Algae Growing On 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.

Algae growing on roof shingles.

Algae is not a plant but an organism spread by spores. The black mold like stains and streaks that appear on roofs particularly light colored asphalt shingles is actually a blue green algae gloeocapsa magma. It can be brown gray blue or green. Algae growth is common on roof surfaces of several materials including asphalt shingles concrete and clay roof tiles and even slate.

The best way to get rid of algae once it s taken hold on your roof is to have a professional roof cleaning team come with a low pressure washer and cleaner that will kill the algae and mold but not hurt the plants and grasses around your home. If you have noticed black spots or streaks on your roof you ve got algae on your roof. A blue green algae known as gloeocapsa magma could be the reason you have the algae which is spread by airborne spores. Algae will grow flush against the shingles and fixtures on your roof.

Commonly found in climates with warm humid summers it does no damage to the roofing but it certainly does looks bad. It appears on the shingles in streaks that head down the roof pitch vertically. Algae growth won t cause any structural problems to your roof but it looks ugly and it can damage the shingles over time.