HoviBahamas
11-14-04, - 02:04 AM
Why Should I Have My Roof Cleaned?
As homeowners here in the Bahamas, we do not generally concern ourselves with the condition of our roofs. Unless the shingles are blown off during a hurricane, or we develop a leak for some reason or the other. Many people never sit back and wonder what the black discoloration across the entire roof is, where it comes from or what dangers if any does it present. The few that may think about it just discard it as being dirt, but this is only partially true.
Actually, these unsightly stains are caused by a form of algae known as Gloeocaspa Magma and a type of fungus called saprophytic fungus. What these organisms do is penetrate down into the limestone filler which forms the base of a typical asphalt shingle. Over time, the rooted organism loosens, causing the shingle granules (the actual protection for the roof) to fall off thus damaging the shingle. As you can imagine, this leads to water penetration, which leads to leaks, which promotes further algae mold and mildew growth, which causes rotting and ultimately costing you expensive roofing repairs or a new roof.
The ironic thing about it is that our warm sunny climate in conjunction with the commonality of asphalt shingles provides the ideal growing conditions for the algae and fungi. These are transported from their spawning grounds by the wind or birds to our roofs. It is safe to say that eight of every ten houses in the Bahamas show signs of infestation.
As this is the case, we must then be concerned about what other dangers this infestation presents to the homeowner. These organisms are fast growing by nature and will spread from the roof into the interior roofing structure. This area then becomes an excellent incubator for them to flourish due to its darkness and warmth. The organisms will then continue to spread finding their way into your inner sanctum like a thief in the night; hiding in interior walls, under sinks and cabinets and around water heaters. They then attack your beloved children and pets by way of allergic reactions such as sinusitis and asthma along with other respiratory problems.
This is where R. S. I. comes in. We know that the only safe way to rid your roof of these algae is by appropriate chemical application and low pressure high volume rinsing. As experienced contractors we also know that using high pressure coupled with the wrong chemicals does more harm than good as it causes granule loss and temporary roof failure, ultimately costing you more money. At RSI, we have the equipment, chemicals, knowledge and ability necessary to rid your roof of these harmful and unsightly organisms. There is an old adage that states: “An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure”. Need I say more?
As homeowners here in the Bahamas, we do not generally concern ourselves with the condition of our roofs. Unless the shingles are blown off during a hurricane, or we develop a leak for some reason or the other. Many people never sit back and wonder what the black discoloration across the entire roof is, where it comes from or what dangers if any does it present. The few that may think about it just discard it as being dirt, but this is only partially true.
Actually, these unsightly stains are caused by a form of algae known as Gloeocaspa Magma and a type of fungus called saprophytic fungus. What these organisms do is penetrate down into the limestone filler which forms the base of a typical asphalt shingle. Over time, the rooted organism loosens, causing the shingle granules (the actual protection for the roof) to fall off thus damaging the shingle. As you can imagine, this leads to water penetration, which leads to leaks, which promotes further algae mold and mildew growth, which causes rotting and ultimately costing you expensive roofing repairs or a new roof.
The ironic thing about it is that our warm sunny climate in conjunction with the commonality of asphalt shingles provides the ideal growing conditions for the algae and fungi. These are transported from their spawning grounds by the wind or birds to our roofs. It is safe to say that eight of every ten houses in the Bahamas show signs of infestation.
As this is the case, we must then be concerned about what other dangers this infestation presents to the homeowner. These organisms are fast growing by nature and will spread from the roof into the interior roofing structure. This area then becomes an excellent incubator for them to flourish due to its darkness and warmth. The organisms will then continue to spread finding their way into your inner sanctum like a thief in the night; hiding in interior walls, under sinks and cabinets and around water heaters. They then attack your beloved children and pets by way of allergic reactions such as sinusitis and asthma along with other respiratory problems.
This is where R. S. I. comes in. We know that the only safe way to rid your roof of these algae is by appropriate chemical application and low pressure high volume rinsing. As experienced contractors we also know that using high pressure coupled with the wrong chemicals does more harm than good as it causes granule loss and temporary roof failure, ultimately costing you more money. At RSI, we have the equipment, chemicals, knowledge and ability necessary to rid your roof of these harmful and unsightly organisms. There is an old adage that states: “An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure”. Need I say more?