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My article in last month’s Currents regarding Wood Rot prompted several calls pertaining to Roof Leaks, Maintenance & Repairs. Therefore, let’s talk about Roofs and how to care for them.

Most homes in Windward are built with an asphalt based composition material. Manufacturers of these shingles rate them as having a life expectancy from 20 to 40 years. Usually the builder will install a higher grade shingle as the contract price of the home increases. Since we have a multitude of various neighborhoods and varying home prices, you will have typically a 25 or 30 year shingle. Some homes we find in Windward also use wood shakes and even tile and slate. Slate is the best material one can use, but it is extremely expensive. Additional roof framing is also required to help carry the load from the weight of this material, which further increases the costs of installing this material.

Regardless of the roofing material you have on your home, you will eventually find black streaks staining your shingles.

This is a fungus which accumulates on the shadier sides and corners of the roof. Typically, the shingles are not degraded. They are merely stained. Unfortunately, this staining does cause our homes to appear dirty and less pristine than we may prefer. But do not fret nor run off thinking you need a new roof.

A professional power washing contractor with the proper equipment can treat these stains just as easily as one would remove carpet stains. When calling for estimates, insure that you ask what experience they have in cleaning roofs and what their procedure is for cleaning the roof. It may be wise to even call a trusted roofer for a referral. Regardless, you certainly do not want to do this yourself, nor Bubba and the Three Amigos.

Applying a power washing spray directly to your shingles will most likely damage the shingles.

Climbing on a roof is not advised either – particularly if wet. The professional will have long extensions on their spray equipment to reach high areas. They also will apply a foaming agent which has specially mixed chemicals formulated to kill the fungus with out harming paint, plants, animals or humans.

Now, if you have a wood shake roof, it is also advisable to have these shakes chemically cleaned on a regular basis since this fungus will continue growing and degrading the life of the shake, if left untreated. You will also then want to re-stain the wood shake after having them cleaned. The stain will help lock in the wood’s inherent moisture content while locking out damaging UV rays … and fungus. (per last’s month’s Wood Rot topic)

Lastly, most homes in Windward are still younger than the manufacturer’s expectant life span of the shingle. Hence, before you think that that fungus-stained roof needs to be replaced, you may just need something as simple as a little anti-fungus foam. I last had my roof spot treated last year for under $200, but I had it included with a whole house and driveway wash. Expect to pay approximately $200 to $500 depending on size and severity of the problem. In the end, a little foam on all our roofs can make a big difference in the appearance of all our homes collectively. I hope you will add this to your Fall Fix-it list.

Hug your Kids AND don’t forget to hug your house... it’s where you live!