Algae appears on a roof as a black mold-like stain or streak. You may find some of these stains on the roof of your Rochester Hills home as it’s typical for algae to grow in climates like Michigan where we have warm and humid summers. The good news is that it doesn’t do any damage to your roof. It does however look bad. So below are some tips for getting rid of algae and preventing more from growing on your roof.
Wash with Bleach and Water
Some people’s first instinct is to pressure wash the roof, but this will only damage the shingles, causing your roof more harm. The best and cheapest way to solve the problem is to wash your roof with a half water, half bleach mix. Spray the bleach and water mix onto the spots of algae. Let it sit for twenty minutes and then scrub the area with a brush. Then rinse everything in clean water when you’re done. This should be sufficient enough to kill the algae. Just be careful while you’re up there as the water makes it easy to slip. If you can, have someone help you. You can even hire professionals to clean the algae off for you.
Prevent Algae with Zinc or Copper
To prevent algae from coming back you’ll want to insert strips of zinc or copper. Get 6 inch wide strips and insert them under the row of shingling that’s closet to the rook peak. Leave an inch or two sticking out of the shingles at the peak of your roof. This will ensure that when it rains some of the metal molecules will wash down the roof, killing algae. This is a simple yet effective solution. If you do this, you shouldn’t have anymore problems with algae on your roof. Algae is one of the most common problems people have with their roofs, the trouble is that it can sometimes be so subtle that you might not even notice it. Even if you don’t think you have an algae problem, it doesn’t hurt to go on your roof from time to time to inspect for dark spots.
If you are in Rochester Hills, Oakland County or the surrounding area and need a roofing company to replace or repair your roof, give Martino Home Improvements a call. We can come out as soon as today and give your roof a free estimate!
