How To Remove Moss From Roof? Popular Ways

Sometimes owners of houses may notice moss appearing on the roof. If you have seen moss on the roof, it is essential to start cleaning it as soon as possible, before it entails a lot of problems. So, taking things short, how to remove moss from the roof? Follow the next steps:

• Treatment for moss on a roof with a special mixture;
• Rinsing the roof with a hose;
• Removing moss on the roof by hand.

Moss is not such a harmless plant as you might think. Its main feature is the collection of moisture and its accumulation in the leaves to provide constant nutrition. Thus, if you see the moss, you should understand that there is a lot of water there. Regular moisture corrodes surfaces, and it can even lead to a leak in the case of a roof. In addition, moss is harmful to diseases such as shingles and leads to deterioration in people with allergic or respiratory diseases. Therefore, you should be highly attentive to the appearance of moss on the roof and try cleaning it at the first appearance.

This guide will explain the dangers of moss, help you remove it from the roof surface correctly, and avoid several mistakes.

How To Kill Roof Moss: Possible Methods

Removing moss from a roof is a must if you want to keep your roof intact and prevent diseases in your family. However, killing moss is not as easy as it might seem. Not every tool you mentioned may be appropriate for working with moss elimination.

Materials and tools that you will need to clean the moss:

• Garbage bag;
• Hose for watering plants in the garden;
• Stairs;
• Special moss remover or homemade mixture.

I have prepared a guide for you to help remove moss on a roof. Follow each step and be careful not to damage the surface:

1. Treatment For Moss On The Roof With A Special Mixture

Place the ladder next to the roof where you spotted the moss. Fix the ladder securely or ask someone to hold it. Climb the stairs to the roof and start treatment for moss on the roof with a special mixture that you bought in the store or prepared yourself at home. Leave the product on the roof surface for a specific time. If you purchased a special moss treatment, read on its packaging for how long it should be left on the roof surface. If you made your spray, leave it on the moss-laden roof surface for about 15-20 minutes.

2. Rinsing The Roof With A Hose

Take your garden hose, run it low pressure, and rinse your roof thoroughly with moss. While pouring water on the roof, you will notice that some of the moss has come off it. It will already facilitate your further work on eliminating the moss. During this step, be careful not to get water under the shingles, as they can lift and cause a water leak. Even if a large amount of moss remains on the roof’s surface, continue to water it with plenty to remove all detergent. Otherwise, you may damage the shingles.

3. Removing Moss On The Roof By Hand

After you watered the roof with a large jet of water, some of the moss fell off on its own, and some loosened up quite a lot, which will significantly facilitate the task. Remove the moss from the shingles and put it in the trash. Attach a garbage bag to the ladder to make it easier to put the old moss from the roof into it. These seemingly simple actions will help you eliminate such a problem as moss on the roof. However, when removing moss, many mistakes can be made that do not guarantee complete removal of moss but can damage your roof. In the next block of the article, we will consider several erroneous actions that should not be resorted to in more detail.

What Is The Best Time Of Year To Remove Moss From The Roof?

The best time of year to remove moss from the roof is the end of summer. At this time of the year, moss grows very little. However, it should be borne in mind that a special active growth occurs during autumn rains, mild winters, and early spring. The ideal time to deal with moss is late summer before the onset of constant autumn rains.

Mistakes To Avoid When Removing Moss From A Roof

You can think of several wrong actions when you want to kill roof moss. These actions are ways to spoil the tiles and not bring the desired result in the form of wholly removed moss. Let’s take a closer look at these mistakes and why these actions should not be resorted to.

1. Scraping Moss With Sharp Objects

It is the first thing that comes to your mind when trying to remove moss on a roof, especially if it is heavy moving away from the roof. However, it would be best if you did not rip off the moss with sharp objects, as you can damage the shingles and remove their granules.

2. Tearing Off Moss With A Strong Water Jet

You may also be interested in this method to deal with roof areas where moss does not shed well. However, intense water pressure can break the adhesive on the shingle and even lift it, which needs to be repaired. In addition, this method can also damage shingles and deprive them of granules. In some cases, removing moss under solid water pressure can seriously damage the roof and even cause it to leak. Like several other methods we will discuss, this method should not be used if you do not want to call a roof maintenance specialist later.

3. Using Aggressive Products

Some products mistaken for moss removal can damage roof shingles and cause water to leak. It is because these strong cleansers contain bleach and other harsh chemicals. They can corrode the surface, which will have to be replaced with new ones.

Why You Should Remove Moss From A Roof

Some people may mistakenly think that the presence of moss on the surface of the roof or near the house is not a threat. Because of this, they do nothing with the moss. However, this is not the case. Moss is harmful both to the surfaces themselves and to human health.

Let us consider in more detail why moss appears on surfaces and why it is essential to remove it in time.

Causes That Make Moss Appear On The Roof

Unlike several plants that collect water from their roots, moss differs from them in that it takes water from its leaves. Because of this, a plant such as moss can easily remain on dry surfaces where it would seem that there are absolutely no nutrients. Moss can grow into the shingles, damaging them and even causing the roof to leak. When it rains, moss can retain water and thus create a humid environment on the roof. It can be the cause of the following roof problems:

1. Destruction of the roof surface;
2. Blocking the drainage of water from the roof during rain;
3. Leaking roof;
4. The reproduction of bacteria will gradually move inside your home.

Your roof can become unsightly and leaky over time; you also need to understand the dangers of microbial contamination. If your roof is constantly damp because of moss, several fungi can grow on it. In time, it will infiltrate your home, cause skin irritation, and even cause more severe health problems. In places of constant moisture, nothing good for a person must be understood. So, it’s essential to kill roof moss.

Also, moss can cause an allergic reaction in the house’s inhabitants. Therefore, periodically inspect the roof to control the first appearance of moss and immediately begin to eliminate it.

Bottom Line

You should follow all these listed methods of removing moss from a roof when choosing a method for fighting moss. Avoid mentioned mistakes so as not to damage the roof surface. If you can’t get rid of moss, consult a professional roofer. He will help you find out the reason for the strong adhesion of the moss to the roof surface and will advise good and safe methods for solving this problem.

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