Roof moss not only looks terrible, but it’s also damaging.
It can risk your house’s structural stability if untreated. Plus, gross moss ruins the beautiful look of your home. Therefore, it is crucial to clean your roof from time to time and eliminate any moss growth.
In this article, we’ll answer when is the best time of year to remove moss from the roof and cover a few frequently asked questions.
Let’s get started!
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Hey there, I’m Cody.
A decade of residential and commercial pressure washing led me to start JCS Refresh. Now I can share my knowledge with folks like you.
Reading from Bellevue, Washington?
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Quick Answer
Here is the answer if you need a quick solution to your problem.
Summer and spring are the ideal times to remove roof moss.
You can put copper or zinc strips on the roof after washing, eliminating all moss and stopping it from returning.
What causes moss to grow on a roof?
Let’s first see where moss can grow. Moss thrives in chilly, moist places with lots of cover. For moss to grow, there must be a lot of moisture and shade, so areas with little to no direct sunlight are ideal.
Most roofs offer all of these conditions.
Because of these circumstances, moisture can’t evaporate, and moss might begin to form between shingles.
The following factors provide a perfect habitat for moss and let it grow on the roof.
- Moss will grow on a roof if sunlight is blocked by trees or anything else that casts a shadow over it.
- There’s no practical method for removing water from the roof.
- There’s often dust on the roof. Moss may live on a dirty roof with a buildup of dirt and dust.
- Snow melting results in moisture on the roof’s structure, encouraging moss development.
When is the best time of year to have the roof cleaned?
Summer and spring are the most appropriate times to clean roofs from moss.
Your roof sustains more damage from the summer heat than you would think. For instance, a summer storm that develops overnight might dump rain and debris on your roof.
In the fall and winter, less sunlight and chilly temperatures can damage your roof’s pitch and deteriorate the interior structure of the roof.
But you can avoid these situations by:
- Ensuring the downpipes are unclogged and pointed appropriately
- Getting rid of the excess snow
- Regularly repairing your roof (as needed)
- Pruning the trees that cast shadows over the roof
How does seasonality affect moss growth?
Moss could look different depending on the season. Moss tends to be most abundant during the winter due to the damp, rainy weather associated with the season.
You may need to handle the moss differently depending on the season.
The following are some effects that various seasons might have on your roof moss growth:
Hot weather
- Constant exposure to heat and UV rays may eventually cause your roof to dry.
- The lack of direct sunlight is the reason for moss growth in summer.
- In summer, moss and mold may develop more quickly due to the high temperatures and sporadic rain storms.
- The best time to remove moss is summer since moss matures in autumn, winter, and spring. It is now ready to multiply and spread to cover your whole roof.
Spring
- Since it rains a lot in the spring, this is the second best to remove moss.
- Mold and moss will likely increase in the spring because they enjoy warm, humid environments.
- The start of spring is the ideal time to perform moss removal because the worst is behind you, and you can work on a fresh start for the year.
- Rains will sweep away dead moss as it decays.
- Treat your roof just before the rainy season to be proactive in moss management every year.
Cold weather
- Rainwater pelting your roof over time can cause structural and exterior damage. Plus, if it accumulates, it provides a perfect habitat for moss.
- Snow melting provides damp conditions for moss growth, and snow can damage the roof if not removed for a long time.
- Without an appropriate drainage system, water can damage the roof structurally and potentially result in surface condensation, especially in severe cold areas.
- After spring and summer, the best time for moss removal from the roof is just before the peak autumn rains. If moss is moist, but there isn’t any rain in the forecast for a few days, you’ll get the most outstanding results.
Does winter kill roof moss?
No, winter or cold weather won’t kill moss- only boiling water will eradicate moss.
If you believe you will freeze the moss to death, I’m sorry, friend, you’re wrong. Moss can survive the snow and freezing weather.
WAIT – here are a few good reads to expand on this topic.
Conclusion
Roof moss removal is just as crucial as moss removal around your property. In the worst situation, moss might cause your roof thousands of dollars in repair costs.
You may need to wait until the summer or spring to get rid of the moss, and rain would be a cherry on top.
Numerous pests, including fireflies, mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks, are attracted to moss. They may, therefore, carry all of these pests into your home if they grow on your roof.
Thank you for reading this article, and we hope these tips will help you get a moss-free roof!
