Streaks On Roof Shingles

The most common type is known as gloeocapsa magma also known as blue green algae.

Streaks on roof shingles. Roof shingles are exposed to a lot of wear and tear as extreme heat sun wind and precipitation come into contact with them. And the only way for you to maximize that investment is to spend money on it. It is not uncommon for roof shingles to turn black over time. Although these dark spots and ugly black streaks on your roof may look like dirt mildew soot or mold what they really are is algae.

If you live in a humid area of the country you ve probably seen unsightly dark streaks on asphalt shingle roofs. Here s what they are and what to do about them. The algae feed off of the limestone within the roof shingles. We have had several calls about these ar shingles showing black and green streaks.

When that happens it is generally caused by mildew algae mold or dirt stains. Dark streaks or roof discoloration caused by algae happens in varying degrees across the u s especially in areas exposed to warm humid conditions. It is most widespread in the eastern united states and is commonly found on roofs with northern exposure. Shingle manufacturers are now making an algae resistant shingle they resist algae from growing but are not fool proof.

This algae growth usually begins as small spots and then eventually becomes visible streaks. The black streaks running down roofs are actually a hardy algae called gloeocapsa magma. Black streaks on shingled roofs are a common though mysterious sight. The streaks are caused by a type of algae known as gloeocapsa magma.

The most common culprit is actually a blue green algae known as gloeocapsa magma that is spread by airborne spores. While the streaks do not cause a great deal of damage they can cause the shingle to age prematurely. Roof shingles aren t exactly cheap and considering the amount of work that goes into replacing a roof paying a high amount for manual labor is also to be expected. While not immediately damaging they can prematurely age shingles.

These black streaks are. As the blue green algae. Though often attributed to an accumulation of dirt defective shingles mold or mildew. Using shingles that have been treated with algicide keeps the growth at bay for about 10 years thus the 10 year algae warranty.