How to Prevent and Clean Roof Moss

Clay roof tiles with moss
Have you been having trouble from a mossy roof? Don’t worry, there are preventative measures you can take to avoid a damaged roof! First, allow for lots of sun to hit your roof. Moss forms in moist and wet places, so eliminating shade is ideal. You can do this by trimming branches or cutting down big trees that cover your roof. Another way to prevent moss is to keep your roof free of collecting debris such as leaves, branches, or seedpods. If you are looking for a long term solution, we recommend using strips of zinc. Attach the zinc coated strips just below a roof’s peak or ridge caps. When it rains. the zinc strips will allow the water to flow over the metal strips and off the roof. This prevents new moss from forming. Taking these simple prevention measures will help to keep your roof healthy and good looking! If you are interested in trying some preventative measures yourself, we have some other tips below. How to Clean a Mossy Roof Once moss starts to grow it can spread extremely quickly. Moss can damage roofs by allowing water and moisture to get trapped in it. This leads your roof to decay and rot. We recommend that as soon as you see moss start to grow you take action. Here are a few things you can do: 1. You can remove moss physically by using a hose or scrub brush. 2. Try using a moss remover cleaner. Please be careful and read the ingredients because these products can be damaging to the environment! 3. Another option is to make your own roof-moss removers. These are typically less toxic than the chemicals bought at the store. DIY moss remover recipe: Mix 1 quart bleach with 1 gallon water and ¼ cup of heavy-duty cleaner like trisodium phosphate. Be careful to cover the plants around the roof so that you do not damage the plants. Before applying a moss-remover cleaner, use your scrub brush gently pluck moss off your roof. Working on one small section at a time, will allow you to have better control of your scrubbing motions. When working on a roof remember to be careful and mindful of your surroundings and always use safety gear. If you are ever in doubt about anything, call a professional today! We highly recommend if you have never worked on a roof before that you call a professional for help! Safety is always the most important thing when it comes to roofing.