Tip of the Day: Get rid of roof algae, which can damage shingles

Rooftop gardens have been touted as a type of cool roof that can help reduce energy use and costs. But one plant life you don't want to see on your roof is Gloeocapsa magma, a blackish algae that thrives on moisture seems to have an affinity for material used in some roofing products. When left unchecked, it can damage shingles.

This algae creeps its way upward on roofs, gradually turning shingles dark brown or black. It's easy to spot along some east-west streets with lots of trees, and sometimes it's present house after house.

My wife and I recently noticed Gloeocapsa magma algae on our 10-plus-year-old roof (shown), as well as lichens, which look like greenish-white splotches made with a paintbrush. Fortunately, we didn't have any other growth, such as moss, which can dig in beneath the shingles and upgrade the buildup from two- to three-dimensional.

I looked into some DIY solutions to eliminate the algae, such as oxygen bleach. But the safer, more-prudent move—especially with bursitis in one of my shoulders—was to hire a pro who'd do the job at a reasonable price and not use the chlorine-bleach solution the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association recommends (PDF), which can damage vegetation around the house. (Note: If plants and grass are watered before applying the bleach solution and if the bleach solution is applied correctly, vegetation shouldn't be harmed by the cleaning.)

Pricing for a good roof cleaning, according to Baltimore's My Clean Roof, is based on many factors, including roof height, roof pitch and angles (not all roofs are walkable), and the algae species involved. We got a wide range of cleaning quotes, from a few hundred dollars up to $1,200.

We also spoke with one fellow who wanted to pressure-wash the roof (not recommended), and another who wanted to install copper or zinc strips without washing first. While using the strips would provide a long-lasting solution to the algae problem, the $1,500 price seemed way too high.

In the end, we found a roof-shampooing franchise operation, which quoted us a price of $350. We agreed to the price this past Monday evening, and the work was done two days later. (The cleaned roof is shown, right.) The company even threw in cleaning the siding of the two front dormers and gave a one-year warranty on the work.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you need a new roof, read our latest report on roofing materials and find the best product for your home in the ratings (available to subscribers).

Tip of the Day: Find the right caulk for your home project

As you might have already encountered in the caulk aisle at your local home center, there's a dizzying array of caulking products in tubes, cartridges, and aerosol cans. All those choices could make finding the right caulk for the job a hassle. The chart below covers the major categories of caulk and can help you find the best material for your project.

Why use caulk? When the right type of caulk is applied properly, it can protect your home from the elements and make it more energy efficient or prevent leaks from the shower or tub. What's more, our stories on five key home repairs and smart ways to cut your energy use reveal how important caulk can be.

Modern caulk formulations are relatively inexpensive and many are easy to apply, simple to paint over, and a snap to clean up. Althogh the 30 percent federal tax credit on purchases of weatherization materials doesn't apply to caulking, state incentives are often available.

Ed Pollack, a team leader for residential-energy-efficiency research at the U.S. Department of Energy, recommends you use water-based foam sealants since they're easier to clean up. And he urges you to start caulking from the outside first. "You want to seal openings in your home's exterior that could allow water and cause mold or ruin the caulking you've done to interior spaces."—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Consider weatherizing your attic to save money and boost comfort at home year-round. Our Energy Saving & Green Living guide offers many ways to weatherize your home and make it more efficient. And the Complete Guide to Reducing Energy Costs provides illustrated instructions for key do-it-yourself weatherization projects, and with the purchase of the book you get a free 30-day trial of ConsumerReports.org, including access to the ratings.

Type of Caulk	Best Use(s)	Pros	Cons	Price
Acrylic tub and tile	To seal kitchen and bathroom fixtures.	Flexible; mildew resistant; cleans up with water.	Not paintable; not as durable as 100% silicone.	$4 and up per tube
Butyl rubber	To seal and fill around windows and skylights and around flashings and in gutters to seal dissimilar materials (glass, metal, plastic, wood, and concrete). More flexible (can stretch in multiple directions) than silicone. Good in areas that experience high temperature variations. Formulations with with asphalt are best for roofing repairs.	More flexible (can stretch in multiple directions) than silicone; can be painted after curing one week. Good in areas that experience high temperature variations. Formulations with asphalt are best for roofing repairs.	Does not adhere well to painted surfaces; shrinkage varies; might require two applications. Can be toxic; precautions must be taken and requires solvent cleanup.	$3.50 and up per tube
Concrete and mortar repair	To repair cracks in concrete and damaged masonry and mortar.	Can be shaped to fit before drying; remains flexible, cleans up with water, dries to color of concrete mortar or can be painted.	Not recommended for horizontal surfaces where water could accumulate.	$4.50 and up per tube
Latex	To seal gaps in exterior walls and plug holes and fill gaps in interior walls and woodwork before painting.	Inexpensive; takes paint well;, can be sanded; easy to work with; cleans up with water.	Will crack eventually where temperatures vary greatly (acrylic latex formulations are more durable); needs to be painted when used outdoors; won't adhere to metal.	$1.50 and up per tube
Oil or resin-based	To seal gaps in exterior walls.	Inexpensive; will bond to most surfaces.	Cracks after a few years; much less durable than elastomeric (silicone, latex, or acrylic) caulks.	$1 and up per tube
100% silicone	To fill around pipes and vents and building structures made of nonporous materials and plumbing fixtures. Not as effective on wood or masonry.	Very durable and flexible; doesn't crack.	Expensive; limited colors; can't be painted or sanded, gives off strong odor when curing; solvent required for cleanup.	$4.50 and up per tube
Siliconized latex	Same uses as 100% silicone, except not on plumbing fixtures.	Very durable and flexible; rarely cracks, many colors available; cleans up with water; less expensive than 100% silicone.	Can't be sanded.	$3.50 and up per tube
Spray foam (polyurethane-based)	To seal around window and door frames or to fill cracks and holes.	Expands more than latex and fills a greater area than caulking alone.	Expands after application, so it can warp door and window frames; can't resist UV light; must be painted for exterior use; very difficult to clean up after use.	$5.40 and up per can (but one can fills as much space as many tubes of caulking)
Spray foam (water-based)	Around window and door frames or to fill cracks and holes.	Does not expand as much as polyurethane foam; can be shaped while wet; easy cleanup with water; will not cause windows or doors to bind.	Does not adhere as tightly to materials as urethane; takes longer to cure (up to 24 hours).	$5 and up per can (but one can can fill as much space as many tubes of caulking)

The MythBusters look at destructive force of hurricanes

You might not be able to fool Mother Nature, but based on an episode of MythBusters that ran last night on the Discovery Channel, it might be possible to at least work in conjunction with her.

With Hurricane Ida in the news and preparing to make a mess of the weather on parts of the country even as it was downgraded to a tropical depression, MythBusters aired its "Hurricane Windows" show, in which hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman investigate whether you can lessen the damage caused by a storm by leaving windows open on a trailer or a home.

In typical MythBusters fashion, Savage and Hyneman pulled out all the stops to determine the veracity of the myth, even using the University of Florida's wind machine to create hurricane-force winds. No spoiler alert here: Watch the different parts of the episode on the show's site to see what happens. (The screen shot shows the duo observing a trailer getting battered by Category 2 winds.)

The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, which wraps up at the end of November, has seen lower-than-normal activity, as noted in our August storm-season update and as reported on Weather.com: "2009 will go into the record books as a very uneventful hurricane season, except for late season Ida." To be prepared for a weather-related event no matter when it happens, use the advice on our Storm & Emergency Guide.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: We haven't tested roofing shingles or siding for their ability to withstand hurricanes or tornadoes, but our reviews of these building materials can help you find products that will look good and last. Watch our video on how we test shingles.

By the Numbers: Energy Star homes reach major milestone

1 million

Number of Energy Star-qualified homes built nationwide since the program debuted in 1995. These homes have saved Americans $1.2 billion in energy costs, reduced greenhouse-gas emissions by 22 billion pounds, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The top 10 markets for Energy Star homes are Houston, Dallas, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York City, Tucson, San Antonio, Sacramento, and San Diego.

To qualify for Energy Star, says the EPA, a new home must be at least 15 percent more efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code and include other features that make them 20 to 30 percent more efficient than standard home, such as effective insulation, high-performance windows, and efficient heating and cooling equipment, appliances, lighting, and ventilation. (The image below, from Energy Star, shows typical locations of air leaks in a home. Check out our recent Weekend Project on weatherizing your attic.)

"This is an amazing achievement for the Energy Star program, but the real winners are the 1 million American families who have the chance to save money and keep harmful pollution out of the air. That's great news for anyone who wants to cut costs and protect our planet," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson in a press release. "We're going to keep the number of Energy Star homes growing, because every new Energy Star home is a step towards lower costs, cleaner air, and communities that are environmentally and economically sustainable."

To boost the energy efficiency of your home and save some real money, start with these simple, inexpensive steps and follow our overall advice for using less energy at home.—Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you haven't done so already, get your heating system tuned up and install a programmable thermostat. Also refer to our buyer's guides to furnaces (more details here), water heaters, pellet stoves, and solar water heaters, and find the best compact fluorescent lightbulbs. Remember, some projects might qualify for federal tax credits. If you want energy-efficient appliances, stay up on the news related to the $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, also known as cash for clunkers for appliances.

 

Q&A: Why are some of the Kilz exterior paints you tested no longer in stores?

I referred to your magazine and ConsumerReports.org when shopping for exterior paint, but at my local Walmart I can't find the Kilz Exterior Semigloss paint from your June 2009 ratings. What happened to it, and do you recommend the Kilz Casual Colors I saw at Walmart?

Manufacturers frequently change the formulation of their paints and stains for a number of reasons, including to improve performance, lower production costs, or meet updated environmental standards, as we covered in our March 2009 report on interior paints.

The Kilz Exterior Semigloss paint we tested is no longer available at Walmart, exclusive retailer of the brand, because Kilz recently discontinued the satin and semigloss versions of its interior and exterior products. The company has replaced those paints with the multipurpose interior/exterior Kilz Casual Colors paints you saw in the store. For more information, read our June 2009 report on exterior paints and stains and see our ratings of exterior paints and stains (available to subscribers).

Although Kilz products have generally performed well in our past tests, we can't predict the performance of these new finishes. We plan to test the interior- and exterior-use versions of the new Kilz Casual Colors this year. Given our test cycle, we won't have initial results on the performance of the exterior paint until 2011 but should have initial results for interior paint by March 2010.

Among alternatives to the Kilz semigloss paint to consider for exterior application are the Kelly-Moore Acry-Shield Semigloss ($37 per gallon), available in the Southwest, and the Valspar Ultra Premium Semigloss ($26), sold at Lowe's nationwide. And while testing is not complete, the Behr Premium Plus Semigloss ($26), sold at Home Depot, and the Ace Royal Shield Semigloss ($25) look very promising after the equivalent of six years of use.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Visit our paints page for details on specialty paints, tools you'll need for your project, and tips on avoiding common painting mistakes.

Detroit house to be turned into giant ice cube

You might have heard about or even had to deal with ice dams, those frozen build-ups around the eaves of a home that can damage roofing and siding during winter (see illustration). In Detroit, two artists are taking the concept of the ice dam to the extreme, and perhaps that's appropriate in a city known as Hockeytown, USA.

Architectural photographer Gregory Holm and architect Matthew Radune plan to encase one of Detroit's thousands of abandoned homes in ice this winter, according to this Associated Press report. Through their Ice House Detroit project, Radune and Holm want to draw attention to the staggering number of foreclosures in the city.

(Michigan saw the eighth most foreclosure activity in the third quarter of 2009, says RealtyTrac. And according to the latest Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller Home Price Index, the August 2009 price index in Detroit is at 71.59,which is the lowest of the 20 cities tracked and 22.6 percent lower than it was a year earlier.)

Holm and Radune plan to spray the house with water until it is gradually covered with ice. Come spring, after the ice has melted, the house will be demolished after crews salvage building materials.

Is this a cool concept or a cold-hearted gesture exploiting a recession-ravaged city? Leave a comment below.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Learn more about ice dams and how to prevent and deal with them. And check out our reports on roofing and siding.

Illustration courtesy of National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office.

Inside Consumer Reports Test Labs: Putting exterior siding through its paces

In years past, many homeowners decided against using vinyl siding for aesthetic reasons. One of the common knocks against this material had to do with the wavy, so-called oil-canning look that resulted from nails that were pounded in too tightly.

But with the waviness problem more or less eliminated—installers learned from their peers' mistakes, and many siding products are now more rigid—and thanks in part to its relatively low price and resistance to water and insects, vinyl now dominates the exterior-siding market.

Whether you use vinyl, plastic, or any other material, like those covered in our June 2009 report on siding and roofing, attractive siding can help boost the curb appeal of your home, important if you're selling your home.

"You have only one chance to make that first good impression," says Judy Moore, a regional vice president for the National Association of Realtors. "Exterior siding, roofing, the front door—all these things are crucial. The outside is a signal as to what the buyer can expect inside."

As you'll see in the video above, we tested both traditional vinyl siding and plastic shingles/shakes, which offer even more of a woodlike look with as little maintenance as vinyl. We also tested fiber-cement products, which cost about the same as vinyl and most resemble wood, even down to the need for periodical refinishing.

Our testers accelerated weathering tests to assess resistance to typical weathering cycles siding would encounter at your home, including heat, sunlight, and rain. They also measured how well the siding products withstood impacts in cold and warm temperatures. While the siding that scored the highest tended to be the thickest and priciest, we found exceptions. Our top picks in vinyl also included the Heartland Siding's HeartTech, which sells for a relatively low $75 per 100 square feet.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Siding and roofing are among the five home repairs you shouldn't ignore. Read our full report on these building products and check out the ratings of siding and roofing (available to subscribers) to find the best materials for your home.

Fall weather brings fallen trees

The high winds whipping across parts of the Midwest and Northeast in recent days caused major damage to trees in some areas, including a few at my Connecticut home.

Shortly after lunch yesterday, a loud crack and crash signaled that an irresistible force had bested a hitherto immovable object. It turns out a 35-foot white oak had toppled onto my stone fence (shown), which so far this year has been struck by lightning and undermined by moles. Using a neighbor's bow saw and my chain saw, I was able to cut the tree into movable sections and get it off the road.

While fall is a better time to plant rather than prune trees, the high winds also pointed out the need to trim any diseased or overhanging tree branches. The fallen oak missed my power lines, so I didn't have to use a backup generator to provide electricity to my home.

I'm checking my homeowners insurance policy to make sure my coverage is adequate, important given that some companies are limiting coverage and raising premiums.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Learn how to safely use a chain saw (video) and ladder. Our Fall Cleanup Guide has more advice on projects to do around the home, and our Storm & Emergency Guide will help you prepare for weather-related events at any time of year. Ratings of chain saws and backup generators are available to subscribers.

By the Numbers: After price drop for natural gas, LIPA doles out credits to customers

$144 million

Amount the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) plans to refund customers, citing lower-than-projected prices of natural gas, which the utility uses to generate electricity, according to Newsday. The refunds will come in the form of credit on October and November 2009 bills. LIPA's residential customers will receive an average of $70; customers who heat their home entirely with electricity could receive up to a $100 credit. If natural-gas prices hold steady or decline, refunds could continue into next year, according Kevin Law, LIPA's chief executive.

LIPA customers might not want to hold their breath for further credits. "Amid some indications of improvement in the economy," reports the federal government's Energy Information Administration, so far this month, natural-gas prices have shot up 44 percent after falling to their lowest levels since 2002 over the summer. Markets in the Rockies and California have seen the biggest price increases, but substantial jumps are being reported for the Northeast, too.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Before the start of heating season, get your heating system tuned up. And to save money on your utility bills, install a programmable thermostat, read our buyer's guides to furnaces (more details here), solar water heaters, and pellet stoves, and follow our overall experts tips for cutting your energy costs.

Sometimes DIY can mean “Do In Yourself”

A few years back, the contractor I hired to refinish my deck proved inept. After his crew cleaned the deck, we had to chase them away twice when they showed up to apply stain to still-wet deck boards. And the stain they applied was clear stuff that didn’t last past a year before it was no longer protective.

With that memory in mind and despite a bad shoulder (still hurting from some bush trimming I’d done in early June) and a sore body (aching from the recent digging and gravel laying I’d done on the site for my new shed), I just refinished my deck myself.

Cleaning the deck with a powerful rented pressure washer went off without a hitch—mostly. The three times that I didn’t tighten the tip of the wand, the tip went sailing off when I pulled the trigger to spray. (One might never find its way out of the pachysandra.) And when I rested a hand in the wrong place while restarting the engine, I got a curiously shaped blister. And even with help from my teenage son, Andrew, I tweaked my back when lifting the 70-pound washer into and out of our little Toyota.

Still, I fared better overall than my sneakers (shown), and a couple of days later I feel pretty good. What’s more, I used the pressure washer to clean a retaining wall, the front steps, a trellis, and parts of the driveway. And unlike some of my Consumer Reports colleagues and respondents to an Angie’s List survey of DIYers who mess up projects and sometimes land in the emergency room, I did the job well—and at reasonable cost—without a trip to the ER.

As for my new shed, it was supposed to be delivered and installed yesterday, but the job got rescheduled for this weekend since the lead man on the crew—a professional, mind you—hurt himself.

My shoulder thanks me for not taking on that job, too.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you’re cleaning your deck or other surfaces with a pressure washer, follow our safety advice, and when you’re shopping for a pressure washer, read our buying tips. And before you buy a new finish for your deck, check out our latest report on deck stains (available to subscribers).