Algae and fungus are the main compositions of lichens. Lichens can be found on rocks, walls, gravestones, sidewalks, outdoor cushions, and even roofs. A perfect roof would look bad because of lichens. Lichen is an invasive organism and may appear on surfaces as tiny, shrubby branches, leafy structures, or crusty patches.

One of the most commonly seen types of lichen is a single-celled green alga (Trebouxia), which is often found in temperate, alpine, and arctic regions worldwide. Lichens can also grow anywhere from a dessert to the coldest tundra. Lichens come in multiple shapes, sizes, and forms, including shrubby, leaf-like, or crusty.

How to remove lichens from roofs

Are lichens harmful to the roof? 

You may think that lichens cannot harm your shingles. However, this claim is not valid because lichens can hold moisture against the surface that can wear and tear the shingles. Because of lichens, the life of roofing shingles is shortened. As time goes on, your roof shingles may bend and warp because of lichens.

Your insurance may also increase because of lichens. Your insurance company may send out an inspector to drive by your home to observe any changes. Your insurance provider may cancel or increase your insurance rates once they see that your roof is covered with lichens. Over time, lichens also cause massive damage.

How do you remove lichens from the roof?

Your roof shingles have a protective layer at the top. If you try to brush, broom, or scrape your roof, the coating may get peeled off. Lichens are known to have a tight grip, which means that scraping them off can be time-consuming and damaging to the roof. There may also be a risk that the lichens will grow again as the roots are not cut off.

One of the best ways to remove the lichens on your shingles is to add metal strips made of steel, copper, and zinc along your roof’s ridge. When rainwater moistens the pieces, a tiny amount of metal will run down on your roof, preventing the lichen from grabbing hold. The downside for this option is that copper and zinc are not eco-friendly.

Another way of removing lichens from the roof is through using chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach may be applied to your gutter and flashing, or your shingles to change the color. Bleach solution that drips from your roof during or after application can kill landscape plants and ruin outdoor fabrics.

Using a high-pressure washing system like a hose to remove the lichen is not also advisable. However, you can use cleaning products that can kill the lichens on your roof but do not damage the shingles. Applying surface treatments can eradicate your problem in no time without you getting tired of scraping.

You can always have a roofing contractor remove the lichens off your shingles because it might be dangerous to step on a shingle that has lichens. If you ever need a roofing contractor to do the job for you, you can always go to Universal Contracting, FL.

If you want to have a free quotation today, you can always visit www.ucroof.con.