How can you accelerate mold/algae growth? - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Jeff Thompson · Junior Member

How can you accelerate mold/algae growth?

Lee Kendall · Junior Member

spray it down with water, put a clear paint tarp over it, and put it in a warm dark place and keep an eye on it, wetting it every once in awhile... Thats how you grow mold on bread.. so maybe that will work on this too!?

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Sugar water

Jeff Thompson · Junior Member

Is it to cold to grow algae?

Hank Timmermann · Junior Member

Just keep it in a warm area as Lee pointed out. Another idea is to spread leaves over the top after wetting and sprinkle water from time to time.

Hank

Chris Gunther · Sophmore Member

I built a similar display years ago. I covered the shingles in wet mulch, and smeared wet grass clippings on the siding. I let it sit for a week or two, and then brushed off all the debris, leaving a dirty roof and siding. I used a pump up and garden hose to clean half the shingles and siding for a pretty dramatic before/after.

Jeff Thompson · Junior Member

Ok, thanks guys. What I ended up doing is using the sugar water and covering it with a damp beach towel. I'll look into getting some grass clippings stuck on next week when I do the cutting. Put it in the warmest/darkest spot I have right now and that's the garage. We'll see what happens.

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Jeff, how did this work out for you?

BTW, very nice prop for your booth!

Jeff Thompson · Junior Member

Mark Fermoyle wrote:
Jeff, how did this work out for you?

BTW, very nice prop for your booth!

Hey Mark. Thanks. Still a work in progress. Keep putting sugar water on the shingles and took Chris's suggestion and have grass clippings and leaves soaking on it as well. Shingles look like they are darkening and the grass and leaves are breaking down, but not seeing any algae growth. It's in the garage, but I'm thinking it's to cold to grow anything right now.

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Well, hope you get some growth on it before the spring show.

Perhaps you could find someone's nasty home that has a BAD infestation of roof algae and vinyl slime and see if they'll allow you to leave it there until spring?? biggrin

Brandon Vaughn · SoftWash Systems Pro Staff

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Moss-Graffiti

I have done this with my kids before - this is sparking my imagination for a home show - make some on-demand moss grow on the shingles!

Jeff Thompson · Junior Member

Cool. Thanks Brandon. I'll give it a shot.

Zach Maynard · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

You realize that if you didn't want the growth it would pop up all over the place. lol

Jeff Thompson · Junior Member

For sure !