What Are The Black Streaks On My Roof

Black streaks or stains on asphalt shingles are caused by a hardy type of airborne algae. The algae land on your roof and feed on the crushed limestone that is used in asphalt shingles. Rain then spreads the algae down the roof causing black streaks. This algae doesn’t allow the shingles to reflect heat properly and causes them to fail prematurely.

The good news is these algae can be killed and removed without harming the shingles, by using “low pressure” techniques and cleaning solutions recommended by the major shingle manufactures (never allow a pressure washer to be used on your roof).

It’s a fact that 50% of roofs are replaced due to the way they look and not their functionality. Replacing a roof that is suffering from algae is like replacing your vinyl siding because it has mold and mildew on it, it just doesn’t make sense. If your shingles appear to still be in good shape and are only suffering from roof algae, there is a good chance you can save yourself thousands of dollars by having your roof properly cleaned instead of replaced. Find a reputable roof cleaning contractor in your area and make sure that they use the low pressure method. Having your roof properly cleaned will allow you to get the expected life out of your roof.