It’s natural for you to want to prevent moss from growing on your roof. You take pride in how your house looks, carefully manicuring the lawn and painting the shutters when needed.
However, moss on the roof was never part of your aesthetic plan.
Not only does it ruin the appearance of your roof but it can also shorten its lifespan. Moss flourishes in humid warm areas, making Utah summers the perfect time to grow.
Unfortunately moss won’t die during the winter. During dry spells it goes dormant until conditions improve. This means if you have moss on your roof the best time to take care of it is now.
The main issue with moss is that it soaks up all of the water it can. That water is sometimes leaked in between shingles and through the roof. If you want to avoid damage to your roof, here are some ways to prevent moss from growing on your roof from the start.
1. Trim Trees
Overhanging tree branches help create the perfect environment for moss to grow. The branches and leaves offer shade from the intense sun. Along with this the trees often leave debris on the roof. Decaying leaves and twigs give your moss the right nutrients and textures to start growing.
Regularly trimming your trees will take away some of the moss’s environmental advantages and make it more difficult for it to survive.
2. Clear out Rain Gutters
Unfortunately, even with the best tree trimming practices, leaves and debris can still get stuck on the roof and in the gutters.
As the gutters become more clogged, water levels will rise after each rainstorm. This can be particularly helpful for the moss if the gutters overflow onto lower roofs or stop draining altogether.
3. Add Anti-Moss Strips
Two elements disrupt the ideal moss’s environment. They are zinc and copper.
To help eliminate moss these elements are cut into strips and nailed to the roof. This not only prevents the growth of moss on the roof but also algae.
However, this option should only be used as a last case scenario. The nails can puncture the roof seal and cause damage as well.
4. Kill Existing Moss With Cleaning Mixture
If after following all these steps you still find moss on your roof, don’t worry, it’s easy to get rid of it.
Simply fill a squirt bottle up with a mixture of bleach and water. After that spray it on the trouble areas of your roof, wait a couple minutes and rinse it off. This solution will kill the moss and leave you with the pristine roof you want.
Prevent Moss From Growing On Your Roof
Learning to prevent moss from growing on your roof is a valuable tip that will help protect your house wherever the summers are hot.
Contact our team at Roof Doctor for more tips on how to maintain your roof and shelter your home.