What causes the mold on my roof? How can I get rid of it? How can I keep it from coming back?
These are commonly asked questions by hundreds of homeowners. It can feel impossible to keep the roof clear from this pesky intruder. And although you’ve tried every possibility of getting it to go away, it’s almost as if you’re fighting an already won battle in which you are the non victorious. Well worry no more, because here at Integrity Roofing we assist our customers in any way we can regarding their home needs, even if it’s an incessant mold.
What is Roof Algae?
It is the black mold-like stains and streaks that appear on roofing systems, more noticeably on light-colored asphalt shingles, but in reality it is a blue-green algae. It is commonly found in climates with warm, humid summers, it does no damage to the roofing, but it certainly does look bad.
How to Get Rid of Algae on the Roof
One option, which isn’t exactly ideal but still viable is to replace all the roofing with new shingles dark enough to disguise the staining, or with shingles laced with copper granules, which are lethal to algae. But that would only make sense if the shingles were worn out.
The less expensive solution is to spray wash the roof with a 50 percent mix of water and bleach to get rid of the algae. A pressure washer is not necessary and it, in fact, can damage the shingles. Using a normal hose is just fine. Just be sure to wet your foundation plantings first, and rinse everything in clean water when you’re done. Plants don’t like bleach, and wetting them with plain water first protects them.
Stop Roof Algae from Coming Back
Now that you’ve successfully removed all algae from your roof, it’s time to keep it away for good. The solution is more simple than you would think, you just 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. 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.