What Causes Black Streaks On Roof Shingles

Commonly found in climates with warm humid summers it does no damage to the roofing but it certainly does looks bad.

What causes black streaks on roof shingles.

While not immediately damaging they can prematurely age shingles. The black streaks running down roofs are actually a hardy algae called gloeocapsa magma. The streaks are caused by a type of algae known as gloeocapsa magma. Algae growth on asphalt shingles.

While the streaks do not cause a great deal of damage they can cause the shingle to age prematurely. Algae arrive on the rooftop through the air in the form of spores or clumps of cells. Here s what they are and what to do about them. Algae growth may cause discoloration on roofs resulting in brown or black streaks on a rooftop.

Though often attributed to an accumulation of dirt defective shingles mold or mildew. Why are there dark streaks on my roof. Black stains on an asphalt roof caused by algae. Black streaks on shingled roofs are a common though mysterious sight.

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. Most black streaks form on the northern slopes of roofs where it s darker and wetter ideal for algae growth. Algae may be mistaken for soot dirt or tree droppings most of which typically produce only localized discoloration. The black streaks are also known as black algae or roof mold.

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. They re actually algae otherwise known as gloeoapsa magma and they are as nasty as they are resilient. What are those ugly black streaks on my roof. But now this black algae is termed a roof shingle algae because of the annoying discoloration on a asphalt shingle roof.

The black mold like stains and streaks that appear on roofs particularly light colored asphalt shingles is actually a blue green algae gloeocapsa magma. The black roof stains are caused by a form of algae that has been around for years typically found in the woods on the north side of trees or on exposed rocks. Believe it or not those black streaks only appear on roofs in certain areas of the country. The algae feed off of the limestone within the roof shingles.

Technically the black streaks on roofs are a form of algae known as gloeocapsa magma. Those that tend to be the most humid furthermore they will only appear on the north side of the roof. Over time this algae accumulates developing a black outer coating which causes stains on roof shingles. As the blue green algae.

The most common type is known as gloeocapsa magma also known as blue green algae.