges.
- Address the shade and drainage that let it grow: trim overhanging limbs, clear the gutters.
- Consider zinc or copper strips at the ridge to slow regrowth.
Methods to Avoid
- Pressure washing an asphalt roof. It blasts off the granules that are the shingle's UV protection and will void the manufacturer warranty.
- Scraping or wire-brushing moss off. It takes the granules with it.
- Undiluted bleach with no plant protection.
- Walking a wet, algae-covered roof — it is as slick as ice.
Warning Signs on a Sharon, PA Home
- Black streaks running down the slope, usually worst on north-facing planes.
- Green moss cushions along the shingle butts or in the valleys.
- Crusty gray-green lichen spots that will not rinse off.
- Granules collecting in the gutters.
- Debris packed in the valleys holding moisture.
What Drives the Cost of Roof Cleaning in Sharon
- •Roof square footage and pitch.
- •How heavy the growth is and whether it is algae, moss, or lichen.
- •Access and landscaping protection required.
- •Whether gutter cleaning and minor repairs are bundled in.
Roof Cleaning Work Near Sharon
Representative projects from our crews across the Shenango Valley and the PA/OH border.
Manufacturer credentials
- GAF Master Elite Contractor. Held by a small percentage of roofing contractors nationwide. Required to install the GAF Golden Pledge warranty — 50 years on materials, 25 years on workmanship, transferable once. GAF inspects the completed roof before issuing the warranty.
- Owens Corning Preferred Contractor.
- IKO Craftsman.
- Fully insured in Pennsylvania and Ohio. In-house crews — no subcontractors. Family-owned and operating out of Sharon, PA since 2000.
Path 1 — Insurance claim
For wind, hail, or storm-driven damage. We walk the roof with your insurance adjuster and document what we find so nothing that should be covered gets missed. We are not a public adjuster — that is a separate PA license — and we do not negotiate the settlement. We document damage, meet the adjuster, and rebuild what the carrier approves to code and to manufacturer spec.
Path 2 — Retail with financing
For roofs simply reaching the end of their life. 0% interest financing on shorter terms and long-term financing that keeps monthly payments low. Runs through a lending partner and is subject to credit approval. We walk through both paths in the free in-home estimate before you sign anything. See financing details →
Frequently Asked Questions — Sharon
- Does roof cleaning damage the shingle on a Sharon home?
- Not when it's done right. Soft washing with an ARMA-compliant algaecide is warranty-approved by GAF, Owens Corning, and IKO. Pressure washing at 1,500 psi or higher will strip granules and can void the warranty — we do not pressure wash roofs, ever.
- How long does a Sharon roof stay clean after a soft wash?
- Typically four to six years before visible re-streaking begins. Homes on tree-shaded north-facing lots in Sharon's older residential neighborhoods re-streak faster than exposed south-facing slopes. Copper or zinc strips at the ridge extend the interval another two to three years.
- Will you clean my Sharon box gutters too?
- Yes — we bundle box-gutter clearing and downspout flushing into the roof cleaning visit for Sharon homes with built-in gutters. It is more efficient to do both while the crew and safety gear are already set.
- Can you clean a 12/12 Sharon Victorian safely?
- Yes. Soft washing is applied from a bucket lift or from the ground with a low-pressure wand system — no walk-on required on steep Sharon roofs. That is the whole reason soft washing is the right method for this housing stock.
Local information sources
- Sharon, Pennsylvania — Wikipedia
- History of Sharon — Sharon Historical Society
- Mercer County — PA Historical & Museum Commission (municipal incorporation dates)
- City of Sharon — Code & Zoning Enforcement / Contractor's Registration
- City of Sharon — Zoning & Building Permit Application
- Sharon and Vicinity — SAH Archipedia