As a homeowner, staying on top of home maintenance is vital, especially regarding your roof. The roof is your home's first line of defense, and if there is an issue affecting it, it can also affect its integrity and ability to be fully protected.
Mold is one such issue that you never want to minimize or dismiss anywhere around your home, including your roof. Doing so could have severe and costly consequences. This article will cover what causes mold on roof shingles and steps you can take to prevent the issue.
What Causes Mold On Roof Shingles?
Understanding what causes mold on roof shingles is essential to understanding how to combat and prevent it. Here are the leading causes of mold growth on a roof:
Moisture Accumulation: Out of everything that can lead to mold growth, moisture accumulation is the primary cause. This excessive posture can come from various sources, including rain, ice, humidity, condensation build-up, and poor drainage.
Lack of Sunlight: Tall trees can shade your roof, which, while it can help keep your roof from absorbing too much heat, can also prevent it from drying. This creates the perfect breeding ground for algae, moss, and mold. It can also cause those areas to be more discolored and damaged than other areas.
Algae Growth: Algae grows in warm, humid climates, with the spores carried by the wind until they settle on a surface-sometimes your roof. They can grow and spread rapidly if moisture is present, leaving dark streaks on the roof surface and leading to mold growth. Some materials are more prone to algae growth than others.
Poor Ventilation: A lack of attic ventilation can lead to excessive heat and humidity, creating the ideal mold environment. That trapped heat also accelerates the wear and tear of roofing materials.
Clogged Gutters: Over time, gutters can become clogged with leaves, debris, and dirt. The fuller they are, the less water can flow through them, leading to gutters overflowing with water seeping under the shingles, leading to mold growth.
Organic Debris: Organic debris like fallen leaves, twigs, and branches that remain on your roof can trap moisture, helping to create an environment for mold growth. If this debris remains long enough to begin decomposing, it can cause fungal spores to spread and worsen the problem.
Signs of Mold and Risks Associated
The sooner you spot a potential mold issue, the easier it is to remedy—and the less damage your roof will suffer. When looking for signs of mold growth, look for:
Dark streaks or stains that run down the shingles.
Patches of moss or algae, which can appear green or black.
Discoloration of the shingles in a shaded area of the roof.
If there is a musty smell in your attics or upper level.
Failure to identify mold on your roof can have severe consequences beyond being unattractive. Over time, it will eat away at your shingles, wrecking their structural integrity and leading to damage. This damage can also create cracks and gaps that, even if small, can lead to water penetration and leaks, worsening your mold issues.
Mold can significantly shorten your roof's lifespan. Mold spores can also enter your home and lead to serious respiratory health issues.
Preventing Mold Issues
Understanding what causes mold on roof shingles is important, and it is equally essential to understand how to prevent mold from ever occurring. These are some of the best ways to prevent mold growth on your roof:
Keep Trees Trimmed
Branches that block sunlight from reaching your roof are one of the major causes of mold growth. Trimming overhanging branches will allow sunlight through, helping to dry your roof and prevent mold from taking root.
Remove Debris
In the same vein as trimming overhanging branches, keeping your roof's surface free of organic debris is critical. This debris can hold moisture and keep your shingles wet, which allows mold to grow as well. As mentioned, it can also decompose if not removed quickly, worsening the issue.
Keep Gutters Clean
Backed-up gutters mean rain runoff cannot go anywhere. It will gather on your shingles, creating a breeding ground for mold and mildew. It can also gather around your foundation, causing damage at the base of your home. Keeping your gutters clean will allow rain runoff to flow easily, keeping excess water away from your roof and foundation.
Install Proper Roof Ventilation
Without adequate attic ventilation, warm air gets trapped in your attic, creating heat, humidity, and an ideal breeding ground for mold. Proper ventilation will allow this warm air to circulate better, lowering temperatures and moisture levels. Proper ventilation is especially important in climates with high humidity or extreme temperature changes.
Apply Mold-Resistant Coatings to Shingles
Mold-resistant coatings help protect shingles by acting as another layer of defense against mold and mildew. These coatings are also water-repellent and provide a cost-effective way to extend the lifespan of your roof while minimizing the necessary maintenance.
Have Regular Roof Inspections
Professional roof inspections are key for prolonging the lifespan of your roof. A professional roof will know what to look for when identifying issues and can quickly identify mold and mildew growth. Roof inspections should be done annually, but scheduling one after severe weather is also a good idea to ensure your roof's integrity is intact.
Choose a Mold-Resistant Roofing Material
One of the best ways to prevent mold growth on our roof is to choose a mold-resistant roofing material. One option includes shingles with copper or zinc granules that help prevent the build-up of mold, moss, and algae. A better option is composite or synthetic roof tiles, like those from Brava Roofing Tile, made using 100% recycled materials to create a highly water-resistant tile designed to resist the growth of mold, mildew, and algae.
The Brava Difference
Brava's tiles are made using 100% recycled plastics and other sustainable materials, helping to keep trash out of landfills. These materials are compressed and molded into realistic tiles that resemble cedar shakes, slate, and Spanish barrel tiles, offering realistic and lightweight alternatives to their natural counterparts.
Aside from mold resistance, these tiles offer a Class A fire rating and Class 4 impact rating, the highest ratings materials can earn. They are also rated for HVHZ zones, capable of withstanding winds anywhere from 188 mph to 211 mph. Beyond their durability, Brava’s three styles come in many beautiful colors, and custom color matching is possible.
Protecting Your Roof from Mold
Everyone knows the dangers of mold on food, but sometimes, it can get overlooked in homes. Asphalt shingles are one of the most mold-prone roofing materials, and failure to protect your roof from mold can result in serious issues. One of the most effective methods of preventing mold on a roof is choosing mold-resistant roofing, like Brava Roofing Tile, which keeps your home well-protected and increases aesthetics.
