Black Spots On Siding

Removing spots from vinyl siding.

Black spots on siding.

It s on the porch my windows but it is worse on the siding. The black tar like spots that are all over your vinyl siding are more than likely a fungus called sphaerobolus stellatus better known as artillery or shotgun fungus although it s most often found on the east coast it can grow anywhere and especially thrives in areas that have cool damp springs or rainy fall weather conditions. Click to enlarge any image small gray or darker round spots on siding that are about 1 16 in individual diameter particularly if the spots are slightly raised may be artillery fungus a mold spore. Vinyl siding is very popular due to its durability and simple maintenance.

The only way i have found to remove them thus far is by scraping the windows with a razor blade. We have thousands of tiny black spots pin head size all over the siding of our house. It s hard to see shotgun fungus itself because it s only 2 millimeters wide. The spots are about the size of the head of a pin and appear to be black or dark brown in color.

What is artillery fungus. It goes all the way up to my second story windows and is even under my soffit and on my gutters. Insect stains and other debris can be removed by simply cleaning vinyl siding with household cleaners. It is sphaerobolus a common fungus that sticks firmly to light or white colored surfaces and resembles spots of tar.

Dirt and insect secretion stains however can adhere to vinyl siding attracting molds mildews and algae. Some tell us it s from spiders. If you notice lots of tiny black or dark brown spots developing on your siding above a landscaped area of your yard as seen below it is most likely artillery otherwise known as shotgun fungus. Algae may also look black or brown as may some molds.

Those annoying black spots that creep up your siding or splash along the side of your car may not be mud spatters but artillery fungus. Also known as artillery or cannonball fungus sphaerobolus it uses internal water pressure to forcefully fire its spores similar to seeds up to 20 feet away the fungus sets its sights on bright areas so that means it will aim for any pale surface that reflects light such as the siding on your house. I am getting small dark spots on windows and the white siding of my house. We have these small black spots that look like specks of tar all over our white vinyl siding of our house.

Others have said it s a fungus from mulch. I have tried to remove these spots with mineral spirits without success.