Moss care
Moss care, done gently
Moss holds water against shingles and lifts their edges. Black streaks are mostly algae and mostly cosmetic.
We brush moss off by hand with a soft brush, clear the gutters and valleys, and fit zinc or copper strips at the ridge. Rain carries a trace of metal down over the shingles, which slows regrowth. It doesn't stop it, and a shaded slope will need another visit.
Spring or fall, when the roof is dry enough to work on
Soft brush by hand; no pressure washer
Strips at the ridge slow regrowth
Photos of each slope before and after
The visit
A moss visit, start to finish
- 01
Step 1: From the ground
We look at each slope from the yard and the attic first, to see how wet the deck is.
- 02
Step 2: Brushing
Soft brush, working down the slope so loosened moss doesn't re-seed the roof below it.
- 03
Step 3: Gutters and valleys
Moss, needles and granules come out of the gutters and the valleys, and the downspouts are tested.
- 04
Step 4: Strips
A zinc or copper strip goes under the ridge cap, on the slopes that need it.
- 05
Step 5: The report
Photos of every slope, what we found, and when we think it should be looked at again.
Why gently
Brushing and strips, against the alternatives
| What we leave out | What we do | |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | What we leave outA pressure washer, which strips the granules off shingles | What we doA soft brush, by hand |
| Keeping it away | What we leave outA promise that moss won't return | What we doZinc or copper strips at the ridge, which slow regrowth |
| Shaded slopes | What we leave outTreating every slope the same | What we doA return visit in a year or two, written in your report |
Moss
About moss and strips
Is moss a problem?
Black streaks are mostly algae and mostly cosmetic. Moss is different: it holds water against the shingles and lifts their edges. We brush it off gently, never with a pressure washer, and zinc or copper strips at the ridge slow it coming back.
Will moss come back after you clean it?
On a shaded slope, yes, more slowly. Strips at the ridge slow regrowth but don't stop it, and trees that drop needles and leaves on the roof keep feeding it. We tell you what to expect and when to have it looked at again.
Is rain barrel water safe to use?
Use it on ornamental beds and lawn. Roofing materials, and zinc or copper strips, shed small amounts into the runoff, so we don't recommend it for vegetables or drinking. Ask us which downspouts can feed a barrel.
What are the signs I need a new roof?
Age near the end of the material's life, curling or missing shingles, granules in the gutters, a sagging deck, daylight or stains in the attic and damaged flashing. Moss alone is not a reason to replace a roof.
A mossy roof? We'll come and look.
A moss visit starts with a look at the roof and the attic. Nothing is sold at the door.