You may have seen moss on roofs in your neighborhood or even your own. Although it may look pretty, you shouldn’t tolerate it. It can cause serious damage to your roof, including reducing its lifespan. In this article, learn everything about how moss affects roofs and what you can do about it.
Why Moss Grows on Your Roof
Moss thrives in damp environments. If you spot it on your roof, it’s because your roof is shaded by obstructions like trees and other buildings, giving moss an optimum environment to thrive. Once moss seeds (spores) make their way to your roof, they only need a damp environment to grow and spread across the roof.
How Does Moss Cause Damage to the Roof?
Once the spores get on the roof, they collect in the spaces between the shingles and grow into a thick spongy substance called moss. As the moss grows, the roots will start digging into your roof, compromising its structure.
In addition, moss tends to absorb a lot of moisture and hold onto it. The moisture can cause mold and mildew to grow on the roof and lead to roof rot after some time.
Lastly, if moss has spread across your commercial roofing, it adds unnecessary weight to your roof. It might not impact your roof, but it will certainly reduce its lifespan.
How to Prevent Moss Growth on the Roof
If you have trees near your roof, trim them to ensure your roof gets maximum sunlight exposure. Also, keep the gutters clean to allow water to flow instead of stagnating and contributing to mold growth.
How to Eliminate Moss
Once you detect moss, address the issue immediately to avoid roof damage. There are some DIY techniques, but they’re often just temporary solutions. Some people use pressure washing, which we do not recommend as it can damage the roof.
To ensure you eliminate the moss safely, contact a professional company that employs the right removal techniques to ensure your roof lasts a long time.
Get Help from Adams & Coe
Have you spotted moss on your roof? Contact us today to remedy the situation so you can avoid costly roof repairs in the future.