Protecting Your Roof From Algae & Mold

One of the most common roofing issues that Maine homeowners regularly face is the build-up of mold, algae, moss, or other natural growth on their shingle system. The New England climate provides the perfect storm for growth, with warm humid summers, ocean air filled with moisture, and plenty of trees to provide shade. When it comes to removing growth from your roof, the process is relatively simple & easy, but it is important to understand the differences between algae, mold & moss, and which methods work best. Keep reading below for more information!

Identifying Roof Growth

To begin, let’s help identify what algae & mold growth look like on a roof. While moss is easy to identify, with it’s bright green, airy growth that can extend across the entire roof, algae & mold are often much more subtle. Sometimes mistaken by homeowners for damage from weathering, mold & algae most often appear in swaths of dark green, black, or brown growth across the shingle system. They are most often seen on sections of your roof that don’t get a great deal of sunlight, with the north side being the most prominent, although it depends on your particularly property and the lay-out of your home and trees. Now that you know what mold & algae look like in your roof, let’s discuss how to remove them safely.

Removing Mold, Algae, & Moss

Now when it comes to removing roof growth, the process is generally the same no matter what kind of growth. Let’s start with moss. Moss can hold moisture on your roof, so while it can often be left without causing damage, it’s safer to remove it from the shingles. The first step is to use a roof brush and gently remove all the loss moss you can, without tearing away your granules. Once you’ve done that, the next step is to apply a store bought cleaner, or homemade mixture, which will generally consist of either dish soap, bleach, or vinegar, combined with water. In fact, if you’re making a DIY cleaning solution, you will be using the same mixture to remove mold & algae growth as well. Simply spray the mixture over the bulk of your roof, and let it rest for a few minutes before spraying the roof down with a hose. This should remove & stop any future growth. You may need to spray & rinse your roof more than once to fully clean the system!

Contact Us Today

If you need a new roof on your Portland, ME home this year, our team at Oceanside Exteriors has you covered! Reach out to our team today by calling us at  (207) 310-7659 or by filling out our team’s online contact form. We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roof installation needs!