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Oklahoma Roof Cleaning · Guest

What is this stuff????

Oklahoma Roof Cleaning · Guest

i said tiles but i meant shingles! Really thick shingles.

Great White Technologies · Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Certified Roof Cleaner

That is not algae below that stove pipe. From the Pics I can tell what it is. Some of the other stuff looks to be lichen. Testing on this one would be in order before a full scale cleaning.

NJ Roof Cleaner · Guest

Mike!!
Is the first time I see something like that, you right it looks like tar, but can't really tell without touching it.

on situatios like this get a sprayer (or use your own pump if available) and spray a small section of the shingles just to see if it works or not.

guest

Mike, that interesting, I don't know what that stuff is, but I know two things, always do a test sample when your not sure. secondly you don't have to do every roof you come across either. I'm anxious to hear what the other guys think it is.

I even heard of people painting shingles too?

Oklahoma Roof Cleaning · Guest

Thats what i was thnking. Better go with a test. Bummer, market seems thin here in OK. I was hoping it was a roof full of GM. I'm gonna shake the bushes hard (realtors, prop management, landlords etc.) Thanks for the advise.

NJ Roof Cleaner · Guest

Cool, Go get them!!!!!!! biggrin

guest

Better Exterior Restorations wrote:

Thats what i was thnking. Better go with a test. Bummer, market seems thin here in OK. I was hoping it was a roof full of GM. I'm gonna shake the bushes hard (realtors, prop management, landlords etc.) Thanks for the advise.

what do you mean the market seems thin? not many dirty roofs, no one spending, or are they uneducated about roof cleaning?

Great White Technologies · Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Certified Roof Cleaner

Oklahoma does not have the amounts of humidity that is required for the rapid growth and survival of the algae. Drier climates tend to not have the same issues with algae that we have in the south or the east coast.

guest

Great White Technologies wrote:

Oklahoma does not have the amounts of humidity that is required for the rapid growth and survival of the algae. Drier climates tend to not have the same issues with algae that we have in the south or the east coast.

Pat, My buddy. I could of swore I heard mike say that there was many of diry roofs in his area, and thats why he decided to get into roof cleaning.

Dec 20, 2009

Better Exterior Restorations wrote:

Hey guys i need your help. I am bidding this roof. It looks really bad. I don't know if this is algae. typically roofs don't get this bad in Oklahoma city. It almost looks like roofing tar, but i don't know how it would have gotten on the tiles like this. What do you think this is. Can the love get this off. look closely.

What the heck is that??? Ya got me on that one. It does look like Roofing Tar. It may be time for a New Roof. God only knows what is even left under all that black even it you do get it off.

clay_ballard11 · Guest

The black crusty material, looks most likely to be a form of algae. The one picture with the brownish discoloration appears to be granule loss with the bare asphalt matting showing through. It is hard to tell from the picture but it looks like these are depressions instead of something growing on the shingle making me think that it is granule loss. I hate to say it but they need a new roof not just a cleaning. Sometimes it is necessary to turn down business, they are only going to have more problems with this roof and eventually want to blame you. It's not worth the $500 and risk a lawsuit.

Great White Technologies · Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Certified Roof Cleaner

Walk wrote:

Great White Technologies wrote:

Oklahoma does not have the amounts of humidity that is required for the rapid growth and survival of the algae. Drier climates tend to not have the same issues with algae that we have in the south or the east coast.

Pat, My buddy. I could of swore I heard mike say that there was many of diry roofs in his area, and thats why he decided to get into roof cleaning.

Clyde have you been wearing your respirator? I did not say the roofs are not dirty. Algae is going to take longer to develop in Oklahoma than it is in Georgia. It is a difference in humidity levels. It takes longer and it is harder for it to survive in a drier climate. You don't see any roof cleaners here for Phoenix or Tuscon or Boise do you? You would starve cleaning roofs in those climates.

Roger · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

Looking at a couple of the pictures, looks like the asphalt that used to be embedded with granules. It appears there are no granules left? Is the flashing around the vent pipe metal or plastic ? How old is the roof ?

garyw · Dec 20, 2009

Better Exterior Restorations wrote:

Hey guys i need your help. I am bidding this roof. It looks really bad. I don't know if this is algae. typically roofs don't get this bad in Oklahoma city. It almost looks like roofing tar, but i don't know how it would have gotten on the tiles like this. What do you think this is. Can the love get this off. look closely.

The #2 picture pretty much tells me that it is not algae. The sewer vent pipe is lead covered, which contains zinc, a natural fungicide. You will most always have a clean streak from the pipe to the gutter line due to this. oxidation and rain causes the zinc to flow down the roof. The roof below the pipe in pic #2 is covered with this substance so the zinc is having no effect on whatever it is. Any type of algae or mold can not survive the zinc.

Roof looks very bad. Earn a reputation for honesty and inform the HO they need a new roof. Honesty will pay off in the future. Good Luck!

KP Diamond · Guest

I'm going to go with 1 of 3 things:

a) severely dilapidtated, original substrate gone

b) Severely Dilapidated, original substrate gone

OR (and most likely)

c) SEVERELY DILAPIDATED, original substrate gone

Of course, the paint drips and bird chit does dress it up a little bit.

I concur with Gary, time for a new roof.

Great White Technologies · Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Certified Roof Cleaner

On this one if it were me I would test the Cider mix. TSP could possibly remove the paint from the brick. Also you will want to mask the brick or the SH will bleach the color out of the paint. trust me on this one. Ever try to get a paint sample off of brick so they can color match? Good luck on this one. I hope the testing comes out good for you.

guest

Great White Technologies wrote:

On this one if it were me I would test the Cider mix. TSP could possibly remove the paint from the brick. Also you will want to mask the brick or the SH will bleach the color out of the paint. trust me on this one. Ever try to get a paint sample off of brick so they can color match? Good luck on this one. I hope the testing comes out good for you.

Pat sorry I don't quite follow what your trying to say, are you saying that S.H. bleaches out the color in brick and paint?

Great White Technologies · Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Certified Roof Cleaner

Yes it can. It happened to me once and never again. Especially on old paint. No it does not bleach brick but the TSP could remove the paint.

-- Edited by Great White Technologies on Sunday 20th of December 2009 04:13:26 PM

RoofBright of Florida · Guest

That is roof cement along the chimney. Used to seal flashing. Apparently there was a leak somewhere along there at one time and a jack of all trades tried to repair it. Personally after inspecting that roof just with the pictures, the condition of that roof is terrible. I'd wal away from that one. Something else to keep in mind. As bad as it sounds there are those out there who will try to get a new roof by any means possible. Make sure there are no leaaks or have been no recent leaks. Just an observation.

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

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"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"