
Asphalt Shingles
The black streaks aren’t dirt — they’re algae, moss, and lichen feeding on your shingles. We kill it all at the root with a gentle, low-pressure soft wash — no granule loss.
Get a fast quoteWe’ll add years of life back to your roof.
Black streaks on asphalt shingles aren't dirt — they're a hardy algae (Gloeocapsa magma) that feeds on the shingle itself. JBL Exterior Pros clears it with a gentle, low-pressure soft wash that kills the growth at the root, never a pressure washer — high pressure strips the granules that protect your shingles and can void the warranty. We soft-wash roofs across Ankeny and central Iowa, and the streaks fade within a week or two. From Prairie Trail, Heritage, Saylor Park to the rest of Ankeny, JBL covers every ZIP in the city — 50021, 50023, Polk County.

Ankeny is the newest housing stock in our service area. Prairie Trail is a planned new-urbanist development with a mix of traditional and craftsman elevations on tight lots, all built 2005–present. Heritage and Otter Creek run more conventional suburban — 1990s–2010s production homes with vinyl siding, composite trim, and standard asphalt shingles.
The east-side new construction is still ongoing as Ankeny pushes toward I-35 / NE 38th Street. Older Saylor Park stock is the closest thing Ankeny has to a historic neighborhood — mostly 1950s–70s ranch homes.


Ankeny's roofs are young by metro standards, but the earliest Prairie Trail homes — built 2005 through 2008 — are now old enough that their north and shaded slopes are starting to streak. Those black stains are Gloeocapsa magma algae feeding on the limestone filler in standard asphalt shingles, and they take hold first where sun rarely dries the surface.
Around Saylor Park's 1950s–70s ranches, the older tree canopy adds true moss under overhanging limbs. JBL cleans every roof with a low-pressure soft wash, never a pressure washer, because high pressure strips the granules that protect your shingles. On Heritage and Otter Creek production homes, soft washing clears the algae and buys back years of shingle life without damage.

The black streaks aren’t dirt — they’re algae, moss, and lichen feeding on your shingles. We kill it all at the root with a gentle, low-pressure soft wash — no granule loss.
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Surface-safe chemistry tuned to the material — tile and standing-seam metal cleaned gently, never blasted at high pressure.
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Gutters, fascia, and soffits around the treated areas are cleaned as part of the job — not left half-done.
Get a fast quoteAdd soft washing, pressure washing, or gutter cleaning to your roof washing package and get your whole Ankeny home done in one visit — at one discounted price.

Skip the runaround. Tell us about your roof — pitch, age, and how bad the streaking is — and get clear, honest pricing, fast.
We come at a time that works for you, show up when we say we will, and treat your roof with a gentle, low-pressure, warranty-safe soft wash.
You don’t lift a finger. We protect your landscaping, kill the algae at the root, and add years of life back to your shingles.
Real reviews from the families and properties we’ve cared for across central Iowa.
“Super thorough, prompt, professional — and fantastic work. Our house sparkled when they were finished. I've hired window washers before and was always bummed by streaks the next day. Not so with JBL — everything looked perfect, even after it rained.”
“We used JBL Exterior Pros for a complete exterior soft washing of our home and are extremely happy with the results. The work was completed exactly as promised and on schedule. A team of four arrived promptly, were professional and courteous, and did an exceptional job with minimal disruption.”
“JBL did a fantastic job soft washing our house and deck for a very reasonable price. The dirt had piled up on our siding over the years and I'd tried to clean it myself to no avail. They were upfront, easy to work with — we're having them back for the windows and screens.”
“Amazing job! Our house looks like it got a brand new paint job. The team was so friendly and kind to our family and we are so happy with how it turned out. 10/10 would recommend and will use them again in future years.”
“The crew came and did my windows, the deck, and soft-washed the house — they did a great job. Up-and-coming young company doing good work.”
“JBL Exterior Pros were awesome to work with. Very professional. On time and did a great job. Highly recommend them.”
Locally owned and on the road across the metro — from downtown Des Moines out to Ames, Adel, and Indianola. If you’re near one of these, we’ve got you covered.
The things Ankeny homeowners ask us most, before the first visit. Don’t see yours? Just ask.
Yes — JBL Exterior Pros covers every Ankeny neighborhood and ZIP code (50021, 50023, Polk County), from Prairie Trail, Heritage, Saylor Park to Otter Creek. We're on Ankeny streets regularly — only 11 miles from downtown Des Moines.
No — we use the gentle, low-pressure soft-wash method that keeps your shingle warranty intact. Pressure washing a roof is what voids warranties, and we never do that.
The algae dies immediately on contact. Visible lightening shows within days; full clarity typically takes 1-2 weeks as rain and weather flush the dead growth off the shingles.
Every 2-4 years for most central Iowa roofs, depending on tree cover and exposure. Annual members get yearly inspections and treatment only when needed.
Roof soft wash in Ankeny is priced by the size of your home and the scope of the job — every Ankeny property is a little different. Every quote is free and walked in person within one business day, so the price reflects the actual home, not a flat rate.
Soft washing works on both. Tile (less common in central Iowa) needs careful chemistry to avoid surface fading; metal is straightforward. We confirm the roof type during the in-person quote and adjust approach.
Not when done right. Standard soft-wash solutions are safe for both. We pre-rinse all flashing and gutters before application and rinse again afterward. Improper chemistry left to dwell on metals can cause staining — we never let that happen.
Pressure washing a roof strips the granule layer that protects asphalt shingles from UV damage. Once the granules go, the shingles age 5x faster — a roof that should last 25 years can fail in 8–10 if it's been pressure-washed. The savings are eaten by replacing the roof early. Every major shingle manufacturer explicitly warns against pressure-washing.
Spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) are ideal — consistent temperatures, no flash-drying in heat, no freeze concerns. Summer roof soft-wash works but we schedule around the hottest days. Winter we don't soft-wash roofs in central Iowa.
A JBL rep walks your Ankeny property in person within one business day — honest pricing, real recommendations, no obligation.