Black streaking on a Glenmont roof is Gloeocapsa magma, a hardy algae that feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles. It starts on the shaded slope and spreads across the whole roof over a few seasons.
River fog rolling up over Henry Hudson Park and the bluffs keeps Glenmont rooflines damp into the morning, which is why algae streaks and moss show up here faster than a few miles inland.
Pressure washing a roof strips granules and shortens its life. We use the low-pressure soft wash the shingle manufacturers actually recommend: apply, dwell, rinse gently. Streaks are gone the same day and stay gone for years.