Many homeowners don’t know what those black streaks on their roof are. It may look like harmless staining to most people but what you don’t know could end up costing you a lot of money later on. The black stains are actually Gloeocapsa Magma, a form of algae that if left untreated could prematurely require your roof to be replaced. This algae formation can start as early as a year or two of your new roof being installed depending on your geographic location and will usually start formi
ng on the north or west facing sides of your roof.
So what causes this staining to occur? In the 1980’s shingle manufacturers reformulated the composition of asphalt shingles to include crushed limestone. As it turns out the limestone is a food source for the algae that causes this staining. In the early stages it appears to look like surface staining but over time if left untreated the algae starts to grow root systems that will displace the granules that protect your roof. The root systems will start to grow under your shingles causing the shingles to lift from your roof.
At the point your shingles start lifting your roof has become compromised and water can now start leaking into your home causing water damage to the interior of your home. Your roof will have to be replaced at this point which could cost anywhere between $5,000 and $14,000 not to mention any interior water damage. This scenario can all be avoided by having your roof professionally cleaned at a tiny fraction of the cost of roof replacement and also prolong the life of your roof by many years.
Ecoclean Property Services offers low pressure soft washing recommended by ARMA (Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association). ARMA recommends low pressure washing in combination with special cleaners to properly clean your roof. ARMA also warns against using high pressure to clean your roof. Never use high pressure to clean your roof, it will damage your shingles and void all roofing manufacturers warranties.
As you can see those unsightly roof stains not only look bad and lower your property value but much worse than that is they can end up costing you a lot of money.
