ROOF AND GUTTER CLEANING

Gutters are easy to forget when they are doing their job correctly. They quietly collect rainwater, guide it toward the downspouts and move it away from your roof, siding and foundation. But once they become clogged, they stop being a drainage system and start behaving more like an elevated planter box. In Louisiana, where heavy rain can arrive quickly and debris builds up year-round, clean gutters are an important part of protecting your property.

You step outside, glance up, and notice long black streaks running down your roof. Your first thought may be dirt, soot, water stains, or years of neglect—but the most common culprit is actually alive. Those dark streaks are usually caused by a type of blue-green algae called Gloeocapsa magma. It thrives in warm, humid environments, making roofs throughout Louisiana, the Gulf Coast, and the Southern United States especially vulnerable.

Those dark streaks spreading across your roof may look like dirt, soot or evidence that your shingles are wearing out. In many cases, however, the culprit is alive—and it has a name that sounds more like a volcanic supervillain than a microscopic houseguest. Meet Gloeocapsa magma. Gloeocapsa magma is a type of airborne cyanobacteria commonly associated with black or brown discoloration on roofing.

In Louisiana, rain doesn’t always arrive as a polite little sprinkle. It shows up sideways, pounds the roof, floods the street, and occasionally turns the backyard into waterfront property. Your gutters are one of your home’s first lines of defense against all that water. When they’re clean and flowing properly, they direct rainwater away from the roof, siding, foundation, and landscaping. When they’re clogged, even an ordinary afternoon thunderstorm can create expensive prob