Yeah, I hear you on the copper strips. I tried the zinc ones once since they’re a bit cheaper, but honestly, didn’t see much difference. The sprays just made my shingles look streaky and weird. At this point, I’m convinced the algae’s just part of the roof’s “character”...
Honestly, I gotta disagree a bit on the zinc strips. Maybe it’s just my luck (or maybe my roof’s weird), but after I swapped out the old copper for zinc, I actually noticed less algae up there. Could be the rain pattern here or maybe the angle of my roof helps? The sprays though—yeah, those made my shingles look like someone spilled a latte up there. At this point, I’m just hoping the next big windstorm gives me an excuse to try something else...
Funny enough, I had a customer swear by copper but when we put zinc on his neighbor’s house, the neighbor’s roof stayed cleaner. Go figure. Maybe it’s just the weird microclimates or how much tree gunk you get up there? Ever tried just trimming back branches instead?
I’ve seen the same thing—sometimes zinc works better, sometimes copper. Honestly, I think folks underestimate how much shade and debris play into it. If you’ve got big trees dumping leaves and blocking sun, no metal strip is gonna keep algae off for long. Trimming branches made a bigger difference on my place than any fancy shingle treatment. Less mess, more sunlight, and the roof just stays drier. Not as flashy as copper, but way cheaper and less hassle in the long run.
That’s a good point about shade and debris—honestly, I’ve seen a lot of folks focus on metal strips and miss the basics. Copper and zinc can help, but if the roof’s always damp from overhanging limbs, algae’s gonna find a way. One thing I’d add: even after trimming, clear out the gutters regularly. Overflowing gutters keep the lower edge of the roof wet, which just invites more growth. It’s not glamorous work, but it really does make a difference over time.