Shingle Insert Strips And Method For Eliminating and Prevent Growth of Algae, Moss, or Lichens on a Roof

Abstract

A shingle insert strip and method for eliminating and preventing growths on a shingled roof in which porous copper strips are installed with upper edges beneath the bottom edges course of shingles with the remaining portions exposed. A confined space is defined beneath a lengthwise hump in the exposed portions which is filled with a material, preferably in granular form which releases a substance toxic to the growths when rainwater runoff passes into the confined space and material and thereafter flows out.

1 . A shingle insert strip for reducing the growths of algae, moss, lichens, or fungus on roofs comprising:
 an elongated generally planar strip of copper having a lengthwise hump formed therein defining an underspace, said underspace filled with a material which kills releases a substance into rain runoff which is toxic to such growths;   said copper strip having openings allowing penetration of rainwater runoff from above into said underspace and to thereafter flow out onto a roof surface below said strip;   said copper strip having one upper edge adapted to be inserted beneath shingle courses above said strip to position remaining portions thereof exposed to receive rainwater runoff.   
     
     
         2 . The shingle insert strip according to  claim 1  wherein said copper strip is comprised of one or more layers of copper mesh. 
     
     
         3 . The shingle insert strip according to  claim 1  wherein said copper strip is a slotted sheet. 
     
     
         4 . The shingle insert according to  claim 1  wherein copper cover strip is attached to an undersurface of said first mentioned copper cover strip to cover said underspace and confine said material therein. 
     
     
         5 . The shingle insert according to  claim 4  wherein said cover strip is comprised of copper mesh. 
     
     
         6 . The shingle insert according to  claim 1  wherein said material is in granular form. 
     
     
         7 . The shingle insert according to  claim 6  wherein said material is a copper complex. 
     
     
         8 . The shingle insert according to  claim 1  wherein said copper strip has a scalloped lower edge exposed when installed on a shingled roof. 
     
     
         9 . The shingle insert according to  claim 2  wherein said copper strip is formed with a double layer of copper mesh. 
     
     
         10 . A method of eliminating growths on shingled roofs comprising:
 installing a series of copper strips each having an upper edge disposed beneath the lower edge of shingles in a course of shingles so as to leave exposed a lengthwise porous hump formed in said copper strips;   loading a material into a space defined beneath said hump which releases a substance toxic to said growths when rainwater runoff flow passes into and out of said humps after passing over or through said material; and   covering said space from below to confine said material in said space.