Moss on the roof is a very common sight. In fact, it is so normal that most of us tend to ignore it. But, that’s definitely not a good idea. Moss is one of the culprits of roof leak. It may take years before they can inflict any damage but it’s definitely heading towards that direction if ignored. So, we definitely want to prevent moss from growing on roof.
Brushing your roof to remove the moss will not prevent them from growing back. You have to get rid of the spores that could be sticking on your roof cracks and crevices as well. So, the next thing to focus on are these steps to prevent moss on roof:
1. Remove tree branches that casts shadows on your roof
Moss hates sunshine. At least most of the species do. There are certain types of moss that can deal with the light but for most of the case, sunshine is your best friend.
You have to make sure your entire roof gets sunbathed. Sun is the enemy of moss. If you ask your roof contractors, you will get to know that the area that gets regular sun will have lesser moss growth if none at all.
This is also due to the reason that moss tends to grow in damp environments. Having the sun to dry up the spot would prevent the moss spores from growing.
Check if there’s anything around the house that is casting a shade on your roof. If there’s any tree branches growing out, it’s probably best to trim it off a bit.
There’s a whole lot of other things around your home that can cover your roof with shadow – tall buildings, electric poles, neighbor’s trees. In these circumstances, it can be difficult to avoid. Which is why, these other steps are important to stop moss from growing on your roof tiles as well.
2. Clean roof from any debris
The wind can bring about any debris such as sticks, broken branches and leaves onto your roof. This can be quite the scene especially after a weather storm. Hire your local roofers to clean it off your roof and perform a roof check periodically.
It is strongly not advised to get on the roof yourself without the necessary safety equipment.
The debris like broken branches can retain moisture under its shade especially right after a rain. This creates a happy habitat that is favorable for moss to settle down and start spreading its empire on your roof. So, it’s not something to be ignored.
3. Clean the gutter
The rain water can wash the moss spores from your roof to your gutter. If your gutter is performing perfectly, then that’s fine. But, if there’s too much debris in the gutter, it could clog it and become a breeding ground for moss. Worse, it can cause roof leaks. Clean your gutter from time to time.
Your house will thank you for it.
Not in words, that would be scary. But, in terms of durability and lifespan of the roof.
4. Install zinc strips on roof
Zinc and copper is known to retard and impede the growth of moss on your roof. They’re harmless to us but toxic to moss. Which is why, it’s quite a popular choice for roof specialists to be installing zinc strips on most houses.
The zinc strip is usually installed on the higher up part of the roof. That way, when it rains, some particles of the zinc will be washed down and cover your roof with an invisible layer of protection that stops moss from growing.
However, the effectiveness reduces as it goes down the roof. An experienced roofer would install another strip of zinc half way down the roof. This will increase the coverage of the zinc strip on your roof. This is also depending on how large the area of your roof is. Sometimes, one strip is enough to do the job.
How long do zinc roof strips last?
Most zinc strips can last for about 5 years. However, there are products like Zinc Shield, Zinc Armor and Zinc Protect that boast a protection period of 20 years. After that, it gets oxidized and loses its effectiveness. The installation of the zinc strip will make a lot of holes on your roof. So, it’s better to get your roofer to replace the zinc strips.
5. Apply roof treatment to prevent moss
To hike up the roof protection against moss growth, this is another essential step that we must take. The roof can look clean but we have no idea if there’s moss spores chilling on the roof, waiting for the right time to strike! Apply the necessary roof treatment to kill these moss off.
There are two methods for roof treatment. You can go the cheap way by mixing your own solution to kill roof moss with detergent, bleach, vinegar, baking soda and even dishwashing liquid.
The other way is to get commercial roof moss killer. One of these products is Wet and Forget (not sponsored). Just apply and leave it. Easy as that! There’s other products out there that can do the job as well. Do let us know in the comments on what you’ve used before and is it effective? The people wants to know!
Now, when to apply moss killer to roof?
The best time to soak your roof with moss killer is before the rainy season and when there’s an obvious amount of moss growing on your roof. For the best effect, you need to first clean up any existing moss and debris on both your roofs and gutters. Only then, apply the roof treatment solution. This should handle your roof moss problem for most of the time.
Nature always has it’s way of making a comeback. So, be sure to apply the roof treatment at the right time at least once a year. The roof and gutter maintenance would need more frequent attention to avoid the case of bad gutters or roof problems that can be caused by reasons other than moss.
Roof Repair Malaysia provides roofing services such as roof repair and roof maintenance. Let us deal with roof moss for you! We cover a wide range of service area such as Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.