What's Eating your Roof?

An algae, called Gloeocapsa Magma, appears as black stains, or streaks, that spread through rain, birds, and squirrels. This type of algae feeds on the limestone in your roofing shingles, literally eating your roof. Mold, moss, and lichen are just as harmful and can leave blighted, unsightly roof stains also.

NJ Algae, Moss, Mold, & Stain Removal

An epidemic has plagued the roofs of many homes in New Jersey. Drive down any block and you will surely see a number of roofs that have become unsightly do to growth of algae, moss, mold, and lichen. Most of the discoloration is caused by a type of black mold called gloeocapsa magma that feeds on the limestone in the roofing shingle.

Limestone, an organic material, has been added to the shingle to provide additional weight. Bacterias and molds can feed on limestone. Gleocapsa magma is a hardy bacteria with an almost unpenetrable husk. It can live on a roof with minimal water and grows primarily on the North side of a roof where there is less sunlight. If left untreated it will grow exponentially.

These bacterias can combine with fungus to form superorganisms call Lichen. These growths trap moisture in a roofing shingle and promotes dislodging of the silicone granules that protect the underlying membrane on the shingle. As the granules wash away with each rain, the shingle membrane becomes exposed to elements of weather and UV rays. At this point the process has started for the shingle to dry out, crack, and split.

Keeping your roof clean can add many years to the life of a roof.

How We Clean Your Roof

We've worked closely with manufacturers of roofing shingle such as GAF Materials Corp. and the ARMA (Asphault Roofing Manufacturers Association). We've created strict guidelines in following the manufacturers recommendation for cleaning a roof shingle. A proven detergent was developed to completely remove algae, moss, and lichen using a Non-Pressure application.

No machines or powerwashers are used on a roof. In most cases we never step foot on a roof to clean it. All roofs are guaranteed to be free of algae for 3 years with a treatment of the entire roof.

It doesn't cost to clean a roof. It pays!

Why Non-Pressure Roof Cleaning?

If you’ve ever cleaned out your gutters, you might have noticed roofing granules inside them.
These granules protect the underlying shingle membrane from weather and harmful UV
rays. If this amount of granules becomes dislodged by rain, imagine what
even low pressure can do.

Pressure washing can damage a roof and leave a 20-30 year warranty roof with enough granules to last only 5-15 years. Our Non-Pressure system uses detergents approved by the Asphalt Roofing Manufactures Association (ARMA). Click here for the latest ARMA bulletin regarding manufacturers suggested cleaning methods.

A roof with heavy moss and lichen is treated in the same manner. Allowing moss and lichen to be left untreated can leave a roof permanently damaged. Notice the pictures to the right of a roof with heavy moss and lichen. See in the last picture the scars that were left behind by the moss and lichen. This roof will need replacement prematurely do to neglect.

Cost of Roof Cleaning

While each home varies, one example of the cost of cleaning the roof of a 3 bedroom Cape Cod home in Scotch Plains N.J. was $435.00.
This is far cheaper than replacement.

We NEVER power wash a roof or use any type or heavy machinery to apply pressure.  In most cases we never have to walk the roof.  Most roofs can be treated from the gutter line. 

We are proud members of the Roof Cleaning Institute of America!