The black streaks are also known as black algae or roof mold.
Black mold on slate roof.
What are those ugly black streaks on my roof.
Slate is one of the most durable and popular materials used in construction.
Commonly found in climates with warm humid summers it does no damage to the roofing but it certainly does looks bad.
Just because you can t see it however doesn t make it any less dangerous.
Believe it or not those black streaks only appear on roofs in certain areas of the country.
For this reason it works as well on a tiled roof as it does on a bathroom floor.
Technically the black streaks on roofs are a form of algae known as gloeocapsa magma.
Once turned into roofing material slate absorbs water and can naturally de laminate during the freeze and thaw cycles of winter.
Those that tend to be the most humid furthermore they will only appear on the north side of the roof.
Slate is a sedimentary rock with miniscule layers that easily cleave.
At worst they can pose serious health risks.
This quality is what distinguishes slate as a suitable roofing material.
It s easy to let a mold problem sneak up on you on in out of the way places like the roof of your home.
That s why if.
Like all tile however slate can be prone to mildew and mold particularly if it is installed in a high moisture area like a bathroom a basement or a kitchen.
Although these dark spots and ugly black streaks on your roof may look like dirt mildew soot or mold what they really are is algae.