Mold, Mildew, and Algae Resistant Roofing Materials
CeDUR Walden synthetic roof - roof installed by Three Tree Roofing
When it comes to roof maintenance, there are plenty of different things to keep in mind. You might want to keep an eye on UV exposure, potential hail damage, high winds tearing or pulling up your shingles, wild animals, and debris—among other things. However, one of the most important things to keep an eye out for, though, is mold.
Mold can start to grow silently and unseen, spreading gradually over time and corroding the roof completely and even spreading inside the home as well. Because mold is such a silent killer, it needs to be specifically inspected for if you want to avoid it. You also need to know what kind of roofing is most prone to mold growth, as well as how to remove and prevent mold.
If you want to know how to best keep your roof safe from mold, let’s go over a few.
What Causes Mold on Roofs?
Mold grows on a roof when there is an ability for moisture to intrude below the surface. Once a tiny crack in your moisture barrier is made, it provides the gateway and perfect nesting place for mold to grow unfettered.
Now, simply having a gap in your moisture barrier isn’t guaranteed to lead to mold. You also need damp, dark conditions for the mold to grow as well, so areas of your roof that aren’t getting a lot of sun tend to be the first places where mold grows.
Another thing to keep in mind is that mold grows on roofs the most during times of the year when it’s humid and rainy.
Which Types of Materials are Prone to Getting Mold on Roofs?
Materials that tend to facilitate mold on roof are natural, untreated hardwood shingles. Natural cedar shakes, for example, need a lot of protection from mold and rot. The main cause of mold on a roof tends to be poor installation and lack of maintenance.
Asphalt roofs tend to grow the most mold, but this is because they are the most common roofing material—not because of asphalt itself. The most vulnerable roof to mold growth is one that has not been properly maintained, regardless of the material (aside from metal roofing, which will just rust instead of molding).
Identifying Algae, Mildew, and Mold on Roofs
The same factors that lead to mold on roof shingles can also lead to algae and mildew on roofs, including high humidity and high precipitation.
Moss on your roof can be spotted by its green, grassy look, whereas mildew on roofs can be identified by a thin, white or grey layer of growth. Mold, on the other hand, can be spotted as green or dark spots on the roof that appear somewhat fuzzy (mold also has an unmistakable odor that is pungent and foul).
How to Remove Mold on Roof?
Getting rid of mold on roof shingles can be easy, depending on how deeply the mold has penetrated into the layers of your roof. If the mold has grown through to the underside of your ceiling, you may need a much more involved mold removal process—possibly even an entire roof replacement.
However, if the mold is just growing on the top of your roof, you can remove it with a simple bleach solution. Mix 1 quart of bleach with 1 gallon of water and 60ml of trisodium phosphate. Then, spray this solution on the mold, and it should come off slowly—with ease.
Preventing Mold Growth On Your Roof
The best way to deal with mold on roofs is to prevent it from ever growing on your roof. You can make sure to do constant maintenance checks on your roof or use a roofing material that isn’t prone to mold growth.
CeDUR’s Cedar Shake is one example of a roofing material you could use. CeDUR’s synthetic blend of durable, high-quality plastics are not only resistant to algae growth but also impervious to mold growth.
They are also incredibly resistant to high winds and hail damage, making moisture entry extremely difficult.
Not to mention, cedar shakes are an excellent choice for both durability and stylistic choices, as they can be styled to look like a variety of different, popular roofing choices, ranging from Golden Cedar, Live Oak, Shiloh, and Walden.
Want to learn more about CeDUR Cedar Shake?