How To Clean Mold Off Of Roof Shingles

Using shingles that have been treated with algicide keeps the growth at bay for about 10 years thus the 10 year algae warranty.

How to clean mold off of roof shingles.

Commonly found in climates with warm humid summers it does no damage to the roofing but it certainly does looks bad. Do it yourself and save big bucks. Not only is it unattractive it can actually shorten the life of your shingles so you really should get rid of it. These stains will discolor your roof and damage the shingles over a period of time if left alone.

But once the algicide wears off your roof hosts an all you can eat buffet for the neighborhood algae spores. The black mold like stains and streaks that appear on roofs particularly light colored asphalt shingles is actually a blue green algae gloeocapsa magma. How to clean mold off a roof. Clean your roof regularly.

Algae is a single celled organism while moss is not. Mold or mildew makes black ugly streaks on a roof. Extensive mold growth can also expose the interior of your attic or crawlspace to mold spores carrying the problem over to the inside not to worry though because you can clean the mold off with basic household bleach and save. Moss those green feathery clumps you may see forming on the roof is a different type of plant and isn t the same thing as algae or mold.

Oxygen bleach lightens stains as well and is less harmful to the environment but it doesn t produce as immediate or dramatic an effect as chlorine bleach. Then use a long handled brush to scour the surface of the shingles and loosen stuck on mold while it s dry and brittle. Prevention makes stain cleaning much easier later on. A mixture of trisodium phosphate tsp bleach and water will also remove stains.

So it pays to clean your shingles as soon as you spot algae growth. It should be picked up swept off or blown off regularly to avoid facilitating the growth. The debris including fallen branches and leaves provides a moist environment for moss and algae. Tackle the gutters too so that water drains freely.