Moss growing on a roof may or may not be considered attractive or quaint but there is no doubt that extensive moss on a roof can seriously damage the roof by growing under and raising or.
Why does moss ruin a roof.
Moss doesn t always mean you re destined for a whole new roof nor does it mean your home has water or moisture damage.
There are four types of lichen with varying appearances and it is easy to mistake lichen for moss.
If you do decide to use a power washer to clean the moss off your roof make sure the pressure washer is set on the lowest pressure setting to avoid damaging your roof.
To avoid expensive repairs moss should be removed from your roof tiles quickly if it is covering a significant area of your roof.
Moisture and organic debris.
Avoid pressure washing your roof to remove moss as this could cause damage to the tiles and lead to the drenching of your roof interior.
Silent yet invasive the presence of moss or algae stains on your roof does not necessarily equate with needing a new roof.
Often times all a roof needs is a thorough cleaning to restore your roof to its original condition and good health.
The removal of the moss is often followed up by painting the roof tiles.
You commonly see moss covering trees or in a landscape of a forest canopy which can be beautiful depending on the circumstances.
If sections of your roof are under heavy tree cover these are prime spots for moss to thrive.
Using a power washer on a roof is a personal choice however you can read my guide called should i use a power washer on my roof to learn about any potential problems caused by using a power washer to clean a roof.
Below is a close up photo of the dried moss remains on this roof.
As a rule of thumb professionally removing moss will cost about 5 of what it would take to replace your roof altogether.
As we explain in this article we do not recommend using more aggresive roof cleaning methods such as power washing or rough broom sweeping as forcibly removing live lichens or moss from a roof are likely to damage the roof surface by pulling away the shingle granules.
Most techniques that we have come across to remove moss are often achieved by violent means such as power washing which may cause damage to the roof especially when combined with unnecessary foot traffic often leading to cracked or broken roof tiles.
Why does moss grow on my roof.
Moss can severely damage the structural integrity of any type roof.
The more water and the more debris the greater the chance of moss growth.
Does moss on my roof mean i need a new roof.
Moss algae and lichen grow on your roof through a combination of two things.
Moss tends to form in areas where it is shielded from the sun.
