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.

How to clean mildew off asphalt roof shingles.

In severe cases moss build up can cause lateral water movement resulting in moisture damage to the roof deck or may even cause leaks. There are many ways to remove moss that tends to grow in shaded areas. Commonly found in climates with warm humid summers it does no damage to the roofing but it certainly does looks bad. You can successfully clean shingles by using oxygen bleach.

Now that you know the best ways to clean a roof be sure to follow these guidelines carefully. The most common culprit is actually a blue green algae known as gloeocapsa magma that is spread by airborne spores. Unlike algae moss can be detrimental to asphalt shingle performance. Though often attributed to an accumulation of dirt defective shingles mold or mildew.

Recommendations for how to deal with this have changed over time as experience was gathered. 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. Mold stains can form on roof shingles that are in permanent shade.

Note that our roof cleaning tips only apply for asphalt shingles. Roof shingles become dirty over time. The black mold like stains and streaks that appear on roofs particularly light colored asphalt shingles is actually a blue green algae gloeocapsa magma. Once the moss has been thoroughly eradicated from the roof take steps to keep moss from returning.

So it pays to clean your shingles as soon as you spot algae growth. 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. Keep gutters clean to ensure roofs remain as dry as possible. 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. Cleaning asphalt shingles of clumps of moss or algae that have taken root in the roof can feel like an overwhelming endeavor. Using shingles that have been treated with algicide keeps the growth at bay for about 10 years thus the 10 year algae warranty. 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.

Moss can cause the leading edges of the shingles to lift or curl which increases the risk of shingle blow off during wind events. 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. 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.