Removing Algae From Slate Roof

Step 2 dip a nylon scrub brush in the soapy water.

Removing algae from slate roof.

The best access for most homeowners comes in positioning a long extension ladder from the ground to the roof at the same pitch as the roof. Start at the top of. If necessary dip a toothbrush in the soapy water. Scrub the slate vigorously to remove the algae.

Bayer 2 in 1 moss algae s spray nozzle creates a flat stream that is easy to apply. Step 1 fill a bucket with with warm soapy water. If your household water pressure isn t enough to generate the proper nozzle pressure at the jets the manufacturer recommends boosting it. Moss is thick algae is paper thin.

The upper part of the ladder will lie flat against the. Also slate is slippery when wet. Lichen can be a tough growth to remove due to the symbiotic relationship between the fungus and algae. Roofs generally have a lot of metal in the form of vents gutters drains nails and cables so this can be a plus for most types of roof.

Wet forget is a safe roof cleaner that will remove lichen without any scrubbing or scraping. What you do is put it into a pump sprayer spray it on the roof and you need to keep the roof wet. Algae stains don t show up below the metal flashing around chimneys or roof vents because the copper and the zinc coating on galvanized sheet metal are toxic to algae. Step 2 use a stiff brush such as a pushbroom to scrape away any stubborn mold or lichen patches still remaining.

The way to clean off roof algae is to go ahead and mix up some oxygen bleach with water. Many people try to remove lichen by brushing and scraping it off with abrasive tools. In addition to rotting and possibly damaging your roof organic material is one of the chief growing places of both moss and lichen. Often the damage is hidden under overlapping slate courses and becomes apparent only when the roof starts to leak.

Copper strips prevent the growth of moss and algae. Moss is a thick organic growth. That way whenever it rains some of the metal molecules will wash down the roof and kill any algae trying to regain a foothold on your shingles. It does not take the color out of the shingles and it does not hurt the shingles or vegetation or anything else near your home.

To keep the algae from coming back insert 6 inch wide strips of zinc or copper under the row of shingling closest to the roof peak leaving an inch or two of the lower edge exposed to the weather. Algae is just a thin film of organic growth that can be removed by washing the roof with certified organic oxygen bleach. Roof moss removal usually requires a broom or heavy stream of water. Clean up any organic matter on the roof such as twigs leaves or other debris.

Whenever it rains trace amounts of metals are washed down the roof inhibiting algae growth. Lichen and green moss growth on a slate roof. Use a mild dishwashing soap that does not contain acids such as lemon or lime.