HERE FOR ALL OF YOUR ROOFING NEEDS!
The roof is among the most significant components of any building. It’s there to serve as a weatherproof covering for the house, but it’s always exposed to the weather and thus gets more than its fair share of wearing and strain. A lot of debris can accumulate on the top of a roof over time. Roofs which are frequently moist or in the shadow are susceptible to moss, algae, and fungus.
Removing stains and discoloration from the top of a roof could have a significant impact on its visual look. Roof cleaning may increase a building’s lifetime as well as improve its looks. Many organic chemicals will damage the roof’s structure over time. Organic material can induce rotting in wood and brittleness in tile and shingle. Roof cleaning for lichen, mildew, fungus, or moss aids in preventing this damage and extending the life of your roof.
Lastly, while performing roof cleaning for fungus, mildew, lichen, and other contaminants, experts can assess the general state of the roof. This frequently results in little flaws being found early, which can prevent minor errors from becoming more significant and saving a lot of time, expense, and trouble in the near future.
Your roof is exposed to the elements all day, every day. Dirt and debris will collect on it. Natural rainfall is typically enough to wash off the appearance of most dirt. However, the dark stains and green areas that appear on your roof are caused by other natural elements:
- Algae
- Fungus/Lichen
- Moss
These substances are much trickier than simple dirt and require some explanation.
Algae, Fungus, Lichen, and Moss can wreak havoc on your roof.
Algae
Black stains are called gloeocapsa magma or GM. GM algae is a bacterium that feeds off of both asphalt and limestone roofing in moist, cool and shaded areas of the roof. When there is minimal light, GM forms a blue-green color. The more shaded areas of the roof are more likely to have these algae, which can harbor various types of molds. This explains why some roofs are stained only on one side.
A report by the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturing Association (ARMA) notes that these algae spores are transported by wind or animals. They can quickly spread from rooftop to rooftop in neighborhoods of single family homes, townhomes and apartment complexes.
Yep, that “dirt” that you see on your roof, rarely ever is actually just dirt. The most common kind of growth on your roof is algae, and you’ll usually identify it by black-streaks, kind of like dirt was smeared on your roof. This is a great example of a filthy roof, and what it looks like after some solid cleaning with bleach and soft pressure.
Lichens
Lichens are basically the combination of algae and fungus. ARMA describes lichens as fungus that grow symbiotically with algae. These plant-like organisms form a branching growth of “root-like tentacles that penetrate deep into the shingle’s organic, oil base for nourishment.” Lichens are tough to remove from the roof and can reappear from humidity and rain.
Moss
Unlike the algae and lichens, moss is an actual plant. Moss has a shallow root system and requires a lot of moisture to survive. Areas with less sunlight remain damp longer. Overhanging tree branches not only provide more shade, but they also drop debris that serves as a food source for moss. Like algae, moss spores are often transferred by wind or animals and can easily spread throughout neighborhoods.
Note:
Algae itself isn’t inherently risky, or harmful to your roof- but it’s usually a “gateway” towards much more harmful bacterial and fungal growths on your roof. For example, Lichen is an incredibly damaging growth that can cause leaks, and actually strip protective coatings from your roof. It only grows when algae and fungus combine. In some other cases, much more extreme, you might have moss, lichen, or fungus growing on your roof.
Of all these potential roof organisms, the worst, by far, tends to be moss. That’s because most needs a substantial amount of water to survive and thrive, and all of that humidity just gets trapped on your roof- eventually making its way into your attic and ceilings. Lichen, on the other hand, is also very dangerous and damaging, but for a different reason. Lichen is extremely “clingy” and really sticks to your tiles or shingles, often leaving actual holes in your roof material when it’s cleaned off.
So, in summary- cleaning your roof helps you avoid any algae, fungus, or lichen growing on your roof- which prevents any moisture from making its way into your roof, and also prevents your roof material from breaking down.
How Can Stains Damage a Roof?
The stains and growth patches caused by algae, fungus and moss can damage your roof through shingle deterioration and wood rot. Both lead to expensive repairs and can shorten the life of your roof. A roof cleaning can help minimize or eliminate this damage.
Shingle Damage
