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Here Are 4 Ways to Get Rid of Roof Moss: Stop Moss From Damaging Your Roof

TABLE OF CONTENTS

If you’ve ever had to repair a roof, you know how difficult and exasperating the process can be. That’s because roofs keep rainwater out, and the constant leaking and water erosion cause by it usually has to be dealt with. Fortunately, there are a number of effective ways to get rid of roof moss. But before you start thinking about doing anything, you need to first recognize the problem and its potential solutions. If left untreated, roof moss will eventually become embedded in your roofing membrane, which will lead to more persistent leaks. Moss growths on roofs can also weaken it over time, making it more susceptible to storms. So what is roof moss? It’s any type of mold that thrives in watery environments such as roofs. While its exact origins are still uncertain, it’s believed that it came into being when wet conditions triggered the growth of algae or fungus inside the earth-like cells of an existing roof moss population. Nowadays, there are many different types of moss that grow on roofs; some are natural while others are man-made additions such as spider mites, insect larvae and even bacteria. When Roof Moss grows on Your Roof: Know These 5 Ways



What is Roof Moss?

Rooftop moss is the greenish-white to white growth that can develop on the roofs of buildings in areas with high humidity and low amounts of precipitation. While basic testing can determine the presence of moss, it is most often discovered by accident as moisture from the air seeps into the gutters and roof spaces of buildings and then drips down into the gutters and roof spaces of other nearby buildings. The presence of moss does not necessarily mean that water has gotten inside the building, however. It could be that a roofing product is causing moisture to seep into the air, rather than preventing it.


Types of Roof Moss: Natural or Human Made?

There are several types of roof moss. The most common, and the one that causes the most headaches and issues for homeowners, is “green roof moss.” This type of moss grows on trees, bushes, and other non-woody vegetation. However, there are other types as well, including “red roof moss,” which grows on a variety of different plants and occurs in areas with high rates of precipitation. Human-made roof moss is the result of removing the vegetation and applying a roofing product. This type of moss typically stains the roofing material a dark grayish-green. Natural roof moss, on the other hand, grows on trees, bushes, and other non-woody vegetation.


What Causes Roof Moss to Grow on a Building’s Roof?

Although both natural and human-made types of roof moss can grow on a building’s roof, the growing conditions most responsible for bringing about roof moss are trees. While it’s easy to say that trees bring about roof moss because they grow in water, there are actually a number of other contributing factors as well. First, areas with a large number of trees often experience higher precipitation rates than areas with fewer trees. And second, areas with a high percentage of forest cover also tend to experience higher rates of groundwater pumping, which can result in higher levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. Both of these factors can lead to higher levels of organic matter in the soil, which is then able to mix with groundwater to form acid rain. And last but not least, building materials and their use can also affect the amount of roof moss present.


How to Get Rid of Roof Moss: 5 Ways

So you’ve determined that roof moss is present on your roof and you want to get rid of it. The good news is that there are a number of effective ways to do so. Here are five ways to get rid of roof moss naturally: Moisten the roof. The first step to getting rid of roof moss is to moisten the roof. This can be accomplished by either running a dehumidifier (for the inside of the building) or by running a humidifier (for the roof) in addition to the dehumidifier inside the house. The first step to getting rid of roof moss is to moisten the roof. This can be accomplished by either running a dehumidifier (for the inside of the building) or by running a humidifier (for the roof) in addition to the dehumidifier inside the house. Wipe the roof clean. Once the moisture content is low enough to effectively rinse off the roof, the only thing left to do is to wipe the roof clean. This is crucial because when water is left on the roof for a long period of time, it can leach minerals and other substances from the soil into the air, which can be harmful to your health. Once the moisture content is low enough to effectively rinse off the roof, the only thing left to do is to wipe the roof clean. This is crucial because when water is left on the roof for a long period of time, it can leach minerals and other substances from the soil into the air, which can be harmful to your health. Pick a clean slate. The last step to get rid of roof moss is to choose a clean slate and start over. This is important because the minerals and other substances leached from the soil during the process of getting rid of roof moss will not be able to build up over time, making the roof stronger and less likely to leak.


Conclusion

Rooftop moss is the greenish-white to white growth that can develop on the roofs of buildings in areas with high humidity and low amounts of precipitation. While basic testing can determine the presence of moss, it is most often discovered by accident as moisture from the air seeps into the gutters and roof spaces of buildings and then drips down into the gutters and roof spaces of other nearby buildings. The presence of moss does not necessarily mean that water has gotten inside the building, however. It could be that a roofing product is causing moisture to seep into the air, rather as opposed to preventing it. It’s important to clean the roof as soon as possible to remove the as-yet-undiagnosed cause of the moss growth. If moss is the result of overgrown trees or bushes, it can be removed by brushing the plants and trees away from the building. If the problem is due to a man-made roofing product, such as a shingle or batts roofing, you should rinse off the material, choose a new product and begin over. Do you have a Roof Moss Problem? Get started today with these easy steps.