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Algae on your roof is important to the longevity of your roof and the aging of your roof will be affected by the weather, environment and maintenance. If you’re in living a humid area across the United States., Or over time like as it appears almost overnight to be covered in black stains, discolored streaks and/or green mossy growth.
What is this mold?
Gloeoocapsa magma, a species of bacteria in the gloeocapsa genus of Cyanobacteria, an ancient line photosynthesizing bacteria, which photolyze water generating oxygen gas. Notoriously known in the Southeast since in the 90’s but it has since spread throughout most of the rest of the United States and Canada. Rising humidity, temperatures, random changes in weather conditions combined with additional living bacteria spores advances their spread and the bacterial colony multiplies, and Earth’s gravity pulls it downward, creating longer smear-like stains down roofs.
Where does this mold come from?
Again, it’s scientific term algae. Overhanging branches, branches or sticks that have broken off a tree and fallen, clogged gutters, standing water, a porous roofing material, and a poor roof ventilation system can all cause roof algae. The combination of heat and moisture; include a shady, damp area (such as under large trees) and unfortunately the most important ingredient, the limestone filler in most roofing shingles provides that special aide of nutrients the algae spores needs. The inorganic components found in the make up of your roof will allow the algae to survive, spread, darken, weaken, and eventually destroy your roof.
Why is it dangerous?
Scientists believe the rights areas of your roof and the bacteria it carries to be harmful, simply because if left untreated, as the growth holds moisture within shingles causing premature aging, quick rotting, and/or extreme granule loss. And when it comes to your loved ones, with allergies or even asthma can be especially susceptible to mold spores that could travel from the roof into the home and be dangerously inhaled. This easily happens when roof mold is transferred into the house through air ducts or HVAC systems such as air conditioning system or surprisingly the most common cause of roof mold entering your home is washed off of the roof during rainstorms onto walkways and drives where it can be tracked into the home.
Can you wash it off?
Cleaning the mold from your roof when you first see it is extremely important, or having on of our roofing professionals take it off is the best option. Think safety first, is type of algae is slippery on concrete after it’s been washed off, so that should give you a clear understanding of what it’s like on a roof; and requires proper cleaning and safety tools. However, the sooner you handle your issue with the mold, the better. As this bacteria/fungus pervasive and persistent, simply put… the more developed the mold becomes on your roof, the more it becomes a difficulty to tame. And if not removed or managed; moist and soft areas of the roof are often chewed on, then that provides homes for birds and rodents such as mice, rats, squirrels and other critters that climb up gutters or jump from neighboring trees to reach the roof, causing hazardous and expensive damage. Letting mold linger may become irreparable, and if left to feed on rotting wood can create an unstable roof that requires replacement, you want to your roof clean or have it cleaned as this helps to increase its longevity.
Price of Cleaning and Repairs, versus Replacements?
The main reason removing mold from your roof should be simply understood. The cleaning and maintenance of your roof, of course it may seem like an unwanted bill, the price of replacement can be even more. Cleaning maintenance can average Nationally $490 a service, ranging services including normal soft washes, chemical washes, and pressure washes. Repairs could be a minimum of National average $348 but major repairs including moss removal could extend repairs to well over +$1,500. Mentions of repairs could lead to a replacement of your roof if those repairs aren’t done. Extending your budget possibly well over $10,000.
Future mold prevention?
Some fresh ways to keep mold and algae from coming back to your recently washed roof is by using an treatment application or a cleaning agent formulated for long-term protection against algae and mold growth. Installing zinc or copper strips near the ridge line of the affected roof planes, can be a long term preventative maintenance factor to consider Both metals contain minerals that naturally inhibit algae and mold. Our technicians easily install these metal strips under the shingles, leaving the metal partially exposed, then the metal strips are nailed into place. As mentioned earlier, when it rains, the runoff water carries minerals off of the metal and washes them down the roof. (If your roof has copper flashing around the chimney, you might notice that there’s little or no algae growth on the shingles directly below the flashing.) A more helpful way and money saving way is homeowner maintenance…. Regular cleaning to remove leaves, sticks/twigs and other wind blown particles after washing, helps to keep a roof mold-free. Lastly, for a cost effective long-term, low-maintenance solution, you can specify algae-fighting shingles when it’s time for Silverstone Remodeling, Inc. to replace your roof. These shingles naturally stop algae development in the same way the zinc/copper strips aide, and are made by blending copper-clad and regular mineral granules on asphalt shingles.
Who you gonna call?
Well surely, you can’t call “Ghostbusters”. But our team here at Silverstone Remodeling, Inc. are professionals who are trained and ready to help you though this situation. No roof should go untreated, or not repaired for that matter. Give us a call today!
REFERENCES
https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/cost/roof-cleaning-price/
https://www.feazelinc.com/whats-growing-on-my-roof-roof-algae/
https://todayshomeowner.com/remove-prevent-algae-stains-asphalt-shingle/
https://inspectapedia.com/roof/Shingle_Algae_Stains.php
