No Grow Zone: Is Moss on Your Roof Harmful?
Homeowners often ask, "Is moss on my roof harmful?" While your roof may not have suffered any harm from moss yet, it's best to get rid of it before it's too late.
Do you know how moss can impact the resell value of your home? What about the connection between moss and pest control?
A moss-touched roof may look charming at first glance. But moss does pose risks to your home.
Read on to learn the risks of moss on your roof—and how you can avoid them with professional roof cleaning.
Is Moss on My Roof Harmful
In a word: yes. From curb appeal to pests to structural integrity, there are many reasons to get rid of roof moss. But be warned: moss on your roof can also make it more dangerous to clean your roof.
Read below to learn why you shouldn't handle this yourself—and who to call for help.
Moisture
When it comes to roof maintenance, you don't want water hanging around. Stagnant moisture brings many risks with it, including:
- Rot—Moss holds water, and water causes wood to weaken and deteriorate
- Pests—Moss can be attractive to bugs and rodents
- Leaks—Over time, the increased moisture, pests, and weight can roof leaks
A pleasant afternoon rain shower is fine. But you don't want that water sticking around any longer than it has to.
Expense
You can incur bottom-line costs from moss on your roof. That can take the form of homeowner association (HOA) fines, reduced interest from buyers if you decide to sell your house and costly repairs when moss is left unchecked for too long.
Hazard
Now that you know some of the problems associated with moss on roofs, you may want to go take care of it right away. Not so fast—roof cleaning has its own risks. In the presence of moss, those risks are multiplied.
- Structural collapse—Depending on the extent of damage, your roof may not be strong enough to hold your weight
- Slippage—Moss can be slippery, so it's best to avoid stepping foot on a mossy roof
- Chemicals—Cleaning your roof with chemicals can be dangerous to you, to wildlife, and even to the roof itself
- Pressure washing—This can be a great method to clean moss off your roof, but doing it wrong could cause a lot more damage than the moss itself
For these reasons, it's best that you don't try to clean your roof yourself. With that said, you do have options.
What You Can Do
First, it helps to trim back any trees that hang over your roof. The debris that naturally falls from trees can cause various problems beyond moss. Additionally, the shade of trees encourages moisture to stay around—and moss to grow.
It also helps to keep your drains clean so water can drain smoothly. Not only that, but clogged drains means the further risk of rot and pests. Clean drains are crucial for your home's longevity.
But what's the best thing you can do? Ultimately, the most effective way to handle moss on your roof is to speak with a professional. The best will offer free consultations and advice.
For a natural and effective solution, you can look for professionals who can treat your roof with a low pressure wash. This will get rid of the moss without damaging your roof.
Act Now
Homes are complex and costly to repair. It's much better to get a head start on potential issues by consulting with a professional before it's too late.
To recap: is moss on your roof harmful? Yes. Should you fix it yourself? No. What can you do about it? Contact a professional for a free estimate.
While you're here, take a look at this article about the benefits of low pressure washing.