Roof moss can be unsightly but there are more important reasons why you should remove moss from roof. Moss retains moisture and can weaken your roof whether you have asphalt shingles, slate, metal roofing, or clay and concrete tiles. For this reason, you should do regular roof cleaning to remove moss from roof and prevent future roof moss buildup. There are also professional cleaners who specialize in roof moss removal.
Why there’s moss on your roof
Roof moss isn’t alarming but chances are you have a roof facing north if moss builds up quite quickly. A north facing roof usually receives very little sunlight and may encourage faster growth of moss. Moss will usually build up and fill in any void on your roof and will eventually lift up roof tiles, slates, shingles or metal roofing edges. This can push roof material out of position, allowing rainwater to seep in and drench your roof interior. In time, this will cause your roof structure to rot, weaken or decay. Roof cleaning to remove moss from roof should be done regularly to avoid expensive repairs in the long term.
It is also vital to find the best time for roof moss removal. Note that there’s very little moss growth during the summer but things rev up towards autumn when rain starts to fall. For this reason, roof cleaning should be done before peak fall rains, during moderate winters or in the early spring months when moss is actively growing.
Remove moss from roof yourself
If you decide to remove moss from roof yourself, it’s always best to do it on a cloudy day. Why? Because if you use roof cleaning products like Bayer 2-in-1 Algae & Moss Killer, Moss B Ware or Moss Out, they’re going to evaporate very quickly if you clean your roof on a hot and sunny day. You’ll not be getting your desired results because most of these products will need at least 15-30 minutes to be absorbed by moss.
How to remove moss from your roof will really depend on your plan of action. If you decide to use a commercial roof moss remover that doesn’t need to be washed out after application, you’ll only need to sprinkle or spray the formula onto your roof and wait for a heavy downpour to wash off dead moss residue.
As a professional structural and roof moss removal expert, however, I always recommend using a brush (stiff or soft-bristle, depending on your roofing material) or some other roof moss removal tool to get doubly better results when working to remove moss from roof.
Also, since you’re using chemical products, it’s best to protect the immediate perimeters with plastic sheeting to guard against any chemical overspill which can hurt your plants or your lawn. Better yet, make sure the chemical roof cleaning products you use to remove moss from roof are safe and environment-friendly. For an extra layer of protection, I also recommend hosing down surrounding shrubs and plants with water prior to roof moss treatments to dilute any chemical overspill that may land on foliage.
An extra word of caution when using roof moss removal products that don’t need to be rinsed afterwards—please make sure you read and follow manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. You have to apply the right amount or get the correct balance of chemicals and water for diluted formulations to successfully remove moss from roof without collateral damage. The last thing you want after cleaning your roof of moss is roof damage arising from a chemical reaction because concentrations were too high of the proper mix was not correctly achieved.
Homemade moss killers
If you like to experiment on stuff you already have in your garage or pantry, you can save big with do-it-yourself or homemade roof moss killers that are generally less toxic. Just prepare any of the following solutions to use as a spray to remove moss from roof:
- Chlorine bleach and TSP: Add ¼ cup liquid chlorine bleach and ¼ cup trisodium phosphate (TSP) for every gallon of water. (Also works on mold and mildew.)
- Oxygen bleach: 1 cup of oxygen bleach for every gallon of water. (Highly recommended if you have shrubs, bushes and ornamentals below roof edges since this is friendlier to plants.)
- Distilled vinegar: Mix 3 ½ cups of white distilled vinegar with 2 gallons of water.
Quick step-by-step guide to roof moss removal
Be ready with these protective gear and equipment if you plan to remove moss from roof by yourself:
- Old work clothes (you are sure to get dirty)
- Non-slip footwear
- Protective googles/safety glasses
- Rubber gloves
- Safety rope or harness
- A long soft-bristle brush
- A stiff scrubbing brush
- Garden hose with a strong spray nozzle
- Backpack or garden pump sprayer (backpack recommended for hands-free operation)
- Sturdy tall ladder
- Selected roof moss removal product or formulation
- Assuming you’re already on your rooftop, first spray moss infested sections of your roof with plain water from your garden hose. Work your way from the top so water flows down to the lower sections.
- To remove moss from roof, first use both your long, soft-bristle brush and stiff scrubbing brush to remove as much of the softened moss as you can. Then, spray off loosened moss with water from your garden hose. Work on one small section at a time to conserve your energy and get a better hold of your brushing.
- After you have cleared up loosened moss, spray your selected roof moss remover onto remaining moss on your roof. Follow manufacturer’s guidelines for store-bought removers. For homemade solutions, leave to soak on remaining moss for at least 20-30 minutes.
- Pointing your hose towards the top section of the roof, rinse off moss remover along with all dead moss. Scrub sections where there was heavy moss buildup if there’s still any remaining moss. As a final touch, give your roof a generous spray of water to wash off any remaining loose moss.
Can you use a power washer for roof moss removal?
If you own a portable power washer or pressure washer at home, you could be thinking of using it to remove moss from roof. You’ve probably used it to remove dirt and moss from your pavement and driveway before, so why not use it to blast away moss from your roof real quick?
Well, unless you’re a professional roof cleaner who’s well-versed on different roofing types, PLEASE DON’T! As much as it seems tempting to use a power washer to do a really quick job to remove moss from roof, the strong water pressure can do more harm than good. For instance, very strong water pressure can lift and displace loose roof tiles and shingles and may even leave tears and holes on weakened metal or galvanized roofing. You might end up with a bigger problem than just the roof moss itself!
Roof moss prevention
Now that you have a sparkling clean roof free of all the ugly moss, I’m sure you’re thinking of the best ways to prevent moss from growing back so you won’t have to remove moss from roof in the near future. One of the best ways to do this is to have as much sunlight hitting your roof as possible. So if you have trees in your backyard and their branches are blocking sunlight from reaching your roof, make sure to trim them down regularly.
There will also be less moss buildup on your roof if you make it a habit to keep gutters clean and dry by removing any leaves, twigs, and mud that have accumulated in them. Keep in mind that moss needs moisture to thrive and will absorb it like a sponge. Gutters that are full of debris collect moisture so if you don’t do regular cleaning, moss will start to grow and you’ll have to remove moss from roof again pretty soon.
Professional roof moss removal
Did it ever occur to you that you’re risking life and limb every time you remove moss from roof? Climbing on your roof is risky to begin with—what more with all that moss that can cause you slip and fall off? You could end up with very serious or even fatal injuries.
Spare yourself from all the danger by calling on a roof moss removal expert like Ryan at The Organic Ant Exterminator & Pest Control Guy in Beaverton, Oregon. Next to organic ant pest control, I specialize in structural moss removal so you can sit back safely and let me remove moss from your roof in no time.
So if you think getting rid of moss from roof is such a daunting task (I can tell you it is!), give me a call so I can come over and give you a NO OBLIGATION quote for professional roof moss removal. I can get your roof sparkling clean and prevent future moss buildup at a price that won’t break the bank!