[TheForge] OT - Asphalt shingle rot? (Lichen)

[Jerry Frost]

Lichen is generally an air plant meaning it only needs water and air to grow 
so looking for organic causes is more a distraction than useful.

Forget bleach, while it'll work okay it will dry and leave an electrolytic 
component on your roof so every time it rains galvanic action will degrade 
nails, etc. You don't get a galvanic reaction without an electrolyte, clean 
fresh water won't do it at all. You don't see zincs on metal boats in fresh 
water, not a problem.

Just pick up a roll of copper wire long enough to run the length of the 
roofline just under the peak on both sides. String it out and tack it down 
or tuck it under a shingle corner every so often, or whatever. It isn't 
complicated and so long as there's no electrolyte copper isn't going to eat 
your galvy nails, aluminum flashing or rain gutters.

Trimming back shade trees and keeping organic litter off will help too but 
isn't a must do if you can lay a little copper on it. Heck, if you want 
immediate results give it a light spray with copper sulfate solution. I 
don't suggest the last, it's a bit too harsh a toxin for every day use, the 
flower planters won't like it.

Frosty
-------------------------
If it ain't forged
It ain't real
wrought iron is
The Frostworks