The questions Shoals homeowners actually ask — answered by the crew that's up the ladder every day. No fluff, real prices, and honest advice about what you can DIY.
Concrete is porous, so oil sinks below the surface and pressure alone just cleans around it. Removing it takes a degreaser worked into the slab, real dwell time, then hot water and a surface cleaner.
Black streaks on siding have two common causes: algae and mildew growing on the surface, or 'tiger striping' — oxidized residue washing down off the gutters. Algae spreads in patches on shaded walls; tiger stripes run in clean vertical lines directly below the gutter line.
When gutters clog, roof water sheets over the edge instead of reaching a downspout. It rots the fascia behind the gutter, stains and saturates the siding below, and pools against the foundation.
Yes — anything that blocks light costs production. Light, even dust causes small losses that rain mostly handles.
The black streaks on your roof are Gloeocapsa magma — a blue-green algae that feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles. It spreads down the roof with rainwater, holds moisture against the shingles, and shortens roof life.
In Alabama, most homes need gutters cleaned twice a year: once in late spring after the pollen and seed drop, and once in late fall after the leaves finish. Homes under heavy tree cover may need three or four cleanings.
Pressure washing uses high-force water and is right for hard surfaces: concrete, pavers, stone. Soft washing uses low pressure plus a cleaning solution that treats algae and mildew at the root, and is right for siding, roofs, brick, and stucco — surfaces high pressure would damage.
Hard water spots are calcium and magnesium deposits left when mineral-rich water dries on glass — usually from sprinkler overspray. Fresh spots come off with white vinegar and a microfiber cloth.
In north Alabama, professional window cleaning for a typical single-story home (up to 20 windows) starts around $280 for exterior glass — with sills, tracks, and screens included free. Price scales with window count and stories, and interior glass is $14 a window on its own, or $21 a window for inside and out together.
Book professional Christmas light installation by October. Installers run a short season — roughly six install weeks before Thanksgiving — and calendars fill well before the holidays.
Properly done, pressure washing doesn't damage concrete — it's the right method for driveways, sidewalks, and patios. Damage (etching, zebra striping, exposed aggregate) happens when the pressure is too high, the tip too narrow, or the wand lingers in one spot.
North Alabama's heavy pollen runs roughly February through early June: trees first (cedar, oak, and the yellow pine wave in March–April), then grasses into June. The yellow film on cars and windows is mostly pine.
In north Alabama, professional gutter cleaning starts around $275 for a typical single-story home, scaling with gutter length, roof height, and how packed the gutters are. A complete job includes hand-clearing, downspout flushing, flow checks, and debris hauled away.
In north Alabama, professional pressure washing starts around $299, priced by square footage and surface type. A typical two-car driveway is the most common job; patios, walks, decks, and fences each price by their own footage.
In the Shoals, full-service professional Christmas lighting runs $950 to $2,450 by home size — one price covering commercial-grade lights, installation, in-season repairs, January take-down, and storage. Your exact figure is confirmed by roofline length and design before install.
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