Algae Growth On Asphalt Roofing Shingles
If you live in a humid area of the country, youve probably seen unsightly dark streaks on asphalt shingle roofs. Like many, you may have thought that was the result of dirt or mildew buildup, defective shingles, or tree droppings however, the most common culprit is actually a blue-green algae known as Gloeocapsa Magma whos growth spores happen to travel by air.
How Do I Get Rid Of The Algae And Moss On My Roof
Any damage to your roof can be costly but we have great news! There is a simple and cost effective way you can remove that algae and moss growth. Roof Soft Washes are a great way to get your roof clean and reduce your concern of roof damage. Roof Cleaning from a Soft Wash company keeps your roof safe with little to no pressure and long lasting results. Those black streaks will be gone in a blink of a eye and the moss/lichen will be gone in 4-6 months. If your roof has grown the moss, the tiny root systems take a little bit longer to fall off. The roof soft wash will kill the roots but they often take months before they lift and release. You do not want to scrape the moss of your roof as that can cause more serious damage. Allow them some time to fall off. Contact Red Door Pro Wash to book your roof wash today! We offer a 7 year warranty to ensure that your roof is protected now and in the years to come. If youre planning to sell your house, you can let your buyers know that they are covered by the Red Door Pro Wash roof warranty.
How To Wash Roof Stains
The finest approach to clear your roof of undesirable moss is to easily use a brush or brush to take away the offensive inexperienced stuff. In truth, it is a good approach to keep your roof each six months or yearly. It additionally will get the remainder of the particles off your roof, too. Dont brush too laborious, although, as you could take away the required granules.
If you discover fungus or algae rising in your roof, there are steps youll be able to take to wash your roof. Depending on the roofing supplies, comparable to steel or slate shingles, strain washing is an environment friendly answer. These supplies are largely waterproof and are robust sufficient to deal with the power of the water.
Using a strain washer on architectural or composition shingles will trigger harm to the roof, nonetheless. Either by washing the protecting granules of the shingles or by weakening the shingles themselves. If you hit the shingles on the fallacious angle, you might be capturing water beneath the shingles, too, inflicting much more harm.
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How Can I Get Rid Of The Algae
Get rid of the black streaks on the roof by cleaning it yourself or hiring a professional roof cleaning service to eliminate the ugly black stains on your roof. If you decide on a DIY project, home improvement expert Bob Villa recommends this formula.
- 1 cup of trisodium phosphate
- 1 gallon of bleach
- 5 gallons of water
Caution! Do NOT use a pressure washer, even on its lowest setting. One wrong angle and you can cause damage to your shingles.
Whats Causing Black Streaks On My Roof
We often hear from homeowners who are frustrated by the unsightly black streaks that have overtaken their roof. Can the black streaks be removed? Are they causing harm to my shingles? Will the black marks get worse over time?
The good news is that those unattractive blemishes can be professionally removed by Platinum Property Solutions while giving your roof a chance to last a little longer.
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How To Prevent Black Streaks On Roof
If youve already removed the algae from your roof once and you want to make sure you dont get it again, or if youre building a new house and you want to make sure that your roof doesnt get those black streaks from algae, there are 2 things you can do to prevent the algae from forming:
#1 Look for algae-resistant roof shingles which have either copper or zinc added to prevent the algae from forming.
Heres how AR roof shingles work:
If exposed to sunlight, the ultraviolet rays will readily break down asphalt shingles. Thats why the shingles you see are covered with the small colored ceramic granules. These create a powerful sunscreen and offer you different colors to match your exterior decorating scheme. Many shingle manufacturers make shingles that have special colored granules that contain copper. These help to prevent the ugly black roof-algae stains you might see on your existing roof or that of a neighbor.
How To Get Rid Of The Black Stains
Everyone will admit that black roof streaks are an eyesore.
So, what’s the best way to get rid of these unsightly black roof stains other than a complete roof replacement?
Fortunately, several available products can remove black stains from asphalt shingle roofing.
Or, if you’re the DIY type, you can make your own.
All you need is:
- Bleach, water, and trisodium phosphate, or a commercial cleaner
- A pump sprayer
- Non-slip shoes
- Safety goggles and rubber gloves
If you have any plants around the perimeter of your home, make sure they are covered to avoid spraying them with any chemicals.
If possible, clean your roof on a cloudy day so sunlight doesn’t cause your cleaning solution to evaporate too quickly.
Mix your solution of one part bleach, three parts water, and three tablespoons of TSP and pour it in your pump sprayer.
Use your ladder to carefully climb to the top so you aren’t walking on wet shingles and the solution doesn’t blow back in your face.
Soak your shingles with your homemade cleaning solution and allow it to sit for at least 15 minutes and rinse it off with your garden hose.
If any types of roof algae remain, repeat the treatment until they are gone.
If you aren’t comfortable doing this, contact a roofing professional for help.
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Black Streaks On Roof
The first thing to note is that what youre seeing is the result of a cyanobacteria known as gloeocapsa magna. Its also known as blue-green algae in the roofing business. Though gloeocapsa magna has literally been around for centuries, it didnt make its ugly presence known as a major problem in the U.S. until the postwar building boom of the 1950s. Since the 1990s, gloeocapsa magna has spread to just about every corner of the United States.
How Do I Get Rid Of The Black Streaks
You can clean algae off your roof with a solution of trisodium phosphate , bleach and water or using a commercial product. Before you get started to check with your roofing manufacturer to make sure it does not void your warranty.
Check the weather forecast and choose an overcast and calm day. If the sun is shining it will dry the solution that is applied to the shingles. If it is windy the wind will carry the solution where you dont want it.
Youre going to need some safety equipment. Safety glasses, protective coating, rubber gloves, and slip resistant shoes are needed. You might also want to use a harness in case a fall happens.
Remove anything that could potentially get sprayed by the solution such lawn furniture on your deck or patio. There is a chance the solution used may kill landscaping, so be careful and thoroughly check out the product you use.
Put the cleaning solution in a pump style garden sprayer. Start at the top of your roof and use long strokes to apply the solution to a small area, about 4 feet square. Allow the solution to soak into the algae about 20 minutes. Do not walk on the sprayed area as the cleaning solution and algae can become very slippery!
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What Makes The Streaks
The black streaks running down roofs are actually a hardy algae called Gloeocapsa magma. As the blue-green algae accumulate, they develop a dark, hardened outer coating, which results in the black stains you see. The algae feed on the limestone in shingles.
The algae will worsen and become more noticeable each year, trapping moisture and causing premature shingle aging and granule loss. If you dont like the streaks, reshingle with algae-resistant shingles. If the streaks dont bother you or youre not ready to invest in a new roof, install zinc or copper strips along the top course of shingles. When rain hits the strips, it produces a solution that runs down the roof and keeps algae, moss and fungus from growing. However, the strips wont eliminate the existing algae.
Concerned That Your Roof Has Been Damaged
If you are concerned about your roofs shingles being damaged or dried out by moss or age? Give our friend, Nick Roberge, a call at RoofMaxx.
Asphalt shingles contain small, sand-like pebbles that stick together when shingles natural oils are intact. Once those oils start to dry out with age, you may see the granules flaking off in your gutters or downspouts. You might also notice black stains and streaks or shingles cracking, breaking, and curling. Since each roof is different, your local dealer will perform a free inspection to tell if Roof Maxx can help you.
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What Causes Black Streaks On My Roof
Taking care of your roof and keeping it clean are all necessary parts to roof maintenance. The best way to go about this is to fully understand what dirties your roof and what presents a threat. There are several possibilities for why you could have black streaks on your roof, though one of these is by far the most common.
Contact Long Home Products For A New Roof
If your algae growth has gotten out of hand or if youre looking to upgrade your roof with something thats better at preventing algae, Long Home Products is ready to help.
DIY roofing repairs, maintenance, and replacements might save you in the short term, but if you truly want your roof to last for a decade or more then experienced attention is beneficial. Contact us today to get all your roofing questions answered and schedule your roof replacement.
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Roof Cleaning : What Are Those Black Streaks On My Roof
Maintaining your property doesnt always involve DIY projects. Some tasks are best left to the professionals.
Roof cleaning is one of them. At Softwash Ranger, serving Morristown, NJ homeowners, we use the soft wash method. This professional approach to roof cleaning involves removing algae and other debris without the risk of damage associated with power washing your roof.
However, if you havent scheduled roof cleaning often enough in the past, you may notice black streaks forming on your shingles. You might also not be sure what they are.
Keep reading if these black streaks have appeared on your roofing. This guide will explain what they are, and why this is a problem you shouldnt ignore.
Leave It To The Professionals
As mentioned above, taking a DIY approach to algae removal can be risky and lead to further expenses. Instead, a better idea is to hire a professional roof cleaning company to clean off the black streaks for you. This route is beneficial because you can rest easy know the job will be completed by individuals with years of experience.
Not only can you ensure that the black streaks or stains are removed safely and efficiently, your shingles wont be subjected to more damage, and the risk for any possible accidents lowers tremendously. Roofing experts have sprayers that gently mist the necessary cleaning solution on your roof, allowing the work to be completed more quickly and thoroughly than if you were to try and tackle the problem with spray bottles. Plus, if you hire a local roofing company to take care of the streaks they can take a look and ensure your roof is still in good shape, and let you know about any potential issues you may want to take care of before they become bigger problems.
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The Wrong Way To Remove Black Streaks From Your Roof
There is a temptation among homeowners to try to address gloeocapsa magna with power washing. This is something you should absolutely NOT do. There are three reasons for this:
Are Certain Roofing Materials More Prone To Algae
Algae are most likely to grow in certain environments. They prefer shaded, moist, humid areas, and they prefer to grow somewhere they can get nourishment. You are more likely to find algae growth on wood shingles and asphalt shingles, which is one reason many homeowners opt to go with metal roofs for their homes.
Black streaks on asphalt shingle roofs are the most common, perhaps due to how common this type of roofing is and also how great a place it is for algae to thrive.
If you have an asphalt shingle roof on your home, be sure you check it regularly for any signs of algae growth to help prevent premature aging.
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What Are These Black Streaks On My Roof
Your roof says a lot about your house. Its often the first thing people notice about your home. You want to take pride in this important exterior feature, but youve noticed some unsightly dark streaks appearing all over your shingles or slates. Where did the contaminant come from? Is it mould, soot or dirt?
Those black streaks are actually algae. In humid climates like that of Adelaide, algae starts to form because of the moisture on your roof. And if the build-up looks green and fuzzy, you probably have a moss problem. Both moss and algae possess similar properties and require the same kind of removal.
Algae and moss generally wont harm your home directly, but they also wont go away on their own. Keep reading to find out more about algae removal and preventing future growth.
Causes Of Black Streaks
While there are several possible culprits behind the black streaks on your roof, the most common cause by far is gloeocapsa magma. This hardy, blue-green algae is commonly found on asphalt shingles because it feeds on the limestone that is commonly found in these types of shingles. This algae thrives in moist areas, so theyre especially prevalent in areas known to have very humid climates. Shaded, moist areas on your roof highly encourage algae growth. They trap in moisture and feed on your shingles.
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Are Any Shingles Algae
Yes. If youre replacing your roof, ask your roofer about asphalt shingles with streak guard protection. They are the most effective at reducing gloeocapsa magma algae growth. These shingles have algae-resistant mineral granules that incorporate metals, such as copper-lined mineral granules, to reduce algae growth.
Prevent roof streaks before they start with a roof a tune-up and extend the life of your roof. Has your roof gone streaking? A streaking roof is a roof that needs some TLC. Or do you need a roof repair or replacement? We can help. Contact Perry Roofing Company today! 479.306.4327
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What About The Moss On My Roof
Maybe the black streaks have been on your roof for a while and youre starting to see moss growth. When a perfect combination of shade, moisture and fungus is present, moss or lichen may begin to grow on your roof. This moss is much more difficult to remove than the black algae streaks mentioned above. The lichen and moss develop very fine root systems that dig into your shingles. They cling onto the roof and feed off the shingle filler to continue to grow.
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Why Does My Roof Have Black Streaks
Those black streaks on your roof look familiar. Youve seen them on roofs before, but what are they? Signs of aging? Deterioration? Both? Actually, the answer is neither.
What Are Those Black Streaks?
Those black streaks are actually blue-green algae, formally known by its scientific name: Gloeocapsa Magma. The algae thrive in humidity, so unlucky news for you if you live in a steamy area of the United States. The algae spread by means of airborne spores.
Black streaks are often confused with shingles-gone-bad, years of grime and dirt build-up, or even mold or mildew. In the United States, youll spot the blue-green algae and the noticeably black streaks staining asphalt roofs largely in the Midwest, East Coast, and along the West Coast. In the Western United States, where the humidity isnt so much a factor and homeowners are instead faced with dry heat, there are low levels of algae growth.
If you look even closer, youre bound to notice that the black streaks are everywhere but one place in particular: near the metal flashing thats around chimneys and roof vents. The algae have a weakness and its the copper and zinc coating used on the sheet of metal flashing, which is toxic and kills the growth.
When it rains, the water washes down traces of these toxic metals in trails down the slope of the roof. The algae are killed in its wake, thus leaving behind an array of black streaks.
