1. First, the roofing shingle manufacturer placed crushed limestone in the shingles used a filler, binder to the fiberglass and asphalt shingle matting which made the modern shingle, a natural snack food “pit stop” for the blue -green cyanobacteria GLOEOCAPSA MAGMA algae.

2. Then, Two, the algae was allowed by the homeowner to start growing and then remain on the roof until it was in “full bloom” and covering most of the Northern facing, roofs exposed areas, then later, as the roof continued not to be maintained and properly cleaned, the algae continued its growth as their was never any treatment or biocide or fungicide agent applied (ever) to stop its rapid growth, and soon it covered the entire roof surface.

3. Once the bed was made, i.e. the algae had propagated, sheathed itself by developing its dark colored husk and turning black to protect itself from the sun’s rays, it continued to grow and grow, until it built a thick bed of algae, holding in the accumulation of the overnight moisture, roof condensation and dew, which allowed the next phase to occur.

4. This next phase is when their is all the right ingredients for additional growth of OTHER organisms BESIDES the GM algae, such as , LICHEN, MOSS, etc.

5. Once the bed has been made by the HOMEOWNER, neglecting to safely use non pressure roof cleaning methods, like the methods and teaching, here on the ARCA and RCIA, the algae was given all the opportunity it needed to “INVITE” additional “roof dwelling friends” to the party up on the homeowners rooftop.

6. This final stage is when the most damage can occur, when the algae has a thick bedding made and moisture is allowed to soak up into this algae bedding like a sponge, holding many other nutrients that occur by the gradual decomposition of the combination of the dying, re-propagating and shedding of the protective outside layers of the GM algae or husks, in combination with the crushed limestone roof shingle filler “combined” so that the roof now has all the ingredients to grow this moss and lichen.

7. This moss and lichen and algae are like any other plant. They have a root system. Once the roots are firmly planted and embedded in a homeowner’s roof, the roots actually suck or pull nutrients out of the shingle, AND, the roots also tug and pull on the roof shingle GRANULES, thereby dislodging and removing them from the shingle.

8. Granule loss exposes the shingle roof to the repeated day in and day out of the SUN’S brutal and harsh ray’s and without the important Ultraviolet Protection, that the granules are designed to provide, the essential oils in the roofing shingle are leeched out of the shingle, causing the shingle to prematurely dry out and become brittle and soon curl and break.

9. Once the roofing shingle has all of these element occurring, the damage is now irreversible and eventually the roof will leak from this massive microscopic attack on the roof that is depended upon to keep all we hold dear and important to us safe and dry.

10. Luckily, much of this can be avoided by proper, regular annual roof maintenance.
Annually, a homeowner can do his /her part to extend and maximize their roofs longevity and life and save themselves thousands in expensive tear-off and re-roofing. Every homeowner should annually get their roof checked for the presence of roof algae, moss, lichen and mold. If any of these are present, the roof should be scheduled for a non pressure roof cleaning by a ARCA or RCIA Certified Roof Cleaning Professional Contractor. Then, once the offending algae, lichen or moss growth is controlled, the homeowner should get set up for annual anti- algae roof treatments to keep their roof looking and performing its very best.

More can be learned by visiting the American Roof Cleaners Association or the Roof Cleaning Institute to find out more helpful information on the subject of Roof Maintenence and Cleaning, Algae Infestation, Lichen, Moss, Mold, growth and treatment on roofs of various types and styles.

Copyright 2008-2010 Roof Clean USA – All Rights Reserved-No copying or unauthorized reprinting allowed unless specific permission is granted by the author.

The first thing to do when looking at a roofing contractor is verify a permanent place of business. Things to look for include a telephone number, a tax I.D. number, and a business license. Any professional roof service should have these readily available. Once you have verified they are legit, ask for proof of insurance. It would be wise to check both their liability coverage and their workers’ compensation certificates. When looking at their insurance coverage, be sure to check their coverage dates. You want to make sure their coverage runs through the duration of your roof restoration project they would be doing for you. If you fail to check their dates and something happens while they were not insured, building owners may be held responsible for accidents that occur on the property or dragged into litigations.

From there you want to make sure the roofing consultants of your interest are properly licensed or bonded. Your state’s Department of Professional Regulation or Licensing Board will have this information. It may also be beneficial to you to call your local Better Business Bureau or Department of Professional Regulation and ask about any complaints filed against the contractor.

A good commercial roofing company is one that can provide its potential customers with a readily available list of client references and a list of completed roof coating projects. Calling some of the clients on their reference lists can give you a good idea of the quality of work performed as well as the professionalism of the company. Be sure to look for a company with a proven track record that is financially stable as well. They should be able to provide you with their current financial information.

Once you have narrowed your search down and are asking for quotes from various roofing services, be sure to insist on a written proposal that you can examine for complete descriptions of the work, the roof coatings and specifications, including approximate starting and completion dates and payment procedures. You may also be interested in knowing about the companies roofing specialists who will be performing the work. It is important to know their safety record and the safety training they receive. Be sure to choose a company that is committed to the safety and education of its workers. The company should also be able to explain their roof systems, quality control procedures, the name of the person who will be in charge, and how many works and the amount of time it will take to complete the work.

As a final note, be sure to carefully inspect the roof warranty that is offered. Watch for any provisions that would void it and ask any questions you may have regarding their warranty and future commercial roof leaks or commercial roofing repairs. A positive to look for in a roofing company is one that offers its customers some form of a yearly roofing maintenance agreement on top of their warranty. With a roof maintenance agreement, it should address any roof leak concerns and the roof repairs that would be covered before you have a leaking roof.

Keep in mind the saying, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” when choosing the lowest bid. Many commercial roof contractors can come off as attractive professionals with their below-cost bids, but many of them are often uninsured and perform substandard work. Price is only one of the criteria for selecting a roofing contractor. Professionalism and quality workmanship should also weigh heavily on your decision in hiring the right commercial or industrial roofing specialist.

But, now, the insurance industry is concerned about the appearance of your roof!!

Your insurance company can inspect your home anytime, and frequently it is a driveby inspection. Condition of home is noted, how well painted, chipping paint AND ROOF CONDITION!

YES, Roof Condition.

Insurance Inspectors note the condition of the roof, and report it back to the insurance company who will may require that your clean the roof, or threaten cancellation of your policy! Of course, if they cancel you, the next insurance company may not insure your home for the same reason.

BUT WHY?

Insurance companies actions confirm for us that they believe roof stains will lead to further problems with the roof integrity, roof mold, and the eventual movement of that mold inside the home. All of these items are ‘risks’ for the insurance company, because they may result in a claim against the policy.

What to do? Clean your roof before an inspector sees it!

Home inspections can occur at any time, however the most frequent triggers include:

* New Policy
* Annual Policy Renewal
* Change in coverage amounts
* Addition of riders

A Clean Roof makes contributes to neighborhood values, and good health.

Protect your family, roof, and insurance policy by including a Cleaner TODAY roof cleaner as part of annual maintenance.

You and your insurance company will appreciate it!

Why now? Why my Roof!!

A large number of homeowners who are experiencing these roof stain problems are doing so for the first time. Even though they live in areas where the climate has not changed, the problem appears out of the blue.

In years past, the roof algae simply didn’t have a food source. Until shingle manufacturers lowered production costs, and provided roof algae with its favorite food, limestone. Today’s fiberglass shingles contain massive amounts of food that the roof algae love to eat.

How in the world does limestone get into fiberglass shingles you might ask? It’s simple. The limestone is added to the asphalt mixture as a filler or thickener. Years ago, this was not necessary, as an organic felt mat was used as the base for the shingles. This mat was saturated with asphalt and then coated with granules. Because of the absorptive qualities of the mat, it was able to soak up enough asphalt to give the finished shingle sufficient weight. The materials used for the mat were derived from the cotton rag scrap market.

Well, about 20 years ago this rag market dried up because of the widespread introduction of synthetic textiles such as nylon and polyester. The shingle manufacturers scrambled and decided to use fiberglass as a mat.

However, a problem quickly arose. The thin fiberglass mat didn’t absorb asphalt like the old organic mat. Something had to be added to the asphalt to increase the weight of the shingle. BINGO! They decided to use limestone because it’s plentiful and cheap. The rest of the story is being played out above on your roof.

The Party is over…

Until recently, homeowners needed Professional Roof Cleaners to eliminate the roof algae and remove roof stains. Recently, roof cleaners have been made available to Do-It-Yourself homeowners who want to save the expense of the roof cleaner. A variety of roof cleaners exist. Choose wisely, you want a cleaner that is quick, simple and effective.

Most people think about deed restrictions governing barking dogs and where the garbage cans are stored, but in Florida and other states, the “Home Appearance” clause now insists that your roof be ‘free of stains, algae or other unsightly distortions’.

Over the last several days I have spoken to a number of homeowners in a St Petersburg Florida development who have received letters telling them to Clean their roofs, or the neighborhood association would have them cleaned and send them the bill!

Why you ask? Its pretty simple actually, think about crab grass.

When your lawn is covered in crab grass, it looks bad, and property values may reflect the unattractive appearance. When you remove the crab grass from your lawn, and your neighbor doesn’t, well the crab grass ends back up in your lawn too! The whole neighborhood suffers.

Roof Stains are pretty much like crab grass, but much worse!

* Roof Stains are caused by an airborne algae that will spread from roof to roof (if everyone does not keep a clean roof, then no one will have a clean roof).

* Black streaks on your roof (which is the most visible part of the house) will make the house look bad, and everyone’s home then suffers a decrease in value.

* Roof Algae will lead to premature shingle failure.

* Worst of all, roof algae, can allow mold to get into a home creating ‘sick home’ syndrome.

The solution, 2 parts. First Clean your Roof. Second Block Stains from returning.

The Clean Roof Forever Plan gives you the tools to meet your deed restrictions, make your roof last as long as it should, and keep the house healthy.

Learn more about Clean Roof Forever at

http:\www.cleanertoday.com

One of the first things that you’ll want to pay attention to is the wide range of prices that are available. Of course prices will vary from place to place, and will depend on factors relating to the complexity of the job at hand. But the most important factors when determining prices are the size of your roof and the material you end up using.

Obviously the larger the roof, the more you will end up paying. However, the materials can make an even larger difference. A copper roof for example can cost as much as three times more than aluminum or steel shingles. The various degrees of coatings used on the steel or aluminum, as well as the interlocking system or installation style deployed will also affect final cost.

Another thing to pay attention to is whether or not you’re looking at residential metal roofs with underlayments. Underlayments basically add another layer of weatherproofing to your roof, but they allow air to pass through. In this fashion moisture won’t build up, and you’ll further prevent the rotting of wood.

Of course, one of the great factors about metal roofing is that you can get a final product that looks like just about anything. You will have all kinds of color options that you can end up choosing, and you’ll also be able to choose between a wide variety of textures and designs. There are colors and styles for homes of all looks and designs.

Many homeowners will find that they can save serious money on their home insurance by purchasing new metal roofing. If this is the case, you should be sure to get everything verified before you make an installation. Insurance may have very specific restrictions about what does or does not qualify, and you don’t want to choose something that won’t get approved.

Finally, you should think about whether or not you’ll be staying in your home for a long time to come. If you are, that’s fantastic because metal roofing is going to last for generations. Most have warranties for about 50 years, and can last for another 50 after that! If you think you might be moving at some point in the near future however, the good news is that you’ll still be increasing your home’s resell value.

These are just a few of the many different components that will go into your final decision. There are many kinds of residential metal roofs that are available today, and all of them provide a wide range of benefits. Just be sure to plan carefully and think about all of the different choices there are before making a final decision.

Repairing a shingled roof is not hard to do and with a sturdy putty knife, the right waterproof sealant and a few minutes to spare, depending on the size of the damaged area, you can have damaged shingles repaired and up to the task of protecting your roof from high wind, intense rain and constant UV sunlight.

Pick a warm, dry day for any roof repair and make sure you have someone nearby in case of an accident or fall. Never try outdoor roof repairs alone. Survey the roof shingles and look for common damage such as tears, cracks, warped shingles that curl up and dark smudges.

You may have spare shingles in the garage from a previous roofing job but if you don’t go to any home center with a sample from your roof and match it up as closely as possible to the color and texture of your shingle. You won’t always be able to find an exact match but close enough will do the job.

When you have the right shingles choose a high quality roofing sealant that is waterproof and durable. You may want a sealant to coat underneath shingles and a clear glaze coating sealant to apply to the surface of the shingle. When the shingles are dry and you have removed any debris with a light brush apply a thick coat of sealant underneath shingles that are curling up. Press down and make sure the shingle sticks to the sealant.

Apply a second coat of sealant over the surface. This is what is referred to as the shingle refinishing sealer and should be a clear, glaze coating that will dry quickly and last through heavy rain and snow storms.

A simple trick to covering up a shingle roofing repair job is to collect shingle residue from the gutter and sprinkle it over the finish to camouflage the new shine. The debris will match the original shingle color and make any new color blend in better so it isn’t obvious that a few shingles were repaired.

There are so many things that you can do to improve the durability of your roof. When you have loose shingles or maybe gutters that need replacement, you definitely have to fix them immediately. Do not wait for the problem to get worse. Responding to the damages as soon as you discovered them will keep the longevity of your roof. When you ignore these defects, you can probably incur more than you expect by the time you have decided to have them repaired. Defects due to water or extreme weather are visible signs that you badly need a roof repair project. If heavy rains or storms occur, inspect your upper deck as soon as the sun shines to identify possible damages.

It is really necessary to conduct a regular inspection of your roof so you can quickly find out those hidden leaks or defects that can eventually lead to worse problems later on. There are some basic requirements to maintain the quality of your roof. Roof repairs come in various types. These are intended for emergency, flashing repairs, damages brought by extreme weather, tiles and shingles that need replacement and a lot more. If your roof has these defects, then you definitely have to do something about them immediately.

Regardless of what type of roof you have, it still requires regular repairs. Normally, flat roofs are prone to damages due to the weather change. Keeping your roof away from leaks is one way of preserving its quality. However, it still pays to get a reliable roofing company when it comes to major repair jobs. They are more experienced and know better than you do. You are assured to have the best results from them. So if you want to have a long lasting roof, learn some quick roof repair tips.

There are so many things that you can do to improve the durability of your roof. When you have loose shingles or maybe gutters that need replacement, you definitely have to fix them immediately. Do not wait for the problem to get worse. Responding to the damages as soon as you discovered them will keep the longevity of your roof. When you ignore these defects, you can probably incur more than you expect by the time you have decided to have them repaired. Defects due to water or extreme weather are visible signs that you badly need a roof repair project. If heavy rains or storms occur, inspect your upper deck as soon as the sun shines to identify possible damages.

It is really necessary to conduct a regular inspection of your roof so you can quickly find out those hidden leaks or defects that can eventually lead to worse problems later on. There are some basic requirements to maintain the quality of your roof. Roof repairs come in various types. These are intended for emergency, flashing repairs, damages brought by extreme weather, tiles and shingles that need replacement and a lot more. If your roof has these defects, then you definitely have to do something about them immediately.

Regardless of what type of roof you have, it still requires regular repairs. Normally, flat roofs are prone to damages due to the weather change. Keeping your roof away from leaks is one way of preserving its quality. However, it still pays to get a reliable roofing company when it comes to major repair jobs. They are more experienced and know better than you do. You are assured to have the best results from them. So if you want to have a long lasting roof, learn some quick roof repair tips.