What Causes Black Streaks On Your Roof

The black streaks running down roofs are actually a hardy algae called gloeocapsa magma.

What causes black streaks on your roof.

The most common type is known as gloeocapsa magma also known as blue green algae. Algae growth on asphalt shingles. Although these dark spots and ugly black streaks on your roof may look like dirt mildew soot or mold what they really are is algae. Black streaks on shingled roofs are a common though mysterious sight.

The streaks are caused by a type of algae known as gloeocapsa magma. Algae may be mistaken for soot dirt or tree droppings most of which typically produce only localized discoloration. Why are there dark streaks on my roof. Believe it or not those black streaks only appear on roofs in certain areas of the country.

Here s what they are and what to do about them. Also algae and fungus can grow together to form lichen the roots of which can wrap around and feed on the granules covering the shingles. While the dark streaks are unsightly experts tell our team that the greatest danger to the roof is from moisture retention or root damage that algae and other life forms can cause. They re actually algae otherwise known as gloeoapsa magma and they are as nasty as they are resilient.

Algae growth may cause discoloration on roofs resulting in brown or black streaks on a rooftop. If you re seeing black streaks running along your roof chances are you ve mistaken them for dirt or even mold. Technically the black streaks on roofs are a form of algae known as gloeocapsa magma. Black streaking on roofs is a common problem.

While not immediately damaging they can prematurely age shingles. Algae arrive on the rooftop through the air in the form of spores or clumps of cells. As the blue green algae. Those that tend to be the most humid furthermore they will only appear on the north side of the roof.