If you live in the Eastern half of the United States and have a roof that is five years old or more then you probably have at least some roof fungus on your shingles.  Walk outside and take a close look at all angles of your roof.  If you see any black streaks or stains then you most definitely have fungus growing on the shingles.  It’s more accurately called “algae” but I’m not going to argue semantics with you.

Unless you’re totally blind you’ll notice that the fungus on your roof is really taking a toll on your home’s overall curb appeal.  I’ve seen some otherwise gorgeous houses that had their looks completely destroyed by out of control roof stains.  It always amazes me that people aren’t willing to spend a little bit of money to buy a cleaning product or hire someone to clean it for them who has a few roof cleaning tricks up their sleeve.  The results are usually shocking!  This is especially true for a home that is on the market.  With the real estate market in the toilet what makes you think that you can get top dollar for a house that has a fungus-covered roof?  Not only will potential buyers think that it looks ugly, but they’ll also assume that there’s something wrong with the roof, and they’re probably right.

You see, having organic growth on your roof is more than just a cosmetic issue.  It’s also an issue of your roof’s overall health.  This is because roof fungus actually feeds on asphalt shingles.  Most shingles these days are manufactured with a high content of limestone filler to save on costs.  And can you guess what the preferred food of choice is for roof algae?  That’s right – limestone!  So the longer the fungus is left to its own devices the more inroads it will make in chewing up your shingles and ultimately shortening the lifespan of your roof.  If you knew that a $400 roof fungus removal would get you an extra five or ten years of life out of your $5000 roof wouldn’t you jump at the opportunity?  I know I would.  By having your roof cleaned you’ll be saving a ton of money in the long run.  Also, it will gain you more money if you’re trying to sell your house in this difficult market.  So either way the return on investment is huge.

In conclusion, you should make every effort to keep your roof clean of fungus and debris because it will keep your home looking good and it will maintain the long-term health of your roof.  You also won’t have to be embarrassed anymore because you’re the one in the neighborhood with that “nasty looking” roof.

If any of your nosey neighbors go around talking behind your back and saying that you wasted money by cleaning your roof then just know that they are jealous and wish that their shingles looked just as good.  The people that make fun of others for addressing a roof fungus problem are usually just unhappy with their lives and like to tear down others to make themselves feel better.