What causes discolored roof shingles?

Those dark streaks and discoloration are caused by a blue-green algae called Gloeocapsa Magma. These algae spores are spread through the air and will plant themselves on your entire roof except for where you have metal flashing.

How do you fix discolored shingles?

A mixture of trisodium phosphate (TSP), bleach, and water will also remove stains. Oxygen bleach lightens stains as well and is less harmful to the environment, but it doesn't produce as immediate or dramatic an effect as chlorine bleach. Roof cleaned with oxygen bleach (left) and chlorine bleach (center).

What causes dark stains on roof shingles?

The black streaks running down roofs are actually a hardy algae called Gloeocapsa magma. As the blue-green algae accumulate, they develop a dark, hardened outer coating, which results in the black stains you see. The algae feed on the limestone in shingles.

What do discolored shingles mean?

If you have noticed discoloration or any type of dark streaks along your roof shingles, it is likely you are experiencing some type of algae growth. These growths can be extremely common in humid areas like Florida.

How do you clean discolored asphalt shingles?

of laundry strength liquid chlorine bleach and water. This is the best way to clean a roof if you have asphalt shingles. After spraying the roof with the mixture, allow it to sit on the surface for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with clean water.

Why Do Roof Shingles Become Discolored

Will bleach damage asphalt shingles?

No, bleach will not cause discoloration in your shingles, or asphalt shingles.

Can you power wash asphalt shingles?

Never, ever under any circumstances pressure wash your roof shingles on your own or pay a company to do so. Sure, it's tempting to want to get any moss, algae, dirt, etc. off of your roofing shingles. But pressure washing your asphalt roof will do more harm than good.

Do roof shingles change color over time?

Asphalt shingles do indeed fade, but the rate at which they lose color can vary, especially when it comes to shade. Dark gray shingles will fade to lighter grays more easily than shingles that start out in lighter shades. If you want your shingle color to last, try to pick out lighter colors.

Why do roof tiles go yellow?

Algae can leave a black or green slime-like covering on your tiles, lichen tends to leave a yellowish-white, thicker covering, and moss is a more fluffy, lumpy green covering. All it takes is for a single spore to land on your roof.

Will Wet and Forget clean shingles?

Wet & Forget Outdoor works with the wind and rain over time to completely wipe out black algae and keep it away for a year or more in most cases. Wet & Forget's gentle, non-caustic formula is safe for all types of shingles, and it won't corrode your downspouts or harm your lawn with runoff.

Will vinegar clean roof shingles?

Vinegar will not hurt roof shingles and is the best way to clean asphalt shingles. Vinegar bough at the store will have different concentrations of acetic acid. 5% is adequate for most roof damage, although you can go as high as 25% for very stained roofs.

How long does a shingle roof last?

Homeowners with wood shake roofs should expect them to last about 30 years, while fiber cement shingles last about 25 years and asphalt shingle/composition roofs last about 20 years, the NAHB found.

Does cleaning your roof damage it?

Professional Cleaning

Standard, high-pressure washers can damage your roof when you're trying to clean it. It's important to use special equipment that does not harm the shingles and cause them to be torn from the high pressure. Reputable roof cleaning companies will also use a biodegradable cleaning solution.

What is the green stuff growing on my roof?

Blue, green or black stains on a bitumen shingle roof are mostly caused by algae. These algae staining begins with small spots. Over time these spots can develop into streaks. Algae stains are often mistaken for mold or mildew.

Are algae resistant shingles worth it?

It's easy to see why installing algae-resistant shingles is the most cost-effective way to deal with your potential algae problem. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. You can stop algae before it even starts by installing algae-resistant shingles in the first place.

How do I get yellow lichen off my roof?

There are several methods for the removal of moss and lichen:

1. Spraying moss with a toxic wash. A toxic wash solution can be used to wash the roof, although care must be taken as the solution can be harmful to plants and animals. ...
2. Fitting copper to inhibit moss growth on the roof. ...
3. Scraping moss off the roof.

Should you power wash your roof?

One of the most common methods of cleaning roof tiles is to pressure wash them, but this is something that is widely disputed. Using a high powered pressure washer could cause more damage than good, because the strength of the water stream can remove the finish of the roof tiles.

What is the yellow on roof?

If you notice that your roof has a white or yellow stain, you could be dealing with hard water buildup. Hard water is essentially water that has not been treated with a cleaning process. That means there are natural minerals and other deposits that can affect your roof.

Do shingles get darker with age?

Why Do Shingles Change Color Over Time? Shingles fade because they're doing their job– protecting your home from the elements. Exposure to sun, rain, snow, and wind can cause fading, but some shingles are more resistant to fading than others.

Do shingles get darker or lighter over time?

Shingles will fade over time, but the rate at which they fade is largely determined by their original color. Darker shingles fade more noticeably than lighter shingles. There is nothing more satisfying than driving on a familiar street that has been newly paved.

How much does it cost to paint roof shingles?

How Much Does It Cost to Paint Shingles? If you're doing the job yourself, you can expect to spend at least 500 dollars to paint your roof. This includes the cost of paint, primer, rollers, and other equipment. If you have a larger-than-average roof, that price will climb quickly!

What chemicals are used to clean roofs?

Cleaning may be accomplished with a bleach or sodium percarbonate solution, various cleaning products or commercial cleaning services. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) recommends using a 50/50 solution of household strength sodium hypochlorite (pool chlorine) and water to remove moss and algae.

When should I remove moss from my roof?

If your roof has sprouted a moss infection, you can remove it before it becomes serious enough to impact the performance of your roof. Moss is tough and typically you will not be able to remove it by hand. However, you can use a chemical solution to loosen the moss without damaging the shingles.

How do you clean an asphalt roof?

The most effective method of cleaning algae and moss from a roof is with a 50:50 mix of laundry strength liquid chlorine bleach and water. Apply with a sprayer and allow the solution to dwell on the roof surface for 15 to 20 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly with low pressure water.