- Tried the zinc strip thing last year—honestly, didn’t see much change on my south-facing roof. Maybe it’s a north-side trick?
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— does that ever stain gutters or siding? I’m kinda paranoid about extra costs.“rain washes tiny amounts of metal down the shingles”
- Ended up just using a spray cleaner (the cheap stuff from the hardware store). Not perfect, but way less hassle for me.
I tried zinc strips on my north-facing side a couple years back—didn’t really notice much difference either, honestly. Maybe it’s more of a slow-burn thing? As for staining, I was worried too, but never saw any weird streaks on my white gutters or siding. Could be luck, or maybe the rain just dilutes it enough. The spray cleaners are definitely less hassle, but I always end up with patchy spots where I missed a section... story of my life.
I get what you mean about the zinc strips not making a huge difference. I tried them too, but honestly, I didn’t see much change after a year. Maybe it’s just not enough for really stubborn algae, especially on the north side where it stays damp.
About the staining, I was nervous as well, but like you said,
Same here—guess we lucked out or maybe the rain does help wash it away.“never saw any weird streaks on my white gutters or siding.”
I know spray cleaners are supposed to be easy, but I always end up missing spots too. The patchy look drives me nuts. What actually worked better for me was a cheap pump sprayer and a homemade mix (just water and a little bleach). Covered more area and cost next to nothing. Not perfect, but at least it looked even for a while.
If you’re watching your budget, sometimes the old-school methods aren’t so bad... just takes a bit more elbow grease.