Well-kept roof is also part of curb appeal

Glenn Haege: The Handyman Well-kept roof is also part of curb appeal

Curb appeal is something real estate agents talk a lot about when selling a home. But there is nothing wrong with enhancing your home's curb appeal even if you aren't planning to sell.

When you drive up to your home, does it have good "curb appeal?" While nice landscaping or a stylish front door can enhance a home's appearance from the street, don't overlook the importance of keeping your roof and home's exterior surfaces clean.

One of the first things I notice when I drive by a home is the condition of the roof. Drive through any neighborhood and you are likely to see homes with dark streaks that look like the shingles are dirty and wet. Upon closer inspection, you will find that the streaks are actually cyanobacteria that form on the roof due to moisture. This blue-green algae grows when airborne bacteria finds a perfect breeding ground on moist roof shingles. They are also most frequently found on the north-facing side.

If you have that ugly streaking problem but your shingles are still in good shape, there are products that will remove the algae. Wet & Forget, (888) 727-8524, www.wetandforget.com, is one product that gently removes algae stains from roofs, without scrubbing or pressure washing. You can just spray it on the roof and let the weather do the rest. It can also be used on siding, concrete and even decks where mold and algae are a problem.

Other products include Moldex Deep Stain Remover, (877) 463-2628, www.envirocarecorp.com, and ConcrobiumXT, (866) 811-4148, www.concrobium.com, which has an Eco-Wash cleaning solution. Most of these products have a companion spray product to slow the return of the problem.

A home's siding also can get dirty and faded and hurt curb appeal. Painting vinyl or aluminum siding can bring it back to life, and I'll address that in next week's column. But first you need to clean it.

Brad Elder, vice president of marketing at Siamons International, manufacturer of Concrobium products, said the company's Eco-Wash product not only works on roofs, but also on most of the home's exterior surfaces, including decks, patios, fences, walkways, gutters and vinyl and aluminum.

"Bleach-based products can kill grass or plants surrounding your home." Elder said. "Eco-Wash is harmless to vegetation and environmentally friendly, so it is much easier and safer to use."

Krud Kutter, (800) 466-7126, www.krudkutter.com, makes two exterior cleaning products, House Wash and Exterior Siding Cleaner, that don't contain bleach or ammonia and are also environmentally friendly.

Aluminum Siding Paint - News


Well-kept roof is also part of curb appeal

A home's siding also can get dirty and faded and hurt curb appeal. Painting vinyl or aluminum siding can bring it back to life, and I'll address that in next week's column. But first you need to clean it. Brad Elder, vice president of marketing at



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View topic - Painting Aluminum Siding And Skirting

I have a 70' 1980 trailer with a wood grain on the aluminum siding, which must be printed on some how. The paint is not pealing or anything like that but I would like it to be a different color. I have heard of people using acrylic latex paint and primer. But why not use an oil based primer and paint? I would guess that oil based is tough stuff, unless you cant get it in a satin>? I would choose a quality Latex paint over oil based enamel any day. Latex paint is vastly improved since its humble beginnings, and it has the flexability needed to withstand changes in the weather. Oil based enamels, on the other hand, are "harder" but more brittle for that reason. Siding will heat and cool many times a day on a sunny winter's day for example.


Aluminum Siding Paint - Bookshelf

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