
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 Urbandale and central Iowa, and the streaks fade within a week or two. From Original Urbandale, Walnut Hills, Northglenn to the rest of Urbandale, JBL covers every ZIP in the city — 50322, 50323, Polk County.

Urbandale is one of the metro's most mid-century-heavy housing markets. The original central streets are dense with 1950s–1970s ranches and split-levels, many on quarter-acre lots with mature oak and maple canopy.
The 1990s–2010s expansion to the west and northwest brought conventional newer subdivisions with vinyl siding and asphalt shingles. Brick is more prevalent here than in the newer fringe suburbs — many original Urbandale homes have full or partial brick exteriors that age well but need different soft-wash chemistry than vinyl.


Urbandale's roofs streak along its tree line. The mid-century ranches and split-levels around Original Urbandale and the Lions Park area sit under mature oak and maple canopy on quarter-acre lots, and those shaded, north-facing slopes grow the dark Gloeocapsa magma streaking and, under heavy overhang, real moss — worse along the wooded Walnut Creek and Stoney Creek corridors on the east side.
Many of these are older shingle fields where granules are already thinning, so pressure washing would do real damage. We use a low-pressure soft wash that kills the algae and moss at the root without stripping granules. The newer Northglenn and Plum Drive subdivisions streak slower but still need it as their asphalt shingles age.

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 Urbandale 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.
“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.”
“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.”
“They are a fantastic crew. Came and cleaned all the windows in a professional manner and with very little interruption. I highly recommend them — we couldn't be more pleased!”
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 Urbandale homeowners ask us most, before the first visit. Don’t see yours? Just ask.
Yes — JBL Exterior Pros covers every Urbandale neighborhood and ZIP code (50322, 50323, Polk County), from Original Urbandale, Walnut Hills, Northglenn to Lions Park area. We're on Urbandale streets regularly — only 7 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 Urbandale is priced by the size of your home and the scope of the job — every Urbandale 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 Urbandale property in person within one business day — honest pricing, real recommendations, no obligation.