Commonly found in climates with warm humid summers it does no damage to the roofing but it certainly does looks bad.
Black algae on roof.
These black roof algal stains are sometimes misnamed or misidentified as a black fungus or even a mildew.
The black streaks are also known as black algae or roof mold.
If you have dark streaks on your roof siding and other outside areas around your home they likely caused by a type of black algae called gloeocapsa magma.
Black streaks green or white spots round lichens mosses green moss that spreads across your roof.
Fiddler roof cleaning has an excellent post on the dangers of roof mold and algae.
Gloeocapsa magma is a type of cyanobacterium that can survive cold temperatures wind and harsh sun.
Technically the black streaks on roofs are a form of algae known as gloeocapsa magma.
The black streaks running down roofs are actually a hardy algae called gloeocapsa magma.
The dangers of black algae streaks on roof to your home.
If you live in a humid area of the country you ve probably seen unsightly dark streaks on asphalt shingle roofs.
Why does this algae appear to be black.
The algae feed on the limestone in shingles.
Some black stains on asphalt roof shingles are caused by a black algae typically gloeocapsa magma.
Here s why algae grows on roofs.
Although mold can grow in your roofing materials if water gets trapped somewhere if you see any of the following on top of your roof algae are more likely your problem.
We ve all seen a house with an exceptionally dirty roof at one point or another.
This is because of its dark pigment and tough outer capsule.
As the blue green algae accumulate they develop a dark hardened outer coating which results in the black stains you see.
In doing so you prevent the dangers black algae streaks on roof pose to your health.
Gloeocapsa has the ability to form a protective darkly pigmented outer coating that shields the algae from damaging uv rays.
The black mold like stains and streaks that appear on roofs particularly light colored asphalt shingles is actually a blue green algae gloeocapsa magma.
Find out how to remove unsightly black stains from asphalt shingle roofs caused by an algae known as gloeocapsa magma that is spread by airborne spores.
This is what makes those unattractive black streaks on your roof.
Although algae can be found on all types of roofing it tends to be most common on asphalt shingles.