Amanda Tarman

Most homeowners clean their driveway the same way every time — hose it down, maybe bring out the pressure washer, watch it look better for a few weeks, and repeat. In Southwest Florida, that cycle isn't working the way you think it is. Here are five signs that what's on your driveway has passed the point of a rinse.

The dark streaks on your roof aren't dirt, pollution, or weathering — they're a living organism that's been on this planet for 2.7 billion years and found your roof on the wind. Here's what it actually is, what it's doing to your shingles and your indoor air quality, and the only treatment that eliminates it for good.

I've been soft washing homes across Venice, Sarasota, and Charlotte County for years. Every summer, the same things show up — some of them you've noticed, some you haven't, and one of them is actively consuming your roof right now while you read this. Here are all ten, ranked from least serious to most alarming.