Why fungal resistant shingles dont work. - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Why fungal resistant shingles dont work.

Shaun Harton · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

I'm very interested in this subject. But don't know much about it.

Eric Owen · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

The zinc in the shingle leaches out over time. Damaged by a pressure washer "Ole Chuck in the Rusty Truck"

John Aloisio · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Most of the Algae Resistant shingle on the market now have anywhere from a 10,15 or even lifetime warranty against algae resistance. GAF's 10 year are almost the same price as regular Ultras. Atlas has the 3M Scotchgard lifetime ones, but are fairly pricey. They all use a granule that is copper based, with some zinc and magnesium in there as well.

The most important thing to know about these products and warranties, is that they are ALGAE RESISTANT, not algae proof. Read the fine print in all the warranty verbiage and you will see a disclaimer for a roof cleaning option or allotment. There are a ton of third party test results on the Internet about these shingles, and how they do not really perform. Last year, we clean just under $30,000.00 worth or warranty claims, for GAF, on AR shingle complaints. Already up to $12,000.00 this year. It is much cheaper for them to pay us to clean it, then put a new roof on a house. It is kind of like the cell phone rebates they used to offer. If you mail it in, with all the paperwork, with a certain timeframe, you got a rebate. The actual percentage of people who mailed those in was under 15%. That a lot of $50.00 rebates the cell companies kept. Same principle here, because a large part of the population will not complain within the warranty term, therefore a few cleanings is worth the money they made on the initial shingle sales.

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

There are also a lot of hurdles in place. On one recent job around 400 sq warrarnty work, it took the property management 8 months to get everything processed. The shingle manufacturer never came to job to inspect. They gave incomplete instructions. They said send in a sample, they did, but they didn't specify a sample from each building. Each time the management company had to hire someone to get samples, repair and ship to manufacturer. It used to be there were shingle manufacturer reps covering small territories, but territories have increased and they are focused on new sales, not handling 10 year old claims that are mainly visual - compared to a serious manufacturing defect that may cause a leak. I have to agree with John that I guess even if someone calls, it may not be worth the hassle for the homeowner.

Bob Riddick · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

We installed a new roof for a homeowner that had specifically bought a "fungus resistant" shingle. There was algae and fungus in three years on a few areas of the roof. The manufacturer had us remove, replace, and mail in the stained shingles.

Turns out the warranty covered only four kinds of algae and fungus, and his wasn't one of them. I've heard there are more than 10 different strains.

Does anyone know for certain the number of various strains?

Huey Miller · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Don't know what type they cover but there is more than 2200 known types of mold and fungus. So to exclude more than 99.5% of the different types I'd have to say odds are in their favor

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

I have cleaned algae resistant shingles.. 4 years old. They were covered in green. HO was pissed but Certainteed paid for it.

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

John Aloisio wrote:
Most of the Algae Resistant shingle on the market now have anywhere from a 10,15 or even lifetime warranty against algae resistance. GAF's 10 year are almost the same price as regular Ultras. Atlas has the 3M Scotchgard lifetime ones, but are fairly pricey. They all use a granule that is copper based, with some zinc and magnesium in there as well.
The most important thing to know about these products and warranties, is that they are ALGAE RESISTANT, not algae proof. Read the fine print in all the warranty verbiage and you will see a disclaimer for a roof cleaning option or allotment. There are a ton of third party test results on the Internet about these shingles, and how they do not really perform. Last year, we clean just under $30,000.00 worth or warranty claims, for GAF, on AR shingle complaints. Already up to $12,000.00 this year. It is much cheaper for them to pay us to clean it, then put a new roof on a house. It is kind of like the cell phone rebates they used to offer. If you mail it in, with all the paperwork, with a certain timeframe, you got a rebate. The actual percentage of people who mailed those in was under 15%. That a lot of $50.00 rebates the cell companies kept. Same principle here, because a large part of the population will not complain within the warranty term, therefore a few cleanings is worth the money they made on the initial shingle sales.

Hi John,

Who do I need to contact within these manufacturers to become their preferred roof cleaning contractor for my area?

Mark

John Aloisio · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Start wiyh your local rep

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Thanks, John.