Mildew, Algae & Cleaning
Mildew and algae are airborne living organisms which can blemish the appearance of almost any building material . . . and especially paint.Mildew and algae growth is sporadic and inconsistent. Out of ten homes prepared and painted the same way with the same paints, nine may look beautiful for many years while one may develop mildew or algae contamination, or both. To give you the best chance of avoiding mildew and algae contamination, we want you to understand what it is and what preparation is needed to resist its growth.What's the difference between mildew and algae?Mildew is a fungus, whereas algae is a plant. Mildew is identifiable as a blackish gray stain that appears like dirt, but doesn't come off with detergent. Algae is typically green, black or orange, which also does not remove with detergent.
How do they grow?Mildew and algae arrive as airborne particles landing on solid surfaces. Both mildew and algae need three things to grow: warmth, moisture and nutrients (food). Although Florida is known for its warm and humid climate, almost every state has a period of warmth and high humidity. Nutrients come in many forms. Paint often contains oil modifiers or other additives that provide food sources to the spores. Even new lumber from the mill may have become wet while stored and can be an excellent source of mildew nutrients as the cellulose that makes up the wood fiber is very digestible to the spores.
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