How To Clean Mildew Off Asphalt Roof Shingles

There are many ways to remove moss that tends to grow in shaded areas.

How to clean mildew off asphalt roof shingles.

If you live in a humid area of the country you ve probably seen unsightly dark streaks on asphalt shingle roofs. Mold stains can form on roof shingles that are in permanent shade. Recommendations for how to deal with this have changed over time as experience was gathered. They are exposed to wind rain and other weather elements that not only cause dirt to form on the shingles but also mold and mildew.

The black mold like stains and streaks that appear on roofs particularly light colored asphalt shingles is actually a blue green algae gloeocapsa magma. Roof shingles become dirty over time. Though often attributed to an accumulation of dirt defective shingles mold or mildew. The most common culprit is actually a blue green algae known as gloeocapsa magma that is spread by airborne spores.

Once the moss has been thoroughly eradicated from the roof take steps to keep moss from returning. Commonly found in climates with warm humid summers it does no damage to the roofing but it certainly does looks bad. If you have another type of roof it s important to check with your manufacturer to find out how to clean your roof. Stained shingles take away from the overall neat appearance of the exterior of the home.

Moss can cause the leading edges of the shingles to lift or curl which increases the risk of shingle blow off during wind events. You can successfully clean shingles by using oxygen bleach. A blue green algae known as gloeocapsa magma could be the reason you have the algae which is spread by airborne spores. In severe cases moss build up can cause lateral water movement resulting in moisture damage to the roof deck or may even cause leaks.

How to clean algae or mold off your roof shingles living in a humid area of the country like florida you ve probably seen your asphalt shingle roofs with unsightly dark streaks on them. The roots of molds and mildew break down your roof and must be eliminated. Cleaning asphalt shingles of clumps of moss or algae that have taken root in the roof can feel like an overwhelming endeavor. But once the algicide wears off your roof hosts an all you can eat buffet for the neighborhood algae spores.

Do it yourself and save big bucks. Keep gutters clean to ensure roofs remain as dry as possible. Unlike algae moss can be detrimental to asphalt shingle performance. 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.

So it pays to clean your shingles as soon as you spot algae growth. Using shingles that have been treated with algicide keeps the growth at bay for about 10 years thus the 10 year algae warranty. Power washing used to be recommended for cleaning this off but the high pressure tore up shingles and ate away at their surfaces diminishing the life of the roof.