Get Rid of That Funky Roof Mold

Have patterns of strange, streaky stains appeared on your roof this spring? My phone rings off the hook for roof cleanings this time of year, and as I drive around town, I see so many houses decorated with unsightly roof residue, which frequently emerges during the April rainy season. But what are the stains, why have they suddenly popped up, and what can you do to get rid of it? They are all good questions, so let’s get you some answers.

Stains on the roof are generally algae, which gets carried by wind or birds from roof to roof, and may not be visible until they have enough moisture, heat, and humidity to grow and spread. The manifestation of an algae problem is those black streaks that you see. Now don’t be too alarmed, algae isn’t necessarily going to ruin your roof immediately, but it does affect the curb appeal of your home and the problem could end up damaging and pulling up your shingles if not dealt with for a long period of time.

An interesting fact is that copper, zinc, and lead are toxic to algae, and many newer roof shingles contain copper granules, which act as a barrier against any mold growth. Homes with older roofs won’t benefit from this technology, but it explains why you won’t see algae where metal flashing has been installed. If you’re susceptible to algae and in the market for a new roof, be sure to inquire about this type of shingle.

So now that we know what it is, how do we get rid of it? The easiest way to rid your roof of algae is a good cleaning solution, which can be picked up at the hardware store, applied using a pump sprayer and rinsed with the garden hose. One tip is to give any plants below the roof a good drink of water beforehand so they don’t absorb the solution. If you’re not comfortable on a ladder, call a professional to help you complete this task. A clean roof isn’t worth a trip to the hospital, and a local area home improvement specialist will be able to complete the job in just a few hours.

Once the roof has been cleaned, you might want to do something to prevent the mold from coming back again. As I mentioned, copper, zinc and lead-coated sheet metal are toxic to algae, so installing a strip of flashing will help stop that nasty fungus in its tracks. Choose a strip that’s at least six inches wide, and have it installed at the roof peak to ensure that the metal molecules wash down with the rain and protect the roof from mold build up.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Get Prepped for Autumn with These Trusty At-Home Hacks

With autumn coming fast, now is a great time to tackle the at-home projects that you may have ignored while enjoying the summer sun. Here are a bunch of my favorite fall hacks to get your property ready for the change in temperature.

After dozens of summer barbecues, your grill might be looking a bit worse for wear. Cleaning a grill can be a messy and tedious job, but did you know that you can get rid of almost all those baked on food particles with a simple coffee soak? That’s right, just brew up a few pots of the cheap stuff and put it into a large, shallow, plastic tub. Drop your grill grates into the tub of joe for an hour and then rinse clean for a good as new finish.

With all the humidity we experienced over the summer, you may have noticed black, streaky stains on your roof. While it may be just cosmetic today, leaving mold and mildew to grow can lift your shingles, allowing for melting ice and snow to get in and cause leaks. Hire a pro to give your roof a good cleaning to ensure any unsightly stains don’t grow into a bigger, much more expensive problem.

Remove any window air conditioning units and inspect all windows for damage or potential air leakage. It’s better to get leaky windows repaired now than wait you have to combat the deep freeze by cranking up the thermostat.

Get your fireplace ready for use with a professional inspection and clean. Stock up on firewood before the cold, wet weather begins and make sure you store it safely in a dry place away from your house. Remember, woodpiles are a breeding ground for termites, you would love nothing more than to feast on your home.

Fix up your flowerbeds by clearing out any dead or dying plants and give the soil a good aeration. Then spread a thick layer of mulch over the beds to help keep the temperature even through the winter freeze. If you’re planting bulbs, I like to use evergreen branches to keep the ground a bit warmer and give the bulbs some protection from the snow. If you enjoy vegetables, keep some poly spun garden fabric handy to lay over your boxes after the fall harvest.

Lock in a reliable plowing professional. Most people wait until the first snow and then panic because they can’t get out of their driveway and can’t find anyone to do the job in a pinch. Start calling around now to get quotes and book in a professional who is reliable and can get the job done quickly.

What are your favorite ways to get ready for the colder weather? I’d love to share your ideas. Send me a message on Facebook.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Get Rid of Roof Algae Before It Gets Rid of Your Roof

With the humidity and recent rain we’ve had, I see awful black stains forming on roofs all over town, and many homeowners are asking me what to do about it.

Roof stains aren’t pretty, but the real problem is much more than just cosmetic. The stuff that’s landed isn’t dirt or debris - it’s living, breathing algae. If left on your roof for long periods of time, it can eat at your shingles causing corrosion and eventual wood rot. As this fungus is happily munching away at your home, it’s also lowering the roof’s lifespan, tearing up your warranty, and putting a strain on your property value. With so much potential for long-term problems, I’d recommend taking a close look at your roof and getting a clean up scheduled right away. 

We’ve had our fair share of heat and humidity this summer, which makes for perfect algae breeding ground. When you think of algae, you probably think of the slimy stuff that floats in ponds or lakes and you’d be right.  The wind, birds, and other animals carry the spores from water to land, and when a spore hits a roof, you might as well have dropped it into heaven. Spores are alive and they feed off the limestone in our asphalt shingles. As long as they have something to eat and the environment stays warms and wet, they will continue to grow. This is why many roofs only see mold action on certain sides, specifically the north side which often sees the sun last and for the least amount of time.

So why does algae grow in patterns? It doesn’t, but if you see strips of growth on certain parts of your roof and not a trace in others, it’s because algae is effectively allergic to copper, zinc and galvanized metal, which is generally found in the flashing underneath the roof. 

So besides installing metal flashing here there and everywhere, what else can you do to get rid of algae?

Household bleach is a no-no. It might seem like an easy and effective easy to get rid of the problems, but the sodium content can do irreversible damage to your shingles and kill the plants that sit under the roofline. The same goes for sodium hydroxide, otherwise known as lye.

Not to worry, there are plenty of non-toxic cleaners out there that will get rid of the algae without damaging your roof. Some can take up to a year to dissolve very serious mold and mildew, but the good thing about them is that they are non-toxic and can prevent mold from coming back in the future.

I clean multiple roofs every week, so a word to the wise. Be very careful if you decide to take on this project yourself as the cleaning solutions are very slippery and can easily cause a nasty fall. If you’re not comfortable with heights or aren’t as dexterous as you used to be, call a pro to handle the job. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.