What Can I Use To Clean My Roof Shingles

Black stains on an asphalt roof caused past algae.

If you alive in a humid area of the land, yous've probably seen unsightly dark streaks on asphalt shingle roofs. Though frequently attributed to an aggregating of dirt, defective shingles, mold, or mildew; the nearly common culprit is really a blue-green algae known as Gloeocapsa Magma that is spread by airborne spores.

While algae growth does fiddling damage to roofing, the stains don't assistance the overall appearance or resale value of your dwelling.

Areas Susceptible to Algae Stains

You may too have noticed that algae stains are absent-minded direct below the metal flashing around chimneys or roof vents. This is due to fact that copper and the zinc coating on galvanized canvass metal are toxic to algae. Every time it rains, trace amounts of metals are washed downwardly the roof, inhibiting algae growth.

Absenteeism of algae nether metal flashing

Algae Resistant Shingles

In recent years, covering manufacturers take begun mixing copper granules into covering products to produce algae resistant shingles. If you lot live in an area susceptible to algae growth, be sure to specify this type of shingle when replacing your roof.

Chemical Cleaning

Algae stains tin be removed past cleaning, though they usually render. While an occasional cleaning might not damage your roof, repeated utilize of harsh chemicals, or the erosive effects of pressure washing, can damage or shorten the life of asphalt shingles.

In that location are several products on the market specifically designed to remove algae stains from roofs, such as Wet & Forget Outdoor. A mixture of trisodium phosphate (TSP), bleach, and h2o will also remove stains. Oxygen bleach lightens stains as well and is less harmful to the environs, but it doesn't produce as immediate or dramatic an event as chlorine bleach.

Roof cleaned with oxygen bleach (left) and chlorine bleach (center). Galvanized vent (right) prevented algae growth.

Here's what you'll need to clean your roof:

• Cleaner
• Pump sprayer
• Garden hose with spray nozzle
• Safety glasses or goggles
• Rubber gloves
• Safety rope
• Old apparel
• Slip resistant shoes
• Ladder

Safety

Working on a roof can be dangerous, and information technology becomes even more than hazardous when moisture, so be sure to take adequate safe precautions. Avoid working on steep roofs, habiliment sideslip resistant shoes, and use a safety rope where needed. When working with harsh chemicals, exist sure to protect your pare and eyes.

Bleach can damage or kill other plants in addition to algae, so moisture down whatever grass, shrubs, or other plants where runoff volition occur before and afterwards applying bleach. Covering bushes with plastic after wetting them downwardly helps every bit well.

Cleaning

It's best to make clean your roof on a cloudy day to prevent the cleaner from evaporating besides chop-chop. If you know the manufacturer of your shingles, contact them or cheque their website for specific recommendations on cleaning. When using a product made for cleaning roofs or oxygen bleach, follow the directions on the container.

While the recipe for cleaning a roof with bleach tin vary, the basic formula is:

• ane quart bleach (6% sodium hypochlorite)
• 1 gallon water
• ane/4 cup TSP (trisodium phosphate) or other heavy duty cleaner (don't employ a cleaner that contains ammonia or is not recommended for mixing with bleach, as it can effect in poisonous chlorine gas)

Pour the ingredients into a pump type garden sprayer, mix well, and spray.

Later on wetting downwardly the roof with the solution, let information technology to remain on the roof for about 15 minutes before rinsing off with a hose.

Prevention

To keep algae from coming back once your roof is clean, install a strip of copper or zinc coated sheet metal along each side of the roof merely below the ridge. To be effective, ii"- four" of metal should be visible on the roof.

While copper is more toxic to algae, galvanized canvass metallic is much less expensive. Both copper and galvanized metal are available in rolls of various widths and thickness both online and from local metal suppliers. You tin can too purchase zinc strips specifically fabricated to eliminate roof algae from Z-End.

Narrow strips of sail metal can be attached direct to your roof using roofing nails or screws with a prophylactic washer. For wider pieces of canvas metal, loosen the cocky-sealing tabs on the tiptop row of shingles with a putty knife, sideslip part of the sheet metal nether them, and nail it in place under the shingles with roofing nails.

The methods used to eliminate and prevent algae on your roof tin can also be applied to moss.

Further Information

• How to Remove Black Roof Stains (commodity)
• How to Remove Moss from a Roof (commodity)
• How to Make clean and Inspect Your Roof (video)

Source: https://todayshomeowner.com/remove-prevent-algae-stains-asphalt-shingle/

Posted by: gonzalesandlever.blogspot.com

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