Your Roof vs. Moss

Moss. It may remind you of old, rustic cottages or a whimsical home out of a fantasy novel, but, in reality, there's nothing fun and whimsical about it. As pretty as it may look, moss can be detrimental to your roof.

Your Roof vs. Moss: Growth

Moss tends to grow on the shadier, northern sides of the roof because it thrives off moisture and humidity. Once moss attaches, it quickly grows and expands to become a wide, thick, carpet-like matt. It works its way under the shingles and can raise or crack them, especially during the wintertime when the water freezes. Wood shingles are especially vulnerable because they are more porous. Once moss has adhered to wood, it can become harder to remove than if it had formed on asphalt or composite shingles.

You Roof vs. Moss: Water damage

Moss craves moisture so much, it absorbs it directly into their bodies, thickening over time. Over time this can add hundreds of pounds of stress to your roof. The stored water also works its way down to the roof's critical structural elements, leading to decay, rot, mold, and bacteria growth. Moss can also interfere with water drainage because water has to pass through or around moss instead of straight into the gutters.

The moisture and humidity moss thrives off can even come from inside your home! Heat escaping the house, plus sunlight hitting the roof, keeps your roof in the perfect humid and moist environment for moss to thrive. Moss also traps in excess heat, so your attic will become hotter, and your cooling bills will become higher with the more moss that accumulates on your roof.

Your Roof vs. Moss: Moss, Algae, and Lichen

You may wonder how moss could grow on your roof and what else could grow up there. It's not just moss; lichen and algae can grow on your roof as well, and sometimes it may be hard to tell the difference.

Lichen-the green, crusty formations you see growing on trees-can also grow on your roof.

It isn't technically a plant or even a single organism; it's a combination of algae and fungi living together. It attaches very securely to the shingles, and, if left untreated, you have to forcibly remove the top layer of the shingles. It is much thinner than moss, so it can be quite difficult, damaging, and time-consuming to remove.

Gloeocapsa magma is a type of algae that grows in black streaks down your roof.

It multiplies by consuming the limestone filler many companies use in their shingles. It doesn't appear everywhere on your roof because areas with metal flashing, like beneath your chimney, contain copper and zinc ions in them that kill the algae.

Your Roof vs. Moss: Removal

Zinc strips are one of the best ways to remove moss from roofs. It kills the moss, and then the residue is washed away by the rain. DO NOT, under any circumstances, pressure wash your roof. This can cause more harm than good and even cause granules and whole shingles to fall from your roof.

If you want to try and prevent moss growth, remove excessive tree limbs hanging over your roof. Tree limbs drop organic material and debris onto your roof that feeds the moss and helps it grow.

Put a Klaus on your house!

Do you know if your roof has deteriorated due to moss? Even if you don't see moss on your roof, you never know what other problems could be lurking beneath the surface. Don't wait until it's too late; schedule your FREE estimate today and put a Klaus on your house!

Your Roof vs. Moss: Interesting Facts

• Moss has antibacterial properties and was used to staunch wounds up to world war 2
• Moss can be used to detect high air pollution levels or drought stress in cities. Too much nitrogen pollution can cause different mosses to change their shape or disappear. The healthier the moss, the healthier the air

• Moss is a descendant of algae and the first plant to survive on land.
• There are over 12,000 species of moss.
• Mosses collectively produce more carbon offset than trees.