Algae, Lichen and Moss – Which Are Fungi on My Roof?
There are things growing on your roof. You didn’t notice it last year, and it certainly wasn’t there when the roof was installed a few years ago, but now you see it – streaks of something spreading over the shingles. Now that you’ve noticed it on your house, you seem to see it everywhere. What can it be? How can you remove it? Can it be prevented?
Your online search results in more open tabs than you care to count and complete confusion. You find references to algae, fungus, lichens and moss all in the Marietta area. Some are destructive, others not; none of them seem to be any fun.
Which Are Fungi?
To deal with this problem, it’s best to understand the challenge. For those of us that didn’t take, or didn’t take seriously, any Biology classes, here’s a brief explanation of the things growing on your home:
- Algae is generally a single-cell bacteria that gains its energy from light (photosynthesis), therefore it prefers well-lit areas. It may be slightly colorful, turning green, brown or black. The algae which make the black streaks on shingles that are common in Marietta and other humid climates is named Gloeocapsa Magma.
- Fungi are single or multi-cell organisms that depend on others for food. They prefer shady, dark and moist places and tend to be colorless. Mildew, mold and mushrooms are common examples.
- Lichen are a combination of Algae and Fungi, such as Beard Lichens or Oak Moss. Algae gets its energy from light and fungi attach themselves to and get their energy from the algae to create lichens. They tend to look dull, flat and somewhat crusty, they also prefer plenty of light and air. They may have some color due to the presence of acids, but they are not plants.
- Moss is a plant that grows in dark, damp places. It grows in a variety of shades of green and looks spongy and soft to the touch.
Any or all of these may be growing on your roof, depending on the humidity, light and shade available. Algae by nature does not cause damage other than an eyesore, but the other three may, given time.
What’s To Be Done?
Pressure washing is one of the best ways to remove growth from your home, but can be destructive if done improperly. Our team of pressure washers is trained in the best methods to remove algae and other growth here in Marietta while not damaging the roof itself. Care must be taken not to use too much pressure, as that may break shingles or remove their protective coating. Contact the professionals at Marietta Pressure Washing to schedule your pressure washing and we’ll help get your home looking like new.
Posted on Behalf of Marietta Pressure Washing
