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What Are Those Black Stains On The Roof ?
The black stains on a roof is actually an airborne fungus.
This fungus grows and is attracted to certain areas of roofs that have
any of the following characteristics :
* Shady roof on north side of house or shady roof under trees where wind
and sun don’t reach.
* Any area of moisture or high humidity.
This black fungus is a pesky little thing flying around in the wind and looking for roof prospects to grow on. Normally
when the airborne fungus shows up on one house in a neighborhood, it will eventually spread to some of the other
houses in the same neighborhood (as long as the proper growing conditions exist on a particular roof).
Do not despair, this fungus can be removed with the proper cleaner (normally in a 1 gal. concentrate form, approx. $25.)
and with the use of a normal power washer. This roof cleaner can be purchased at Lowe’s, Home Depot, or any roofing
supply house. If you would rather hire someone to do this, there are companies in town who specialize in power washing
roofs.
For those homeowners who are getting close to replacing their shingles, shingle manufacturers are now offering FR
(fungus resistant) shingles. The FR shingles come in the full range of colors/styles and they only cost a small fraction
higher than normal shingles. The roofing manufacturers have been doing research on this roof fungus problem and they
have changed the granule formulation (on the top of the shingle) to include copper which the fungus doesn‘t like. I have
heard that within the next several years, all shingles made will automatically be the FR shingles.
The bottom line…the roof fungus problem is just another thing to add to one’s home maintenance list. If you don’t have
roof fungus, consider yourself lucky. If your roof does have it, it’s not the end of the world. Just clean it yourself or get
someone else to clean it for you. Your house will be happy that you did, plus you’ll be happy coming home to a “cleaner”
looking house.
The black stains on a roof is actually an airborne fungus.
This fungus grows and is attracted to certain areas of roofs that have
any of the following characteristics :
* Shady roof on north side of house or shady roof under trees where wind
and sun don’t reach.
* Any area of moisture or high humidity.
This black fungus is a pesky little thing flying around in the wind and looking for roof prospects to grow on. Normally
when the airborne fungus shows up on one house in a neighborhood, it will eventually spread to some of the other
houses in the same neighborhood (as long as the proper growing conditions exist on a particular roof).
Do not despair, this fungus can be removed with the proper cleaner (normally in a 1 gal. concentrate form, approx. $25.)
and with the use of a normal power washer. This roof cleaner can be purchased at Lowe’s, Home Depot, or any roofing
supply house. If you would rather hire someone to do this, there are companies in town who specialize in power washing
roofs.
For those homeowners who are getting close to replacing their shingles, shingle manufacturers are now offering FR
(fungus resistant) shingles. The FR shingles come in the full range of colors/styles and they only cost a small fraction
higher than normal shingles. The roofing manufacturers have been doing research on this roof fungus problem and they
have changed the granule formulation (on the top of the shingle) to include copper which the fungus doesn‘t like. I have
heard that within the next several years, all shingles made will automatically be the FR shingles.
The bottom line…the roof fungus problem is just another thing to add to one’s home maintenance list. If you don’t have
roof fungus, consider yourself lucky. If your roof does have it, it’s not the end of the world. Just clean it yourself or get
someone else to clean it for you. Your house will be happy that you did, plus you’ll be happy coming home to a “cleaner”
looking house.
Phone 804-215-3911
www.richmondinspections.com
www.richmondinspections.com