There are a number of natural organisms that will grow on your roofing material. Cedar Shakes and Asphalt Shingles obviously contain natural compounds that bacteria and other micro organisms feed on. Your roof is no exception and organisms such as Moss, Lichens and Algae are starting to cost homeowners lots of money in roofing repairs.
If your roof isn’t cleaned and maintained then the problem will continue to worsen year after year until eventually it’s going to cause major repair issues with your roof.
So What Grows On Your Roof?
[singlepic id=9 w=150 h=150 float=left]Moss: Moss often grows on the north facing side of homes, often on areas of the roof that are shaded for the better part of the day. Moss likes to grow along the seams of your roofing materials where it can attach itself and over time actually start to lift and warp your roofing material. Moss also naturally soaks up water like a sponge and the excess moisture can cause your shingles to actually rot from the inside out. Dirty-Roof.Com can help you clean your mossy roof.
[singlepic id=11 w=150 h=150 float=left]Lichen: Lichens are slow growing fungi that will exist in conjunction with your Algae problem. The roof of your home is an area where lichens can flourish. This is not as harmful as you may think and it would take a long time for lichen to actually damage your roof. The problem is that it’s unsightly and looks really bad but it’s also usually accompanied by an Algae problem that must be taken care of.
[singlepic id=10 w=150 h=150 float=left]Algae: Algae cells produce a very dark pigment that sort of acts like an intense sunscreen. This protects the Algae cells from the harmful effects of sun. The problem is, this prevents your roofing material from exchanging heat properly and can cause your energy bills to soar and your roof to degrade a little faster then it should.
