Getting Moss Off Shingle Roof

Moss can be physically removed from the roof by hand.

Getting moss off shingle roof.

Climb up to the roof and begin scraping off dead moss from the shingles using a putty knife or painter s 5 in 1 tool and working from the bottom up. Apply the vinegar to the moss and lichens on the roof with the spray bottle. Hose off and brush all moss loose from your roof shingles. 2 slide sacrificial zinc strip underneath the loosened shingles.

If accumulations of algae or moss are heavy at least some of it should wash off the roof surface right away with the stream from the hose. For large expanses of an asphalt shingled roof use a long handled scrub brush made for cleaning gutters and roofs. You can try brushing off algae and moss with a brush or broom with medium stiff bristles but don t scrub too hard. You don t want to separate the mineral granules from the shingles.

Step 6 wait for the vinegar to kill off the moss and lichens. Using bleach is recommended by most shingle roof manufactures and the arma asphalt roofing manufactures association. Carefully place a ladder near the area of moss growth and don slip resistant shoes old clothes rubber gloves and eye. Experts recommend that you save roof moss removal for a cloudy day.

The most effective method of cleaning algae and moss from a roof is with a 50 50 mix of laundry strength liquid chlorine bleach and water. It s a tedious job but it is easier on the tiles than more invasive techniques. To keep the algae from coming back insert 6 inch wide strips of zinc or copper under the row of shingling closest to the roof peak leaving an inch or two of the lower edge exposed to the weather. 4 apply a dab of sealant to every nail head and run a bead of sealant under each shingle.

After cleaning you ll also need to put some defensive measures into play to prevent roof moss from growing back. Don t be tempted to rush getting the moss off faster by having someone power wash your roof or scrub in the bleach solution or brush or scrape off the moss even though you may find advice on. Use the tool to gently lift away matted moss that has gathered on the flat sections of the shingles. Get off the roof and apply the vinegar to the moss and lichens around the edge.

1 slide a margin trowel under shingles to unstick them from the ones below. Before you clean moss off a roof you ll need to consider how you want to kill the plants and remove the dead layers of moss.