What Are Those Black Steaks And Stains On My Roof?

ALGAE - MOSS - LICHEN

That's right! You have plant matter growing and feeding on your roof!

• The proper name for the black streaks on your roof is gloeocapsa magma. It is a very hardy strain of blue-green algae that typically grows on the north side of your home's roof.
• Today's asphalt shingles contain a large amount of crushed limestone in the granules that provide the UV protection for your shingle.
• Gloeocapsa Magma feeds on the limestone in your shingles like it is an all you can eat buffet. The algae multiplies and begins to form the unsightly black streaks that you see on your roof.
• The algae take root on the surface of your shingles helping to dislodge the protective granules on the shingle. As the algae grows, the shingle begins to retain more moisture and heat. This extra moisture and heat help to magnify the harmful UV rays of the sun. As more and more granules are damaged, the protective asphalt layer of your shingle gets exposed to those harmful UV rays and that is when the real damage starts! The shingle begins to break down leading to premature roof failure! 
• Shingles that are darkened by algae growth can increase air conditioning costs by several hundred dollars! Algae covered shingles retain much more heat than clean shingles. Surface temperatures of algae infested shingles can be 10 to 20% higher than clean shingles! This makes your home much more difficult to cool in the summer.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What can The Roof Cleaners do about the algae that is causing the black streaks on my roof?
  • The Roof Cleaners will spray your roof with a special blend of cleaners and chemicals designed to kill the plant matter that is eating your roof.
  • As the chemical sits on your roof and makes contact with the gloeocapsa magma (roof algae), it begins to loosen the algae's hold on your shingles.
  • Without a firm hold on the shingles, the algae can be safely removed without any granule loss to the shingles.
• Why clean the algae from my roof?
  • The algae causes damage to the granules in your shingles and shortens the life expectancy of your roof. The algae take root in the protective granules of your shingles and begin to feed on the crushed limestone. As the granules are broken down, the base layer of the shingle becomes exposed to the harmful UV rays of the sun causing premature aging of the shingle.
  • The algae darkened shingles retain excess heat and moisture. The extra heat and moisture magnify the harmful effects of the sun's UV rays further accelerating the shingle aging process.
  • The extra heat and moisture from the algae also keep additional heat inside of your home. Surface temperatures of algae darkened shingles can be 10% to 20% higher than clean shingles. This extra heat causes your air conditioning system to work that much harder to cool your home. The more your air conditioner has to work, the higher your energy costs. It is just like having an A/C unit that is too small or ineffecient for your home.
  • Algae, like other spores, become airborn. They can travel from roof top to roof top. People who suffer from seasonal allergies can also be affected by airborn spores. Windy days can get these tiny spores moving!
• Will my roof look clean when the roof cleaners are finished?
  • Your roof will look almost brand new when we leave. Any spots of heavy lichen will die and change colors but will remain for a few weeks. Lichen's roots take a very strong grip on your shingle granules and need some extra time before it will release from the granules. After a few rainstorms the lichen will disappear from your roof. Lichen usually makes up less than 2% of the roof problems in this area, therefore your roof will look just about perfect when we leave.
  • Some really light colored roofs will have a slight yellowish tint to them when the cleaning process is finished, but it will also disappear after just a few rainfalls.
  • If you are in need of 100% perfection before we leave, we can rinse the roof ourselves to take the place of mother nature. We don't recommend this, but some people really want it. There is an extra fee associated with rinsing, but don't despair because the majority of roofs look great without rinsing. If you are a homeowner showing your home the next day and don't want to wait for mother nature to clean up that extra 5% then we have the rinsing option available to you.
• Are your cleaning methods harmful to my plants or animals?
  • No! We take great pride in our work and the care of your home!
  • We rinse all plants down before, during and after the cleaning process.
  • We put collection bags on all downspots to collect any runoff of the cleaning chemicals.
  • After a very short period of time, the roof cleaning solution neutralizes on your roof and will come off with the rain as a biodegradable byproduct!
• Do you have references?
  • Yes! We can provide references upon request. Our customers are very happy to tell you about their experience.
  • We also have a gallery of before and after pictures
  • We can also perform a free - No Obligation - spot cleaning demonstration on a small part of your roof. That way, you can try it before you buy it!