Shortly after the new roof was installed on your Jordan MN home, the wind carried a once harmless bacteria to your rooftop but nobody noticed. Years ago this bacteria would have starved and the story would have ended, but in the 1970′s, shingle manufacturers changed the composition of asphalt shingles and began to include a limestone filler. Nearly every roof in the country has been replaced since 1979, and as a result a strange growth has been occurring on roof tops across the country. This growth is a minute microorganism, Gloeocapsa magma, commonly called Roof Algae, Roof Bacteria, Roof stains or Roof Mold. Together with the limestone, the sun and rain make the perfect environment for this bugger.This roof algae has been showing up on roofing materials in recent years, and can be a major contributor to lower property values.
Much like roof algae, mold and fungus are airborne or tracked by birds and squirrels. In the past fungus and mold had no chance on a rooftop because fungus and mold require organic food. Asphalt shingles–even with limestone–offer no food to mold and fungus. But as we now know, roof algae feast on inorganic limestone, which creates ‘organic algae waste’ which makes the perfect feast for mold and fungus. If left alone, these unwelcome guests will:
- Reduce shingle life
- Create neighborhood eyesore
- Increase air conditioning bills
- Reduce Property Values
- Allow mold to work its way inside
- Introduce risk of bird-borne bacteria
The bottom line is your $10,000 shingle roof will last half as long as it should. Fortunately, there are products on the market these days that will address this invader and wash it away for you, but that will only last so long. New roofing shingles today have gone through rigorous testing that renders them impervious to just about anything, including this limestone cowboy.
Before you make any final decisions, let us come out and look at your roof to help you decide what to do next. It is not difficult; it just takes an experienced roofer to see what is really going on.
Iron River Construction 952-442-1762; give us a call for your free roofing inspection today.
