What is that on my roof and do I need to remove it?

Driving by any neighborhood and you will almost always find a home with a green, stained or discolored material on the roof. 

What exactly is this material and is it important for you to remove on your roof?

 After attending many, many (lol) home inspections and speaking with roofing experts, I have discovered the various types of roof growth that can believe it or not, actually depreciate it’s life expectancy. The following do not just look unattractive but if  left neglected, will deteriorate the roof.

Here are the common sneaky culprits:

Moss:

Moss with it’s bright green coloring can be beautiful growing in certain areas but definitely not on your roof lol. Moss loves damp moist areas. It thrives on the shady parts of your roof where the sun cannot dry it out and creates issues between your roof shingles. 

Lichen (pronounced LIKE-IN) 

My worst enemy. I tackle this issue every few years on my own home. It looks relatively harmless from ground view but this annoying fungus actually sets roots down and EATS its way through asphalt shingles. 

Algae

Algae can be a little trickier to spot as its appearance can sometimes blend in with the roofing color. It also loves dampness and will eventually make it’s way between the roofing shingles thus deteriorating them.

Removing growth wether algae, moss or lichen can be a do it yourself project however I believe it is best to hire a professional that is comfortable with climbing on ladders. 

Roof maintenance is an important factor of home ownership. Neglecting small issues with your roof can create additional and costly problems throughout a property later on.

As always, if you are uncertain about any home improvement projects or uncomfortable tackling any issues, be sure to contact a professional. Lastly, be wary of anyone that recommends high pressure washing…this can further damage roofing shingles.