Roof cleaning material for algae?

noone

Not sure if this is the correct forum for this question, but i'm going out on a limb anyways.

I just received a letter from my Homeowner's Association in North Florida complaining about what I think of as minor dark spots on a 16 year old white shingle roof.

Assuming it's algae and not just worn shingles, what can I use to spray on it that is both safe for the shingles as to not prematurely cause wear on them and also immediately effective?

Spray and Forget?

Jomax Roof Cleaner?

Thanks for the advice....

joecaption

If it's just three tab shingles there at the end of there life anyway, concider just changing them.
http://inspectapedia.com/roof/shinglestains.htm

noone

It's a 4000 sq ft house with lots of hips and gables. I imagine I'm looking at about 20k to get some basic 30 year architectural asphalt shingles installed. Am I in the right ballpark?

joecaption

Your going to have to get three quote to know if that's what it's going to be.

Windows on Wash

Doesn't seem too out of phase with what historic numbers are but +1 on getting some quotes.

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noone

So in your experiences, what has been the most effective roof cleaner?

jagans

Try spraying it with 3/1 water to bleach, and see if that helps. Ive heard that zinc oxide kills that black algae, and galvanized strips slid under the edge of your ridge caps might help.

Seems like you could tell the HOA that its an act of God.

Amazing what some people find to complain about isnt it? Does it really affect their sex lives, health, or chance at getting into heaven?

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" A lot of men build things, and a lot of things fall down "

Dave Sal

My parents garage shingles (gray) started turning black due to mold or mildew. They tried this stuff (see link) and at first didn't think it did anything. After a month or two, they noticed that the mold or mildew was all gone. It takes awhile to work but it does work.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...uctId=12949413

AndyWRS

A pro is probably the best option, i would call someone else besides the poster above. His first and only posts are shameless plugs and imo he does not deserve the work.

noone

I was definitely not planning on calling him.

Not sure what a 'pro' can do that I can't though. That's why I'm on a DIY forum.

I was planning in using a mixture of bleach, tsp and water and walk my roof spraying it on with a pump sprayer. I would then rinse it off with a garden hose with light pressure.

I'm open to reasons why only a pro can do this though.

bbo

sounds a lot scarier if you don't use the word bleach, right?

plenty of DIYers get on their roofs and are fully capable of doing so safely.

this is a dIY forum and poeple post questions as to how to do things safely and efficiently and cost effectively. Simply telling people to "call a pro" and conveniently supplying your phone number is not sound advice.

supplying them with information for them to make an informed decision if its within their capabilities if a much better approach.