Products to Clean and Protect Your Roof

House Doctor | Gary Dymski

January 8, 2004

Q. On Nov. 20, 2003, you wrote about placing zinc or copper strips under asphalt shingles to rid roofs of a black fungus. Readers might be interested in Shingle Shield, which makes a roof cleaner and manufactures precut zinc strips. I haven't used the items yet but anticipate doing so next spring.

- William Bellmer, Garden City

A. Several companies manufacture zinc and copper strips specifically for preventing roof algae and moss. In addition to Shingle Shield (www.shin gleshield.com, 800-942-3004), there's also Z-Stop (www.z-stop.com, 800-845- 5863). These precut products are easy for the average homeowner because they can be unrolled like tape, and little cutting is required. But in the roofing industry, much of the metal flashing that is used is cut from thin sheets of copper or zinc. Sheets of zinc or copper flashing might be easier to come by at building supply warehouses - less expensive, too. However, the homeowner will have to cut the sheets into strips with tin snips.