Algae arrive on the rooftop through the air in the form of spores or clumps of cells.
Black streaks on my roof shingles.
Algae growth on asphalt shingles.
Algae may be mistaken for soot dirt or tree droppings most of which typically produce only localized discoloration.
The black streaks are also known as black algae or roof mold.
The black streaks running down roofs are actually a hardy algae called gloeocapsa magma.
They re actually algae otherwise known as gloeoapsa magma and they are as nasty as they are resilient.
As the blue green algae.
What are those ugly black streaks on my roof.
While not immediately damaging they can prematurely age shingles.
I covered our asphalt shingle roof about five years ago with white 50 year guaranteed shingles that had algae prevention treatment but now the entire north side of our roof is black with algae i bought the shingles from lowe s in marianna florida.
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.
This blackish algae creeps it way across neighborhood roofs gradually turning your home s asphalt shingles an ugly dark brown or black.
Although it may look like mold or fungi these unsightly black streaks or smear like stains may indicate a type of roof algae known in technical terms as gloeocaspa magma.
Here s what they are and what to do about them.
The streaks are caused by a type of algae known as gloeocapsa magma.
The algae feed off of the limestone within the roof shingles.
Areas of the country with low humidity have fewer instances of roof streaks while the problem is relatively common in the southeast where it s more humid and warm.
I am really disappointed the treated shingles didn t work.
Why are there dark streaks on my roof.
If you re seeing black streaks running along your roof chances are you ve mistaken them for dirt or even mold.
Over time this algae accumulates developing a black outer coating which causes stains on roof shingles.
But now this black algae is termed a roof shingle algae because of the annoying discoloration on a asphalt shingle roof.
The most common type is known as gloeocapsa magma also known as blue green algae.
Algae growth may cause discoloration on roofs resulting in brown or black streaks on a rooftop.
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.
Black streaks on shingled roofs are a common though mysterious sight.
Most black streaks form on the northern slopes of roofs where it s darker and wetter ideal for algae growth.
Here s why algae grows on roofs.
