There are many fungi that can settle on a roof that are both destructive to the roof and repulsive to look at. Moss, lichen, black algae (black mold), green mold/algae make up the bulk of matter and removal has become a necessity. Roofs need to be cleaned for a variety of reasons; to prevent destruction and early replacement, to control increased energy costs and to correct the devaluing of the property.
Asphalt shingle, cedar shake and tile roofs are the most commonly affected roofs, each is affected differently.
Asphalt roofs are destroyed more rapidly than the others, fungus can grow under shingles lifting them until they crack and fall off. The fungus tendrils or “roots” also dig through the reflective granules causing them to dislodge and fall off, this action results in the thinning of shingles taking years off the expected life of the shingle as they then curl and cup.
Cedar roofs need to remain dry to last, when a cedar roofing company akron is covered with fungus, the fungus traps moisture in the wood which causes rotting, which invites wood feeding insects and that rapidly deteriorates the integrity of the wood.
Tile roofs are most commonly found in the south and although fungus can’t destroy tile like it does asphalt or wood, tiles are destroyed by having the weight roof cleaners walking on the roof, tile are fragile especially after baking in the sun for years, the damage isn’t apparent at first but as the cracks wash out with rain water they will become dislodged and fall off.
Other than destructive damage the fungus can cause, the home owner can expect an increase in energy bills. Fungus is generally dark colored and dark colors absorb sunlight which increases the heat in attics, crawl spaces and second or top floors causing the air conditioners to work overtime to cool those spaces, resulting in higher than normal energy bills.
To top it off the majority of the roof cleaning products on the market require plants, bushes and any foliage around the home to be either covered or be constantly wet down because the toxicity in the cleaning solution will kill them and as careful as the roof cleaners may be there are always casualties within the foliage.
With the above mentioned negative effects of roof fungus the worst to a property manager is the fact that a home or dwelling with an infected roof is an “eye-sore”, it makes a pretty house look ugly, it makes an expensive development look run down or unmaintained, it not only decreases the value of the infected home but the value of the neighbors home as well, these homes are treated like lepers and as more homes catch the infection a leper colony is formed.