Removing Moss And Other Growth
If you decide to take a DIY approach to clean moss off your roof, you need to take all proper safety precautions. Use a rubber footed safety ladder, and make sure you have someone to spot you. Always wear a helmet, and never walk on the roof of your house. Roofers use a safety harness and rubber-soled boots for traction. They may also install toe boards and roof brackets if necessary. If you cant address the problem from a ladder, you risk a severe injury that will cost a lot more than hiring a professional.
If you can reach the growth from a ladder, you can try following these steps, but be warythere are several ways you can cause damage to your roof in the process.
Is It Bad To Have Moss Growing On Your Roof
Yes, having moss growing on your roof is bad. Moss typically grows well in dark, wet, and cool climates. However, moss is dangerous for your roof, whether you have tiles, composite shingles, or cedar shakes. This is because moss is wet and will give your roof constant moisture, resulting in high amounts of rot.
Also, as moss continues to grow on your roof, it can push under tiles, shingles, and shakes, thereby pushing them to create damage on your roof. Moss also causes leaks on your roof and brings pests. When moss grows on your roof, it digs holes and has thin spots, eventually leaking. Additionally, bugs and rodents are usually attracted to moss.
Moss also has a lot of weight, which will be subjected to your roof. A large mat of moss is surprisingly heavy, spongy, and holds a lot of water. This weight will be added to your roof and cause it to deteriorate over time. Therefore, youll be living in a house with a roof thats likely to fall at any time.
S You Shouldnt Use To Remove Moss From A Roof
Unfortunately, there is a lot of bad advice out there about how to remove moss. While these methods may be effective at removing moss, they may also damage shingles in the process. We dont recommend you try to remove your moss by:
- Scrubbing: You may be tempted to scrub the moss off the shingles because moss grips shingles quite strongly. However, scrubbing is likely to damage the asphalt shingles and remove their granules.
- Pressure washing: Pressure washers can be very strong and certainly strong enough to break a shingles adhesive and lift it up. They also can strip asphalt shingles of their granule surface, which can ruin their performance and destroy their color. Any amount of pressure washing can cause serious problems with the roof, including major leaks. Never use a pressure washer or a pressurized stream of water on your roof.
- Using harsh chemicals: High concentrations of bleach and other chemicals may do permanent damage to the shingles, increasing your risk for leaks.
Using any of these methods may also void your limited warranty on the roof. If youre in doubt about the safety or effectiveness of a moss removal method you want to try, consult with a professional roofer. A handful of roofers in areas where moss infections are common do specialize in removing moss. They may be able to do the work for you and, if not, may have recommendations about what your specific roof can benefit from.
Read Also: How To Make A Flat Roof
What If The Moss Appears Dead
If the weather has been consistently dry, moss may appear to be dead. However, some species of moss can stay alive when dried out for months. All it will take is one rain for it to recover and continue growing. If your moss has dried out, take the opportunity to have a roofer remove the moss from the roof.
The Benefits Of Removing Moss
While you may not necessarily have to remove the moss-covered shingles before a new roof installation, you should consider it. There are many benefits of removing the moss-covered shingles, including:
- Reduce long-term costs: By removing the old roof, you keep the opportunity to double-up roof layers during your next roof replacement. The maximum layers of shingles allowed to be on the roof, according to most building codes, are two. So, once you use this strategy, you must tear off both roof surfaces during your next roof replacement.
- Maintain home value: Are you planning on selling your home soon? A properly replaced roof is more likely to appeal to potential buyers, while a poorly replaced roof may negatively affect your home value.
- Avoid the risk of damage: You can avoid all of the risks listed earlier in this article by simply removing all of the moss-covered shingles.
Recommended Reading: How To Roof Over Shingles
How To Naturally Get Rid Of Moss On Roof Without Chemicals
Removing roof moss naturally without use harsh chemicals means you cause no harm to our beloved environment and all living things in the ecosystem. You cannot kill all the plants and animals in the environment just to eliminate moss.
Moss can be removed on the roof naturally in several ways which include the old fashioned manual way, cleaning with vinegar, changing the PH level around the moss, soft washing, blow and hand cleaning, power wash and using bleach, soap and water.
Why Does My Roof Look Dirty
If you live in a humid area of the country, youve probably seen unsightly dark streaks on asphalt shingle roofs. Though often attributed to an accumulation of dirt, defective shingles, mold, or mildew, the most common culprit is actually a blue-green algae known as Gloeocapsa Magma that is spread by airborne spores.
You May Like: Can You Replace A Roof Yourself
What Is The Best Moss Killer For Roofs
Going green is trendy, except when it’s covering your roof. Moss can overgrow in areas that are shaded and north facing. Spreading moss quickly fills voids between shingles and tiles and can lift up roof materials. This allows rainwater and other moisture to damage the integrity of the roof.
The pros at Wilderland weigh in on popular moss killers and what to watch for to protect your wallet and your roof.
How To Remove Moss From Roof Tiles
Does your roof look far too green for your liking? Use the following methods, tools, and materials to eradicate moss from your roof.
The only greenery you should be able to see near your rooftop is the leaves growing off branches from surrounding trees. If you have moss growing on your roof, then its time to do something about it.
If you have moss growing on your roof, theres a high chance you have a north facing roof. A north facing roof usually has little sunlight, which enables moss to buildup on the roof. Moss can grow quite quickly, and it will grow in between roof tiles, filling in the voids and lifting up roof tiles and slates.
Moss growing under roof slate and tiles can push the slate out of position allowing rainwater to seep into the roof structure. When rain finds its way into the roofing structure thats when decay and rot sets in.
If you want to clean moss off a roof yourself, you will have to plan how you are going to kill the moss and remove it effectively. You will need to treat the roof to stop the moss from growing back.
Its recommended anyone cleaning moss off a roof should do it on a cloudy day. When applying roof cleaning products onto a roof on a hot sunny day, it will quickly evaporate, and you wont get the desired result.
Most roof cleaning products require at least 20 minutes for it to absorb into the moss. However, there is more than one way to remove moss from your roof tiles.
Roof Moss Treatments
How to Clean Moss from the Roof
Also Check: How To Estimate Roof Size
How To Prevent Moss On Roof
Happily, there are preventive measures you can use to keep your roof moss-free. First, let the sunshine in! Trim branches overhanging your roof, keep gutters free of debris, and regularly remove moisture collectors, such as leaves, branches, and seedpods, that pile up on the roof and encourage moss to grow. The best long-term solution? Attach strips of zinc or zinc-coated metal flashing strips just below a roof’s peak or ridge caps. When it rains, water flows over the metal strips leaching out moss-retardant zinc particles, which attach to roof shingles and/or tiles to stop new moss from forming.
Working safe, smart, and strategically guarantees your moss-removal operations will run smoothly. These prevention measures mean you’ll be able to stay off the ladder and roof for seasons, if not years, to come.
Hose Off And Scrub The Area
Spray washing the moss off your roof is the easiest method to get rid of it. You can prepare a mixture thats composed of 50 percent water and 50 percent bleach. Make sure to spray in a downward direction.
Leave the solution on your roofing shingles for up to 20 minutes. This allows enough time to kill moss. As long as youve covered nearby plants, you wouldnt need to worry about killing them as well.
Using a long-handled brush with soft bristles, youll be able to manually remove the moss. Again, do this using a downward motion to prevent damaging the shingles.
Never forget the last step which is to wash off your roof with plain water. Some homeowners who use commercial roof cleaning products choose to leave them on.
You May Like: How Much Is It To Replace Roof Shingles
Wet & Forget No Scrub Outdoor Cleaner For Easy Removal Of Mold Mildew And Algae Stains Bleach
The ready-to-use Wet and Forget No Scrub Outdoor cleaner is the simplest way to banish tough moss, molds, mildews, and algae stains on your small outdoor surfaces. You can use the Wet and Forget Ready to Use on any small outdoor surface like landscapes, foyer steps, fountains, boat seats, basically any small outdoor job.
Rain and wind aid with the functionality of The Ready To Use Wet and Forget No Scrub Outdoor cleaner by breaking down the growth of moss and washing it away, which may take a few days to a few months. Spray the sullied surface and leave it. You do not need to scour or rinse after use.
The composition of this formula is gentle and does not contain bleach or acidic chemicals, making it friendly on surfaces. It does not cause any damage to the surfaces being cleaned. Whenever you are looking for a product to clean the outdoors, this is the perfect plug.
Pros
It is biodegradable, doesnt contain any bleach or acid chemicals, making it gentle on surfaces.
It has an unlimited shelf life, so you can store it without worrying about it becoming unfit for use.
It is used to clean moss, molds, mildews, and algae stains off surfaces without damage.
The usage formula is convenient and is less tasking, and has a sprayer attached to it to make work easy for you.
It is easily used spray and leave it on the surface you do not need to scour or wash it off.
Cons
It does not cover a larger surface area it only covers about 60 to 180 square feet.
How To Get Moss Off Your Roof
roofmossroof
Also Check: Can You Put Metal Roofing On A Flat Roof
How Do You Make Homemade Moss Killer
There are various recipes online which claim to kill moss. These usually include washing up liquid, bicarbonate of soda or vinegar. Some Mumsnetters swear by these natural remedies, which are often kinder to the environment and wildlife than chemical alternatives. However the effectiveness of these natural alternatives varies, so if you want something thats guaranteed to kill moss fast, then you may wish to consider one of the products on this list instead.
Best Roof Moss Killer Reviews Complete Buyers Guide
When you invest in a home, you will always want to enjoy every aspect of it properly. Unfortunately, several factors can rob you of this convenience, for example, environmental factors or pest infestation. Roofs that face minimal sunlight are susceptible to moss. They tend to grow in cool, damp, and shady areas.
Moss is a crucial component in any environment. Prolific and flourishing moss growing on a roof can look very quaint and scenic. However, despite its beautiful scenic look, it is a weed and contributes nothing to the roof. If you dont control its growth, it will get out of hand, and that is why you need the best roof moss killers.
Moss growing on your roof can cause huge destruction on the roof it will lift the roof, cause leaks, and likely cause decay on the roof, and if it gets to this level, you must replace the roof.
Complete removal of moss from your roof requires the use of chemical solutions. There are several roof moss killer products in the market, and we look into the best you can decide to choose when you need to purchase.
Recommended Reading: How Long Does Roof Coating Last
Different Types Of Moss Killers
There are many different moss killer products available all differing in their suitability for use and depending on the type of surface and materials that you find moss clinging to and growing on. Its essential that you find a product that is going to suit the surface or material you want to clear to avoid any potential damage. Heres a rundown of the most obvious places youll find moss growing around your property.
How Laundry Detergent Destroys Your Roof
The shingles on your roof are made of a fiberglass mat. On both sides are asphalt, tar, and oil that protect the fiberglass from the outside elements: wind, sun, water, etc. The life of your roof depends upon maintaining that asphalt, tar and oil. These are the very things that moss breaks down and destroys, which is obviously why you want to remove moss in the first place.
What is detergent? Its a degreaser. Guess what a degreaser does to your shingles? Thats right. It breaks down and strips away the asphalt, tar and oil protecting the fiberglass mat.
Using laundry detergent to kill the moss on your roof only made your problem worse. Instead of eliminating the central problem , detergent actually causes even greater erosion. Dumping detergent on your roof can effectively shorten the lifespan of your roof by half.
Don’t Miss: How Much To Redo A Roof
Roof Moss: A Major Problem
Roof moss can make your roof look more like a science experiment than an essential part of your home. It can also make your roof unable to do its most important job: keeping the elements out and your home warm and dry.
Roof moss tends to take root around the edges of shingles . From there it can creep underneath the shingles and actually push them up and away from the roofs membrane.
This lets in the cold air and rain, driving up your heating bill and leading to water damage in your ceilings, walls and beyond. Mosss root-like structures can also penetrate the shingles surface and cause pitting and loss of shingle granules.
How Do I Get Rid Of Moss And Lichen On My Roof
Oxygen Bleach
You May Like: How Long Should An Asphalt Roof Last
Moss Removal Products And Diy Solutions
Some readymade cleaners, like Wet and Forget Liquid Mold Remover , can be mixed and applied per manufacturer’s instructions and left to kill the moss with no rinsing required. Others, like Bayer’s Advanced Moss and Algae , are available in ready-to-go sprays that hook up to your hose. Be sure to follow the mixing and application recommendations to ensure your safety and protect roof tiles, shingles, and plantings from damage.
You can also make your own moss remover for your roof. These are generally less toxic than their chemical counterparts. Chlorine bleach removes mosses, fungi, and mildew, but it may damage plants, so dilute it before spraying on your roof. A good formula? Mix 1 quart bleach with 1 gallon water and 1/4 cup heavy-duty cleaner like trisodium phosphate . Don’t use ammonia-based cleaners because they create toxic fumes when mixed with bleach.
Or, make a plant-friendlier solution of 1 cup oxygen bleach and 1 gallon of water. Home improvement expert Bob Vila says you can also mix 8 ounces of Dawn dish liquid or 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 cups of white distilled vinegar with 2 gallons of water. Pour solutions into a pump garden-style sprayer choose a backpack-type sprayer , which will be safer to use if you’re climbing and standing on a ladder.
Once you’ve decided on your moss-removing solution, it’s time to get started. Follow these step-by-step instructions to rid your roof of moss and any other debris that’s accumulated atop your house!
Why Is There Growth On My Roof
Moss and other plant or fungus growth is a very common problem for roofs, even in parts of the country that dont see much rain. Moist, shady places are the ideal spot for moss, lichen, and algae to grow. Typically, this will be a North facing part of your roof that doesnt get much sun. Spores can be spread by wind, birds, and bugs, and when conditions are ripe they will bloom.
Newer asphalt, fiberglass, or slate shingles may have a moss resistant chemical coating on them, but older shingle roofs are commonly invaded by moss or other growth. Even if you know how to clean your shingles regularly, moss can be found hidden in the crevices between them.
When moss is growing on a metal roof, theres a good chance the protective coating on your metal shingles has worn off. Because moss usually grows in areas untouched by the sun, it can retain water and stay damp, which can lead to rust or corrosion.
When youre removing large patches of moss from a metal roof, the best bet is to repaint your roof. A professional roofer has the experience to remove moss and repaint your roof safely, and they are much better at spotting signs of wood rot or leaks under your roof. It can take practice to learn how to find a roof leak and its best to consult a professional before attempting any patchwork on your own.
See our guide on how much is a metal roof.
So how do you get rid of it?
Don’t Miss: How Much Does One Bundle Of Roofing Shingles Cover
