Spring and summer are the times of year when plants grow like crazy up here in the Pacific NW. One of the plants that thrive this time of year is moss. While moss is a wonderful plant in its own right, it is not great to have growing on your roof.
There are ways to prevent moss growth on your roof, like zinc strips and roof sealers. However, nothing will permanently or even completely prevent moss growing on your roof. So, what is one to do?
Some people sweep or rake the moss off. This works temporarily, but honestly it’s unsafe and more damaging than helpful to your roof. The normal practice is to remove the moss by using a pressure washer. This can be a p
retty unsafe job, because of the slick water and the machinery used. It’s best to hire a professional roofer to do this delicate work.
Another idea is to change the material you use for roofing. Shingle or shake roofs are more likely to become infested with moss than a metal roof. Also, metal roofing is considered a green roofing material, which means it is better for the environment than a normal shingle or shake roof.
Finally, you can always decide not to fight it and get a full green roof installed on which to develop a moss garden.
Overall, moss removal is a necessary maintenance activity for your roof which you should stay on top of as much as possible.