Staining Roof Shingles

Preserve the appearance of your roof by removing black stains promptly.

Staining roof shingles.

The streaks look like mold but they re actually algae colonies that form in your shingles and feed on moisture and the limestone filler agents in the shingles. Roof shingles are exposed to a lot of wear and tear as extreme heat sun wind and precipitation come into contact with them. In addition choose a day with little wind so that when you spray the solution it stays on your roof 1 x research sourcestep 2 perform maintenance on your roof. Shingles are laid from the bottom edge of the roof in rows each row overlapping the one below it all the way to the top.

Water based stains function differently from oil based stains. Black streaks on the north and west facing and shaded areas of your asphalt shingled roof can really wreck the appearance of your home. Sunlight and warm weather will ensure the cleaning solution dries too fast to be of any use. The remedies for and means of preventing stains on roof shingles are discussed as well.

While doing little harm to your shingles the black streaks caused by the algae are unsightly. But there are other roof stain colors and causes. Your stains are probably caused by the airborne spores of a blue green algae known as gloeocapsa magma which is often mistaken for mold or mildew. Roof shingles are a covering on the roof of your house that are laid out in a manner that they overlap each other.

It is not uncommon for roof shingles to turn black over time. Both oil based and water based finishes for shakes and shingles are labeled clear transparent and semitransparent. Paint vs stain best stains seals and protects wood shingles leaving no paint mil to chip crack or peel. To protect against wind and hail damage the sheet is covered with a strip of sealant.

The day you perform deep cleaning on the shingles should be cool and overcast. They coat the cells with pigment and acrylic material and penetrate between them but do not penetrate the voids inside the cell walls. When that happens it is generally caused by mildew algae mold or dirt stains. Algae can be killed and the stains removed using chemical cleaners though they usually return over time.

A layer of sand is added to the base of the shingle which is then fed into a press to embed the granules. Oil or water based stains make an ideal stain for your cedar shingles as long as they don t have a high solid particulate nature. Before you begin it s important to repair loose shingles and flashings to minimize roof damage. Best stains covers preserves better these best stains are also are easy to apply by spray method.

Step 1 choose a cool and overcast day. Once stains redevelope and stay then it s time to recoat the entire roof since this dark algae can develope anywhere upon it. They are often rectangular in shape but size can vary.