Questions & Answers
What is that ugly dark staining on my roof?
Airborn Fungus spores. There are about 6,250,000 of them to the square inch. They require three elements to grow - a nutrient, moisture, and heat - all of which are abundant in South Florida.
Why didn't I notice it the first two or three years after the house was built?
The so called "Fungus Resistant Shingles" are not fungus proof! When a shingle is new, there are petroleum distillates, zinc and/or copper granules that emanate from the roof and act as a fungicide. Starting on the north side, this action decreases then stops altogether. After that, there is nothing to fight the fungi spores that continually land on the roof from growing into ugly dark stains.
Was there a method of removing these fungus stains before Roof Life?
Yes, by using chlorine and high pressure cleaning, both of which are very damaging to the shingles. The Asphalt Shingle Roof Manufacturers Association warns that chlorine can be very harmful to the roof and kill shrubbery as well.
What is Roof Life?
Roof Life is a chemical formula that cleans your roof without chlorine. When it is applied to the roof, it kills the fungi spores on contact and then holds them in suspension so they can be easily flushed away from the roof without using high pressure. Roof Life is completely harmless to the roof, buildings, shrubs and flowers.
OK, now it's clean and looks beautiful, will the fungus stains come back?
Yes, in as little as 5 or 6 months, staining could be visible. This is particularly true in our damp, tropical climate.
How do I avoid this?
Our Semi-Annual Preventative Maintenance Service keeps your roof free of stains. We'll service your roof twice a year to kill the fungi spores while they are in the microscopic stage.
What are the advantages of a clean roof?
It will absorb less heat and dramatically reduce "under roof" temperatures. This can lower your air conditioning costs, and not only your electric bill, but the cost of maintenance as well because your unit will run less.
List of Terms
Aggregate A gravel-like substance that protects your roof. Aggregate Loss is a common problem with aging roofs. Find out how our service helps bond aggregate.
Asphalt A dark brown or black substance left as a residue after processing crude oil or petroleum.
Asphalt Fiberglass Shingles A type of shingle made by coating fiberglass matting in asphalt and covering the weather exposed side with aggregate.
Bleach Also known as Sodium Hypochlorite is a toxic liquid that is often suggested as a solution to clean roofs. While yes, it will do the job, it will also substantially dry out your shingles and shorten their life.
Dimensional Shingle A shingle that is designed to look 3-Dimensional due to its coloring and texture.
Fungus Or Saprophytic Fungus is an airborn spore that settles on asphalt-shingle roofs. It appears as dark streaks and will begin showing on the northern side of your roof because this part is the last to dry after rain or morning dew. The high humidity of South Florida creates a perfect breeding ground for this type of mold. Fungus also absorbs heat, raising your air conditioning bill.
Gable The vertical triangular portion of the end of a building having a double-sloping roof
High Pressure Cleaning Using water sprayed between 5,000 and 10,000 PSI to jet dirt out of surfaces. The aggregate on your roof cannot withstand such pressure while the concrete on your driveway can. We adjust our cleaning methods for each.
Pitch or Slope How steep your roof is, or its angle of incline, usually expressed as a ratio of rise to run.