How To Clean Mildew Off Asphalt Roof Shingles

So it pays to clean your shingles as soon as you spot algae growth.

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. The black mold like stains and streaks that appear on roofs particularly light colored asphalt shingles is actually a blue green algae gloeocapsa magma. Mold stains can form on roof shingles that are in permanent shade. Stained shingles take away from the overall neat appearance of the exterior of the home.

A blue green algae known as gloeocapsa magma could be the reason you have the algae which is spread by airborne spores. Moss can cause the leading edges of the shingles to lift or curl which increases the risk of shingle blow off during wind events. 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.

You can successfully clean shingles by using oxygen bleach. Though often attributed to an accumulation of dirt defective shingles mold or mildew. In severe cases moss build up can cause lateral water movement resulting in moisture damage to the roof deck or may even cause leaks. 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.

Once the moss has been thoroughly eradicated from the roof take steps to keep moss from returning. The roots of molds and mildew break down your roof and must be eliminated. Keep gutters clean to ensure roofs remain as dry as possible. Note that our roof cleaning tips only apply for asphalt shingles.

Now that you know the best ways to clean a roof be sure to follow these guidelines carefully. 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. Recommendations for how to deal with this have changed over time as experience was gathered. Cleaning asphalt shingles of clumps of moss or algae that have taken root in the roof can feel like an overwhelming endeavor.

Roof shingles become dirty over time. Using shingles that have been treated with algicide keeps the growth at bay for about 10 years thus the 10 year algae warranty. But once the algicide wears off your roof hosts an all you can eat buffet for the neighborhood algae spores. 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.

Unlike algae moss can be detrimental to asphalt shingle performance. There are many ways to remove moss that tends to grow in shaded areas. 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.