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Photo-guide to Identification of Algae, Fungus, Lichens, Moss on or in Buildings InspectAPedia®  -     Photographs of Algae, lichens, moss, mold help identify these substances in nature and on buildings Microphotographs of algae, lichens, moss, mold: high magnification views of algae, lichens, moss, mold to 1200x detail characteristics of these organisms What is the difference between moss and algae or moss and lichens? Do they affect buildings differently? We provide photos and text to help distinguish among algae, lichens, moss and mold growths on any surface.

Here we describe 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.

This website tells readers how to identify, evaluate, remove or prevent stains on building surfaces. Also see ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS on SHINGLES where we discuss not only moss and lichens but black fungal stains on asphalt shingles and on other building surfaces.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

What does Algae look like on buildings and under the microscope?

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.

When the staining or bleeding appears to run down the roof from individual small points or "spots" I think this is 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.

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.

Under the microscope it's easy to see the plant-like structure of moss fragments, as our photograph (left) demonstrates. This moss sample was collected from a basement wall: we suspect that the damp conditions that produced this moss growth on the building wall also increased the risk of a mold problem in the same structure.

For an identification guide to mosses we include some resources below.

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.

• Algae caused black stains on roof surfaces - Some photos of black algae stains are at Black Algae Stains on Asphalt Shingles. For details see ALGAE STAINS ON ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES. Algae can produce black stains on asphalt roofing products. Also see  ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS COMPARED.
  
• Black stains on asphalt roofing products such as asphalt shingles or roll roofing, caused by extractive bleeding (product defects) - see Bleed-Through and see Roofing material defect / environmentally-caused roof shingle stains.
• Black, brown, or gray stains on roofing products due to debris left on the roof surface, such as piles of leaves and organic waste from nearby trees. See Debris Staining and see Proximate cause roof shingle stains
• Black or other colored stains on roof surfaces may be caused by soot from chimneys, both wood-fired and oil-fired devices. Black or other colored stains may also appear on roof surfaces from nearby industrial activities. See Soot Staining.
• Black stains on building interiors: such as on carpets, drywall, or trim: see STAIN DIAGNOSIS on Indoor Surfaces and then STAIN DIAGNOSIS on Indoor Surfaces and also see STAINS on Indoor Surfaces: PHOTO GUIDE
  
• Brown or red stains on roof surfaces are often caused by rust from wearing steel flashing or other on-roof metal products. See Rust Stains on Shingles.
• Chimney stains on roofs - see see SOOT STAINING - Black Soot Stains on Roof Shingles Around Chimneys and see Proximate cause roof shingle stains
• Debris stains on roof shingles - see Debris Staining - Black Debris Stains on Asphalt Shingle Roofs
• Extractive bleeding stains on asphalt roofs - see Bleed-Through and see Roofing material defect
• Lichens growing on roof surfaces - Lichens are not the same growths as moss or algae, and are difficult to remove without damaging the roof surface. See Lichens on Roofs for details about how lichens can cause roof damage, see ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS on SHINGLES for a guide to preventing these roof growths and stains. Also see   ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS COMPARED.
• Mold or fungus growing on roof surfaces or on other building surfaces - see ALGAE STAINS ON ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES. See FIND MOLD in BUILDINGS, HOW TO for a guide to looking for mold contamination in or on buildings, and see WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE for a guide to just what mold looks like on building surfaces. Be sure also to see Stuff that is Mistaken for Mold to avoid becoming excited about harmless substances that people think are toxic mold. If you know your building has a mold problem, see ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD.
• Moss on roof surfaces - see ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS on SHINGLES. Green or other colored mosses are a bit easier to remove than lichens on roofing surfaces, but both can carry away mineral granules and damage the roof surface. Moss tends to hold more water and moisture on the roof surface. So in our opinion moss is more likely to damage a roof surface than lichens or algae. Also see   ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS COMPARED.
  
• Rust Stains on buildings - see Rust Staining - Red or Brown Rust Stains (on shingles)
• Soot or Creosote black or brown stains on roof surfaces near or below chimneys - see SOOT STAINING - Black Soot Stains on Roof Shingles Around Chimneys and see Proximate cause roof shingle stains
• Tree-caused stains on roofs - see Proximate cause roof shingle stains
• White stains on roof surfaces may be from wash-down of pigments in paint on surfaces above the roof such as a gable end or dormer wall; white or less-black roof surfaces may also be found below copper or aluminum flashing whose salts run down the roof surface in wet weather, preventing algae or moss growth and leaving a white area on an otherwise stained roof surface. Our article at ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS on SHINGLES includes a photograph of this condition on a wood shingle roof.

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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

ROOFING INSPECTION & REPAIR
  ALGAE STAINS ON ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES
  ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS on SHINGLES
  STAINS on ROOF SHINGLES
SIDING WOOD
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on Building Exteriors
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on Indoor Surfaces
PHOTO GUIDE TO STAINS on Indoor Surfaces
EXTERIORS of BUILDINGS
AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine
ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS COMPARED
SIDING WOOD
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on Building Exteriors
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on Indoor Surfaces
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on Roofs
  Causes of Roof Stains
  Catalog of All Roof Stains
  Catalog of Black Roof Stains
  Black Algae
  Bleed-Through
  Chimney-Caused Roof Stains
  Debris Staining on Roofs
  Lichens on Roofs
  Moss on Roofs
  Rust Stains on Shingles
  Soot Staining

• Guides to identifying mosses:
  Graphic Guide Ontario Mosses (some of which appear widely dispersed by climate and geographic area, not just in Ontario) which offers a graphic guide to mosses. worldofmosses.com/ggom/index.html
• Also see the sources listed at worldofmosses.com/ggom/ggomBibliography.html
• Also see the Journal Folia Geobotanica, Springer, Netherlands ISSN1211-9520 (Print) 1874-9348 (Online) IssueVolume 11, Number 2 / June, 1976 DOI10.1007/BF02854759 Pages217-22

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