Black Streaks On Area Roofs

As I drive around the West Michigan area, I notice that there are hundreds of houses with black streaks running up the shingles on the roof. What are these streaks and are they harmful to your shingles?

Those “Black streaks” are actually airborne algae, Gloeocapsa. When a spore lands on your roof it feeds on the limestone filler used in many shingles. As it feeds on the limestone it grows up your roof line taking over the shingles if left untreated.

Not only do these “black streaks” look unsightly, they lead to premature shingle failure and can also cause your heating/cooling costs to rise.

Luckily there is a way to remove this algae from the roof, safely and without any danger to you.

Roof Cleaner is a West Michigan company that uses the soft-wash method, which is the method that shingle manufactures recommend for the cleaning of shingles. Our soft-wash uses no high pressure to remove the stains, mold, mildew or lichen that grow on the roofs in the area, if fact we use the pressure of a garden hose only.

Our process not only removes the organisms from your roof, we gaurnteee that it will stay clean for 2 years. We also offer a 5 year protection plan for even more peace of mind.

Don’t wait until your roof is so over run with algae that the only option is spending thousands of dollars for new shingles to be installed. Call now and have your roof washed, it will add years to your shingles and at a fraction of the cost. 

(616)240-3465       roofcleaner@inbox.com     

House Washing

Winter weather often leaves its marks on our home exteriors in a variety of ways, including gray/brown dirt and mildew growth. The buildup is gradual, and we often don’t notice it happening until we step back and take a good look: do your whites look a bit dingy and grey? Are there streaks or spots on your siding? Mildew is especially prone to grow on the north side of the house–how does yours look?

With the temperatures rising and the days getting longer, now is a great time to wash away the memory of the colder months and have your house spruced up for spring! Great Lakes Roof & Exterior Cleaning, Certified Soft Wash Specialists are experienced with dirt and mildew removal on homes, roofs and gutters.

Power washing/pressure washing can remove the dirt and mildew, along with the paint or stain, and can damage the surface.  That’s why we only use Soft-Was methods to clean and restore the beauty back into your home.

Roof Cleaner is a great way to clean your:

- Wood, Vinyl, Aluminum or Masonry Siding

- Patio, Deck or Fence

- Driveway, Sidewalk or Walkway

- Gutters

- Garage Doors

- Roof

Roof Cleaner provides service to the following areas of Michigan:

Grand Rapids, Ada, Lowell, Forest Hills, East Grand Rapids, Cascade, Comstock Park, Rockford, Sparta, Standale, Jenison, Grandville, Hudsonville, Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Zeeland, Alpine.

If you do not see your town, don’t worry we can take care of you anywhere in Western Michigan.

Your house is being ROBBED

Yes, the tagline is true. Allowing mold buildup to accumulate on your siding and decking materials is literally costing you money in the long run. Regular safe low pressure power washing of these areas is recommended in order to take advantage of the full length of the long life of vinyl siding, trim and todays composite decking materials. Of course the real immediate benefit is the fact that your house will look like new. It’s like the “I just left the car wash feeling” except it’s your whole house. And did we mention that it’s as easy as ordering pizza. One call or email and you’ll get a free estimate within 24 hours. Thats it!

Follow our blog (http://roofcleaner.blogspot.com) for information and before and after pictures showing first hand what makes Roof Cleaner the choice of todays maintenance conscious home owner.

Artillery Fungus (Shotgun Fungus)

If your siding, car, fence or any other surfaces around your house have broken out with a rash of black or dark-brown specks that do not want to come off, you are probably at war with something called artillery fungus.

It has become increasingly common in recent years, according to experts who have been seeking ways to control and eradicate it.

Artillery fungus, also called shotgun fungus or Sphaerobolus stellatus, usually originates in wood-chip mulch that is used around shrubs, flowers and other plants. Wet, rotting mulch breeds small mushrooms that shoot off spores for distances of up to 20 feet. The spores, which are sometimes mistaken for insect waste or bits of tar, cling tenaciously to surfaces such as house siding.


The fungus' most active seasons - generally spring and fall when temperatures range between 50 and 68 degrees are when most homeowners seem to notice the black spots on their siding.

The rapid spread of the fungus and the growing number of fungus-damaged homes appear to be linked to the growing use of mulches made from recycled hardwood scraps and tree stumps.

Homeowners can take a key step to control artillery fungus by cleaning up wood-chip mulch around the house and disposing of it before the shooting starts again in April or May.

Here are some additional tips:


• Control. Bark mulch appears to be more resistant to the fungus than wood-chip mulch. Davis said pine-bark chunks seem to be the most resistant, and cedar, redwood and cypress mulch also appear to be resistant. "Even these mulches should be replaced every few years,".


• Stone mulch (usually small, decorative stones) "is the ultimate answer" to artillery fungus. Black plastic, held in place by stones or boards, is also safe, and some homeowners are getting good results with leaf mulch.

Fungicides do not work well because "it's hard to determine when the mulch becomes infested, making the timing of the application . . . difficult."


• Insurance. If your house is damaged by artillery fungus, check with the agent handling your homeowners insurance. Most policies do not cover damage from fungus or mildew, but some do.



• Scraping. Artillery fungus can be removed from windows by scraping with a razor blade. Scraping also can remove some of the black specks from smooth siding, but several homeowners who tried this reported that a brown residue remains and can't be removed. Scraping can gouge vinyl and painted siding.

Spring Cleaning

With the temps getting into the 60's and even 70's here for the next 2 weeks it is time to start the spring cleaning.

In West Michigan there is a growing problem with roof stains/mold. This is an area of your home that should also get some spring cleaning done to it. This will not only extend the life of your shingles it will put that "curb" appeal back into your home.

As you are out on your walks or just taking a drive and enjoying our great spring like weather, take a look at the roofs in the neighborhood. I bet you will start to see roofs that are looking like they could use a good spring cleaning. If you know someone who needs a spring cleaning of their roof let them know about us. We appreciate and reward referrals.

If you do not want to mess with the washing of your roof or even the siding on your home, you can always call the professionals at Roof Cleaner. We have cleaned the roofs and siding of hundreds of local homes last year and would like to clean yours this year.

We only use a soft-wash method to clean your roof or your siding. By using our soft-wash system you are assured that there will be no damage done to the shingles or the siding, which can happen if a pressure washer is used to remove stains.

We offer a 2 year guarantee on all our cleaning.

Can a Dirty Roof/House Make you Sick?

Having your roof/house cleaned actually makes sense.

It isn’t just aesthetics. While people like to say that dirty roofs lower a property’s value and may make it hard to sell, the “dirt” on a roof actually shortens its life span and can even present a health hazard. Furthermore, the “dark stains” on a roof act as a sponge to absorb the sun’s heat, which causes a rise in the temperature inside a home or building, creating higher air conditioning bills.

The dirt isn’t just dust – It’s alive. Some of the black or very dark roof stains are caused by a resilient type of algae,Gloeocapsa magma (a type of blue-green algae commonly found in climates with warm, humid summers). The algae grow in standing water, as well as in our lakes and ponds. The algal spores are carried to our roofs from the water sources by the wind and birds, and then from roof to roof where it grows and feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles and the real dirt on tile roofs maybe in some cases the tiles themselves. Worse still, as the algae grow, they retain water and foster the growth of other roof inhabitants.

The black stains are also very likely to harbor a number of molds or fungi. Unlike algae the fungi on our roofs lacks chlorophyll. They are unable to manufacture food from raw materials. So, it must get nutrition from some form of organic matter. To thrive, these heterotrophs, who used to be called saprophytes, also require a warm, humid environment.

Fungi normally begin their life cycle as an airborne spore that settles on roofs, especially the asphalt-shingle ones. The spores on the northern exposure of the roof stand a better chance of survival because that portion of the roof is the last part to dry after a rain or morning dew. This raises the humidity on the surface of the shingle, thus creating a perfect feeding and breeding ground.

The tar used in roofing is fossilized, dead organic matter — and an important food source for fungi. Asphalt, at the granule base, is normally consumed first. Once these granules dislodge, accelerated deterioration will occur. Ceramic granules represent the outer hard shell that protects against hail and other falling debris. Ceramic granules protect against damaging UV radiation and insulate the roof against extreme heat. So you can understand that their dislodgement by the growing fungal colonies can be detrimental to our roofs’ longevity. Surprisingly, the blue-green algae are also food for the fungi.

While not all mold (fungi) and algae pose a health danger, some are harmful, especially for us older folks, younger children and people who suffer from asthma and respiratory problems. Their spores, which are on your roof, can get inside your home because they end up on the driveway and walkways from rain, and are easily tracked inside. They can even be drawn into our air conditioning systems and eventually populate our ducts.

Different mold species can have varying health effects, but it is important to remember that any excessive mold growth needs to be taken care of, regardless of the species. Any excessive mold growth can lead to increased allergies, toxicity, and house/building structural problems.

Tips to Prepare Outdoor Space for Spring

Spring is coming. It's time to spruce up outdoor spaces.

The bug has bitten! Well, the spring bug that is.

Here’s a list of  spring to-do’s for getting your outdoor living space ready for the great weather to come. There may be more or less depending on your spaces, but these are the main steps to getting your patio or outdoor space ready when that first hint of spring comes knocking on your door.

·        Power wash the patio surface. It gets the winter muck off of your surfaces.

·        Scrub your patio furniture cushions. No matter how you store them, they usually need to be freshened up or replaced.

·        Uncover your patio furniture or pull it out of storage. Fold and store your furniture covers in your deck box or shed.

·        Scrub your patio furniture with an environmentally friendly cleaner.

·        If you don’t have aluminum furniture or if your aluminum furniture has parts made of other metals, touching up the weathered or rusty parts with Rust Oleum will keep everything in good shape.

·        If you have teak furniture or furniture made from another type of wood, you can clean and oil wood surfaces.

·        If you have stored away your outdoor rugs, now is the time to bring them out before you place the furniture. If your rugs have been outside all winter, a good cleaning (or even pressure washing depending on how sturdy the fibers are) will make it shine for spring.

·        Check all of your landscaping lights for any needed repairs or bulb changes.

·        Pull out and scrub your stored flowerpots with warm water. Don’t use any soap or any chemicals that will contaminate the potting soils that you will need to add. Dawn dish detergent works well.

·        Give your grill a good spring-cleaning and tune up.

·        Trim any shrubs orstray branches that may have grown into your patio or path areas. Be careful not to prune any of your spring bloomers!

·        Fresh mulch in your flowerbeds and landscaped areas dress up your space and give your plants and shrubs spring protection against fluctuating temperatures and last minute spring storms.

·        Be sure to really inspect your flowerbeds or landscaped areas for stray garbage or other foreign objects that winter storms may have washed into your garden.

·        Treat your lawn and garden for late winter weeds and pre-emergent to keep weeds manageable throughout the spring.

·        Freshen up your outdoor living space by bringing your outdoor accessories or by adding new lanterns, lights, pillows, flower pots, etc.