If you’ve discovered mold growing on your roof, it becomes an urgent issue, and proper remediation must be taken. Mold threatens the structure of your home and puts your family’s well-being at risk. That’s why it’s very important to work with professional roofing repairs to deal with roof mold problems quickly and properly. This guide provides tips from roofing experts on preparing for safe and effective mold remediation on your roof.

Importance of Working With Roofing Contractors to Remove Mold

Mold on your roof is bad news. It needs to be dealt with quickly by hiring professional roofing contractors. Let’s look at the importance of collaborating with contractors for effective roof mold removal:

1. Mold Spreads Easily

Roofing contractors know that mold on your roof can quickly become a major issue if not addressed promptly. The mold can spread its roots and spores to the interior of your home through cracks, gaps, or when it gets washed in by rain. Once inside, this mold contamination can lead to respiratory health problems for residents and potential structural damage like sagging ceilings, crumbling drywall, or even compromised support beams over time. Experienced roofing professionals have the tools and methods to safely remove roof mold before it spreads inside.

2. Attracts Pests

The damp, decaying nature of roof mold creates an inviting environment that can attract pests like mice, rats, and other rodents. These animals are drawn to use the mold as both a food source and nesting material. Their constant chewing and burrowing cause further degradation of shingles, underlayment, and framing as they reside on or within your roof. Roofing experts can eliminate existing mold growth, repair any damage, and remove food and shelter that attract pests.

3. Necessitates Roof Replacement 

If a roof mold issue is allowed to fester for too long without treatment by contractors, it may create severe and irreversible damage. As the mold roots spread, they can deteriorate and weaken the structural integrity of the roof decking, trusses, rafters, and other supports. In a worst-case scenario, roofing contractors may determine that the mold has rendered too much of the roof framing unsalvageable, necessitating a full roof tear-off and rebuild at great expense. Having them inspect and remediate mold early prevents this costly outcome.

4. Diminishes Curb Appeal

While not as functionally hazardous, roof mold is an eyesore that can detract from a home’s curb appeal and perceived value. The black, green, or grey streaks and splotches of slimy mold can make an otherwise attractive roof look dirty, aged, and poorly maintained when viewed from the street. This unsightly appearance can potentially turn off prospective buyers or create an air of neighborhood disinvestment. Roofing contractors have cleaning solutions to restore your roof’s clean, fresh look.

What Causes Mold to Grow on Roofs?

Mold thrives in consistently moist environments on roofs. Although roofs are built to drain water and prevent moisture buildup around shingles, algae, and moss colonies can trap dampness against roofing materials. This trapped moisture creates favorable conditions for mold growth, allowing it to spread and deteriorate roof components over time. At times, roof damage may not be apparent, but if tiles are compromised and allow water into the attic, significant internal water damage and potential mold issues, especially during warm seasons, can also arise.

Tips from Roofing Contractors for Mold Remediation

Removing roof mold is a big job. Mold on your roof means there could be leaks or rotten wood you cannot see. Roofing contractors are best for roof mold remediation because they know how to find and fix the real reasons the mold is growing, not just clean up the visible mold. They have the right tools and expertise. Here are the tips from roofing professionals for proper roof mold remediation:

1. Wear Proper Safety Gear

Mold remediation involves using chemicals that can harm your body. Wear thick rubber gloves to protect your hands, a respirator mask to avoid breathing in mold spores and fumes, goggles to prevent irritating your eyes, long sleeves and pants to cover your arms and legs, and slip-resistant boots with good grip to avoid slipping on the sloped, moldy roof.

2. Protect Plants and Lawn

The bleach solution used to kill roof mold can also damage or kill nearby plants and grass. Before starting, thoroughly wet down any plants, bushes, trees, and lawn areas around the perimeter of your home with a garden hose. You can also cover vegetation with tarps or plastic sheeting for extra protection.

3. Prepare and Apply the Bleach Solution

Mix 1 part chlorine bleach and 3 parts water in a large bucket. Add 1 tablespoon of trisodium phosphate (TSP) powder, which helps cut through dirt and grime. Stir the solution well. Pour it into a pump spray bottle and spray only onto the moldy areas of your roof while wearing all your safety gear. The bleach will kill the mold.

4. Let the Solution Soak and Rinse Thoroughly

Let the bleach solution soak into the moldy shingles for at least 15 minutes to fully penetrate and kill the mold. For heavily molded areas, allow 20-30 minutes of soaking time. Then, rinse the entire roof thoroughly from top to bottom using a normal garden hose set on low pressure. Run a gloved hand along the shingles to check for any remaining slimy mold residue.

5. Take Precautions Against Damaging Shingles

Never use a power washer, as the high-pressure stream can knock off the protective granules on the shingles. This reduces the shingles’ waterproofing ability and can lead to leaks. Only use a typical low-pressure garden hose.

6. Consider hiring a professional 

While some capable homeowners can do mold remediation themselves, it requires safely accessing all areas of the roof, which can be difficult and risky without proper equipment and training. Professional roofing contractors have the right safety gear, tools, experience, and training to eliminate roof mold completely while inspecting for any other underlying issues with your roof.