Roof Washing San Antonio: 3 Common Growths
If you’re a seasoned property owner then you’ve likely wondered about washing your roof at some point in time. Chances are, you’ve seen visible signs on your roof, indicating that it’s time to do something to get your roof looking amazing again.
Or, you’ve likely received a notice from your insurance company, informing you that drone images have been taken of your roof, and that it is strongly advised that you wash your roof, if you want to keep/renew your homeowner’s insurance policy with them.
In both cases, urgency on the matter is called for. If your roof is dirty, with black streaks all over it, then you very likely have an algae problem. If you see green clumpy growth, then you have a moss or lichen problem.
Of course, if you live in San Antonio, chances are your problem is algae and mold growth vs. moss or lichen (but moss does grow on certain homes). That said, here’s a more detailed breakdown of these three problematic growths:
Gloeocapsa Magma
Issue number one, Gloeocapsa Magma. Gloeocapsa is related to cyanobacteria, which is commonly referred to as a blue-green algae. Dark streaks or stains on your roof, especially if you have an asphalt shingle roof, are tell tale signs of this pesty growth, which is essentially colonies of bacteria.[1]
If you see this growth on your roof, don’t take it lightly. Why? Because this bacteria is known to feed on the limestone filler that your shingles are composed of. This growth leads to the eventual degradation of your roof, making it age quicker, and reducing it’s ability to property reflect and release heat.
This can increase energy costs, and eventually lead to you needing to replace your entire roof sooner if the roof gets compromised. There’s a reason why insurance companies don’t play around when they see this stuff on roofs.
On top off all of this, it makes houses look unsightly. What’s the fix? A roof washing of your San Antonio home.
Moss
If you live in San Antonio, TX then you won’t see as much moss growth on roofs. However, moss can and does growth on some roofs out here, especially a large portion of your roof is covered by shade most of the day.
If you’re roof faces North, and if you’re in an area where’s there’s higher than normal humidity (like close to a body of water or river, lake, or pond), you’ll have a good chance of moss growth on your roof.
That said, if you see this on your roof, it is crucial to get it off of your roof before it can lead to damage. The growth of moss can lead to lifted shingles, mold growth, drainage issues, and trap unwanted moisture on your roof, accelerating it’s breakdown that can lead to expensive headaches down the road.
So, if you see this, get your roof cleaned off via a gentle brushing, and then hit it with a roof soft wash.
Lichen
Lichen can also grow on roofs out here in San Antonio. It is not as common as Gloeocapsa Magma in the Hill Country, but it does rear it’s ugly head from time to time.
Lichen is a pretty resilient organism that forms from a symbiotic relationship between algae and fungi. This type of roof growth is typically found on older roofs, where the surface is more porous.[2]
This pesky growth has both a flakey and flowery look to it, and it quite unsightly. It’s what you see grow on many of our oak trees out here in the Hill Country.
Needless to say, if you see this on your roof, you’ll definitely want to address it A.S.A.P., because its presents can accelerate the deterioration of your roof over time. Lichen grows roots that can fracture shingles, trapping moisture within your roof which causes it to breakdown faster.
Related: Avg. San Antonio Roof Cleaning Costs
Roof Washing San Antonio
To address these roof issues, you’ll most certainly want to get a roof washing. You’ll want to make sure you choose the appropriate method of cleaning too.
Make sure you DON’T allow somebody to sell you on pressure washing this stuff off of your roof. Pressure washing is too abrasive for most roofs. Not only will that approach cause damage, but it could also void your roofs warranty.
As such, your best bet is to use what’s known as soft washing to get your roof cleaned. Soft washing uses virtually no pressure (pressure is akin to garden hose pressure).
Soft washing is a mixture of water with a biodegradable cleaning solution that kills these annoying roof problems beneath the surface. Using this roof washing method is not only safer, it also lasts much longer than a standard surface cleaning of your roof.
To learn more about how our affordable San Antonio roof washing services can protect one of your largest investments, just click the button below:
