Learn About Moss Growth and Its Impact on Your Roof

Moss is a miniscule, non-vascular plant that grows abundantly in damp, shady regions. With the rise of cottage-core and fairy aesthetic, many people have come to love the rustic charm it adds to homes. However, from what we have heard our roofing contractors discuss, letting moss grow on your roof is actually harmful to the structure in more ways than one.

How Does Moss Damage the Roof?

  1. Roofing shingles contain some amount of moisture and protective oils in them to help them hold up against the blaring sun. The moisture content keeps the shingles from becoming too brittle under the heat. When moss grows over a surface, it strips it off all the moisture and oils. As a result, the shingles are more susceptible to sun damage. Sun damage here includes wrapping and cracking open, significantly decreasing the lifespan of the roof.

  2. Like we already established, moss absorbs moisture. With time, the mossy patches keep spreading wider and wider, gradually destroying the protective layer and rendering the shingles prone to water intrusion, rot, mold, mildew, and cracking.

  3. If you thought moss only rot your shingles, you are mistaken. When moss has conquered the surface of your roof, it is going to find its way underneath the shingles. There, it causes rot to the wooden decking and slowly advances the insides of the attic and upper walls. Once moss to such an extent, you are faced with extremely costly repairs.

How to Prevent Moss from Growing on Your Roof?

  1. If your landscaping consists of trees with branches overhanging your roof, trim them away from your house. This can prevent accelerating moss growth.

  2. Clean your roof bi-annually. Do not miss out on anything, make sure the cleaning is thorough and includes gutters and ventilation systems. Get rid of clogs, leaves, twigs, and debris. Timely and rigorous cleaning keeps the moss from spreading rapidly.

  3. Many homes in Oklahoma have resorted to using zinc strips to combat moss. You are supposed to nail the zinc strips along the peak of your roof. When it rains, the zincs get released into the roof and prevents moss from growing over there.

How to Treat Moss Growth?

What to Do -

  1. Moss Control Powder is a very effective tool to curb moss growth. The power is most effective during the wet season and contains no ingredients that can cause harm to the shingles. Keep the moss control powder away from the flora and fauna around your home lest the zinc sulfate present in it poisons them.

  2. The best way to bring moss under control is to hire professional roofing contractors skilled at removing moss growth.

What Not to Do -

  1. Never use a pressure washer on your roof. It may seem like the water can remove the surface layer of moss, but the damage it does to the roofing tiles and shingles is not worth it. The pressure washer also leaves behind spores that will grow back soon enough.

  2. Bleach is another word-of-mouth technique popular for killing off the moss. Unfortunately, bleach can discolor the shingles and ruin vegetation. If you are not familiar with using bleach it will most likely cause skin irritation/burn.

  3. Some people swear by using detergent for moss but the degreasers present in the cleaning agent weaken the tar, leaving it vulnerable to sun damage.

How Can Elliott Roofing Help?

Elliot Roofing has been around, protecting the roofs of Oklahoma City and Tulsa since 1981. Whether you need a complete roof replacement or repair, we can help you out. Learn more about our services from our website.