Hurricane season in Florida runs from June 1 to November 30. By the time it winds down, a lot of Orlando homes are carrying the leftovers: gutters packed with leaves and storm debris, black streaks spreading across the roof, and windows spotted with dried rain and grime. The cooler months are a good time to catch up. Here is what to look for, why it happens here in Central Florida, and when to schedule each job.
Why Gutters Clog After Storm Season
Summer and early fall storms bring wind and heavy rain, and wind pulls leaves, twigs, pine needles, seed pods, and Spanish moss out of the trees and onto the roof. Rain then washes all of it, along with grit from the shingles, down into the gutters. One storm might not do much, but a whole season of them adds up.
Once the gutters fill up, water spills over the edge instead of running to the downspouts. That overflow can splash dirt onto your walls, wear away mulch and soil along the foundation, and keep fascia boards wet. Clogged gutters also hold standing water, which attracts mosquitoes, something nobody in Florida needs more of.
Signs your gutters need cleaning
- Water pouring over the edge of the gutter during a rainstorm
- Plants, weeds, or seedlings growing out of the gutters
- Downspouts that barely trickle, or don't drain at all
- Sagging gutter sections, or dirt splash lines on the walls below
- Black "tiger stripe" streaks on the outside of the gutters
Homes under mature trees fill up the fastest. In tree-lined neighborhoods like Winter Park, Belle Isle, and Conway, it's common to see gutters that need attention after storm season. Our gutter cleaning in Orlando clears out the debris, flushes the downspouts so water drains freely, and cleans up what we remove. We can also wash the outside of the gutters to take off those black streaks.
Why Central Florida Roofs Get Black Streaks
Those dark streaks running down so many Orlando roofs usually aren't dirt or mildew stains from the storm. In most cases they're algae, commonly a blue-green type called Gloeocapsa magma. It travels on the wind and settles on roofs, and Central Florida gives it almost everything it wants: heat, high humidity, and plenty of rain. As it grows, it forms a dark protective coating, which is the black color you see from the street.
The streaks tend to show up first on the shaded, north-facing, or slow-drying sections of a roof. After a wet summer and fall, many homeowners notice they've spread. Once algae is established, moss and lichen often follow, especially on shaded areas and on tile roofs.
Why we soft wash roofs instead of pressure washing
Even though "high pressure" is in our name, we never use high pressure on a roof. High pressure can strip the granules off asphalt shingles, crack tiles, and push water where it doesn't belong, and it can leave the roof looking clean for a short time while the algae's roots stay behind. Our roof soft wash in Orlando uses a cleaning solution applied at low pressure to treat the algae, moss, and lichen on shingle, tile, and metal roofs, then rinses it away gently.
A Simple Fall Exterior Cleanup Checklist
If you're catching up after storm season, here's a practical order of operations. Working from the top down keeps you from washing dirt onto surfaces you've already cleaned.
- Gutters and downspouts. Clear the debris and make sure water can drain before the next heavy rain.
- Roof. Soft wash the black streaks, algae, moss, and lichen. Whatever runs off the roof ends up in the gutters, so these two go well together.
- Siding, stucco, and soffits. A house wash removes the green algae, mildew, and dirt that build up on walls in our humidity.
- Windows. Storms leave dried water spots, pollen, and grime behind. Our window cleaning in Orlando brightens things up once the dirty work above is done.
- Driveway, walkways, and patio. Finish at ground level with driveway and concrete cleaning, so runoff from everything above gets washed away last.
You don't have to do everything at once. But if you're already scheduling one service, it's often easier to handle a few of them on the same visit.
When to Schedule Gutter Cleaning and a Roof Soft Wash
Gutters: Late fall, after storm season wraps up, is a natural time to clear them out. If your home sits under heavy tree cover, you may need cleanings more often. A good rule of thumb is to look after any big storm, and to clean them whenever you see the signs listed above.
Roof: There's no need to wait for a particular month. If you can see black streaks, the algae is already growing, and it keeps spreading the longer it sits. Many Orlando homeowners plan on a roof soft wash every 2–3 years. The drier, cooler months can be a comfortable time to get it done before the next rainy season.
Windows and house wash: These are best done after the roof and gutters, so you're not washing them twice.
Serving Orlando and Nearby Cities
We're based at 6152 Roxburg Ave in Orlando (32809) and work throughout the area, including Orlando, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Windermere, Belle Isle, and Conway. If you're nearby, pressure washing in 32809 and the surrounding neighborhoods is right in our backyard.
Piro's High Pressure Hero's is licensed and insured, has completed 500+ jobs over 1.5+ years in business, and has earned 80+ five-star reviews. Every job is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Free quote: call or text (407) 615-9880, Monday–Saturday, 7am–7pm. Every job starts at our $200 minimum, and a couple of photos of your gutters or roof by text helps us quote you faster. Want a ballpark right now? Try our instant quote.