The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Walk wrote:

---

Has any one ever seen this and is it possible? If its possible that is a pretty serious selling point. I think its probably unlikely because nobody cares to clean their siding and whats the difference?

---

One difference is the wall has 2 surfaces to penetrate plus insulation. Unless the ceiling is a stick build studio or cathedral as opposed to a truss system there is only 1 simple 7/ 16 OSB board making it easier to penetrate.

Vinyl Siding is a solid surface, it has escape paths for the moisture. No matter how long moisture is present, it will not decay the plastic material. 

Shingles have a different factor when it comes to decay. Water and moisture overtime will break down the components allowing moisture to penetrate. Hence..partial reasoning for replacing roofs; given many other factors.

When the exposure of consistent moisture is present, it tends to produce the mold. The algae that is present on the roof holds moisture which tends to never dry out...leading to absorption within the boards. Once the moisture makes its way through the boards, it’s now trapped in the attic...never drying....producing mold....that can and will spread.

 

Nearly all roofs have to have a moisture/vapor barrier which is usually #30 tar/felt paper. This prevents the moisture from wicking into the home and from accumulating on the surface of the sheathing. It is usually stapled down and then the shingles are nailed down which makes tons of holes in this which actually helps in expansion and contraction and does allow the roof to breath a bit, but can transfer moisture into the attic, especially through condensation of the nails.
Roof bacteria needs a higher moisture content and seems to flow with gravity, hence the streaking going downward and in big buildings like churches with huge timber rafters, those spots can appear clean, this is due to the temperature difference which also relates a moisture difference. Therefore the inside of an attic may not be as desireable of a food source or likely habitat for the Gloeocapsa Magma due to the fact that it would have to live upside down on the interior sheathing and would not be able to streak due to gravity. Although mold loves plywood and may colonize quicker and take over any G--magma that would be present.
All in all roof bacteria (or algae, mold, streaks whatever you want to call it), likes rocks best and since shingle granulars are made of ceramic and limestone, there you have it. Mold likes softer material like wood and cellulose best. Mold in attics is related to a ventilation and or humidity issue.

I was looking for additional reasons to have the roof cleaned?

Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 wrote:

---

 

Walk wrote:

---

I was looking for additional reasons to have the roof cleaned?

---

Roofs with mold removed are usually lighter in color and absorb less light which translates to less heat in the attic.  Tha usually means lower electric bills due to less air conditioning usage.  So you save money on your utility bills.

 

 

---

http://www.professionalroofing.net/archives/past/oct98/feature.asp

BCRoofClean wrote:

---

Black streaks cause shingles to rot, causes roof leaks and BANG! you got a mold problem!

---

Jerry, just like that, bang you got mold? LOL

 

Thats my new advertising gig Walk.
What? You gotta dirty roof eh? BANG! Its clean!! pay me!
How about you neighbor? huh, you dirty too pal? BOOM! Your clean too! pay me!
Who's next?

I made a few points before on this topic but I have to say that beings I am a mold guy, I have done plenty of inspections and jobs where there is spotted black mold colonizing on the sheathing in attics.
They do not always correlate to roofs with staining but sometimes this is true. Mostly the interior problems is due to venting or a moisture issue.

The all powerful "Norther Exposure" does have an effect on the interior though. Most attic issues I deal with have only one side with an issue and the other is usually fine or better looking.

I will play myth busters here and say that "ultimately" roof mold, streaks, bacteria, algae, lichen or moss may effect attic temp which in turn with effect the attic moisture content. And moisture content is the number one controller for interior mold issues.

So it is "plausible" that a roof could be covered for example, with moss and lichen all over it which not only effects the breathibility of the sheathing and attic space but also adds a temperature differential factor in that of UV ray exposure or roof slope positions, which creates condensation in the attic space.( one side gets sun, heats up and dew dries, the other stays cold and waits until lunch for the sun.....)