Making your roof clean isn’t only about showing off to your neighbors or ensuring your home looks perfect to post on Instagram. It also has some consequences for the lifespan of the roof and house, but also the health of the inhabitants. Poorly maintaining your roof can lead to pest infestations and mold and algae infestations.
Algae and Moss Are Different?
Yes, they are and it is high time people stop confusing them with one another and mold. Although they are still as terrible as molds, they grow in different conditions, look different, and affect your roof differently. Moss is an organism that grows in humid areas with little sunlight, manifesting as thick green layers. While they might at first seem harmless apart from ruining your home’s curb appeal, they are far from it and have been known to cause damage to the roof by gathering debris and clogging up gutters.
Algae, on the other hand, come in many shapes and colors, but it is generally a dark blue or green plant that tends to grow in humid and damp regions. Unlike moss, which creates direct damage to roofs, algae is much more subtle and it does this by leveraging its pigmentation to absorb more sunlight.
Why You Should Remove Them.
These are the main reasons why you should remove any moss growth in your home;
- Moss tends to gather debris and dead branches, which obstruct your gutter and lead to roof damage.
- It is known to retain a lot of moisture content. Moisture will eventually seep into the shingles and structurally damage them.
- Moss’s heavy qualities allow it to form small water ponds on the roof by obstructing the nominal drainage systems. If left unchecked, this pooling will slowly weaken and then damage the roof.
- Its growth also makes it easy for it to lift roofing tiles and displace shingles, making the rest of the structure vulnerable to leaks.
- It also has serious health implications because it cultivates a good environment for molds and parasites.
- The presence of it on your roof severely reduces your home’s curb appeal.
You also have to remove algae to prevent the following:
- It also severely diminishes the aesthetic appeal of any home.
- Algae on your roof is a possible loophole for mold to grow, which can lead to several respiratory issues and allergies in the household.
- The dark pigmentation means that it will absorb sunlight. While this might be good in certain situations, the continuous high absorption of sunlight will start leading to structural issues with the roof.
- They are also very slippery, meaning they can be hazardous to anyone performing some work on them.
How To Prevent Their Growth.
1. Clear any Obstruction and Debris.
Debris and severe water clogging on the roof are major facilitators of moss and algae growth. This is why you have to clear them off, whether it be dead branches from trees, sand, animal carcasses, or even snow.
2. Clean Up Pooled Water on The Roof.
Water clogging quickly leads to several small ponds on the roof that can easily become breeding grounds for insects and algae. By cleaning up all these puddles of water, you not only protect your health but also the roof from damage.
3. Chemical Treatment.
Something more professional you can do to remove your annoying moss and algae and that is called chemical treatment. This treatment is intended to kill it off and wash it off the top, making it difficult for them to grow again. It usually consists of a mixture of liquid chlorine bleach and water or a mix of white vinegar and water. None of them are effective.
4. Remove It Manually.
You could also remove them manually and then use chemical treatment to finish. This method is very labor intensive but is very effective at clearing out moss hidden in the shingles.
5. Use Zinc and Copper Strips.
It’s been found that installing zinc and copper strips to the roof helps hinder their growth. This might be because they hardly retain water and are structurally sound. Some modern roofs are even equipped with certain qualities to withstand the growth of these organisms.
If you lack the implements to clear your roof, do not worry. Advanced Roofing and Siding has all the tools and skills to get rid of that peaky algae and mold on your roof.