CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004 FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM
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ALGAE ON YOUR ROOF AND ROOF CLEANING
Roof cleaning can seem an arduous task, but it’s a hugely important part of roof maintenance. Keeping your roof clean is perhaps the best preventive measure against expensive repairs or even premature replacement of your roofing. While it’s common knowledge that roofs don’t last forever, there are steps you can take to extend the lifespan of your roof.
So how often should you clean your roof? Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer. When to clean and how often depends on various factors:
Weather conditions in your area
The condition of your roof after inspection
How often debris collects on your roof due to the surrounding trees
The type of roof you have
That means you have to regularly inspect your roof to identify any problems, like moss growth, dark spots, or accumulation of debris, so that you can get rid of them as early as possible to avoid gradual roof damage.
Summer months offer ample time to clean your roof when there is more sunlight and a dry surface to walk on, reducing safety hazards. In areas that experience extreme weather, roof cleaning will have to be done at any time of the year, probably by a professional.
Why You Should Clean Your Roof
Whether you have a concrete tile, asphalt shingle, clay tile, or membrane roof, there are various reasons why you should clean your roof.
Get Rid of Algae and Moss
Algae and moss are perhaps the greatest threat to any roof if not taken care of. They can both start growing on a brand new roof in as little as one year when conditions are right. In the early stages, algae growth in roofs is invisible. With time, it eats through your shingles and into your roof deck, eventually causing wood rot. With wood rot, moisture finds its way through cracks and creates an environment that promotes mold growth, which poses a serious health risk to people and pets in homes. If you see any stains on your roof, don’t ignore them. That’s why professionals recommend you have a roof inspection at least every one or two years to identify such issues and have your roof cleaned.
What is Algae?
The black “stains” on your roof are actually large colonies of airborne algae called Gloeocapsa Magma (Cyanobacteria). They affix themselves and eat away at the limestone filler found in shingles. As they eat and grow, they readily reproduce into more algae. Eventually billions of individual alga cover the entire roof surface; destruction to your roof system will gradually occur over time, potentially leading to premature replacement of your roof. You may also hear the term Lichens which are complex organisms formed by a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an algae.
Whereas algae normally grow only in aquatic or extremely moist environments, lichens can potentially be found on almost any surface (especially rocks) or as epiphytes (meaning that they grow on other plants). Green growth on your roof is either moss or lichen which can destroy your shingles as they reduce the life of your roof. As wind, rain and snow will not dislodge them. Lichen is an organism that evolves from the algae having a symbiotic relationship. Algae is a type of aquatic plant without stems or roots. Like other types of plants, algae grows through a photosynthesis process. It needs sunlight and CO2 to survive. Nearly all algae variations are self-sustaining and create their own food from sunlight and CO2, except for one type of species. This type of algae is what you will find on roofs, otherwise.
Airborne algae causes the BLACK STREAKS on your roof. Air currents carry these spores to your roof and are called Gloeocapsa Magma. They eat away at the limestone filler found in shingles and reproduce into more algae which causes destruction to your roof system potentially leading to premature replacement of your roof.
What Does Algae Look Like?
Some of the most common ways you’ll find algae on a roof includes black streaks and white patches. While they might look different from one another, they are both indeed algae and are damaging to your roof. However, you can see algae in other colors. There is blue-green algae, red algae, brown algae, and green algae. Blue-green is the most common for roofs.
What Causes Algae to Grow on Your Roof?
Algae grows on your roof for several reasons. These reasons include:
Warm temperatures
Rising humidity levels
Roof shingles that use limestone as a filler
Is Algae Dangerous To Your Roof?
Yes, algae can cause irreversible damage to your roof over time. That’s because the algae are eating away at your shingles so it can survive. If left untreated both will eat away at your roof granules and will permanently “scar” your shingle surface.
Furthermore, algae are deemed dangerous for roofs as well as gutters for other reasons such as:
Holding moisture which collects on the shingles which can promote premature rotting
Granule loss causes the shingle to break down
When the shingle breaks down, the bond between the shingle and the roof can detach which results in shingle loss
The granule loss can eventually pile up in your gutters and cause clogs
Clogged gutters lead to extensive foundational problems, including cracks, pooling water, and flooded basements.
How to Prevent Algae on Roof
The good news is that Gloeocapsa magma is both treatable and, if you plan ahead, preventable.How do you make sure algae won’t grow on your roof? There are several ways that you can prevent this from happening. Choose roofing shingles that contain copper granules.
Regular roof maintenance can also help discourage algae growth:
Trim tree branches back to allow more sunshine and reduce debris.
Clear existing debris from the roof with a leaf blower or other non-abrasive method.
Keep gutters clean to avoid water build up.
Algae on Roof Eats Your Shingles
If algae is eating at your shingles, it’s time to take prompt action.
Prevent Roof Damage
Roof staining organisms or pools of water on your roof or gutters can cause serious damage. The longer you go without cleaning your roof, the more the damage that organisms like lichens and moss will cause. Taking preventative measures like regular roof inspection and applying biodegradable chemical cleaners on your roof every 18-36 months will help protect your roof. That will help remove the staining and restore the roof back to its natural look and state.
Your Insurance Company Could Cancel Your Homeowners Policy
Nowadays, insurance companies are more concerned about how homeowners take care of their roofs. Your homeowner’s policy could be canceled due to a dirty or stained roof. Instead of risking losing your insurance coverage, be proactive and have your roof professionally cleaned. Insurance companies know that stains on roofs could mean mold growth in your home. That is seen as major ‘risk’ that could cost them money in case a claim is made.
Prevents Premature Roof Replacement
Roof cleaning, when done right is a cost saving alternative to roof replacement or re-roofing. Following simple roof maintenance tips will save you money, time, and energy in the long run.
Give Your Home a Better Curb Appeal
Most homeowners will clean their porches, walkways, and siding but forget to clean their roofs. Sprucing up your garden and lawn, but ignoring those ugly roof stains, will distract from the overall curb appeal of your home. You can improve the look of your home’s exterior by getting rid of those stains and debris to give your home a more polished look.
How to Clean Your Roof
Accumulated snow and ice on roofs, leaves, twigs, bird droppings, and other debris are common issues homeowners deal with when cleaning roofs. With the development of organic growths, you’ll have an even bigger problem that needs to be addressed appropriately. Follow these steps to ensure your roof is in good condition:
Take a Visual Look from the Ground
Before you take out the ladder and climb up the roof, consider doing a visual inspection of your roof from the ground. Look out for obvious signs like gutter blockages, debris, and roof damage. You can use a pair of binoculars for a close-up view without necessarily having to climb up the roof. This will work best if your roof slope or house height is a bit lower.
Conduct a Thorough Inspection
If you’ve decided to use a ladder, safety is of great importance. You just have to get high enough to see the roof surface from each side without putting yourself at risk. Look out for any hidden spots, tree branches, debris and blockages in roof gutters, bubbling on the surface, curling or missing shingles. Buckled, missing, or curled shingles will need replacement.
Remove Debris
If you can do it safely, get on a ladder and remove debris that may have collected during the summer or winter months. This includes pine cones, pine needles, leaves, branches, and anything else that shouldn’t be on the roof.
Trim Your Tree Branches
If there are trees around your home, you’ll obviously have some leaves and broken twigs on your roof from time to time. It’s best to trim your trees regularly to reduce accumulation of leaves and also prevent the dangers that come with swaying tree branches in storms that can cause damage to the roof. The close shade of a tree can also promote moss and mildew growth.
CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004 FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM
Algae and moss are perhaps the greatest threat to any roof if not taken care of. They can both start growing on a brand new roof in as little as one year when conditions are right. In the early stages, algae growth in roofs is invisible. With time, it eats through your shingles and into your roof deck, eventually causing wood rot. With wood rot, moisture finds its way through cracks and creates an environment that promotes mold growth, which poses a serious health risk to people and pets in homes. If you see any stains on your roof, don’t ignore them. That’s why professionals recommend you have a roof inspection at least every one or two years to identify such issues and have your roof cleaned.