Yeah, those zinc strips are like the “set it and forget it” of roof maintenance… except you can’t actually forget it. I’ve seen a lot of folks get their hopes up, thinking they’ll never see another green streak again, but Mother Nature always seems to have other plans—especially if you’ve got a bunch of trees throwing shade and debris up there. The strips do help, but it’s more like putting your roof on a slow diet rather than a full detox.
I’ll admit, I’ve tried just about every trick in the book to keep my own shingles looking halfway decent. One year I even tried that copper wire trick—ran a line along the ridge, felt like I was rigging up some kind of medieval lightning defense. Still ended up on the ladder with a scrub brush by July. At this point, I just accept that if you’ve got asphalt and trees, you’re gonna be doing the occasional rooftop cha-cha.
But hey, don’t let that scare you off asphalt entirely. For the price, it’s hard to beat, and most folks don’t want to shell out for metal or tile unless they’re planning to stay put for decades. Plus, if you’re not wild about heights (and who is, really?), there are some decent long-handled brushes out there now—saves your knees and your dignity.
If you ever figure out a way to keep those streaks off for good, let me know. Until then, I’ll be the guy waving from the roof every spring, pretending I’m just up there for the view.
The strips do help, but it’s more like putting your roof on a slow diet rather than a full detox.
That’s a perfect way to put it. I’ve had zinc strips up for about five years now, and while they *do* slow down the algae, I still get those streaks—just not as fast. I’m in a pretty shaded spot, so even with the strips, I’m out there with the garden sprayer and a soft brush at least once a year. Tried the copper trick too, but honestly, didn’t see much difference compared to zinc.
I get what you mean about asphalt being hard to beat for the price. When I was shopping around, metal sounded great until I saw the quote (double what I paid for shingles, and that was before labor). Plus, I’ve heard the rain noise can be a dealbreaker for some folks. My neighbor went with tile, but his house is built for it—mine would need extra reinforcement, which just wasn’t in the budget.
I will say, if you’re thinking of going asphalt, it’s worth looking at the algae-resistant shingles. They’ve got copper granules mixed in and seem to hold up better—at least in my area (mid-Atlantic, lots of humidity). They cost a bit more upfront, but I figure it’s cheaper than paying someone to clean the roof every year.
One thing I wish I’d done differently is trim back more of the overhanging branches before putting the new roof on. Shade and debris are the real enemies. If you can keep those in check, you’ll get more mileage out of whatever shingle you pick.
Maintenance-wise, I just budget for a spring cleanup and call it good. Not ideal, but like you said, unless you’re ready to drop serious cash on metal or tile, asphalt’s still the best bang for your buck. Just gotta accept a little rooftop cardio now and then.
Interesting you mention the algae-resistant shingles—do they really hold up noticeably better over time? I’ve heard mixed things, but it’s tough to separate marketing from actual results. Also, how’s your attic ventilation? I’m wondering if better airflow would help cut down on some of that streaking, or is it mostly just a shade and moisture thing in your case? I keep debating whether to invest more in roof upgrades or just stick with regular cleanings.
I keep debating whether to invest more in roof upgrades or just stick with regular cleanings.
Honestly, I’ve seen algae-resistant shingles still get streaks after a few years, especially on north-facing slopes. Regular cleanings might be less hassle (and cheaper) long-term unless your area’s super humid. Ventilation helps with heat, but not so much with those black stains in my experience.
I get where you’re coming from about the algae-resistant shingles not being a magic bullet. I’ve managed a few properties with those, and yeah, after a handful of years, especially on shaded or north-facing sides, you still get those dark streaks. But I’d push back a bit on the idea that regular cleanings are always the easier or cheaper route long-term.
Here’s the thing—every time you clean an asphalt shingle roof, even if you’re careful, there’s some risk of granule loss or damaging the surface. I’ve seen roofs lose years off their lifespan because someone got too aggressive with a pressure washer or used the wrong chemicals. And if you’re hiring it out, those costs add up fast, especially if you’re in an area where algae is relentless.
On the flip side, higher-end shingles (the ones with copper or zinc granules mixed in) seem to hold up better in my experience. They cost more upfront, but I’ve had fewer maintenance headaches and longer intervals between cleanings. Not saying they’re perfect—nothing is—but sometimes spending more at install saves money and hassle down the road.
Ventilation’s another piece people overlook. It won’t stop algae, but it does help with heat buildup and can extend shingle life by keeping attic temps down. I had one building where we upgraded ventilation and swapped to a lighter shingle color—made a noticeable difference in cooling costs and slowed down some of the curling we were seeing.
If your climate’s not super humid or shaded, maybe regular cleaning is enough. But in spots where algae is a constant battle, I lean toward investing in better materials upfront. Otherwise, it can turn into a never-ending cycle of cleaning and patching... which gets old fast.
