Published by: CA Wash Pros
Last Updated: 2025-11-25
Insurance companies require professional roof cleaning to remove moss, algae, mold, mildew, and lichen from your roof. Roof cleaning reduces the risks of water damage, leaks, structural deterioration, and most importantly, expensive insurance claims.
Let’s discuss what you should do when you get a notice of non-renewal for having a dirty roof.
Insurance Companies Inspect For Dirty Roofs
Insurance companies are cancelling homeowners insurance due to dirty roofs that have visible signs of moss, algae, mold, lichen, or mildew.
Insurance companies want to prevent expensive repair claims related to water damage, mold growth, and structural deterioration that can lead to “high-risk” situations.
In line with this, insurance companies are requiring homeowners in California to get a professional roof cleaning service to remove moss, algae, mold, lichen, or mildew from your roof.
Organic Growth Can Damage Your Roof
Bio organisms on your roof such as moss, algae, mold, mildew, and lichen can lead to long-term roof damage. Organic growth traps moisture on your roof and deteriorates the materials. It can lead to cracked tiles, dislodged shingles, and rotten wooden shake.
Roof Cleaning is Required For Policy Reinstatement
First, you have to confirm with your insurance first if a roof wash is enough to get you reinstated. In most cases, they require a professional roof cleaning service with proper documentation (images and invoice) as proof of work.
They may ask for aerial or zoomed-in photos of your roof and a paid invoice with the job details. In some cases, they may also request trimming overhanging branches along the roofline. Make sure to review their guidelines so you can get reinstated right away.
How To Get Your Insurance Reinstated with Roof Cleaning
1. Confirm the reason and guidelines with your insurance company
When you receive a notice of non-renewal, ask the following:
- Do they want to remove moss, mold, algae, mildew or lichen from your roof?
- Do they want you to clean the whole roof or specific sections only?
- Do they need zoomed-in images, aerial drone shots, or before and after images?
- Do you need to trim any trees overhanging the home?
- Where can you submit the documents needed?
2. Hire a Professional Roof Cleaning Company
There are many roof cleaning service providers in your area. Make sure you hire an acknowledged service provider. Ask for a business license and their experience with roof cleanings for insurance purposes.
At CA Wash Pros, we provide expert roof cleaning services that guarantee home insurance reinstatement for homeowners in San Jose, CA and many Bay Area cities. We have a 100% success rate in helping our clients get reinstated.
3. Submit Necessary Images and Paid Invoice
You’ll have to submit images and invoices for proof of work to satisfy your insurance. We can make this more convenient by sending to them the required documents on your behalf.
4. Wait for Approval. Follow-up as Needed.
After sending the images and invoice, all you have to do is wait for your reinstatement. It typically takes 5 to 7 business days for insurance companies to review your submission. If you don’t hear from them by that time, follow-up for any updates.
Types of Roof Cleaning
So what type of roof cleaning should you get? Well, it depends on the roof material. Here’s a quick guide to know the suitable roof cleaning process for your roof:
Tile Roof
We offer two types of roof cleaning for tile roofs.
Soft wash is a more gentle approach if you are concerned about the negative side effects of pressure washing.
Pressure washing is another option if you want a deeper clean. It’s only suitable for tile roofs because they are resilient and have a hard surface. We understand there can be a lot of doubt when it comes to pressure washing tile roofs. If you’re unsure, let’s discuss how we can help by setting up a call at 408-800-3692.
Important Note: One downside of roof pressure washing is in the cosmetic, faded look, after the pressure wash. In most cases, pressure wash will remove some of the pigment of the tile depending on the color. If you have a red-colored roof, it will appear peachy. This is just cosmetic and not structural.
Shingle Roof
A shingle roof should only be cleaned with a soft wash. A soft wash is done by using gentle water pressure to agitate the moss and applying a biocide to neutralize remaining organic growth. You should never pressure wash shingle roofs because it can degranulate the shingle and shorten your roof’s lifespan.
Stone-Coated Metal Roof
A stone-coated metal roof is also cleaned using the soft wash process. You can’t pressure wash a stone-coated metal roof because it can easily bend with high pressure.
Wood Shake
A wood shake roof is cleaned using a wood brush to scrub moss and algae off the roof and biocide treatment to neutralize remaining bio organisms. Do not pressure wash wood shake roofs because it can rip off the wood planks and make the surface very slippery and dangerous to walk on.
How Often Should You Clean Your Roof?
In the Bay Area, moss grows at a very slow rate because the local climate is somewhat in the middle ground – not too dry and not too wet. Most likely, the organic growth on your roof has been growing for 10 to 30 years. Once we clean your roof, you won’t have to face the same issue with your homeowners insurance policy for about 5 to 7 years.
Get Your Roof Cleaning Quote Today
If you received a notice of non-renewal of your home insurance, CA Wash Pros is here to help. We have professionally washed over 100 roofs throughout San Jose, CA and the Bay Area. We are proud to showcase a 100% success rate in our roof cleanings for homeowners insurance reinstatement. Our goal is to solve your insurance issues conveniently.
We provide free, online estimates to get you started. Call us today at 408-800-3692 to learn more about our roof cleaning services for home insurance reinstatement.