Roof stains can be unsightly and make your property look much older and worn out, bringing down its resale value too. But are they something you need to be worried about?
Check your attic
The growth of blue-green algae usually causes the large dark streaks you see on your asphalt roofs. This organism is airborne, but humid conditions, shade, or moisture on your roof can encourage their growth. It’s not something to be concerned about unless you care for the aesthetic look, in which case we provide you with suggestions to remove them. But check your attic for any cracks or leaks in the roof because if it’s structural damage, then you need to call a local roofing repair company.
If the structure is okay, you can take care of the cosmetic look of the roof. Please ensure that you wear gloves and safety goggles while working with chemical cleaners, along with wearing a shoe with a solid grip and harness while working on the roof.
Steps on removing roof stains
1. Make sure your gutters are clean and unobstructed so that the excess runoff of the cleaners can be channeled away safely.
2. Clean away any debris on the roof with a broom or a blower.
3. Soak the stained area with water using a hose on the lowest setting.
4. Wet any greenery that will come in contact with the chemical run-off. This includes the surrounding grass shrubbery.
5. Now mix,
- 1-quart bleach (6% sodium hypochlorite)
- 1-gallon water
- 1/4 cup TSP (trisodium phosphate) or another heavy-duty cleaner (don’t use a cleaner that contains ammonia for mixing with bleach, as it can result in poisonous chlorine gas).
Pour this in a garden sprayer, soak the stained area and let it sit for 15 minutes before washing it with a hose. As an alternative to the above mixture, you can also buy environmentally-friendly cleaners that are now readily available in the market. If you believe a cleaner from the market, the package will have instructions on how long you need it to stay on the stains before washing off.
If some stains are more stubborn and won’t come off with just the cleaner, you can use a higher-pressure setting on the hose, but be sure not to make it too strong as it can damage the roofing tiles.
To prevent the regrowth of the mold/mildew/algae, install zinc or copper strips along the edge of your roof. These metals are toxic to the algae, so every time it rains, tiny metal particles will slide down your roof, acting as a shield to regrowth.
These are some things you can do by yourself to maintain your roof.
For an expert solution to your roofing problems, contact Panda Roof at (330) 348-5885!