Standing Algae Growth

Have you ever noticed black/green streaks down a roof? Maybe they're on your own roof and you've never given much thought about it, other than it having a pretty bad appearance. Well those streaks you see are actually algae growth. This algae thrives in humid climates, and it is airborne. Yes, it sounds pretty disgusting. If a house in your neighborhood gets this growth, all the other houses are susceptible to it due to its' airborne nature. The algae spores are spread by the wind and are just looking for new hosts to attach to. Once one house is infested with it, the whole neighborhood can become overrun with this roof algae. It's definitely not a very sightly problem to have on your roof.
Now, there have been new shingles developed to combat this algae problem. If you live in a humid climate, you will definitely want to look into these new shingles. They use a Scotchgard system that blends 3M copper granules. These granules are manufactured into the shingles. These copper granules act as a natural biocide, which basically prevents any algae growth. Without this algae growth, you don't have to worry about the unsightly streaky appearance of your roof! There is actually a lifetime warranty against algae growth with some of the companies distributing these new shingles, which is amazing.
Personally, if I lived in a warm/moist/humid climate, and I knew there was a way to prevent algae growth on my roof, I would do it in a heartbeat. Not only do I not like the appearance of algae on a roof, I'm weary about the side effects of this algae growth. Over time, roof algae can eat through your shingles and into your roof deck, causing rot. We all know that wood rot is never a good thing in a home, but specifically on the roof, it's REALLY not a good thing. When the wood rots, water can get in through the cracks and create the perfect environment for mold growth. I'm not even going to get into the dangers of mold in your home, I think everyone is very aware of how dangerous that is.
So all in all, if you have stains or streaks on your roof, get it checked out. Don't ignore it! If your roof needs to be replaced because of the damage, consider these algae resistant shingles so that you won't have to worry about it again!

www.sawyerroofing.com