Amanda Tarman

Every year there is a moment in August where you look at your pool cage, step onto the pool deck, or drop into a patio chair and think: when did this happen? Here is what happened — June, July, and the first half of August. And here is what to do about it before fall gets here.

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.