Mold roof removal is something you normally wouldn’t think about as part of your roof maintenance. However, roofs are susceptible to mold, and removal is necessary to do sooner rather than later if you start to see signs of mold, no matter how small or flat they look. One thing that many new homeowners might not have thought of is mold growing on your roof and shingles. In fact, if you didn’t know this can happen, it can be downright alarming when you first see it sitting cozily on your rooftop. While mold growth is not limited to roofs, they can also pop up in your bathrooms, drains, etc. Basically, anywhere that moisture can accumulate and thrive in. So if you think you have any growth that should not be there or know you do after inspecting, here is some additional information on how to scrape your roof clean and avoid any damages or replacements down the road.
What Grows On a Roof?
Algae, mold and mildew are three types of organic matter that can grow on a roof.
Algae
Found on roofs is typically a dark green color. More commonly, it shows up on shingles such as asphalt, wood and wood shake shingles. Algae can also grow on gutters and downspouts. The way algae forms is through air-borne spores that land on parts of the roof, these can also be carried by birds and other small animals. During humid climates, algae begins to grow and thrive. Algae tends to grow in a streak motion, from the bottom up. While it can tamper the look of your roof, the reality is that it won’t cause any structural damage to your home. Algae is more of an aesthetic issue more than anything. If a less than clean roof bothers you, we recommend a few cleaning tips below.
Those dark stains that start to appear on roofs(you might have even seen them on your neighbor’s roofs or other houses around) is algae. It can be particularly easy to spot on light-colored asphalt shingles. Darker shingles still have roof algae, however, it can be hard to see from far away. You have to get on the roof and get really close to the shingles to tell if your roof has any algae growth.
Algae grows during the summertime and thrives when the weather gets humid. It continues to grow and spread because of the limestone filler on the asphalt shingles. The limestone allows and helps algae growth. The remaining residue or dark material on the roof is the residue of the algae.
Algae tends to grow on the shaded, moisture part of your roof. Depending on which direction your house is facing, algae might grow on the front or back side of your house.
Mold
Mold is less common than the other two types of growth on this list. However, it is the most toxic type of growth and the one that you should be taken care of right away. This is because it can cause health issues to the residents of the home, especially if you have asthma. Mold can cause irritated eyes and throats and can even cause serious infections.
Mold forms from small spores that waft through the air, once these land, they form into mold when mixed with oxygen and moisture. Mold needs damp environments. When it comes to your house, it can be found on damp wood, so check your wood decking.
We mentioned that mold is not common, however, its also harder to detect. Mold occurs due to internal issues. Usually from poor or improper attic ventilation. Hot air and moisture is not able to leave as it should and stays indoor, letting dampness stay put. This creates the perfect environment for mold growth.
Check your attic for signs of discoloration, condensation, weird odors and wood rot.
Mildew
Mildew is a type of mold, in fact, FEMA has described mildew as the early life stage of mold. Just like mold, this type of fungus is able to travel through the air as tiny spores and when mixed with a humid environment, starts to thrive.
Another difference is because of its growth, mildew tends to grow flat, so it does not penetrate any surfaces. In fact, it grows on top of a surface. Thanks to this, its easier to remove than other types of mold needed. Mildew can come in different forms, either downy or powdery. Downy mildew looks yellow and shows up in splotches, however, the longer the mildew is allowed to stay on the roof, the darker the splotches become. Powdery mildew is lighter, and looks more white or grey in color.
The good thing is that mildew is not the most dangerous type of mold, like other toxic ones, for example black mold. However, this doesn’t mean that if you notice weird splotches on your roof, that you should not investigate. Traces of mildew need to be taken seriously and be removed as soon as possible. The longer you are exposed to it, the more health problems it can cause.
It can be hard to detect mildew but implementing a roof maintenance plan and inspect your home at least twice a year is a great way to be on the lookout for any signs of things that should not be there. Not only to help keep your roof in great shape but also to keep your family safe from any potential exposures.
Identifying a Potential Mold Removal Problem on Your Roof
We outline the necessary steps to take if you think there is micro-bacterial growth. Whether its moss, algae, mildew or mold, Midwest homes are good habitats for these to grow on. These type of pests need high temperatures, humidity or insufficient roof drainage in order to grow and thrive, so make sure none of these components are present in your home.
1. Pay Attention to Odors
Whether its a vacation home, cabin or if you simply find weird smells in your own home after a while, we recommend that you air out the home first and try to find the source of the smell. If you see that the smell persists and you know its not coming from any other part of the house, check the attic. The main signs of mold being present in your attic includes:
- Check your attic space and look for dark stains on the decking or plywood
- Hot or stuffy air in the attic space
- A musty or damp smell, which is a sign of mildew
- Water entering from your roof, even if its small droplets of water
- In the wintertime, check for frost buildup
The main causes of buildup has to do with ventilation issues with your roof or roof leaks. Call a roofing contractor to check your ventilation system and see if air is flowing properly. They are able to determine if the issues are blocked vents or not enough vents.
2. Know What You Are Dealing With
There is no way to know how to get rid of the problem unless you identify what is is first, so finding out what your home is dealing with is crucial.
- Algae: the most harmless growth, its distinguishing characteristic is a green or black-green color on your roof. Algae is also slick and touching it will feel slimy.
- Moss: Is more of a bright green color, it even looks a little fuzzy and round.
- Mildew: Can be identified by its white or gray-green color and is powdery in nature and grows flat on parts of your roof.
- Mold: Is found on the plywoods inside your attic. Damp environments is where mold thrives. Call a professional to remove this as soon as possible.
3. Be Wary If You Experience Any Health Problems
While we have said that algae and moss are more of an aesthetic issue and do not pose any dangers to your health, mold is a different issue. Even if there’s different types of mold, and some are more harmless than others, there are some that are toxic to humans. Mold can cause respiratory issues and infections. Watch for prolonged runny nose or eyes, skin rashes and asthma symptoms that are getting worse.
Mold Removal Tips
We suggest the following measures to take in order to avoid anything unwanted from growing on your roof(or inside of your attic). The best way to deal with mold and other growth issues is to avoid them at all by not letting them thrive in their preferred environment. If you take these steps early there won’t be any repairs or replacements necessary in your home’s future.
1. Keep Your Roof Clean and in Pristine Condition
Debris buildup helps make the perfect environment for fungi to grow. For example, leaves, branches and even leaves piling up help keep moisture in. Removing the debris from your roof and cleaning it thoroughly helps stop the formation on your roof. Additionally, trim tree branches that are close to or overhang onto your roof. This eliminates future debris from falling on your roof constantly.
2. Maintain and Repair/Replace Your Roof(When Necessary)
By inspecting your roof on a twice a year regular basis, you can spot new growth and clean it up before it gets worse. Most roofing contractors recommend that roofs need twice a year maintenance inspections. If any damage is found with your shingles, then water can start to pool in. Fix this issue right away and repair or replace any damages. Constant inspections are crucial to maintain the integrity of your roof, not just for algae and moss issues but for leaks as wells.
3. Don’t Forget Your Gutters
During your roof maintenance inspection, do not forget your gutters! Leaves and other type of debris start to accumulate and prevent water from making its way to the downspouts. Trapped water gets heavy and can cause your gutters to detach, additionally it creates moisture on your roof. Replace these if there’s enough wear and tear or water is not flowing properly, remember, all parts of your home work together. So keeping each part in good condition is key.
4. Check That Your Ridge Vents are Working Properly
The function of ridge vents are to lead the intake of warm air travel through to attic and out at the very top of the roof. Because the ridge vent goes at the highest point of a home, its imperative that its working properly. Otherwise, warm air could stay stuck in the attic. Check your ridge vents, make sure that the air is flowing out properly and if not, call a local roofer to inspect your vent. Sometimes adding extra slots helps. Another issue could be that it was improperly installed. Find out what the issues is and handle it appropriately and as soon as possible.
5. DIY Cleaning
If you see that your home has some growth that shouldn’t be there, start the cleaning process as soon as possible. You can clean your roof with regular cleaning ingredients, some you might even have in your home already. If not, a quick and much needed trip to the store is the next step.
Depending on the slope of your roof and how comfortable you are getting up there, its a simpler and less costly solution. Using bleach and water, mix 1 quart bleach and 1 gallon of water. Include 1/4 cup of heavy duty cleaner(optional), mix and start to spray the solution on the affected area. Let it sit for 5 minutes in order to soak thoroughly, then rinse off with a hose. Do not try to scrub or use a pressure washer as this can damage the asphalt shingles.
If the growth is very persistent and hard to remove, contact a professional to take a look and offer a solution.
4 Best Roof Cleaning Products
There are many different cleaning products to choose from. Here are four of the ones we found that do the job correctly.
Wash Safe – Roof Wash Premium Roof Cleaner
Wash safe is an organic roof cleaner, bleach-free concentrate. It helps remove mildew, moss, lichen, and black algae. It is wash safe and can be used on asphalt, metal, wood, slate and even ceramic shingles. Safe and effective, wash safe is an oxygen based cleaner and its considered one of the safest products for your roof. It does not contain bleach, and newer ingredients have been added in order to help brighten wood shingles after cleaning.
Roof cleaning with wash safe can be done in two different ways: 1) physically washed using a power washer or 2) leaving it on and waiting for it to rain and rinse the product off the roof. For the latter, if after a couple of rain storms you see that the roof is not completely clean, you might have to repeat the application and wait for more rain.
Spray & Forget
Another biodegradable, non-corrosive chemical won’t need power washing or brushing techniques. According to their website, rinsing is not required and won’t hurt your landscape. Spray & Forget does not contain bleach. It works on algae, mold and mildew. Per their website, the stains should disappear after 1-3 days for green algae stains. Other roof stains disappear in 30-180 days. Black stains that are not on roof surfaces do take between 1-8 weeks. The reason that the time varies is due to the amount of rainfall in your area, how deep and severe the stain is and how concentrated the amount of cleaner used was.
Spray & forget also works on composite decking/wood for cleaning and as a preventative. Do cover your landscape or sprinkle water before and after using spray & forget.
Defy Roof Cleaner
Works best when the stains have just appeared and are not set-in. If a roof that has been dirty for a while, even a couple of months, this is not the best product for it. We recommend any of the above for a better solution.
Defy roof cleaner does not contain chlorine bleach or sodium hydroxide, its not harmful to the roof or landscape. 1 gallon of Defy covers 700-900 square feet, when diluting 6:1 with water.
What To Do If You Find Growth on Your Roof?
We recommend to reach out to a professional to take a look at the matter at hand and provide the appropriate feedback. Professionals have the right equipment, tools and expertise to appropriately handle the situation without damaging your home. The last thing you want is to damage your roof! Its not worth it, see what the roofers say and what they can do for you.
If mold is found inside your attic, the process is the same. We recommend to reach out to a professional to inspect the extent of the damage. Mold is in a different tier and can cause health hazards. Not to mention, the job requires special tools and can be dangerous if you take a wrong step. Contact a professional who are able to handle this type of job.
How To Prevent Future Mold or Algae Growth Down the Road?
Avoid the hassle down the road. We recommend two types of approach when it comes to trying to stop anything from growing on top of your roof. The first and most simple solution is to apply a treatment product that focuses on stopping the growth of mold long term.
The second option is to install zinc or copper strips. Ideally, they should be installed on top of the ridge or along the ridge vent. The easier installation tactic is to slip the strips underneath the shingles, make sure to leave the metal exposed and nail the strips in their place.
The purpose of these metals is to help fight the organic compound that tries to grow, the metals naturally fight against these properties and kill these before they can start to grow.
While it is a nuisance, do not worry too much about streaks on your roof. It happens everywhere, and a good cleaning method helps the roof looking brand new. If you suspect its not just a cosmetic issue, then you know what to do. Contact a mold and roofing professional right away.
We are glad to serve the following areas in Indy: Bloomington, Indianapolis, Greenwood, Fishers and more.
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