Kill Algae On Roof Shingles

Roof shingle algae stains and roof warranties.

Kill algae on roof shingles.

When leaves and other material collect on your roof a perfect bed is formed for moss and lichens to grow. Every time it rains a tiny amount of copper will wash down. Moss itself is a plant while lichen conisist of a fungus and a photosyntheizing plant living together. Simple cover your plants just as painters do.

That moss then collects rainwater like a sponge. A blue green algae known as gloeocapsa magma could be the reason you have the algae which is spread by airborne spores sometimes it can also be caused by an accumulation of mildew mold dirt or defective shingles. That way whenever it rains some of the metal molecules will wash down the roof and kill any algae trying to regain a foothold on your shingles. Lichens will use roots to attach securely to your shingles making them difficult to remove.

Algae resistance provisions of asphalt roof shingle warranties are limited in coverage and scope. Roof lichen is a combination of both algae and fungus. Also see warranties for roof shingles. Remove moss and lichen from your roof with vinegar.

Using bleach is recommended by most shingle roof manufactures and the arma asphalt roofing manufactures association. Living in a humid area of the country like florida you ve probably seen your asphalt shingle roofs with unsightly dark streaks on them. If left untreated lichen can eventually take off the top layer of your shingle leaving a permanent scar on your roof. The most effective method of cleaning algae and moss from a roof is w ith a 50 50 mix of laundry strength liquid chlorine bleach and w ater.

Moss and algae breakdown these protective layers shortening the lifespan of your roof. If that top layer of moss gets heavy enough the moisture seeps under the roof shingles and into the understructure. This brings mold build up and eventually decay. How to safely remove algae moss from roof shingles.

What happens is the algae grows and becomes food for the moss. Bleach is particularly bad because it will get underneath your shingles and leave behind a tough dirty residue as it dries. Bleach and other detergents however do the same thing. The organisms use your roof shingles as food which slowly deteriorates the materials.

The ugly black red green or brown stains on your roof are likely algae or moss. When these two depend on each other they can grow living organisms. To remove and prevent black algae stains on roofs see black stain removal prevention. To keep the algae from coming back insert 6 inch wide strips of zinc or copper under the row of shingling closest to the roof peak leaving an inch or two of the lower edge exposed to the weather.