By Frank Kelly, owner of Fortress Roofing, LLC, 08/01/07

Most homeowners do not know what color or style their roofing shingles are until two or three lie on the grass in front of them. That’s ok, because for many, there simply is not a need to know. It’s a roof, it works, move on.

But sometimes during the course of homeownership, a roof stops doing its job of protecting the home and is less than a roof – for example, when it is hail damaged, torn by wind, deteriorated by age, installed improperly or simply, gets funky. “Funk” is a word used by some shingle manufacturers to describe a roof condition marked by staining caused by algae, fungi, lichens, mold, etc. The staining, which can range from green to blue to black, is most prevalent upon asphalt-based shingles due to their inorganic construction (the interaction and symbiosis is fascinatingly complex.)

Besides presenting a horrible appearance and ruining your home’s curb appeal, staining can eventually destroy your roof shingles and damage your plants as it competes for the nutrients necessary to sustain itself. Also, a badly stained roof can mask shingles that need to be replaced, opening up the possibility of leaks.

Funkiness does not have to be a permanent condition; a roof can be cleaned! In fact, proper cleaning “using the correct equipment” will yield a new looking roof in which you can once again take pride. There are bleach and phosphate-free solutions, and at least one that is biodegradable and animal friendly. It truly gets the funk off of your roof face!

Remember that an inspection by a qualified roofing contractor can provide you with solutions to your roof problems. Whether your roof needs replacing, repair or cleaning, ask a qualified roofer for help.

About the Author - Frank Kelly has over twenty-five years experience in the roofing industry, including over twenty years with the Elk Corporation, one of the world’s leading asphalt shingle manufacturers. He has facilitated research teams tasked with the investigation of roof staining and worked with industry chemists concerning the development of earth-friendly cleaning solutions. Mr. Kelly is the owner of Fortress Roofing, llc. in Norcross, GA.