Stains
What is that stain?
The color of the stain decides the treatment. Some come clean. Some only lighten and leave a shadow, and I'll say which before any work.
Match what you see
Match what you see to what it usually is. The color decides the treatment.
- Comes cleanBlack streaks running down the roofRoof algae. It feeds on the filler in the shingles and spreads every year.Comes clean with a low-pressure treatmentBlack streaks →
- Comes cleanGreen or black film on the shady wallMildew and algae. The side that never dries grows it first.Usually washes cleanMildew →
- May only lightenOrange-pink on the drive or the bottom of the wallGeorgia red clay. It is soil, not growth, so bleach does nothing to it.Lifts a long way; old clay can leave a shadowRed clay →
- May only lightenOrange dots and fans where the sprinkler hitsIron from well water, fertilizer or metal.Lifts from the surface; comes back if the source keeps feeding itRust stains →
- May only lightenA dark spot where the car parksOil, grease or another petroleum stain.Fresh drips move; old oil often ghostsOil stains →
- Not dirtWhite chalk on vinyl or gutters when you rub itOxidation. The finish itself is wearing out.Washing cleans it but won’t bring the color backOxidation →
- May only lightenTea-colored marks where leaves satTannin from leaves, acorns and mulch.Treated; open concrete may keep a shadowTannin →
- Comes cleanYellow film on everything in springPine pollen.Rinses off with a washPollen →
The ones I see most
- Red clayThe orange film on every Georgia driveway.
- Rust and well-water stainsOrange dots and fans from sprinklers, fertilizer and metal.
- Oil and greaseDrips in the parking spot and grease on the grill pad.
- Black streaks on the roofDark runs down the shingles. Algae, not dirt.
Other stains and marks
- Green algaeGreen film on north walls, walks, and roofs.
- Mildew on sidingSpeckled black and green on shaded walls.
- Gutter stripesTiger stripes on the fascia and the siding under a leak.
- OxidationWhite chalk on gutters, windows, and faded metal.
- PollenYellow dust caked on siding and outdoor furniture zones.
- Mud daubersMud tubes on eaves, porches, and signs.
- EfflorescenceWhite mineral crust on brick and block.
- Tannin stainsTea-colored stains where leaves and acorns sat.
- Tire marksDark arcs where a tire turned on concrete.
- Construction dustFine dust and mud from a build or a renovation.
- Paint oversprayFine paint mist on brick, concrete, and adjacent walls.
- Irrigation stainsRust and mineral where the sprinklers hit.
The stain guide: which stain needs which approach · How to tell red clay from mildew
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