How Do I Remove Black Streaks On My Roof

A spray stain remover solution a scrub brush a garden house protective eyewear rubber gloves shoes with tread a bucket and a ladder.

How do i remove black streaks on my roof.

Your stains are probably caused by the airborne spores of a blue green algae known as gloeocapsa magma which is often mistaken for mold or mildew. Sodium hydroxide lye products on the other hand work better than bleach and are less harmful to vegetation. If the streaks don t bother you or you re not ready to invest in a new roof install zinc or copper strips available at roofing centers along the top course of shingles. This is something you should absolutely not do.

Of chlorine bleach and a quarter cup of. Use a cleaner specially made for killing algae or by spraying a mixture of one part bleach to four parts water with tsp trisodium phosphate or. Bleach and chlorine are way to dangerous. Roof algae can be easily removed by a simple roof cleaning.

The important thing to know is that while an occasional cleaning shouldn t harm your roof doing it yourself may void any roof warranties or homeowner insurance policies you may have. How do you get rid of black streaks on your roof. Be sure to have a friend or family member with you to ensure that you are safe while your climb up and work on your roof. While doing little harm to your shingles the black streaks caused by the algae are unsightly.

Algae can be killed and the stains removed using chemical cleaners though they usually return over time. In order to remove the black streaking from your roof you will need several items. The less expensive solution is to spray wash the roof with a 50 percent mix of water and bleach to get rid of the algae. If you don t like the streaks reshingle with algae resistant shingles.

No pressure washers please. Bleach may kill the top layer of algae and lighten the stains but it doesn t kill the underlying algae. The wrong way to remove black streaks from your roof there is a temptation among homeowners to try to address gloeocapsa magna with power washing. The streaks are mold forming on the roof the safest way to remove is with an roof cleaner that is safe to use and will not harm plants or animals.

So the algae colony gets right back to work. Wet down the roof with water from the garden hose. They re likely to damage the shingles just be sure to wet your foundation plantings first and rinse everything in clean water when you re done. How to remove black stains from roof shingles.