Each year, thousands of homeowners deal with algae and moss on their roofs. While this issue is more prominent in areas with high amounts of moisture in the air, anyone can be impacted. It’s important, as a homeowner, to be able to identify and remove algae and moss when it does start to take over your roof.
If left untreated for an extended period of time or if improperly removed, it can be quite the eyesore and even impact the sale value of your home. The best thing that you can do is arm yourself with the right knowledge to combat this problem before it spirals out of control.
We’ll show you exactly how to identify algae and moss on your roof, how to remove it, and how to prevent it in the future so that you don’t have to deal with this problem again. If you’re searching for pressure washing Ellicott City Maryland, we can help with all of your roof care needs.
Identifying Roof Algae and Moss
Before you can take any concrete steps towards addressing algae or moss on your roof, you will need to know what you are looking for. Correct identification is not always obvious, especially if you are not looking for it.
If you are conducting a visual inspection of your roof for algae and moss, you should be looking for long-dark streaks on the roof. While these will look black in color from the ground, up close you will see that they are actually a dark blue-green. You may have attributed this to just regular wear and tear on your roof in the past, but what you are actually likely dealing with is algae or moss.
Removal of Algae and Moss on Your Roof
Now that you’ve spotted this unsightly occurrence on your roof, you are probably determined to see it eradicated. The most surefire way to ensure you don’t have to deal with moss and algae bringing down the appearance of your home is to start over with new shingles that are resistant to this type of growth. However, that will take time and quite an investment.
For anyone that wants to address the problem in a more affordable way, there is an option. We use a gentle soft wash technique when pressure washing your roof. This should get rid of the moss and algae that are growing on your roof. You should be sure not to use a power washer, as it will damage your shingles.
You should also be sure to spray your nearby plants with water beforehand and rinse them with water when you are done spraying the roof. Without these precautions, you could kill your plants with bleach.
Algae and Moss Prevention
If you’ve done the hard work to get rid of the algae and moss growing on your roof, now it’s time to protect your investment and prevent future growth. The best way to do this is to use copper strips and insert them under the shingles at the peak of your roof. Algae and moss don’t grow in environments where molecules of copper are plentiful. Each time it rains, molecules from the copper will come down the roof and prevent any growth from occurring.
This is the most cost-effective way to prevent algae and moss from growing back on your roof in the future.