A roof over your head isn’t only important in protecting you, your family, and your home from exterior elements; it contributes heavily to your house’s curb appeal. When the functionality and visual appeal of your roof are compromised because of black stains or dark streaks, reasonable questions are undoubtedly raised. How did it get there? Can I get rid of them? What even is it?
Our roof cleaning specialists serving Point Pleasant and the surrounding communities have seen this time and time again and are here to shed light on what’s going on when you look up and see black streaks covering your roof — and what you should do about them.
Although dark spots and unsightly black streaks may look like dirt, mildew, soot, or even mold, they are actually algae — the most common type of which is gloeocapsa magma, also known as blue-green algae. This type of algae can form a protective outer coating that’s darkly pigmented and shields algae from damaging UV rays. Gloeocapsa magma algae usually grow on the north side of roofs, where there is minimal sun exposure throughout the day.
This growth typically begins as small spots and eventually turns into visible streaks. By the time it’s noticeable, it’s been on the roof for at least two months. While algae can be found on essentially every type of roofing, it tends to be most common on asphalt shingles.
Algae spores are airborne, which means they can be carried by the wind, animals, and even on your clothing. Airborne algae spores easily spread to rooftops that are close to each other; oftentimes, more than one house in a neighborhood will have similar-looking black streaks or stains on its rooftop.
Bacterial growths need to feed on something to survive, and gloeocapsa magma’s preferred meal is limestone, a form of calcium carbonate. Limestone is usually used in a crushed form for the fillers between roof shingles. Since asphalt roofs are popular for their cost-effectiveness, it makes sense that many homeowners’ roofs are subject to these sorts of unappealing features.
Roof algae can be removed by a simple roof cleaning. However, to get this home improvement task done right, it pays to partner with a professional. You don’t want to climb around on a slippery roof or void the shingle manufacturer’s warranty by cleaning your roof yourself. Moreover, some chemicals and solutions you may be able to wrangle up yourself will be environmentally damaging.
Our team uses biodegradable, non-corrosive algae treatment products that work to restore your roof with ease. Plus, with us, you won’t have to worry about damaging your roof, home structure, or surrounding landscape. Take a look at how our professional roof cleaning services can work wonders for your property!
If you’re looking for roof cleaning in Middletown or a nearby NJ community, turn to our trusted professionals who know what it takes to get rid of the black streaks covering your roof. For more information, contact our pressure washing specialists today!
