What’s staining the exterior of my home?

Three of the most common stains we find on home exteriors are dirt or dust, mold and mildew, and finally algae.

Dirt/dust

Texas weather can be a little unpredictable!  Dirt is the most common thing that attaches to the side of your house especially in between the cracks of your Concrete and brickwork or siding. 

Mold and Mildew

Mold is a fungus that contains multiple identical nuclei and grows in the form of black or green patches which penetrate beneath the surface of the affected material. Mildew, on the other hand, has flat growth that remains on the surface where it can be easily removed.  They typically thrive in more damp areas.

Algae

Algae used to be considered a plant, but now it’s classified as an aquatic organism that photosynthesizes.   If there’s not a texture, it could be algae.  Algae can be green or red or black.  All algae can grow in shady areas with enough moisture and it’s possible for black algae to grow in areas with direct sunlight.

How do I get rid of it?

The only way to get rid of organic growth is to clean it!  And of course, there are a few options for that.

Whatever the type of organic growth -  you will probably be able to scrub it away.  If you want to tackle it yourself, start in the gentlest way possible with mild soapy water and a soft-bristled brush.  If that’s not working use a siding clear labeled as effective for the organic growth that you have, it’s worth knowing that an algicide won’t work against mildew and likewise a mildewcide won’t work against algae.  And if your growth is lichen, you’ll definitely want to be using a cleaner.  Make sure you have a ladder up to the task, and time.

A second choice is power washing, with either just water or with some cleaner into the tank.  Professional power cleaners will make sure the pressure isn’t too high to damage your property and will know how to choose just the right cleaner for your organic growth problem