It could take awhile but rest assured that lichen and most moss situations once dead will eventually dislodge and rinse off the roof thanks to mother nature.
How to get rid of black stains on roof shingles.
When that happens it is generally caused by mildew algae mold or dirt stains.
The black roof stains are caused by a form of algae that has been around for years typically found in the woods on the north side of trees or on exposed rocks.
Over time this algae accumulates developing a black outer coating which causes stains on roof shingles.
Roof shingles are exposed to a lot of wear and tear as extreme heat sun wind and precipitation come into contact with them.
Black streaks on the north and west facing and shaded areas of your asphalt shingled roof can really wreck the appearance of your home.
The bleach degrades into salt which kills microbial growths and the sodium silicate does the same.
The streaks look like mold but they re actually algae colonies that form in your shingles and feed on moisture and the limestone filler agents in the shingles.
After cleaning a product such as wet and forget should further fade the black stain that may remain and inhibit for a time the return.
They ll get reactivated by high humidity dew fog or rain to eliminate more growth.
This will cover 200 sq.
But now this black algae is termed a roof shingle algae because of the annoying discoloration on a asphalt shingle roof.
It is not uncommon for roof shingles to turn black over time.
While the streaks do not cause a great deal of damage they can cause the shingle to age prematurely.
The streaks are caused by a type of algae known as gloeocapsa magma.
On the question of why the algae is so widespread now vs 20 or so years ago suspicion is that it goes back to the change in the materials in roof shingles in the 80 s when the base material in shingles.
Spray the black stains first then the entire roof so the stains get a second dose.