Roof Cleaning Services

You may notice black roof stains that are usually mistaken for being mold. What you're looking at are actually dead cells of a very hearty algae known as Gloeocapsa Magma. These algae thrive in areas where there is little sun and lots of moisture. 

 Wherever there is limestone filler in the shingles, this organism will consume it, continue to grow, and will darken in color until it is removed. 

The spores from these algae can be transferred from roof to roof throughout your neighborhood from the wind and can gradually infest your entire block and possibly your entire neighborhood. 

The algae appear black due to the dark pigmentation it produces to cover and protect itself from ultraviolet rays. The algae on the roof shingles do eventually die off, and dead cells will accumulate and cause the black streaks that you'll see on your roof. 

This is incorrectly referred to as "roof mold", and these stains can take months or even years to be noticed. 

If it is not removed, these algae are easily able to cause damage and reduce your roof's lifespan. When the algae eat the limestone filler, it will loosen the ceramic granules protecting your shingles' surfaces. Rainwater will start washing the granules away. 

Heat rays from the sun will not be reflected from your roof as well, and this can lead to an increase in utility bill costs. 

Algae can also result in an increase in moss and lichens which will also damage your roof. They will anchor themselves in the top layer of the shingles and start eroding the granules. 

When this happens, shingles are easily able to lift and be blown off from the wind thus resulting in roof leaks. What's even worse is moss and lichens will act like sponges and will keep moisture on your roof consistently and will result in even more bacterial growth.

It's not recommended that you pressure wash your roof, and the reason is because the protective granules on the surface of the roof shingles are easily dislodged, and pressure washing will scar the shingles significantly. 

This doesn't solve the problem of algae feeding on the limestone filler which is the root cause, and pressure washing has no effect on the spores. You can also reduce the life expectancy of your roof by pressure washing it, and you can thus void your warranty.

Numerous homeowners have tried putting bleach and other antiseptic cleaners to try and deal with Gloeocapsa Magma only to find out that it temporarily stops the problem. The stains will often reappear shortly. 

It just so happens that there is an algae-resistant shingle that has been invented to deal with this matter. We at Overhead Roofing offer the greater Cincinnati area these algae-resistant shingles when we're on the job. 

These shingles will prevent the development of Gloeocapsa Magma and keep your roof looking great for many years to come. Give us a call at (513) 844-8700 for free roof inspection and estimate.