Blue Green Algae On Roof Shingles

Blue green algae usually brings images of lakes and waterways clogged with algae causing damage to the ecosystem not a roof.

Blue green algae on roof shingles.

Algae can cause unsightly stains and growths on your new roof. While it doesn t cause substantial damage to the roofing surface the black streaks can certainly make it ugly. Commonly found in climates with warm humid summers it does no damage to the roofing but it certainly does looks bad. However algae is commonly found on roofs across the usa and canada.

As primordial photosynthesizers they were the originators. Algae can grow in moist shaded areas so if a homeowner has trees hanging over their roof tell them to trim them back to let the sunshine warm and dry the roof. Products with stainguard plus algae protection are covered by a 25 year limited warranty against blue green algae discoloration. The growths on the roof are cyanobacteria or blue green algae a phylum of organisms that has dwelt on earth for about 3 billion years.

If you live in a humid area of the country you ve probably seen unsightly dark streaks on asphalt shingle roofs. If a new roof is in order then suggest gaf shingles with stainguard protection to help ensure the beauty of a roof against unsightly blue green algae. In addition to moisture from rainwater blue green algae also eats the limestone filler that s used to make the asphalt shingle granules. A roof may develop different types of algae lichens and fungi as bacteria take over.

If you ve noticed it on your roof you may have mistaken this common algae for mold or mildew. Stainguard plus algae protection is available only on shingles sold in packages bearing the stainguard plus logo. According to algae expert michael guiry algae base at references some of these black algae are as identified in the lab blue green or even lichenized algae while others are a diverse group of coccoid algae like our microscope photo of more green algae from a roof sample below that are turning out be be very diverse. Typically it will appear as dark black stains or streaks.

See gaf shingle accessory limited warranty for complete coverage and restrictions. Living in a humid area of the country like florida you ve probably seen your asphalt shingle roofs with unsightly dark streaks on them. Though often attributed to an accumulation of dirt defective shingles mold or mildew. The black mold like stains and streaks that appear on roofs particularly light colored asphalt shingles is actually a blue green algae gloeocapsa magma.