If y'all're reading this, chances are you're looking for roof-cleaning tips because your shingles are no longer looking new and attractive. If your roof appears nighttime and discolored in some areas, you lot may recall that mold has developed on the surfaces of the shingles. However, the black streaks you're seeing are really colonies of blue-light-green algae. If you lot're noticing thick, greenish patches on your roof instead, then you've got a moss trouble, The north, westward, and shady areas of your roof are near susceptible to these wet-loving nuisances.

black streaks on roof

Moss and algae spores are carried past the current of air or animals from rooftop to rooftop, which is why unabridged neighborhoods are ofttimes afflicted. Moss can seriously impact asphalt shingle performance by causing them to curl upward and blow off, eventually resulting in leaks. While algae doesn't actually damage your roof, information technology can impact its aesthetic appeal. Further, climbing on your roof oft to clean off growth Tin can damage your roof and shorten its lifespan by loosening the granules on your shingles. So, it'due south best to know how to clean your roof properly and so that you ensure you lot don't have to practice it also ofttimes.

Knowing this, what are the best ways to clean a roof of algae and moss growth? Read on for our all-time roof-cleaning tips!

Don't: Use a pressure washer, which can loosen shingles and seriously harm your roof.
Do: Utilise a sprayer attached to garden hose that'due south filled with equal parts chlorine bleach and water. of laundry force liquid chlorine bleach and water. This is the best way to clean a roof if y'all accept cobblestone shingles. Later on spraying the roof with the mixture, permit it to sit on the surface for xv to 20 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with make clean water.

Don't: Ignore your landscape and surrounding areas, which tin can be harmed by the bleach solution
Practice: Wet plants and shrubbery thoroughly with plain h2o before roofing them with plastic, then rinse them again after using the bleach solution on your roof.

Don't: Presume the solution will immediately remove the growth from your roof and employ the solution over again.
Do: Have patience. The algae will wash away during subsequent rainstorms, and moss will eventually loosen to the signal where it tin can exist removed with a leaf blower.

Don't: Make clean your roof on a sunny day, which volition cause the bleach solution to evaporate too quickly, limiting its cleansing effects.
Practice: Make clean your roof on a cloudy, at-home solar day when the wind isn't blowing and there's no threat of precipitation.

Don't: Clean your roof without taking proper condom precautions.
Do: make clean your roof only after determining that you tin can safely walk its surface. If the slope is besides steep to hands traverse or if your house is more than one story, y'all should hire a pro. If you do become upward on your roof, wear well-fitting shoes with slip-resistant rubber soles and be sure to don center and pare protection.

Don't: Wait until your roof is covered in algae or moss to take action.
Do: trim back overhanging branches to betrayal the roof to sunlight, and clear droppings such as branches and leaves, from its surfaces with a leaf blower if needed. Keep gutters clean to ensure roofs remain as dry as possible.

Now that you know the best ways to clean a roof, be sure to follow these guidelines advisedly. Note that our roof-cleaning tips only apply for asphalt shingles. If you take another type of roof, information technology's important to check with your manufacturer to find out how to make clean your roof. In fact, information technology's wise to consult your manufacturer for roof-cleaning tips regardless of what blazon of shingles you have in club to avert inadvertent damage.

Sometimes roofs are beyond cleaning or the cleaning reveals other, more serious, issues. If that's your situation give the roofing experts at George J. Keller and Sons a call today at 973-927-0963 and we'll inspect your roof for free and discuss your options.