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Cleaning a mossy roof, part 1
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One of the projects I have going on this summer is to clean the moss from my roof, and to try some tricks to keep it from coming back. It seems like everyone has a different method to try and get rid of moss. Some power wash it off. Some say you should never use a power washer on your roof and advocate using chemicals to kill it. Some say to use chemicals to kill it and then to power wash the debris off. Most advocate some sort of preventative maintenance. Whew! It’s a lot to think about, and as I go through the process over the next several weeks I’ll chronicle my experiences here on Examiner.com.
Moss is bad on any roof. It traps moisture and holds it in place. On composition shingle roofs like mine, it can be devastating. Moss doesn’t actually have much in the way of a root system, which is why it needs so much moisture to survive. By holding this moisture close against your shingles for extended periods of time, it erodes the protective granules on the shingles. The more of these granules you lose, the more the lifespan of your roof is shortened. Left untreated, moss can even cause damage to the underlying wooden framing.
Before we get started I should mention that if your roof is really steep you are probably better served hiring a pro, or investing in some climbing safety gear. Only do what you feel comfortable doing!
The first thing you are going to want to do is take a hard look at your roof. Moss really only thrives in areas that don’t get a lot of sunlight – so check the north and/or west side and any areas that are shaded by trees or overhangs. Make note of the worst areas. You should try and do this as much as you can from inside the house or on the ground – not only for safety reasons, but because walking on your roof also dislodges the precious little protective granules.
Next, you want to clean off any leaves or debris off of the roof. I use a lawn and leaf blower for this, and you might as well blow out the gutters while you are at it. While you are up there, this is a good time to cut back any overhanging branches too. This should become regular maintenance for you, even once you have the moss off. How “regular” depends – I live near a lot of trees so I try and do it at least twice a year, usually once or twice in the fall and once in the spring. ALWAYS start at the top and work your way down.
With your roof and gutters clean, and any overhanging branches taken care of, it’s time to move on to the next step – take care of the moss.
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