Removing black algae stains from roof shingles
 

When a roof has copper or galvanized items (vent pipes, exhaust fans,
etc.) protruding from it, shingles below these items will be free of
algae stains because rain washes copper or zinc from the galvanized
items off and kills the algae. Has anyone heard of using a copper or
zinc solution in a hose end sprayer to clean remove the stains? If so,
which chemical, what concentration, and what coverage?

I'm experimenting with more conventional approaches (oxygen bleach,
laundry detergent, and a produce called KrudKutter). All require
multiple applications, "scrubbing" with a broom, and generous rinsing.
There may be other proprietary (expensive) items that are more effective
and easier to use, but for now I'm looking for shortcuts.

Thanks,

Ray

Removing black algae stains from roof shingles
 

On Jun 24, 9:37 am, Ray K wrote:
When a roof has copper or galvanized items (vent pipes, exhaust fans,
etc.) protruding from it, shingles below these items will be free of
algae stains because rain washes copper or zinc from the galvanized
items off and kills the algae. Has anyone heard of using a copper or
zinc solution in a hose end sprayer to clean remove the stains? If so,
which chemical, what concentration, and what coverage?

I'm experimenting with more conventional approaches (oxygen bleach,
laundry detergent, and a produce called KrudKutter). All require
multiple applications, "scrubbing" with a broom, and generous rinsing.
There may be other proprietary (expensive) items that are more effective
and easier to use, but for now I'm looking for shortcuts.

Thanks,

Ray


Roof zinc strip?
Just install, let the rain do the work. Don't know how fast the stains
will fade, though.


Dave

Removing black algae stains from roof shingles
 

Removing black algae stains from roof shingles
 

Ken wrote:
wrote:
On Jun 24, 9:37 am, Ray K wrote:
When a roof has copper or galvanized items (vent pipes, exhaust fans,
etc.) protruding from it, shingles below these items will be free of
algae stains because rain washes copper or zinc from the galvanized
items off and kills the algae. Has anyone heard of using a copper or
zinc solution in a hose end sprayer to clean remove the stains? If so,
which chemical, what concentration, and what coverage?

I'm experimenting with more conventional approaches (oxygen bleach,
laundry detergent, and a produce called KrudKutter). All require
multiple applications, "scrubbing" with a broom, and generous rinsing.
There may be other proprietary (expensive) items that are more
effective
and easier to use, but for now I'm looking for shortcuts.

Thanks,

Ray


Roof zinc strip?
Just install, let the rain do the work. Don't know how fast the stains
will fade, though.


Dave

You are correct about the zinc being responsible for SOME killing
of the algae/fungus. I guess depending upon where you live, the
results of such strips will vary? All I can say is that in the south
where the humidity is high and the temperature is also, the strips do
not work very well. There IS an improvement, but I do not see it as
worth the effort.

Some years ago I attempted to remove the stains from my roof with
a chemical made especially for this purpose. You can buy it at Home
Depot I believe. It is mixed with bleach, sprayed on with a tank
sprayer, and washed off with a hose or pressure washer at low
pressure. The results were NOT total, but there WAS an improvement.
The real problem was that the improvement was only temporary and if
your neighbors had the same problem, it was sure to return next year,
albeit not as bad.

If someone wants to make a fortune, they should find something
that solves this problem and mix it into the asphalt used to make the
shingle. As of this moment I do not think there is anything that
really prevents the problem 100%. If there is, I would like to hear
about it.

The problem is caused by the limestone used in the construction of
current shingles. It acts as food for algae. There are shingles made
with embedded copper granules in them that prevent the algae problem.
You just have know they exist and specify them.

The problem with adding zinc strips is that they will take too long to
work. That's why I was wondering if there is a zinc (or copper) solution
I could just spray on the roof to remove the stains fast.

Removing black algae stains from roof shingles
 

On Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:20:30 -0400, Ray K
wrote:
snip
The problem with adding zinc strips is that they will take too long to
work. That's why I was wondering if there is a zinc (or copper) solution
I could just spray on the roof to remove the stains fast.

All the zinc does is kill (or prevent from starting to grow) the algae
and/or moss. It doesn't remove the stains. If you already have algae
and stains, adding zinc strips will eventually slowly kill it, but it
will take a long time for the stains to weather off.

Best bet is to clean the roof (bleach and TSP substitute worked for
me, but did require scrubbing with a soft brush), and then add the
zinc strips to stop or at least slow the return of the algae and/or
moss.

Also, the zinc strips don't seem to work very well on shallow-pitch
roofs, although you can add a second or third row of the strips lower
down on the roof to help. But then they can be kind of ugly.

HTH,

Paul F.

Removing black algae stains from roof shingles
 

On Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:37:20 -0400, Ray K
wrote:

When a roof has copper or galvanized items (vent pipes, exhaust fans,
etc.) protruding from it, shingles below these items will be free of
algae stains because rain washes copper or zinc from the galvanized
items off and kills the algae. Has anyone heard of using a copper or
zinc solution in a hose end sprayer to clean remove the stains? If so,
which chemical, what concentration, and what coverage?

I'm experimenting with more conventional approaches (oxygen bleach,
laundry detergent, and a produce called KrudKutter). All require
multiple applications, "scrubbing" with a broom, and generous rinsing.
There may be other proprietary (expensive) items that are more effective
and easier to use, but for now I'm looking for shortcuts.

Thanks,

Ray

A year ago I asked the same question that you are asking now. I had
very noticeable black algae streaks on the north facing slopes of my
white shingled roof. A reply directed me to
http://www.sprayandforget.com/

I tried this product and now I have no black streaks at all. This
after just one application last fall. No scrubbing. Just spray and
forget.

It does take time to work. The product stays in place up to a year
and every time it rains it releases more algae killer. I believe the
formula calls for a 9:1 ratio of water to chemical. Because of this I
would suggest buying their low ratio sprayer also.

Removing black algae stains from roof shingles
 

Paul Franklin wrote:
On Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:20:30 -0400, Ray K
wrote:
snip

The problem with adding zinc strips is that they will take too long to
work. That's why I was wondering if there is a zinc (or copper) solution
I could just spray on the roof to remove the stains fast.


All the zinc does is kill (or prevent from starting to grow) the algae
and/or moss. It doesn't remove the stains. If you already have algae
and stains, adding zinc strips will eventually slowly kill it, but it
will take a long time for the stains to weather off.

Best bet is to clean the roof (bleach and TSP substitute worked for
me, but did require scrubbing with a soft brush), and then add the
zinc strips to stop or at least slow the return of the algae and/or
moss.

Also, the zinc strips don't seem to work very well on shallow-pitch
roofs, although you can add a second or third row of the strips lower
down on the roof to help. But then they can be kind of ugly.

HTH,

Paul F.

Thanks, Paul. That's the kind of feedback I was looking for.

My house is a ranch, so your comment about shallow-pitch roofs applies
to me.

Do you remember your concentrations of bleach and TSP? Why did you use
TSP substitute?

Ray

Removing black algae stains from roof shingles
 

wrote:
On Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:37:20 -0400, Ray K
wrote:


When a roof has copper or galvanized items (vent pipes, exhaust fans,
etc.) protruding from it, shingles below these items will be free of
algae stains because rain washes copper or zinc from the galvanized
items off and kills the algae. Has anyone heard of using a copper or
zinc solution in a hose end sprayer to clean remove the stains? If so,
which chemical, what concentration, and what coverage?

I'm experimenting with more conventional approaches (oxygen bleach,
laundry detergent, and a produce called KrudKutter). All require
multiple applications, "scrubbing" with a broom, and generous rinsing.
There may be other proprietary (expensive) items that are more effective
and easier to use, but for now I'm looking for shortcuts.

Thanks,

Ray


A year ago I asked the same question that you are asking now. I had
very noticeable black algae streaks on the north facing slopes of my
white shingled roof. A reply directed me to
http://www.sprayandforget.com/

I tried this product and now I have no black streaks at all. This
after just one application last fall. No scrubbing. Just spray and
forget.

It does take time to work. The product stays in place up to a year
and every time it rains it releases more algae killer. I believe the
formula calls for a 9:1 ratio of water to chemical. Because of this I
would suggest buying their low ratio sprayer also.

Thanks for the lead; it's one I hadn't come across before posting.

I may try it after I removed the bulk of the stains using other faster
methods. Some of their prices seem extremely high, like $52 for a
low-ratio hose end sprayer. Ortho makes one for about $10; unfortunately
its lowest ratio is 8 oz/gal or 1:16. Ratio depends on hole size, a
simple thing to change during initial design. That's why I can't
understand Spray and Forget's high price. (No competition = high price.)

Ray