The spring and summer seasons are a time when homeowners start to notice unsightly dark stains on their roofs that they sometimes call fungus. While it could be from dirt or bad shingles, the most common cause is blue-green algae that can affect the appearance of a home. I will share with you a couple of things to help make your roof and home look clean and neat again.
Stains and streaks don’t necessarily mean a roof needs replacing, but it’s important for a contractor to assess the state of the shingles. If they are worn out, then discuss replacement options with them. Litespeed Construction offers free roof inspections, simply complete the form on our website.
If the shingles look fine, then there are solutions to clean the roof. One option for cleaning the roof is to use a special mixture. That mixture is 4 gallons of water, 1 gallon of bleach, and 1 cup of TSP (Tri-Sodium Phosphate—or acceptable phosphate-free substitute) found at many home centers. Apply this mixture with a garden sprayer, let it sit on the roof surface for up to 20 minutes, then rinse with low-pressure water. Be sure to protect any shrubs below. Remember, the roof surface will become slippery when wet. This should only be done by a roofing professional who knows what they are doing, since getting on the roof is dangerous, especially when it is wet and slippery.
Do not power wash the shingles to clean them. Some roof cleaning companies offer this service. However, it is not recommended as it may dislodge granules, which can lead to premature shingle failure.
However, cleaning will not ensure those ugly roof stains will not return. If you want a more permanent solution, we suggest installing a strip of copper- or zinc-coated sheet metal on the side of the roof below the ridge. Copper or zinc retards the growth of algae, which is why stains are not usually present below metal roof flashings.
Algae can grow in moist, shaded areas, so if you have trees hanging over your roof, trim them back to let the sunshine warm and dry the roof.
If a new roof is in order, then Litespeed Construction suggests GAF Shingles with StainGuard® Protection to help ensure the beauty of a roof against unsightly blue-green algae.
Courtesy of GAF
