Black Streaks On Roof

The streaks are caused by a type of algae known as gloeocapsa magma.

Black streaks on roof.

Technically the black streaks on roofs are a form of algae known as gloeocapsa magma. The black roof stains are caused by a form of algae that has been around for. This blackish algae creeps it way across neighborhood roofs gradually turning your home s asphalt shingles an ugly dark brown or black. It s also known as blue green algae in the roofing business.

The algae feed off of the limestone within the roof shingles. While not immediately damaging they can prematurely age shingles. Algae arrive on the rooftop through the air in the form of spores or clumps of cells. The most common type is known as gloeocapsa magma also known as blue green algae.

Black streaks on the north and west facing and shaded areas of your asphalt shingled roof can really wreck the appearance of your home. Many home owners are surprised to discover that the once clean asphalt roof shingles have been slowly covered with a form of roof mold or mildew that appears as a light discoloration and spreads down the roof toward the gutters. Though gloeocapsa magna has literally been around for centuries it didn t make its ugly presence known as a major problem in the u s. As the blue green algae.

Black streaks on shingled roofs are a common though mysterious sight. Those that tend to be the most humid furthermore they will only appear on the north side of the roof. What are those ugly black streaks on my roof. The streaks look like mold but they re actually algae colonies that form in your shingles and feed on moisture and the limestone filler agents in the shingles.

What are the black streaks on my roof. They re actually algae otherwise known as gloeoapsa magma and they are as nasty as they are resilient. The black streaks are also known as black algae or roof mold. Here s what they are and what to do about them.

Black streaks on roof. Believe it or not those black streaks only appear on roofs in certain areas of the country. 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. The black streaks running down roofs are actually a hardy algae called gloeocapsa magma.

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. If you re seeing black streaks running along your roof chances are you ve mistaken them for dirt or even mold. The first thing to note is that what you re seeing is the result of a cyanobacteria known as gloeocapsa magna. 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.