Tim from Middletown, NJ has been a Green Sun Energy Services client since May of 2026. In June we soft washed the cedar on a single-storey house, using a cedar-specific eco-friendly method rather than the standard mix. The wood is the reason for the distinction: the solution that suits vinyl siding and roof shingles is too harsh for bare cedar, drying the fibres and lifting the grain, so cedar gets a gentler formula and a different technique. Pressure is the other thing cedar will not tolerate, because enough force to strip algae from wood also tears the soft growth from between the grain lines and leaves the surface permanently furred. Done properly the shakes come back to their own colour rather than a scoured one.
Project Facts
- Location
- Middletown, NJ
- Service
- Softwash Service
- Client since
- May 2026
- Surface cleaned
- 4,426 sq ft
Exterior cleaning questions from Middletown homeowners
Why does algae grow on houses in Middletown?
Moisture, humidity, shade, tree cover and seasonal pollen all favour biological growth on an exterior, and properties nearer the water also collect salt film and wind-driven dirt. Surfaces that stay damp longest show it first, which is why the shaded side of a house is usually the side that goes green.
Can natural stone be cleaned safely?
Often, but natural stone varies enormously. Limestone, sandstone, granite and manufactured stone do not all respond the same way to cleaning chemicals, and softer or deteriorated stone and mortar can erode under excessive pressure. Identifying the actual material comes before choosing the method.
What are the black streaks on an asphalt roof?
They are usually associated with blue-green algae rather than ordinary dirt, which is why they run in streaks and show worst on lighter shingles and in the areas that stay damp. Treating the growth is the objective; the shingles underneath are often in perfectly serviceable condition.