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Thinking About Cleaning Moss Off Your Roof Yourself? Here's What Maine Homeowners Learn the Hard Way

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:12:44 GMT

Across hundreds of roofs serviced throughout Maine and Southern New Hampshire, the pattern is consistent: homeowners who waited, or who tried to handle it themselves first, almost always ended up with a bigger problem than the one they started with. roof moss removal looks straightforward from the ground. Get up there, scrub it off, maybe spray something on it. But the way that moss is removed — and the sequence in which the work is done — determines whether your roof survives the next decade or needs replacing years ahead of schedule. If you own a home in Maine, where humid summers and shaded rooflines create near-perfect conditions for moss and black algae to take hold, understanding what separates a proper treatment from a damaging one is worth your time before you make a decision you cannot undo.

Why Pressure Washing Your Roof Is One of the Costliest Mistakes a Maine Homeowner Can Make

The most common mistake in roof moss removal is also the most understandable one. You see the moss, you own or rent a pressure washer, and you figure that what works on a driveway should work on shingles. It does not — and the damage it causes does not always show up immediately, which makes it especially dangerous.

Asphalt shingles are coated with granules that protect the underlying substrate from UV exposure and moisture. High-pressure water strips those granules. You will not see the damage from the ground. You may not even notice it for a season or two. But those granules are not coming back, and once they are gone, the aging process of your roof accelerates significantly. What might have been a roof with 10 to 15 useful years left can be reduced to 4 or 5 years of functional life after aggressive pressure washing — not because of the moss, but because of how the moss was removed.

This is the problem that A Plus Exterior Cleaning was built to solve. Aaron Hebert founded the business after noticing that across Maine and Southern Maine, the overwhelming majority of homes had moss or black algae on their roofs — and that the most common "treatments" being offered were doing as much harm as the growth itself. The approach at A Plus is built around soft washing: low-pressure application of professional-grade cleaning solutions that kill the organic growth at the root without touching the granule layer. Moss is physically removed by hand as much as possible before any solution is applied, which accelerates visible results rather than leaving homeowners waiting months for a spray-only treatment to show progress. That physical removal step is where most competitors take a shortcut. It is also what makes the difference between a roof that looks clean in 30 days versus one that looks the same for 6 months while the biology continues to work underneath.

What Roof Moss and Black Algae Are Actually Doing to the Shingles Beneath Them

Moss and algae are not cosmetic problems. That distinction matters because it changes how you prioritize the work. When moss establishes itself on a shingle roof, its root structures — called rhizoids — physically penetrate the shingle material. As the moss expands and contracts through Maine's freeze-thaw cycles, those root systems work like small levers, gradually lifting the shingle edges. Lifted shingles allow wind and water to get underneath in ways the roof was never designed to handle.

Black algae, which technically is a cyanobacteria called Gloeocapsa magma, creates a different kind of damage. It feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles, metabolizing the material that gives the shingle its body. The dark staining you see is actually a protective coating the algae produces to shield itself from UV light. It is a sign the organism is well-established, not that it just arrived. By the time black algae is visible from the ground, it has typically been active on the roof for at least one full growing season.

In Maine's climate — where roofs deal with heavy snowpack, repeated freeze-thaw events between October and April, and significant moisture from coastal and inland weather systems — this biological activity compounds faster than it does in drier regions. A roof in Portland or Scarborough that develops moss on a north-facing slope in spring will see that growth spread and deepen by fall if nothing is done. The investment in proper roof moss removal and gutter cleaning together is measured in hundreds of dollars. The cost of a full roof replacement in Maine runs into the tens of thousands. Aaron Hebert has documented cases across his client base where the right intervention, timed correctly, extended a roof's functional life by a decade or more — savings that dwarf the cost of the service many times over.

Why the Combination of Roof Moss Removal and Gutter Cleaning Is More Than Routine Maintenance

Roof moss removal and gutter cleaning are often treated as separate line items, scheduled at different times, sometimes with different contractors. That approach misses the relationship between the two systems. Gutters that are clogged with debris — including fragments of moss, algae, and decomposing organic material washed down from the roof — back water up in ways that accelerate exactly the conditions moss needs to thrive. Standing water at the roof's edge, slow drainage, and damp debris in the gutter channel all feed the next cycle of growth.

When gutters are cleaned as part of a roof treatment, the drainage system is restored to functional condition at the same moment the biological growth is addressed. That means the treated roof is not immediately fighting the same moisture conditions that allowed the growth to take hold in the first place. It is a more complete intervention, and it is why A Plus Exterior Cleaning addresses both systems when the scope of work calls for it.

For homeowners in areas like Kennebunk, Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, and Sebago Lake — where mature trees create significant shade over rooflines and organic debris accumulates in gutters through multiple seasons — this combined approach is not optional if the goal is lasting results. Shade means slower drying after rain. Slower drying means the shingle surface stays moist longer after every weather event. Moist shingles in shaded conditions are where moss re-establishes fastest after treatment. Maintaining the gutter system disrupts part of that cycle by keeping drainage moving the way it was designed to.

A Plus works with clients on this directly during the free in-person estimate — not as an upsell, but as part of explaining what the roof actually needs and why. Every client gets a walkthrough of the conditions present and what each element of the proposed work addresses. That educational component is built into the process, not an afterthought.

What a Professional Roof Moss Treatment Actually Involves — and How Long Results Last

A professional roof moss removal treatment has distinct phases, and understanding them sets realistic expectations for what happens after the work is done. The first phase is physical removal. A trained technician gets on the roof and removes as much active moss growth as possible by hand or with appropriate non-abrasive tools. This is physical labor. It takes time. Contractors who skip it are saving themselves work, not serving the homeowner — because moss left in place takes far longer to release after chemical treatment, and the visual result lags significantly.

The second phase is the soft wash application. Professional-grade biocidal solutions are applied at low pressure to kill remaining organic growth — moss root systems, algae, lichen — at a biological level. These solutions work progressively. The remaining organic material will continue to release from the shingle surface over the weeks and months following treatment, helped along by rain and weathering. This is normal and expected. A roof treated in May may look noticeably cleaner by July without anyone returning to it.

Results from a professional soft wash treatment, combined with proper physical moss removal, typically protect the roof surface for multiple seasons. The exact interval before re-treatment depends on the roof's orientation, the degree of surrounding shade, and the local moisture levels — all factors that vary across Maine's service areas from Portland south through Kittery and into the White Mountains region of New Hampshire. No honest contractor gives a single blanket timeline without accounting for site conditions.

What the treatment does not do is create a permanent barrier. Moss spores are airborne and present everywhere in the Northeast. A maintained roof in favorable conditions will eventually show new growth. The goal of professional treatment is not to seal the roof forever — it is to interrupt the current growth cycle, remove the established biology, and restore years of functional life that would otherwise be lost to untreated or improperly treated growth.

The Proof Is in the Roofs — Why Quality Over Volume Defines Every Job

Aaron's decision to keep A Plus Exterior Cleaning deliberately focused — servicing fewer jobs at a higher standard rather than scaling volume at the expense of results — comes directly from what he saw when he was learning the industry. Larger operations move fast. They have to, to stay profitable at scale. That speed shows up in the work: skipped steps, spray-only treatments, pressure washing used where soft washing is required, and crews who are not invested in the outcome of any individual roof because they are already thinking about the next one.

Every property that A Plus takes on receives a personal visit before any work is scheduled. The estimate is free and conducted in person. That visit is not a formality — it is how the scope of work gets defined accurately. The conditions on a north-facing roof in Westbrook look different from those on a coastal property in Wells, and the treatment needs to reflect that. Clients across the service area, from Yarmouth to North Conway, New Hampshire, have noted in their reviews that the communication, the follow-through, and the willingness to explain every step of the process set A Plus apart from contractors who show up, do the work, and disappear.

The track record across hundreds of roofs serviced — with nothing less than five-star reviews on Google and Facebook — reflects what happens when a business prioritizes the outcome on each individual roof over the number of jobs completed in a week. Your roof is the largest protective system your home has. It deserves that level of attention.

Your Roof Will Not Wait — and Neither Should Your Decision

Aaron started A Plus Exterior Cleaning five years ago because he saw a real problem going unaddressed across Maine: roofs being damaged not just by moss and algae, but by the wrong approach to treating them. That founding instinct — that doing the job correctly matters more than doing it cheaply or quickly — has guided every service call since.

If your roof has visible moss, black staining, or growth along the shingle edges, the biology is already active. Every season without treatment is another season of rhizoid penetration, granule displacement, and moisture retention working against the structure you are depending on. The cost of doing nothing, or of doing it wrong, compounds in ways that a single proper treatment would have interrupted years earlier. Reach out to A Plus Exterior Cleaning for a free in-person estimate — and find out exactly what your roof needs, explained clearly, before any work begins. That is the power of clean, applied with the integrity your home deserves.

Your House Siding Looks Dull and Dirty — When Is It Time to Wash It and What Method Is Actually Safe?

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:15:14 GMT

Why Maine's Climate Turns Exterior Siding into a Growth Surface Faster Than You Expect

Over five years and hundreds of exterior cleaning jobs across Maine and southern New Hampshire, one pattern repeats itself: homeowners wait too long. By the time black streaks and green growth are obvious on the siding, the organic material has often been there long enough to begin breaking down the surface beneath it.

If your home's exterior looks dull, discolored, or streaked, it is not just a cosmetic problem — it is a maintenance problem with a real cost attached to ignoring it. House washing done correctly removes algae and mildew before they cause lasting damage, restores your home's appearance, and protects the investment you have made in your property. This article covers what drives the growth, what cleaning method actually works without harming your siding, and why the pressure washer approach so many people reach for first is often the wrong tool for the job.

If you live in or around Portland, Scarborough, Falmouth, or further inland near Sebago Lake, you already know how persistently damp the weather stays from late fall through spring. That extended moisture season — combined with shaded north-facing walls and tree coverage common on properties throughout southern Maine — creates exactly the conditions that algae, mildew, and moss need to establish themselves on exterior siding. These organisms do not need soil. They colonize painted wood, vinyl, and composite siding using ambient moisture and organic debris that settles on the surface over time.

The problem is that algae and mildew are not passive. Once established, they retain additional moisture against the siding surface, which accelerates deterioration of paint, caulking, and in some cases the substrate beneath. On wood siding this can mean rot. On vinyl it means staining that becomes increasingly difficult to reverse the longer it sits. On homes with north-facing exposures — which describes a significant portion of the housing stock in this part of Maine — growth can advance from light discoloration to heavy biological staining in less than two full seasons. Homeowners sometimes mistake this growth for surface-level grime that will wash off with a garden hose or a bucket of soap. It will not. Algae and mildew bond at a microscopic level to porous and semi-porous surfaces, and simple mechanical rinsing moves the discoloration around without eliminating the root cause.

What actually removes it is a cleaning solution applied at low pressure, allowed to dwell, and rinsed thoroughly — which is the foundation of what soft washing accomplishes and what pressure washing at high PSI cannot replicate safely.

Washing a House With a Pressure Washer: Why High PSI Is the Wrong Starting Point

The instinct to reach for a pressure washer is understandable. Pressure washers are powerful, widely available, and satisfying to use — the results are immediate and visible.

The problem is that washing a house with a pressure washer at high PSI is one of the most common ways homeowners and inexperienced contractors cause damage that costs far more to repair than the cleaning job was worth. At operating pressures above 1,500 PSI — which most consumer and commercial pressure washers easily exceed — water forced against vinyl siding can drive moisture behind panels and into the wall cavity, creating conditions for mold growth inside the structure. On wood siding, high-pressure water strips paint, raises grain, and can force water into joints and seams that are sealed against weather intrusion. Window seals, caulked transitions between siding and trim, and soffit materials are all vulnerable. A cleaning job that takes a few hours can create moisture intrusion problems that take considerably longer and cost considerably more to address.

This is the central conflict that shapes how A Plus Exterior Cleaning approaches every house washing job. The goal is not just to make the surface look clean on the day of service — it is to remove the organic growth without introducing new problems. Soft washing uses a low-pressure application system paired with a professional-grade cleaning solution that penetrates and kills algae and mildew at the source. The solution does the work; the water volume and pressure are kept low enough to rinse without forcing water behind the cladding. The result looks the same as aggressive pressure washing from the street, but the siding, seals, and structure underneath remain intact.

For homeowners comparing quotes or considering a DIY approach, the method used matters more than the price. A contractor who shows up with a high-pressure wand and no chemical pre-treatment is not offering the same service as one who applies a soft wash system properly — even if both quote a similar job description.

What Algae and Mildew Are Actually Doing to Your Siding Between Cleanings

Most homeowners think about house washing as an aesthetic service. The exterior looks bad, they schedule a cleaning, it looks good again.

That framing undersells what is actually happening on the surface between visits and why the timing of cleaning matters as much as the method. Algae growth on exterior siding begins as microscopic spores deposited by wind and rain. In the damp, shaded conditions common across properties in Kennebunk, Wells, Yarmouth, and much of coastal and inland southern Maine, those spores find everything they need to proliferate. The green, grey, or black discoloration that appears on siding is not just color — it is a living biological layer that holds moisture against the surface continuously, even during dry periods. That sustained moisture contact is what drives paint degradation, wood fiber breakdown, and caulk failure over time. Mildew operates similarly. On vinyl siding, mildew staining penetrates into the material itself if allowed to progress without treatment. Light mildew can be removed with a proper soft wash application. Heavy, long-established mildew may require multiple treatments or, in severe cases, panel replacement — an outcome that no cleaning service can undo after the fact.

The practical recommendation is to evaluate your siding annually, particularly on north-facing and heavily shaded elevations. If growth is visible to the naked eye, it has been present for long enough that cleaning should not be deferred further. If the last cleaning was more than two years ago, a walkthrough inspection makes sense regardless of what the surface looks like, because early-stage growth is often not visible from ground level until it is well established.

Aaron, who built A Plus Exterior Cleaning from the ground up over the past five years, begins every job with an in-person estimate and a walkthrough of the property specifically to catch what homeowners cannot see from the driveway.

How to Tell Whether Your Home Needs a Soft Wash, a Rinse, or Something More

Not every dirty-looking exterior requires the same intervention, and part of what separates a reliable exterior cleaning contractor from a volume-oriented one is the ability to accurately assess what a property actually needs before quoting a job.

The difference between light surface rinsing, a full soft wash treatment, and a more intensive cleaning protocol comes down to several variables: the type of growth present, how long it has been there, the siding material, and the exposure conditions of the specific elevations affected. Light surface dust and pollen buildup — common in spring across properties throughout the greater Portland area and into New Hampshire communities like Conway and Wolfeboro — often responds well to a low-pressure rinse with minimal chemical application. This is the least involved scenario and the least expensive.

Algae or mildew that has developed visible discoloration requires a proper soft wash treatment. The cleaning solution needs adequate dwell time to kill the organism at the root rather than just bleaching the surface appearance temporarily. Rinsing without the chemical step produces results that revert quickly, sometimes within a single wet season, because the underlying organism was not eliminated. Growth that has penetrated into porous materials, compromised paint adhesion, or begun lifting caulk and sealant at transitions is a more serious situation. At that stage, the cleaning itself is still valuable, but the homeowner should also expect to address the underlying surface damage — repaint, recaulk, or in cases of wood siding, evaluate individual boards for replacement.

A Plus Exterior Cleaning approaches every estimate by walking the property, not quoting from a photo or a square footage formula. That in-person process is how the right method gets matched to the actual condition of the siding rather than a generic service tier. It also means the client understands exactly what will be done and why before any work begins — which is a considerably different experience than receiving a quote by text and having a crew show up with equipment you have never seen before.

When Your Home's Exterior Deserves the Attention It Has Been Missing

Aaron built A Plus Exterior Cleaning on the principle that your property deserves the same care a contractor would give their own home. That standard is easy to say and harder to deliver consistently — which is why A Plus stays intentionally small, takes on fewer jobs, and invests the time in each one that larger, faster-moving operations cannot afford to spend. Over five years of roof cleanings, house washings, and gutter service across southern Maine and into New Hampshire, not a single job has ended without a satisfied client.

That record is not an accident; it is the result of a deliberate choice to prioritize quality over volume. If your siding has been collecting algae, mildew, or biological staining — or if it has simply been too long since it was properly cleaned — the right move is a conversation before it becomes a repair.

Reach out to A Plus Exterior Cleaning for a free in-person estimate. The power of clean starts with knowing exactly what your home needs and having someone who will deliver it.

How Much Does Roof Cleaning Cost in Maine and New Hampshire — And Is It Actually Worth It?

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:56:58 GMT

Over the past 5 years, Aaron has helped hundreds of homeowners across Maine and New Hampshire save tens of thousands of dollars — not by replacing their roofs, but by cleaning them properly before the damage became irreversible. If you have been looking at quotes for moss removal and roof cleaning and wondering what a fair price actually looks like — and whether the work is even worth doing — this article breaks down what drives the cost, what separates a quality job from a shortcut, and what you need to know before you hire anyone to get up on your roof.

Roof cleaning costs in Maine and New Hampshire vary widely depending on roof size, pitch, degree of organic growth, and the method used to treat it. A smaller single-story home with light algae streaking will cost considerably less than a multi-pitch roof buried under years of accumulated moss. What those numbers rarely reflect, however, is the difference in approach — and that difference is where homeowners either protect their investment or quietly set themselves up for a much larger bill down the road.

Why Moss and Algae on Your Maine or New Hampshire Roof Are More Expensive to Ignore Than to Treat

Across Maine and into southern New Hampshire, the climate creates ideal conditions for moss and algae growth on residential roofs. The combination of moisture, shade from surrounding tree cover, and seasonal temperature swings means that organic growth on roofing material is not an occasional problem — it is a near-universal one. Drive through Portland, Scarborough, Kennebunk, or Wolfeboro and you will see it on roof after roof: black streaking from algae, green patches of active moss, and in more neglected cases, thick biological mats that have begun lifting shingle edges from the roof deck beneath them.

The reason this matters financially is straightforward. Moss holds moisture against roofing material in a way that accelerates deterioration. Over time, that retained moisture works under shingles, compromises the granule layer that protects asphalt, and in freeze-thaw cycles — common throughout Maine and New Hampshire winters — creates the mechanical stress that eventually causes cracking, curling, and failure. A roof that might last 25 to 30 years under normal conditions can be significantly shortened by untreated moss growth, and the cost of full roof replacement in this region runs well into the tens of thousands of dollars.

Against that backdrop, the cost of professional roof cleaning moss removal looks different. It is not a cosmetic expense — it is preventive maintenance on one of the most expensive components of your home. The question is not really whether to clean your roof. The question is whether the person you hire does it in a way that actually solves the problem rather than creating a new one.

What Actually Drives Roof Cleaning Cost — and Where the Industry Cuts Corners

The biggest tension in the roof cleaning industry is not price. It is method. And this is where homeowners in Maine and New Hampshire consistently get misled.

High-pressure washing is the wrong tool for asphalt shingles. It is fast, it is visually impressive in the short term, and it is exactly the approach that causes premature granule loss, voided manufacturer warranties, and the kind of surface damage that does not show up immediately but shortens roof life measurably. A contractor who shows up with a high-pressure wand and blasts your roof clean in two hours has made your roof look better for about one season while quietly accelerating its decline.

The professional standard for residential roof cleaning is soft washing — low-pressure application of cleaning solutions that kill algae, moss, and lichen at the biological level rather than physically stripping them away. Soft washing does not damage shingle surfaces, does not force water under flashing, and treats the root cause of the growth rather than the visible symptom.

But soft washing alone is not the full picture either, and this is where the approach at A Plus Exterior Cleaning differs in a way that matters. Rather than simply applying a chemical treatment and leaving, the process involves physically removing as much existing moss as possible before any solution is applied. That step — manual moss removal first — accelerates the results considerably. Treatment solutions work faster and more effectively when they are not trying to penetrate a thick biological mat. It is more labor-intensive work, and that is precisely why not everyone does it. The contractors focused on moving from job to job as quickly as possible skip this step. The ones who do the job correctly do not.

What you pay for roof cleaning reflects this directly. A quote that seems significantly lower than others is worth examining carefully — because the variable most likely to account for that difference is the elimination of the labor that makes the treatment actually work.

What a Realistic Roof Cleaning Quote Looks Like in Maine and New Hampshire

At A Plus Exterior Cleaning, every job starts with an in-person estimate — not a number generated from a satellite photo or a ballpark figure given over the phone. The reason is simple: the factors that actually determine cost cannot be assessed remotely. Roof pitch, degree of moss coverage, accessibility, and the condition of existing shingles all affect both the scope of work and the time required to do it correctly.

For a standard single-family home in the greater Portland area, Scarborough, or Saco, a professional moss removal and soft wash treatment will reflect the square footage of the roof, the steepness of the pitch (steeper roofs require additional safety rigging and take longer), and the depth of existing growth. Homes in more heavily wooded areas — like those around Sebago Lake, Naples, or Raymond — tend to accumulate moss faster due to the shade canopy and will often require more thorough manual removal before treatment can begin.

In New Hampshire, properties in Conway, Wolfeboro, and the Lake Winnipesaukee region face similar conditions, with the additional factor of heavier seasonal precipitation in certain pockets that accelerates organic growth cycles.

Bundle pricing matters here too. Homeowners who combine roof cleaning with gutter cleaning, house washing, or window cleaning as part of the same visit receive discounted pricing that makes regular maintenance substantially more cost-effective than addressing each service separately in different seasons. Keeping up with maintenance on a consistent schedule is what prevents small growth from becoming a structural problem — and it is almost always less expensive than letting the work compound year over year.

The honest answer to "how much does roof cleaning cost" is that it depends on the specifics of your property — and any contractor who gives you a fixed price before they have seen it should prompt some skepticism. What you can count on from a reputable operator is a free in-person estimate, a clear explanation of what the work involves, and pricing that reflects the actual scope rather than a lowball number designed to win the job before the details surface.

How to Evaluate a Roof Cleaning Company Before Handing Over the Job

The roof cleaning market, particularly in a region like Maine and southern New Hampshire where demand is high due to climate conditions, includes a wide range of operators — from established businesses with years of documented results to seasonal crews with a pressure washer and no particular expertise in roofing material. Knowing how to distinguish between them protects both your roof and your money.

The first thing worth examining is whether the contractor offers a free in-person estimate or quotes remotely. In-person estimates matter because they force a conversation about what actually needs to be done and why. A contractor who walks your property with you and explains what they are seeing — and what approach they will take — is giving you information you can evaluate. One who sends a number without looking is giving you a guess that can change materially once they arrive.

Communication throughout the process is a stronger indicator of quality than price. Across more than 61 documented reviews for A Plus Exterior Cleaning on Google, the detail that surfaces most consistently is not the end result — it is that clients knew what was happening at every stage. Responsive communication from estimate through job completion is not a bonus feature. It is a signal that the contractor treats your property with the same seriousness you do.

Reviews themselves are worth reading rather than just counting. Look for specifics: did the reviewer describe the process, mention follow-up, note whether the contractor explained what they were doing? Generic praise is less useful than detailed accounts of how a job unfolded. A track record of nothing less than 5-star reviews across both Facebook and Google, sustained over hundreds of jobs with no service issues, tells a more complete story than any single number.

Finally, ask whether the contractor physically removes moss before treating. If the answer is that they spray and leave — that the treatment will handle everything on its own over time — you now know that you are not getting the full scope of work. That matters for how quickly you see results and for how long those results last.

The Real Cost Calculation: Cleaning Now Versus Replacing Later

Aaron started A Plus Exterior Cleaning after recognizing something that most homeowners in Maine and New Hampshire had not fully reckoned with: the moss and black algae visible on nearly every roof he drove past was not just an aesthetic problem. It was a slow-moving structural threat that most people were not addressing until it was too late to avoid a replacement.

The cost of a professional moss removal and soft wash treatment, done correctly, is a fraction of the cost of a roof replacement. That math holds regardless of the size of the home or the severity of the growth — as long as the treatment happens before the underlying roofing material has been compromised beyond recovery. The window for intervention is wider than most people assume, but it is not unlimited. Moss that has been growing undisturbed for multiple seasons has already begun the process of moisture retention and mechanical damage that accelerates toward the point of no return.

Homeowners who schedule cleaning on a regular maintenance cycle — treating their roof as the investment asset it is rather than waiting until the growth is impossible to ignore — consistently avoid the repair and replacement costs that fall on those who let the problem compound. The preventive maintenance path is not just less expensive. It is considerably less stressful, and it gives you back the time and mental energy you would otherwise spend managing a roof failure at the worst possible moment.

What Working With Aaron Looks Like From First Call to Finished Roof

With 5 years of focused experience in moss removal and roof cleaning across Maine and New Hampshire, Aaron built A Plus Exterior Cleaning around a deliberate choice to stay smaller than the market would allow, precisely because quality is what the work requires. The decision to take fewer jobs and focus on clients who are serious about getting the right results — rather than chasing volume — is not a growth strategy. It is an integrity position.

When you book an appointment, the first step is an in-person visit to assess your roof directly. That visit is free, it comes with a clear explanation of what Aaron observes and what the recommended approach involves, and it gives you the information you need to make a confident decision about moving forward. There is no pressure and no vague quote — just an honest assessment of what your roof needs and what it will take to deliver results you can see and trust.

Your home is likely your most significant financial asset. The roof over it deserves the same level of care you would give any other major system — not the cheapest option available, but the one that actually protects what you have built. That is what A Plus Exterior Cleaning was built to provide, and it is what every client across Portland, Kennebunk, North Conway, and Wolfeboro has received. The power of clean is not just about appearance. It is about protecting what matters most.

Black Streaks and Green Patches on Your Roof — What They Are and Why They Won't Go Away on Their Own

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 16:17:25 GMT

Over the past 5 years, Aaron at A Plus Exterior Cleaning has helped hundreds of homeowners across Maine and Southern New Hampshire save their roofs — and in many cases, saved them tens of thousands of dollars in premature replacements. If you've noticed dark streaks running down your shingles or patches of green and black creeping across the surface, you're looking at a problem that does not resolve itself. Those stains are living organisms, and every month they remain on your roof, they're causing damage that compounds quietly until the bill becomes impossible to ignore. Moss removal and roof cleaning is not a cosmetic service — it's one of the most consequential forms of home maintenance a property owner in Maine can invest in. This article breaks down exactly what those stains are, why they spread faster in this region's climate, what a proper removal process looks like versus a shortcut that leaves the problem unresolved, and what to expect when you work with a company that takes this seriously.

What Black Streaks and Green Moss Actually Are — and Why Maine Roofs Are Especially Vulnerable

The black streaking you see running vertically down asphalt shingles is almost always Gloeocapsa magma, a type of cyanobacteria that feeds on the limestone filler embedded in shingles. It arrives via airborne spores, takes hold in moisture-retaining areas, and spreads outward. The green and orange patches are moss and lichen — both of which anchor themselves into shingles with root-like structures called rhizoids. Unlike the bacteria, moss and lichen physically lift shingle granules as they expand and contract through freeze-thaw cycles.

Maine's climate accelerates every stage of this process. The combination of heavy precipitation, sustained humidity, and the extended periods of shade created by surrounding tree cover — particularly in communities like Sebago Lake, Falmouth, and Raymond — creates near-ideal conditions for moss colonization. Roofs that face north or sit under deciduous tree canopy retain moisture well into spring, giving spores the time they need to establish. By the time the growth is visible from the ground, it has typically been active on the surface for more than a full growing season.

The granule loss caused by moss and lichen is not recoverable. Those granules are the UV-protective and weathering layer of your shingles. Once they're gone from a section, that area ages at a disproportionately faster rate than the rest of the roof. In Maine's climate, where a single winter involves repeated freeze-thaw stress, a compromised section can deteriorate in a fraction of the time a healthy shingle would. That's not a scare tactic — it's the straightforward mechanical reality of what these organisms do when left untreated across multiple seasons.

Why Treating a Roof Without Removing the Moss First Is a Shortcut That Costs You More

There is a meaningful difference between treating a roof and actually removing what's on it. Many exterior cleaning companies apply a chemical treatment directly over existing moss growth and call the job complete. The treatment will kill the moss over time, but the dead organic material remains physically attached to the shingles — continuing to trap moisture, continuing to inhibit proper drainage, and decomposing slowly into the granule layer. The visual result takes far longer to clear, and the structural benefit is delayed by months.

A Plus Exterior Cleaning approaches this differently, and it's the central reason clients see faster, more visible results. The process begins with physical removal of as much live moss as possible before any chemical application takes place. This step requires getting on the roof, working carefully across the surface, and treating each section with the attention it needs rather than spraying from the ground and moving on. It takes longer. It requires more skill and preparation. And it produces a measurably better outcome for the homeowner.

This is where the tension with cheaper, faster competitors becomes relevant. A company that prioritizes volume — moving from job to job and applying treatments without the removal step — is not delivering the same service. The price difference between those two approaches may not be obvious in a quote, but it shows up clearly in the timeline of results and in how the roof weathers over the following seasons. Cutting corners on moss removal is not a neutral choice. It is a choice that defers the real work and leaves your roof holding the consequences.

The soft washing system used for the chemical treatment portion is equally important. High-pressure washing on an asphalt shingle roof strips granules, voids manufacturer warranties on newer roofs, and forces water beneath shingles in ways that cause interior damage. Soft washing delivers the treatment solution at low pressure, allowing it to penetrate and kill organic growth without mechanical damage to the shingle surface. Any technician recommending pressure washing for roof cleaning is recommending a method that causes more damage than it solves. A Plus Exterior Cleaning does not offer that approach, because the goal is to protect your roof — not to clean it at its expense.

How Roof Cleaning Fits Into a Broader Home Maintenance Strategy in Southern Maine

For homeowners in communities like Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth, Kennebunk, and Biddeford — areas where property values are significant and homes often carry New England architectural character worth preserving — roof maintenance is not a stand-alone decision. It connects directly to the overall condition and longevity of the structure. A roof compromised by years of moss growth is a roof that costs more to insure, carries more risk heading into a Maine winter, and presents poorly in a real estate transaction.

The free in-person estimate process matters here. When Aaron shows up before any work is scheduled, the conversation is not a sales call — it's a diagnostic visit. He walks the property, assesses the extent of moss and algae coverage, identifies any areas of particular concern, and explains what the cleaning process will address and why. That conversation gives homeowners the context they need to understand what they're paying for and what outcomes to expect. It is a different experience from receiving a quote over email based on a satellite photo, which is increasingly common among volume-oriented competitors.

Homeowners who've used the service across multiple years — including clients who return annually for specific sections of their home — report that staying ahead of organic growth through regular cleaning extends the intervals between significant treatments and keeps maintenance costs predictable. That's the compounding value of addressing the problem before it reaches the stage where granule loss is already occurring. For a roof that represents tens of thousands of dollars in replacement cost, consistent maintenance is a straightforward return on investment.

The service area extends across Southern Maine and into key communities in New Hampshire including North Conway, Wolfeboro, Ossipee, and the Lake Winnipesaukee region — areas that share Maine's climate profile and where moss and algae growth present the same seasonal challenges. If you're searching for roof cleaning moss removal near me in any of those communities, the response time, the process, and the quality standard are consistent regardless of which side of the state line your property sits on.

What to Expect When You Choose Quality Over the Fastest Available Quote

Every homeowner who books an appointment receives the same starting point: Aaron shows up in person, reviews the roof, and walks through exactly what needs to be done and why. There is no upselling without explanation. There is no treatment applied without the homeowner understanding the scope and the expected outcome. That transparency is not a differentiator most companies lead with, because most companies are not set up to prioritize it.

The commitment to quality over quantity is a deliberate operational choice. A Plus Exterior Cleaning takes on fewer jobs than a larger regional competitor because the standard of work requires time, presence, and attention that cannot be maintained across an unlimited schedule. Clients who want the fastest available appointment and the lowest available price will find other options. Clients who want the job done correctly — who want to know their roof is being treated the way they would treat it themselves if they had the knowledge and the equipment — are the clients this service is designed for.

Bundle pricing is available for clients who need multiple services addressed in a single visit. Gutter cleaning, house washing, and roof cleaning can be combined at a discounted rate, which makes a single maintenance appointment more efficient and more cost-effective than scheduling each service separately. Payment is accepted by cash, check, or Venmo.

The 5-star review record across Google and Facebook, across hundreds of completed roof projects, reflects what happens when a company does not compromise its process in the interest of speed. Not a single service complaint across that body of work. That is a track record that matters when you're making a decision about who handles your most valuable asset.

Your Roof Is Telling You Something — Here's Why Acting Now Costs Less Than Waiting

Aaron built A Plus Exterior Cleaning on a straightforward premise: most homeowners in Maine are walking past roofs that are quietly deteriorating, and the difference between catching it early and waiting until replacement is unavoidable is almost always a decision made years before the damage becomes visible. Five years of working across this region — on roofs in Portland, Sebago Lake, North Conway, and everywhere in between — has reinforced that premise every season.

The black streaks and green patches on your roof are not a cosmetic problem waiting for a convenient time on the calendar. They are an active process. Every growing season they continue without treatment is a season of granule loss, moisture retention, and structural stress on your shingles. The cost of a proper cleaning is a fraction of what a single section of premature shingle replacement runs. The math is not complicated.

If your roof is showing any of these signs, the right next step is a free in-person estimate — not a satellite quote, not a ballpark figure over the phone, but an actual assessment by someone who will be on that roof and accountable for the outcome. That's the standard A Plus Exterior Cleaning holds itself to, and it's the standard your home deserves.

Why Moss Removal and Roof Cleaning Protects Your Home's Value

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:53:01 GMT

Over five years and hundreds of roofs serviced across Maine and Southern New Hampshire, one pattern becomes undeniable: the homes with the most serious damage are the ones where moss and algae were treated too late — or treated the wrong way. If you have dark streaking across your shingles or visible green patches climbing toward your ridge line, your roof is already under attack. moss removal and roof cleaning is not a cosmetic service. It is one of the most financially consequential maintenance decisions you can make as a homeowner. This article breaks down exactly why that is, what separates a proper treatment from a surface-level fix, and what homeowners in Maine and Southern New Hampshire need to know before they hire anyone to touch their roof.

How Moss and Algae Actually Destroy Roofing Materials Over Time

Most homeowners who notice moss on their roof assume it is an eyesore, not an emergency. That assumption is what makes moss so destructive. Moss is a living organism with root-like structures called rhizoids that physically penetrate the surface of asphalt shingles. As those structures grow and expand, they lift the edges of shingles, create gaps where water can enter, and accelerate granule loss — the protective coating that gives your shingles their fire resistance and UV protection. Once the granules are gone, the underlayment beneath is exposed to the elements, and water infiltration becomes a matter of when, not if.

Black algae — the dark streaking you see on roofs throughout Portland, Scarborough, Falmouth, and across much of coastal Maine — works differently but is equally damaging. It feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles, gradually consuming the material that gives shingles their density and durability. Left unchecked for multiple seasons, algae colonies expand rapidly, especially in the humid, shaded conditions that define so much of the New England climate.

What makes the situation worse is the industry practice of applying treatment solutions without first addressing the physical presence of the moss itself. Applying a cleaning solution over thick moss growth can take significantly longer to produce visible results because the treatment has to work through layers of organic material before reaching the roof surface. The approach A Plus Exterior Cleaning takes is different: physically removing as much moss as possible before applying the soft wash treatment. This two-step method produces faster visible results and allows the solution to work directly on the remaining organic growth and the roof surface itself — rather than through a dense mat of moss that insulates the problem from the chemistry.

The central tension in the roof cleaning industry is this: speed and volume versus quality and outcomes. Many companies move through high job counts, apply a spray, and move on. The moss may die eventually, but the timeline is extended and the customer is left waiting months for results that should have come sooner. That approach benefits the company's schedule. It does not benefit your roof.

Why Soft Washing Is the Only Safe Method for Roof Cleaning in Maine

If any contractor recommends pressure washing your roof, that conversation should end immediately. Pressure washing asphalt shingles removes granules at a rate that can accelerate aging by years in a single session. The force required to dislodge moss from a roof surface is high enough that it damages the very material you are trying to protect. Manufacturers of most asphalt shingle products specifically note in their warranty language that high-pressure cleaning can void coverage — meaning a well-intentioned cleaning job done the wrong way could leave you holding the bill for a roof that fails prematurely with no recourse from your shingle manufacturer.

Soft washing uses low-pressure application of professional-grade cleaning solutions that kill moss, algae, lichen, and mildew at the biological level. The organisms die, lose their grip on the shingles, and gradually shed from the roof surface over the weeks and months following treatment. Done correctly, the roof surface itself is never subjected to mechanical force sufficient to cause damage. This is not a shortcut — it is the method recommended by the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association for cleaning residential roofing systems.

For homeowners across the exterior cleaning services coverage area — from Kennebunk and Wells up through Westbrook and into the Lakes Region — the soft wash approach matters because of the specific climate conditions here. Maine and Southern New Hampshire experience extended periods of moisture, heavy tree canopy over many properties, and limited sunlight exposure on north-facing roof slopes. These conditions create ideal environments for moss and algae to establish themselves quickly and aggressively. A treatment method that does not kill growth at the biological root level will see regrowth within a single season. Soft washing, applied after thorough physical moss removal, eliminates the organisms completely rather than just displacing them temporarily.

The process is also significantly safer for your landscaping. A professional soft wash application accounts for runoff and takes precautions to protect plants, shrubs, and lawn areas adjacent to your home's foundation. This is a detail that matters to homeowners who have invested in landscaping and do not want chemical runoff damaging what they have cultivated around their property.

What Deferred Roof Maintenance Actually Costs Homeowners in Southern Maine

The most common reason homeowners delay roof cleaning is the belief that it is a discretionary expense — something to consider when the budget is comfortable rather than a maintenance priority. This framing is understandable, but it inverts the actual math. Aaron Hebert, who founded A Plus Exterior Cleaning and has been working on roofs across Maine and Southern New Hampshire for five years, has watched clients avoid roof cleaning for multiple seasons only to face the reality of a roof replacement that could have been prevented entirely.

A full residential roof replacement in Maine currently runs between $8,000 and $20,000 or more depending on the size of the home, the pitch of the roof, and the materials selected. Regular moss removal and soft wash treatment costs a fraction of that figure. The return on that investment is not measured in curb appeal alone — it is measured in years of additional service life extracted from a roof that might otherwise have been written off as failed.

The structural argument is straightforward: moss and algae accelerate granule loss, granule loss exposes underlayment, compromised underlayment allows water infiltration, and water infiltration drives rot in the decking beneath your shingles. By the time water damage is visible inside your home — ceiling stains, attic moisture, damaged insulation — the repair scope has expanded well beyond what a cleaning treatment would have cost. The cleaning is not the expense. Skipping the cleaning is the expense, paid later at a much higher price.

Homeowners in Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, and Sebago Lake who maintain regular cleaning schedules also see secondary benefits when they sell their property. A roof with visible moss and black algae streaking raises immediate questions for buyers and inspectors about the condition of the underlying structure. A clean, well-maintained roof signals to buyers that the property has been cared for — and that signal translates to negotiating position during sale.

What to Expect When You Book a Roof Cleaning Estimate in Maine

One of the consistent points of frustration homeowners describe when dealing with exterior cleaning companies is the gap between what was discussed during the estimate and what actually happened on the day of service. Prices change. Scope changes. The person who did the estimate is not the person who shows up to do the work. The follow-through after the job is finished is nonexistent.

A Plus Exterior Cleaning operates differently by design. Every estimate begins with an in-person visit to the property. There is no quoting a roof from a satellite image or a phone description. Seeing the actual condition of the moss growth, the pitch of the roof, the degree of algae coverage, and any areas of particular concern is the only way to give an accurate assessment of what the job requires and what results the client should realistically expect. That visit also serves as an education opportunity — explaining to the homeowner exactly what is happening on their roof, why it matters, and what the treatment process will involve from start to finish.

This approach draws clients who are serious about protecting their investment rather than clients who are simply looking for the lowest number they can find. That distinction matters. Roof cleaning done properly requires the right chemistry, the right application technique, physical removal of moss before treatment, and honest communication about the treatment timeline. The moss and algae do not disappear the day after treatment — they die and shed gradually over weeks. A homeowner who understands that timeline will evaluate the results accurately. A homeowner who was never told to expect that process will assume something went wrong.

Payment is accepted by cash, check, or Venmo. Appointments are available Monday through Saturday from 9am to 7pm. Bundle packages with discounted pricing are available for clients who want to combine roof cleaning with house washing, gutter cleaning, or other exterior maintenance services.

Your Roof Has a Finite Lifespan — Make Sure It Reaches It

Aaron Hebert did not start A Plus Exterior Cleaning because roof cleaning is a straightforward business. He started it because he watched roofs throughout Maine deteriorate from a problem that is entirely preventable, and he built a company around the discipline of doing the work correctly rather than doing the most work possible. Five years of exclusively five-star reviews from clients across Portland, Scarborough, Kennebunk, Wolfeboro, and beyond are not the result of undercutting competitors on price. They are the result of showing up in person, being honest about the process, and refusing to treat quality as negotiable.

Your roof is not a feature of your home. It is the structure that makes everything beneath it viable. It protects your family, your belongings, your insulation, your framing, and your largest financial asset. Giving it the maintenance it requires is not an upgrade — it is the baseline standard of ownership. If moss or algae is visible on your roof, the time to act is before the damage compounds further. Reach out to A Plus Exterior Cleaning and start with a free in-person estimate. That conversation could be the difference between a cleaning and a replacement.

Why Permanent Lighting Installations Transform Your Home's Curb Appeal

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:53:01 GMT

Over five years of working on Maine properties, Aaron Hebert has helped homeowners protect and improve their biggest investment — not just by cleaning roofs, but by adding lasting value from the outside in. permanent lighting installations represent one of the most practical and visually striking upgrades a homeowner in Maine and Southern New Hampshire can make to their property. Unlike seasonal light strings that go up every November and come down every January, a permanent system is installed once, built to last for years, and controlled entirely from your phone. This article covers what that means for your home, why the installation process matters as much as the product itself, and how the right service provider approaches the work differently than companies focused on volume over quality.

What Permanent Lighting Installations Actually Deliver That Seasonal Lights Cannot

If you have spent any part of a late-autumn weekend on a ladder wrestling with clip systems, tangled strands, and blown fuses, you already understand the core problem with seasonal lighting. The frustration is real, but the bigger issue is financial. Renting installation and removal services from a decorator every year adds up quickly, and the product itself — consumer-grade holiday lights sold in big-box stores — is not built for long-term outdoor performance in a Maine winter.

Permanent lighting systems use commercial-grade LED fixtures designed to withstand the freeze-thaw cycles, ice loading, and heavy moisture that characterize a New England winter. These fixtures are mounted directly into the soffit or roofline of your home using channels and clips engineered for that specific application. The difference in durability compared to seasonal consumer products is not marginal — it is the difference between a product tested for around 50,000 hours of use and one intended to last a single holiday season.

Beyond durability, the functional difference is the color control. A permanent system connects to an app on your phone, giving you the ability to change colors, patterns, and brightness for any occasion. Christmas red and green in December. Orange and purple for Halloween. Blue and white for a Fourth of July party. Soft white for everyday curb appeal. You are not locked into a single color or a single season. Homeowners who have made the switch consistently describe it as the last time they will ever deal with seasonal installation.

The economic case is straightforward as well. The upfront cost of a permanent installation replaces the recurring annual expense of buying new lights, renting installation services, or spending your own time on the work. Over several years, the math favors a permanent system significantly — and you retain a fixture that adds genuine visual value to your property year-round, not just during December.

How the Installation Process Determines Whether Your Investment Holds Up Long-Term

The product quality of a permanent lighting system matters, but the installation is where the real difference between a lasting result and a costly problem gets made. A fixture mounted incorrectly into a soffit — with the wrong fasteners, inadequate weatherproofing, or a poorly run wire channel — will fail prematurely and potentially cause water infiltration into your roofline. This is not a theoretical risk in a Maine climate where temperature swings of 60 degrees or more between seasons are routine.

Aaron Hebert's approach at A Plus Exterior Cleaning begins before any equipment comes out of the truck. Every appointment starts with a free in-person estimate so that the scope of the work is understood completely before a single bracket is mounted. That walkthrough is also an education — you learn exactly what the installation involves, why specific mounting decisions are being made, and what to expect from the finished system. Clients are never handed a proposal without first understanding what they are agreeing to.

This matters more with permanent lighting than with a simple cleaning service because the installation is a structural modification to your home's exterior. The wire runs need to be weatherproofed properly. The mounting points need to account for your specific roofline geometry. The controller placement needs to make practical sense for how you will actually use the system. A crew that prioritizes getting the job done quickly over getting it done correctly will leave you with a system that works fine in September and develops problems by February.

For homeowners in Scarborough, Falmouth, Yarmouth, and other communities along Maine's coast, the added exposure to salt air and wind makes installation quality even more consequential. Materials that hold up in a suburban Denver backyard may not perform the same way after two winters on the Maine coast. Knowing the local environment — and accounting for it in the installation — is part of what separates a permanent result from a temporary one.

Why Maine and New Hampshire Homeowners Are Moving Away from Seasonal Lighting Services

In communities across Southern Maine — Portland, Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, Westbrook — and into New Hampshire's Lakes Region and White Mountains, the demand for permanent lighting has grown steadily as more homeowners reach the same conclusion: the seasonal cycle is not worth repeating every year.

The Maine and New Hampshire climate creates a narrow installation window for seasonal lights. By the time conditions are right — not too cold, not too wet — the season is already well underway, which is why last-minute calls to installation services are so common. One reviewer who worked with Aaron described reaching out just a week before Christmas, assuming it was too late, only to have the estimate and installation completed the following day. That responsiveness is possible because the operation is intentionally sized to serve individual clients thoroughly rather than running multiple crews across dozens of jobs simultaneously.

That scale is a deliberate choice. A Plus Exterior Cleaning operates as a smaller company because the belief driving the business is that quality declines when volume becomes the priority. This is not a limitation — it is a positioning decision. Clients who want a fast turnaround at the lowest possible price can find that elsewhere. Clients who want a system installed correctly, with a provider who shows up when scheduled, communicates throughout the process, and delivers exactly what was discussed, are the ones this business is built for.

The White Mountains communities — North Conway, Conway, Bartlett, Jackson, and the surrounding area — present their own installation considerations. Properties at elevation face more severe wind exposure and faster accumulation of ice and snow on rooflines. A permanent lighting system in those locations needs to be mounted with that environment in mind from the first bracket placed. Reviews from clients across these service areas repeatedly highlight communication and follow-through as the qualities that set the experience apart from what they have encountered with other contractors.

Addressing the Real Objections Homeowners Have Before Committing to Permanent Lights

The most common concern homeowners raise about permanent lighting is the upfront cost relative to buying seasonal lights from a hardware store. It is a fair comparison to consider, but it is worth thinking through completely. Consumer holiday lights purchased annually degrade in quality from season to season. The storage, the installation time, the cleanup, and the disposal of failed strands are all real costs — some in dollars, all in time. When those recurring costs are added up across five or more years, a permanent system that requires no annual reinstallation and uses commercial-grade fixtures built for longevity looks considerably more reasonable.

The second concern is flexibility. Homeowners sometimes worry that a permanent fixture locks them into a single look. The app-controlled color systems used in permanent installations address this directly. You have more flexibility with a permanent system than with any seasonal strand because you can change the entire appearance of your home in seconds. The same fixtures that display warm white on a Tuesday evening can shift to team colors for a game night or a full gradient sequence for a neighborhood celebration.

A third concern is what happens if a fixture fails. Commercial-grade LED systems are designed with significantly longer service lives than consumer products, but components do eventually need attention. Understanding the warranty and service expectations before installation is part of why the in-person estimate process matters. You should know exactly what you are getting before the work begins — not discover gaps after the fact.

A Plus Exterior Cleaning also offers bundle packages for clients who want to combine permanent lighting with other exterior services like house washing, gutter cleaning, or roof maintenance. If your home needs attention in more than one area, combining services in a single scope of work is a practical way to manage cost and scheduling — and to ensure the property is addressed as a whole rather than piecemeal.

The Standard of Work That Backs Every Permanent Lighting Installation

Aaron Hebert built A Plus Exterior Cleaning from the ground up over five years, starting with basic pressure washing before developing a specialization in the exterior maintenance needs specific to Maine properties. The move into permanent lighting installations came directly out of client demand — homeowners who had experienced the quality of the work on a roof cleaning or house wash asked whether the same level of attention could be applied to their lighting needs.

Every review on Google reflects a consistent pattern: clear communication before the job begins, arrival when scheduled, execution that matches what was agreed to, and results that exceed what clients expected. That record across 55 reviews without a single rating below five stars reflects a business that takes each project seriously because each project represents someone's home — the largest financial investment most people ever make.

The Power of Clean is not just a tagline. It reflects a direct service philosophy — exterior work done right protects what you own, saves money on future repairs, and restores the appearance of a property to something you can take genuine pride in. Permanent lighting is a part of that same commitment to giving your home what it deserves, installed once and built to last. Reach out to A Plus Exterior Cleaning to schedule your free estimate and see what a properly installed permanent lighting system can do for your property.