How to Prevent Stains on Shingles
Shingled roofs often develop stains due to dirt, mold, mildew and algae. Shingle stains are especially prevalent in humid areas where asphalt and limestone shingles absorb moisture from the atmosphere, providing a perfect breeding ground for the organisms that cause stains. Many stain-causing organisms, such as moss, can build up over time and eat away at shingles, reducing the lifespan of your roof. You can help prevent stains on your shingles through chemicals and metals that discourage or kill stain-causing organisms. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Ladder
- Goggles
- Gloves
- Face mask
- Copper or zinc-coated sheet metal
- Putty knife
- Roofing nails
- Hammer
- Tree trimmers
- Broom
- Shingles
Instructions
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Install strips of copper-coated or zinc-coated sheet metal on your roof to poison algae and moss, preventing stains. Use strips of sheet metal that are 2 to 4 inches wide at the top of your roof and nail them to your shingles with roofing nails. Rain will wash the copper or zinc down your roof, which will kill the algae. Pull up the bottom half of the last row of shingles with a putty knife. Slide a 7-inch-thick strip of sheet metal under the shingles until only 2 inches of the metal are visible beneath the shingles. Secure the metal with roofing nails.
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Trim back any thick branches that provide your roof with too much shade. The more sunlight your roof receives, the less moss and other stain-causing organisms will be able to thrive on your shingles.
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Clean your roof regularly to prevent organic material from building up and holding in moisture. Too many leaves and pine needles can encourage mold and algae growth. Use a long-handled push broom to sweep debris off your roof.
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Consider replacing severely stained shingles with chemically treated shingles that contain fungicides to prevent mold, mildew and algae from building up and staining your roof. Fiberglass shingles with copper granules in the shingles can also help kill algae, and many of them come with lifetime warranties.
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Tips & Warnings
Always wear goggles, gloves and a face mask when working with shingles that contain mildew and algae spores to prevent skin or eye irritation and inhalation.
