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InspectAPedia ® Home EXTERIORS of buildings ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID ASBESTOS CEMENT ROOFING ASBESTOS MATERIAL REGULATIONS ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES ASPHALT SHINGLE DEFINITIONS ASPHALT SHINGLE FAILURE TYPES ASPHALT SHINGLE INSTALLATION ASPHALT SHINGLE LIFE / WEAR FACTORS ASPHALT SHINGLE PROPERTIES ASPHALT SHINGLE RE-ROOF GUIDE ASPHALT SHINGLE UNDERLAYMENT SPECS ASPHALT SHINGLE VALLEY FLASHING ASPHALT SHINGLES on VERY STEEP ROOFS ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS COMPARED ALGAE STAINS ON ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES ALGAE STAIN TEST METHODS ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS on SHINGLES BLACK STAIN REMOVAL & PREVENTION BLISTERS on ASPHALT SHINGLES CELLOPHANE STRIP REMOVAL? CRACKS in FIBERGLASS SHINGLES CUPPING ASPHALT SHINGLES CURLING ASPHALT SHINGLES EARLY ASPHALT SHINGLE FAILURE EXTRACTIVE BLEEDING on SHINGLES FISHMOUTHING ASPHALT SHINGLES GRANULE LOSS from SHINGLES HAIL DAMAGED SHINGLES LADDERING & STAIR STEPPING SHINGLES LIFE / WEAR FACTORS in SHINGLES MECHANICAL DAMAGE of SHINGLES MOSS & LICHENS on SHINGLES ORGANIC FELT SHINGLE DEFECTS SPLICE DEFECTS on ASPHALT SHINGLES STAINS on ROOF SHINGLES WHAT ARE ASPHALT SHINGLES WIND DAMAGE to ROOFS ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE BARK SIDE UP on DECKS & STEPS BASEMENT WATERPROOFING BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE BRICK VENEER WALL Loose, Bulged BRICK WALL DRAINAGE WEEP HOLES BOOKSTORE - EXTERIORS BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE BUILDING SETTLEMENT CARPENTER ANTS CARPENTER BEES CATCH BASINS CAULK GUN TYPES, CHOICES CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR COLUMNS & POSTS, DEFECTS CONTAINER HOUSING CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS CONNECTORS, FASTENERS, TIES CRAWL SPACES DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION DECK CONSTRUCTION BEST PRACTICES DECK COLLAPSE Case Study DECK FINISHES COATINGS PRESERVATIVES DECK FLASHING LEAKS, ROT Case Study DEFINITIONS of ENGINEERED WOOD OSB LVL etc DRYWELLS, FRENCH DRAINS for FLAT SITES EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS EIFS & STUCCO EXTERIORS EXTERIOR WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES EXTRACTIVE BLEEDING STAINS FLASHING MEMBRANES PEEL & STICK FLASHING for METAL ROOFS FLASHING ROOF WALL DETAILS FLASHING ROOF-WALL SNAFU FLASHING SIDING DETAILS FLASHING WALL DETAILS FLASHING WINDOW DETAILS FLASHING WOOD ROOF DETAILS FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FROST HEAVES, FOUNDATION, SLAB FOOTING & FOUNDATION DRAINS FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING FRENCH DRAINS GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION GLUES ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION GRADING, DRAINAGE & SITE WORK GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams HOUSE PARTS, DEFINITIONS HOUSEWRAP / SHEATHING WRAP HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS HOUSEWRAP PRODUCT CHOICES HOUSEWRAP at SILLS, SOLES, TOP PLATES HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET ICE DAM PREVENTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS INSECT INFESTATION / DAMAGE KIT HOMES, Aladdin, Sears, Wards, Others LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD TEST KIT for HOME USE LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION LOG HOME GUIDE LIGHTNING PROTECTION METAL LATH, PLASTER & STUCCO MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE OIL TANKS PAINT & STAIN GUIDE, EXTERIOR PAINT FALURE, DIAGNOSIS, CURE, PREVENTION PAINT FAILURE DICTIONARY PAINT LAB SAMPLE PREPARATION PAINT SURFACE PREPARATION PAINTING MISTAKES PORCHES & Sunrooms PORCH CONSTRUCTION & SCREENING RAILINGS, DECK & PORCH RAILINGS, STAIRWAY RETAINING WALL DESIGNS, TYPES, DAMAGE RETAINING WALL GUARD RAILINGS ROOF ARCHITECTURAL STYLES - PHOTO GUIDE ROOF CLEANING RECOMMENDATIONS ROOF COLOR RECOMMENDATIONS ROOF DORMER TYPES - PHOTO GUIDE ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS ROT RESISTANT LUMBER ROT, TIMBER FRAME ROT, TIMBER ASSESSMENT SEARS KIT HOUSES SHEATHING, Gypsum board Sheathing Celotex Homasote & Other SHEATHING, OSB SHEATHING, Plywood SHEATHING, FOIL FACED - VENTS SIDING TYPES, INSTALLATION, DEFECTS SIDING, ALUMINUM SIDING, ASBESTOS FIBER CEMENT SIDING ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES on WALLS SIDING ASPHALT SHINGLE or SHEET SIDING DAMAGE by SPLASHBACK SIDING EIFS & STUCCO SIDING, FIBER CEMENT SIDING HARDBOARD SIDING STEEL SIDING VINYL SIDING, WOOD PRODUCT CHOICES SIDING, WOOD INSTALLATION SIDING WOOD, FAILURES OVER FOAM BOARD SIDING WOOD, FLASHING DETAILS SIDING WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS SOUND CONTROL in buildings STAIN & BIODETERIORATION AGENT CATALOG STAINS on & in BUILDINGS, CAUSES & CURES STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS STAINS & Thermal Tracking STAIN DIAGNOSIS on ROOFS Causes of Roof Stains Catalog of All Roof Stains ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS on SHINGLES ALGAE STAIN TEST METHODS ALGAE STAINS ON ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES Catalog of Black Roof Stains Black or Green Algae Bleed-Through Chimney-Caused Roof Stains CHIMNEY STAINS Debris Staining on Roofs Lichens on Roofs Moss on Roofs Power Washing Roofs Rust Stains on Shingles Soot Staining STAIN DIAGNOSIS on STONE Colors & Stains on Stone Black Stains on Stone Green Stains on Stone Red or Other Colors on Stone Brown or Tan Colors on Stone Lichens on Stone Surfaces Catalog of Substances that Alter Stone, Glass, Steel Methods for Cleaning Stone Surfaces Guide to Types of Stains STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS STONE CLEANING METHODS STONE VENEER WALLS STRAW BALE CONSTRUCTION STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION STUCCO PAINT FAILURES SURFACE GRADING, SITE DRAINAGE TERMITES THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS TREES & SHRUBS, TRIM OFF BUILDING TRIM, EXTERIOR CHOICES, INSTALLATION VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS VENTILATION in BUILDINGS VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO VINYL SIDING VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS Volatile Organic Compounds VOCs WALL CONSTRUCTION BARRIER vs CAVITY WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING WATER ENTRY in buildings WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS WIND TURBINES & LIGHTNING WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information |
This article describes and provide photographs and microscopic photographs of algae, moss, lichens, or fungal growth that occurs on buildings and in nature. We include links to references useful in the identification of algae, moss, lichens, and mold. Our photo at page top shows moss on an asphalt shingle roof. Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman. What does Algae look like on buildings and under the microscope?
This article series tells readers how to identify, evaluate, remove or prevent stains on building surfaces. Also see ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS on SHINGLES where we describe not only moss and lichens but black fungal stains on asphalt shingles and on other building surfaces. For an extensive catalog of methods for preventing algae, moss, or lichens growth on roofs see How to Prevent Moss, Lichens & Algae Growth on Roofs. See BLACK STAIN REMOVAL & PREVENTION for advice on diagnosing, cleaning, and preventing algae stains on roofing. Black stains due to algae: Algae often appears on organic and even inorganic surfaces of buildings and in nature such as on the asphalt roof shingles in this photo. Black algae stains can also look a lot like extractive bleeding shown in this separate article on "Bleed-Through" which can appear on asphalt roof shingles. While algae is the most common source of black or green roof stains on shingles, when the staining or bleeding appears to run down the roof from individual small points or "spots" this may be something other than a fungal growth or soot: it may b e extractive bleeding or "bleed through" on shingles. (See ALGAE STAINS ON ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES and also STAINS on ROOF SHINGLES for a more detailed discussion of bleed through or extractive bleeding as well as black algae stains on roof shingles.) The presence of algae on the roof is an indicator that this roof area is in a shaded spot where you may want to be alert for development of moss or other roof problems, but the level of damage from algae is probably low, even less than that caused by lichens. Avoid any aggressive cleaning methods that might damage the roof surface.
What does Lichens look like on buildings, in nature, and in the microscope?Lichens, one of the most hardy growth organisms found in nature, can grow in harsh conditions. Lichens is often found growing on roof shingles, especially asphalt and wood shingles as we show here.
Our photographs (above) show lichens growing on an asphalt roof shingle in situ (above left). In the photo where our pen is inserted for scale (above right) we had "picked" the spot of lichens gently and flipped it over. Our pen points to the hole left in the asphalt shingle as the lichens had such a good grip on the mineral granules that when removing the lichens it brought some of the roof protective coating along with itself. If you click to enlarge the photo at above right you'll see the actual mineral granules from the shingle adhered in the "roots" of the lichens. See Lichens on Roofs for details about the causes, effects, and prevention of lichens growth on roofing surfaces. Also see Lichens on Stone Surfaces. What does Moss look like on buildings, in nature, and in the microscope?Moss growing on any roof surface will be more severe on roof sections that area shaded and exposed to periodically damp cool weather conditions. The presence or absence of much sunlight on a roof surface is often a determining factor in the amount of moss or lichens growth (more sun, less moss and lichens. Moss and lichens are more than a cosmetic issue on many kinds of roofing materials - asphalt shingles, roll roofing, wood shingle roofs, wood shake roofs. By holding moisture against the roof surface lichens but more so moss speed the wear of the asphalt shingle surface in freezing climates by increasing frost damage to the mineral granule coating on the shingles.
For an extensive catalog of methods for preventing algae, moss, or lichens growth on roofs see How to Prevent Moss, Lichens & Algae Growth on Roofs. See Black Stain Removal & Prevention for advice on diagnosing, cleaning, and preventing algae stains on roofing. Online Guide to Types of Stains on Building Surfaces:In the following guide we list types of stains by stain color & appearance, by building location or material, and by stain cause. We distinguish among the following stuff that may stain or be found growing building roofs, walls, or other surfaces, with extra focus on asphalt shingle roofs as well as other roofing materials such as wood shingles, wood shakes, roll roofing, and even slate or tile roofs. Some of these types of roof stains or discoloration are only cosmetic in nature, while others may indicate growths that are likely to reduce the roof covering life. A more detailed, illustrated version of the list below is given at STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)... Ask a Question or Search InspectApediaQuestions & answers or comments about algae, lichens, and moss growth on buildings: cause, remedy, prevention Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below. Technical Reviewers & ReferencesRelated Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
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