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).

EPA proposes tougher lead-paint rules

In conjunction with last week's National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed changes to the 2008 Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program.

Contractors renovating, repairing, or painting homes built before 1978 would be required to be trained and certified in and follow lead-safe practices, including minimizing dust, containing the work area, and conducting a thorough cleanup to reduce the potential exposure associated with disturbing lead-based paint. So contractors would no longer be able to opt out of these practices if a homeowner certifies that there are no children under the age of six or pregnant women living in the home.

"This proposed rule will further increase protections for children and their families from lead-based-paint hazards associated with home renovation and repair," said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, in a press release. "The administration is demonstrating its continued commitment to eliminating childhood lead poisoning and strengthening lead poisoning-prevention efforts."

While lead-based paints in homes were banned in 1978, many homes built before then probably have some lead paint. The new rule is intended to help protect older children and adults from exposure to lead, which can cause brain damage and diminished mental and physical development. It should also ensure that families with young children who purchase a recently renovated home aren't exposed to lead-dust hazards.

Another proposed change would require contractors to provide information demonstrating that they complied with lead-safe training and work practices to homeowners when a final invoice is delivered or within 30 days of completion of the renovation, whichever is earlier.

In a related action, the EPA has also proposed lowering lead-hazard standards in lead dust and modifying its definition of lead-based paint. The new standard would be 10 micrograms or less of lead per square foot for floors and 100 micrograms or less for windowsills, down from 40 micrograms 250 micrograms, respectively. Also, paint in existing structures with levels of 600 parts per million (0.06 percent by weight) would be considered lead-based paint. The current level is 5,000 ppm (0.5 percent) or 1 milligram per square centimeter.—Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're concerned about the presence of lead in your home, read our report on home-use lead test kits. If you discover elevated levels of lead, hire a certified lead inspector or risk assessor. If you're planning to paint or renovate your home yourself, follow the EPA's safe-work guidelines. When you're finally ready to paint, be sure to use the best finishes, like those covered in our latest report on interior paints.

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.

Q&A: How frequently do I need to reseal my granite kitchen countertops?

My contractor told me I should reseal my granite countertops periodically to protect them from stains. How do I know when it's time to reseal them?

Granite, limestone, and marble countertops are all different, so check with the fabricator to see what the recommended time period for resealing is. But if your kitchen countertops get a lot of use, the general rule of thumb is to reseal them every six months, according to Andy Graves, of the Fabricator Network trade group. Graves suggests you do a water-absorption test to get an idea of how fast water is penetrating the stone and whether the counters need resealing.

To test, put a few drops of water on the stone in high-use areas, such as around the sink and range or cooktop, and let the water stand for 15 minutes. The water should bead up. If it doesn't, it's time to get the granite resealed.

You can also use this test on butcher block and other wood countertops that have an oil finish. You do not need to reseal a wood counter with a polyurethane finish, however when this finish is worn or damaged, repair or refinish it.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential reading: Read our latest report on countertops and check out the ratings (available to subscribers) to find the best material for your home. If you're remodeling our kitchen, use our updated Kitchen-Planning Guide.

Buzzword: Bamboo-zle

What it means. Bamboozle means to deceive, dupe, or hoodwink. But this green-era alt spelling of the term—bamboo-zle—adds a new meaning, specifically covering dubious claims made by manufacturers of bamboo clothing and textiles. Bamboo-zle is akin to greenwashing, another of our Buzzwords.

Why the buzz? The Federal Trade Commission this week charged four clothing and textile manufacturers with making false product claims about bamboo-based products. In its August 11 press release, the FTC said the "bamboo-based textiles, actually made of rayon, are not antimicrobial, made in an environmentally friendly manner, or biodegradable." Sami Designs, LLC, Jonaeno, CSE, Inc.(d.b.a. Mad Mod), and Pure Bamboo, LLC have settled the FTC's complaints, but litigation continues against The M Group, Inc. (d.b.a. Bamboosa).

"When companies sell products woven from man-made fibers, such as rayon, it is important that they accurately label and advertise those products—both with respect to the fibers they use and to the qualities those fibers possess," said David Vladeck, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, in the release.

While rayon, an artificial fiber, can be created from the cellulose found in plants and trees, including bamboo, it's processed using a harsh chemical that releases air pollutants. In our past tests of towels, cotton and bamboo blends were softer after washing than all-cotton towels, though they were also more expensive.

Another popular bamboo product, flooring, is a bit more environmentally friendly than wood, since bamboo, a fast-growing grass can be harvested in as little as four years. (That's a bamboo forest shown.) In our latest report on nearly 50 flooring products (full story and ratings available to subscribers), two bamboo products outperformed other wood alternatives.—Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're planning to remodel your kitchen with new flooring, cabinets, or appliances, check out our recently updated Kitchen-Planning Guide.

By the Numbers: Paint sales defy the downturn, says Home Improvement Research Institute

$12.5 billion

Amount of paint that Americans will be buy in 2010, according to a report
commissioned by the Home Improvement Research Institute and covered in
Home Channel News. The figure represents a 12.9 percent gain from 2008, when
sales of paints and preservatives totaled $11 billion. Sales in 2009 sales are pegged to rise by 2.9 percent, says HIRI. Based on these numbers, paint is showing signs of bucking the recession trend.

Retailers are reporting a shift from neutral off-white colors and earth tones that won't put off prospective home buyers to more active, vibrant colors for homeowners who want to personalize their living spaces. Perhaps that's why Pantone, the Carlstadt, New Jersey-based company that provides color standards for design industries, named Mimosa (swatch shown) its color of the year for 2009, succeeding Blue Iris and Chili Pepper.

Essential information: See our March 2009 report on interior paints.

Remodeling tips for first-time home buyers

A glut of unsold homes and plummeting prices are luring more first-time buyers into the market. According to a recent story in The Wall Street Journal, first-time home buyers made up more than 40 percent of all buyers at the end of 2008, up from 36 percent in 2006—when boomburgs and boomburbs were, well, booming.

If you're a recent first-time home buyer, you know what it's like to sign the roughly 439 closing-related documents, pay your lawyer and others who get a piece of the action (perhaps a buyer's broker, the title company, et al.), and put the key in the front door for the first time. The home is finally all yours.

And so is the Depression-era boiler, the 1960s paneling in the family room, or the mismatched array of disco-generation appliances. If you're planning major remodeling, renovating, or redecorating, use our Home Improvement Guide (shown). The free interactive is based on our unbiased, independent tests and includes information on dozens of products, including those mentioned below as well as mattresses, air conditioners, closet organizers, paints and stains, smoke and CO alarms, vacuum cleaners, and snow blowers.

• For a bathroom sink, consider an undermount model for its easy cleanup or a drop-in type for its lower cost and easier installation. You can also save in the bathroom by choosing a single-handle design for the faucet and vinyl tiles or planks for the floor. Learn more about bathroom remodeling.

• In our tests of kitchen flooring, plastic laminate has actually proved tougher than solid wood and engineered wood. Even bamboo did far better than before, though it's expensive.

• For your kitchen countertop, quartz—also called engineered stone and sold under such brand names as Caesarstone and Silestone—mimics natural stone better than ever, often costs less than granite and marble, and never needs resealing. You can also save by opting for today's better-looking laminate.

• When buying a range, look for a model with at least one large gas burner or higher-wattage electric element. And think twice before choosing a pro-style range. Many other ranges provide can comparable or better performance and greater overall reliability.

• When you need to replace your washing machine or dryer, focus on the washer, since performance of washing machines varies far more than it does among dryers.—Bob Markovich

Protect Your Investment: Stone Countertops

A quick scan of the real-estate listings will tell you the role stone countertops can play in marketing a home. “Beautiful luxury home with granite countertops,” read a recent listing in Maryland. “Updated kitchen with marble countertops,” related another from Seattle.

Part of the appeal of stone countertops is their permanence. But invincible they’re not, even with the protective sealer that many stone countertops receive before, during, or after installation. To maintain the appearance and value of your counters, follow this advice:

• Know your stone. Natural stone falls into two main categories, according to the Marble Institute of America. Siliceous stone is composed mainly of quartzlike particles, and includes materials like granite, slate, sandstone, and quartzite. Calcareous stone is composed mainly of calcium carbonate, and includes marble (shown), travertine, limestone, and onyx. These stones are more sensitive to acid than siliceous ones.

Being able to identify what material your stone countertop is made of will help you care for it properly. To determine the type, apply a drop of distilled white vinegar to a discrete corner of the counter. If it starts to fizzle, the stone is calcareous; if it doesn’t, the counter is siliceous. (If the counter has been polished or sealed, this test might prove inconclusive. )

• Avoid direct contact. Stone is very durable, but some materials, like limestone, are relatively soft and easy to slice, nick, and scratch, while others, like marble, get discolored more easily. That’s why it’s generally a good idea to use coasters under glasses, especially those containing alcohol or citrus juice; the acid from these liquids will etch or dull many stone surfaces. Also, avoid placing cookware you’ve just taken out off the oven or off the cooktop directly on your countertops; use trivets instead. And minimize scratching by putting dishes and flatware on place mats.

• Act quickly. Wipe up spills immediately with a wet towel or sponge, especially heavy-staining liquids like red wine. In our tests, stains that were allowed to dry overnight proved problematic for glossy and honed stones alike. If the mess is sticky or otherwise stubborn, use a dishwashing liquid and warm water. But avoid cleaning products that contain lemon, vinegar, or other acids, especially if your countertops are calcareous. Rinse the surface thoroughly after cleaning and dry with a soft cloth. Never use scouring powders or creams to clean spills—the abrasives can scratch the surface.

• Treat discolorations wisely. You can remove some surface discolorations with a mild detergent or an appropriate stone cleaner, available at hardware stores, home centers, and stone suppliers. You might need to treat deeper-set stains with a poultice, a pastelike material that you spread over a stain and leave there for over 24 hours. As the poultice dries, it wicks the stain up from the countertop.

• Reseal when appropriate. Even factory-applied sealers wear out eventually. If liquids are migrating into your stone surface, you might needs to reseal it. To test absorption, put a tablespoon of water right on the countertop; if the stone starts to darken after a couple of minutes, it is absorptive and would benefit from resealing.

Impregnator, or penetrating, sealers seep into the countertop, creating an invisible barrier beneath the surface. They are more common than topical sealers, which leave a visible film that might turn yellow under UV light. Penetrating sealers last for several years, whereas topical ones might need to be applied more frequently. Regardless of which sealer you use, make sure it’s approved for food-handling areas and if you’re applying it to kitchen countertops.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Before you decide on a new counter, read our guide to countertops and refer to the Ratings (available to subscribers), which evaluate materials by how well they resist stains, among other performance characteristics.

Photo courtesy of the Marble Institute of America

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: Trex Escapes Decking

In these days of green marketing—and, yes, greenwashing—here’s something you don’t hear from a lot of companies: “This product is made of 100 percent inorganic products.”

That’s how Scott Fedor, senior product manager for Trex, described the company’s latest line of decking, called Trex Escapes. This new decking is made entirely of virgin PVC—it contains no recycled material of any kind, unlike other Trex products. (Plastic and vinyl decking is made of PVC and polyethylene made from recycled milk jugs and detergent bottles. Composite decking is made of plastic resin and wood fiber.)

Escapes comes in 1x5½-inch boards and 1x12-inch sizes for fascia, riser, and trim uses and is available in  Acorn, Glacier (white), Pewter, and Sahara (sand) colors. It is designed to holds its color for an extended time.

Escapes is stain, scratch, and mold resistant and won’t rot, splinter, or warp, according to Trex. The photo here shows how Escapes compares against untreated natural wood when wine and barbecue sauce are poured on the surfaces. The wood absorbed the stains while the Trex decking wiped clean.

We haven’t tested Escapes yet so we can’t verify these results. But we have looked at other decking materials and deck stains.—Daniel DiClerico

International Builders'€™ Show Product Preview: Gem-Loc Premiere Edge

Laminate countertops have gotten better looking in recent years, thanks to the use of vibrant colors and patterns that mimic pricier materials. But their edge treatments have generally lacked innovation. The new Gem-Loc Premiere Edge, made by Loti Corporation, is a unique hybrid alternative to the standard-issue laminate edging with square or beveled edges.

The manufacturer claims Gem-Loc is the first edge material to combine a laminate face with solid-surface edging with rounded corners. The result is a near seamless molding designed to minimize the unattractive black line of square laminate edge treatments. By softening the transition, the edge treatment becomes a design element, rather than an eyesore, says the manufacturer. What’s more, says Loti, Gem-Loc can be color-matched to a countertop from just about any laminate maker.

Maybe most important, Gem-Loc is designed to be more durable and easier to install and than beveled laminate. That’s because the edging is applied slightly higher than the countertop and then filed flush, eliminating the precision required on beveled jobs.

This edge treatment retails for about $6 per square foot. Across an entire kitchen, Gem-Loc should run only $100 more than beveled edges, according to a company spokesperson.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Visit our kitchen-planning guide for expert advice on countertops and many others elements of kitchen remodeling.