Roof Cleaning Knoxville TN

Black or brown stains on your roof signify the presence of Gloeocapsa magma. These air-borne algae feed on filled-in composite shingles and thrive in humid environments. Thus, you’ll first notice the growth from the northern parts of your roof. 

Rain transports the algae down the roof, creating the black streaks you’ll see. However, the rain never washes away the algae entirely. The algae colony will spread until your entire roof has the characteristic decay-like dark coloration.

Apart from the reduced aesthetic appeal, algae can affect your roof in other ways. Algae activity can make the shingles lose their ability to reflect heat, causing a rise in your home’s heating and cooling costs. Such roofs also deteriorate faster, so you’ll need a replacement sooner than expected.

Moss grows in damp and shaded environments. It absorbs moisture from the environment by establishing roots on the roof. Moss activity leads to roof degradation because the roots lift shingles. 

The combination of lifted shingles and moss growth will lead to mold. Eventually, your roof could have holes. Moss-covered roofs are also very slippery when wet. If your roof is under any shade, you should take active steps to prevent moss growth on your roof.

A roof lichen is a symbiotic organism formed from the relationship between fungus and algae. Unlike roof moss and algae, roof lichen is more challenging to remove. It is persistent, adhering tightly to the roof.

Professional roof cleaning is the only way to remove the lichen, including the embedded roots. Here at SmartWash, we have years of experience cleaning lichen from residential properties in the Knoxville, TN, area. After we complete the process, the lichen will not return for a long time.