The varying weather conditions in Northampton and across North England makes an ideal breeding ground for mould, algae and other harmful types of fungus on your roof. When it rains or when your roof gets wet, water seeps into layers of your roofing materials, breaking them down over time.
This means that any amount of moisture on your roof can cause major problems if ignored over a long period of time. It’s therefore important that you take measures on removing mould and algae to ensure your roof has a long lifespan, and also help you save money in the long run.
There’s nothing you can do to prevent mould and algae from building up on your roof, but you can help prevent mould growth by keeping the materials (e.g. tiles, slates, felt, etc) free of organic matter.
Causes of mould and algae forming on the roof
Where there is moisture, there are high chances of mould and algae being present. These could be around leaky pipes, wet basements, and even on your roof. Characterised by its black-greenish hue, algae can gradually eat away at the materials that make up the roof itself, resulting in rot and an unsightly appearance.
Generally, mould on a roof can appear as black streaks or stains, and while it is more common in climates that experience warm, humid summers, mould can grow in a wide range of conditions.
Methods of removing mould and algae from your roof
Mould and algae can often be removed from your roof with a basic bleach solution. However, you have to be extremely careful as bleach can be toxic to the grass and plant life around your property. It’s also vitally important that you check if the solution is suitable for your own roofing material.
This is especially the case as the bleach solution is likely to run off of the roof and onto the property below.
It’s also a good time to mention that having suitable water management solutions is key. For example, if your guttering is constantly clogged with leaves and other debris, it will create a breeding ground for the rapid growth of mould, moss and algae. Therefore, making sure your gutters are cleared is also a must-do in addition to the actual roof cleaning itself.
Our roofing professionals are well experienced to take care of this for you and will ensure all precautionary measures are taken when removing mould and algae from the roof. We often start with a roof inspection before undertaking any roof cleaning services just to be sure.
Using commercially available materials to remove mould and algae
An alternative solution would be to contact a professional roofing company such as LD Roofing to use a commercial roof-cleaning product. This will not only overcome the problem of consequences caused by bleach but also provide a steady and longer term solution to your roof.
Long term solution to mould and algae on your roof
Finally, for a really long-term, low-maintenance solution, you can specify algae-fighting shingles when it’s time to replace your old roof. These are made with copper-clad granules (blended in with the regular mineral granules) on asphalt shingles. The special granules naturally inhibit algae growth by the same process as zinc and copper roofing systems.
These solutions are best handled by professional roofing companies and our team at LD Roofing Services would be happy to take a look. We hold multiple certifications such as CHAS, SMAS and CSCS to provide you with peace of mind.
Learn more about various roofing cleaning solutions that we offer at LD Roofing Services and book a free consultation and inspection of your current roof.
