Algae Growth On Roof Shingles

Roof algae generally have a black green hue.

Algae growth on roof shingles. What happens is the algae grows and becomes food for the moss. Watch moss removal roof cleaning videos below. The best way to get rid of algae once it s taken hold on your roof is to have a professional roof cleaning team come with a low pressure washer and cleaner that will kill the algae and mold but not hurt the plants and grasses around your home. Some roof shingle materials contain algaecides or fungicides which will also retard moss growth on the roof surface.

It causes the black stains you may see on your roof. Algae growth won t cause any structural problems to your roof but it looks ugly and it can damage the shingles over time. Algae growth is common on roof surfaces of several materials including asphalt shingles concrete and clay roof tiles and even slate. It can be brown gray blue or green.

That moss then collects rainwater like a sponge. You may think you have roof algae when really you have moss mildew or mold. Algae resistant shingles in recent years roofing manufacturers have begun mixing copper granules into roofing products to produce algae resistant shingles. While some people actually like the look of moss on their roof they may be unaware that it can damage your roof even promote rot.

Commonly found in climates with warm humid summers it does no damage to the roofing but it certainly does looks bad. Copper strips prevent the growth of moss and algae. Use stain solver oxygen bleach to safely clean. The most common class of roof algae is gloeocapsa magma a bacterium that eats water and expels oxygen.

It appears on the shingles in streaks that head down the roof pitch vertically. Moss is thick algae is paper thin. Algae is just a thin film of organic growth that can be removed by washing the roof with certified organic oxygen bleach. Copper will prevent the growth of moss and algae.

Algae growth may cause discoloration on roofs resulting in brown to black streaks on a rooftop. You ll also notice that moss lichens and usually algae and fungus will be conspicuously absent from a roof surface down roof from areas where galvanized metal copper or even aluminum flashing are installed. Algae grow most often on wood and asphalt shingles or concrete tiles especially if they do not get a lot of sunlight. Algae will grow flush against the shingles and fixtures on your roof.

The primary species of algae being observed. Algae may be mistaken for soot dirt or tree droppings most of which typically produce only localized discoloration. The black mold like stains and streaks that appear on roofs particularly light colored asphalt shingles is actually a blue green algae gloeocapsa magma. This brings mold build up and eventually decay.

If that top layer of moss gets heavy enough the moisture seeps under the roof shingles and into the understructure. Often algae that is identified as green when studied microscopically also looks black or quite dark on a roof surface.