What Causes Black Streaks On Roof Shingles

Here s what they are and what to do about them.

What causes black streaks on roof shingles.

If you live in a humid area of the country you ve probably seen unsightly dark streaks on asphalt shingle roofs. Black streaks on shingled roofs are a common though mysterious sight. Algae growth may cause discoloration on roofs resulting in brown or black streaks on a rooftop. Over time this algae accumulates developing a black outer coating which causes stains on roof shingles.

While not immediately damaging they can prematurely age shingles. As the blue green algae. Algae may be mistaken for soot dirt or tree droppings most of which typically produce only localized discoloration. Technically the black streaks on roofs are a form of algae known as gloeocapsa magma.

Believe it or not those black streaks only appear on roofs in certain areas of the country. They re actually algae otherwise known as gloeoapsa magma and they are as nasty as they are resilient. The black streaks running down roofs are actually a hardy algae called gloeocapsa magma. The most common culprit is actually a blue green algae known as gloeocapsa magma that is.

Black stains on an asphalt roof caused by algae. The black roof stains are caused by a form of algae that has been around for years typically found in the woods on the north side of trees or on exposed rocks. Algae growth on asphalt shingles. Although these dark spots and ugly black streaks on your roof may look like dirt mildew soot or mold what they really are is algae.

The streaks are caused by a type of algae known as gloeocapsa magma. Why are there dark streaks on my roof. Algae arrive on the rooftop through the air in the form of spores or clumps of cells. Commonly found in climates with warm humid summers it does no damage to the roofing but it certainly does looks bad.

While the streaks do not cause a great deal of damage they can cause the shingle to age prematurely. The most common type is known as gloeocapsa magma also known as blue green algae. But now this black algae is termed a roof shingle algae because of the annoying discoloration on a asphalt shingle roof. If you re seeing black streaks running along your roof chances are you ve mistaken them for dirt or even mold.

The algae feed off of the limestone within the roof shingles. Those that tend to be the most humid furthermore they will only appear on the north side of the roof. The black mold like stains and streaks that appear on roofs particularly light colored asphalt shingles is actually a blue green algae gloeocapsa magma. Most black streaks form on the northern slopes of roofs where it s darker and wetter ideal for algae growth.

What are those ugly black streaks on my roof.