green stuff growing on the roof

[atg]

Algal bastards are living on my roof. Particularly bad round the rear window's stiching. Anyone got any suggestions on how to kill it, remove it and KILL IT AAAGGGHHH DIE GREEN SCUM ... etc ...

[craigalsop]

1/ Put the car inside a garage.
2/ Clean mohair with toothbrush/soft nailbrush and plenty of water
3/ Allow to dry
4/ Using low tack masking tape, mask off rear window, paintwork around hood etc.
5/ Treat roof with Thompson's WaterSeal (yes, the stuff for bricks from B&Q)
6/ Remove masking tape & clean any overspill before WaterSeal dries
7/ Allow to dry
8/ Repeat 4-7 to get things really waterproof
9/ Marvel at how good the hood looks - no sign that there was any mould there at all!

cheers,
Craig

[Simpo One]

Maybe add a fungicide in there as well? I had a damp kitchen wall once which was prone to growing mould, and some ready-to-use fungicide in a sprayer thingy did the job very well.

[atg]

the chemical warfare root was the one I was thinking of taking ... just didn't want to fade the colour, melt the plastic, rot the fabric ... of course if I'd be damaging the environment too, then I could live with destroying the hood in the process

[craigalsop]

If you can repel the water from the hood, then you have a better chance of keeping the algae away, hence my waterproofing recommendation. This also has the added benefit of improving the look of the hood....

[simpo one]

Yep, but you'll never remove every algal cell with a toothbrush. Give them light and moisture, plus a bit of mohair for breakfast and they'll breed again. Perhaps the waterseal alone will stop them getting any water. Dunno - might work - or keep it at bay for a decent time.

[atg]

scrubbed thoroughly, rinsed thoroughly, dose of anti-fungal juice then the Thompsons. Very waterproof at the moment, but will be interesing to see if the anti-fungal goop reduces the life of the Thompsons.