Did you know that, according to NerdWallet, a mid-range roof replacement in the US costs an average of over $20,000? Given how many different factors can affect your roof, whether that’s hail, snow, or moss growing on it, it’s best to deal with your roof problems directly before you have to pay a large amount of money to replace it.
If you have moss growing on your roof, you’re probably looking for a guide on how to extract moss. If you’re scraping moss from roof shingles or some other sort of roof, you’re definitely concerned about the long-term damage of moss growing on your roof.
You may even feel worried about fixing yourself, since making roof repairs can be risky. Additionally, you may be concerned about the moss coming back once you’ve done scraping the moss.
That’s why we put this guide together. When you have all the details you need to clear the moss from your roof, you can remove the moss from your roof securely to avoid damage to your roof.
You’ll also learn how to keep the moss from growing back. Read on to learn more.
Why and How You Need to Remove Moss
Even though green moss may look lovely on your roof, making your home look like a cozy lodge in a fairy tale, it’s not good for your roof. In reality, the moss threatens the very foundation of your roof. This is how the moss grows out of the moisture in the air surrounding it. This puts moisture in the foundation of the roof.
In addition, moss poses other problems as roots begin to expand. These roots find their way through the roof, undermining its structure and making the shingles or tiles less firmly fixed to the roof than they should be.
Also, if you have a shingled roof, then the shingles might be lifted up. When this happens, it’s easier for bacteria and mold to slowly build up in your roof. Mold can cause damage not only to your roof. If it spreads to the rest of your home, then you might end up with a mold problem everywhere.
Considering that mold can cause health problems such as itchy eyes, wheezing, a stuffy nose, intense reactions in people with asthma, you can see why most growing on your roof is a big problem.
In addition, once areas of your roof have been weakened by moss or shingles that expand, it’s easy for water to come through your roof if there’s heavy rain or snowfall.
When the water gets through, it can travel to the rest of your home. This will inflict significant and permanent damage to any aspect of your house. Repairs after water damage total on average to between $3.75 to $7.00 per square foot.
Considering the potential costs of moss on your roof, you need to remove it ASAP. To do this, all you have to do is follow these three simple, straightforward steps—and prevent it from growing back.
Step 1: Hose Your Roof Off and Brush the Loose Moss Off Your Roof Shingles
To get started with this move, position the ladder in front of your home near where the moss is on your roof. Until you climb on the ladder, make sure you’re wearing the right gear so you’re less likely to trip and hurt yourself. This gear includes eye safety, latex gloves, old clothing (you won’t mind being dirty), and slip-resistant shoes.
Additionally, for safety, it helps to use a safety rope to secure yourself.
Once you’ve taken these safety precautions, you’re ready for removing moss from terracotta roof tiles, shingles, or any type of roofing. Climb up the ladder with your garden hose. Once you’re facing the affected area, spraying at the moss at a downward angle.
The best form of brush for this is a long-handled soft-bristle brush used for scrubbing.
The soft-bristle guarantees that you don’t do any damage to the roof structure, whilst the length of the handle means that you’ll have more freedom of movement. If it appears like the moss is hard to reach, you can need a longer-handled brush—or support from a specialist.
Whatever you do, don’t try to stretch over to get at the moss or climb onto the roof that’s slippery and wet from the hose water. During a study that examined fatal falls in the US from roofs, it was found that 67% of these deaths occurred at small construction sites.
Step 2: Apply a DIY or Store-Bought Cleaning Solution for Moss Removal
If there is still moss left on your roof after you have completed the first phase, then you will need to apply a DIY or store-purchased cleaning solution for the removal of moss to clear the rest of it. Luckily, there are several choices available at every home improvement or gardening shop.
Once you’ve purchased this solution, you need to wait for a gloomy day to use it. This is because, if you do this on a dry day, the solution will evaporate, making it less successful.
Additionally, be aware that homemade and branded moss removal solutions can damage some plants and cause color discoloration. To avoid this, lay down plastic sheeting where you’ll be working before you use the spray.
Step 3: Install Copper or Zinc on the Roof to Prevent Moss Growing In the Future
Once you’ve removed the moss from your roof, you need to take the right steps to prevent moss from growing on it in the future.
The easiest way to achieve this is to mount copper or zinc-coated sheet metal strips on your roof. If you want to save money, we’re going to consider zinc. However, copper is more harmful to algae and musk. And if you’ve got the money to spare, indulge in copper-coated sheet metal strips.
What you need to do is buy these sheet metals in rolls from the nearest hardware store or home repair shop. Then you’ve got to cut it into strips that are two to four inches long. Then, with the right safety precautions, you’ll want to climb up your ladder.
Finally, you simply install the strips to your roofs using screws and a rubber washer. Roofing nails work, too.
Need More Information?
Do you need more detail on how to extract the moss? Perhaps, now that you know how to remove it from your house, you need details about how to remove this lovely yet tough plant from other parts of your house. Or maybe you want advice on hiring a roofer to repair your moss problem.
Whatever you like, we’re here to help you out. At Hulsey Roofing Co., we are professionals in the field of roofing repairs, repair, and installation. We can also do any repairs on your roof, including mold removal. To learn more about how we can help, contact us here.
