You’re not wrong about aluminum—seen plenty of folks try it, and it just doesn’t hold up once the moss and shade get involved. Zinc strips are definitely a step up, even if they’re not a forever fix. Six years before those black streaks show up is actually pretty solid, especially with the kind of rain we get around here. I’ve seen some roofs needing attention after just two or three seasons.
Honestly, I’ll take a few faint “racing stripes” over the hassle of climbing up there every spring to scrub. It’s not perfect, but it’s a huge improvement. Sometimes people expect a totally spotless roof year after year, but with our weather, that’s just not realistic. If you’re only having to deal with it every six years or so, that’s a win in my book.
Only thing I’d add—make sure the zinc is installed high enough on the ridge so runoff covers most of the shingles. Missed that detail on one job and ended up with clean streaks right under the strip but algae everywhere else... live and learn.
Only thing I’d add—make sure the zinc is installed high enough on the ridge so runoff covers most of the shingles. Missed that detail on one job and ended up with clean streaks right under the strip but algae everywhere else... live and learn.
That’s a good point about placement—seen that mistake more than once. Curious if anyone’s tried copper strips instead of zinc? I’ve heard they last longer, but not sure if the price difference is worth it. Also, has anyone noticed if roof pitch makes a difference in how well these strips work? Steeper roofs seem to stay cleaner in my experience, but maybe that’s just luck.
I’ve always wondered if copper really makes a big difference over zinc too. I read somewhere that copper is supposed to be more effective, but I haven’t tried it myself—mostly because of the price tag. As for roof pitch, I’ve noticed the same thing: my neighbor’s steep roof barely ever gets those black streaks, while my low-slope section is always a mess. Maybe it’s just better runoff? Or maybe shade plays a role too—does anyone think tree cover matters more than pitch?
I get where you’re coming from about copper vs. zinc, but honestly, I’ve seen zinc strips do a pretty solid job for most folks—especially if you’re not in a super humid area. Copper’s great, but that price jump is real, and for a lot of roofs, it’s overkill. As for pitch vs. shade, I’d say tree cover is a bigger culprit than people think. My own place has a steep section that still gets streaks because it’s under a big oak. Sunlight really helps dry things out, so even a steep roof can get hit if it’s always shaded.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing with shade.
I thought the pitch would help, but those trees really do make a difference. I went with zinc strips too—cheaper and honestly, they seem to work fine unless it’s super damp all the time. Still gotta brush off those leaves every fall though, or it just builds up again.“My own place has a steep section that still gets streaks because it’s under a big oak.”
