How To Get Moss Off Roof

How To's & Quick Tips

How To: Remove Moss from the Roof

A layer of green moss might look cozy and rustic atop your house, but it can be bad news for your roof. Follow these three straightforward steps to clean off all moss—and keep it from coming back.

How to Remove Moss from a Roof

Photo: istockphoto.com

A green, moss-covered roof may make you think you've wandered into a fairy tale, complete with a quaint little woodcutter's cottage. But, in the real world, moss is much less a fantasy than it is a nightmare. Left untreated, the clumpy greenery can cause virtually any roofing material to degrade—most commonly wood and asphalt, but also metal, clay, and concrete—and thus drastically shorten its lifespan.

Moss starts as a thin green layer on and between shingles, but then it proceeds to lift those shingles up as it grows, allowing water to seep underneath. Hello, wood rot and leaks. Fortunately, removing moss is a fairly simple task that you can perform on a seasonal or as-needed basis to keep your roof weathertight and great-looking. Follow these steps for how to remove moss from a roof.

Tools & Materials

Extension ladder
Moss, mold, and algae remover
Safety glasses
Rubber gloves
Safety rope
Garden hose
See full list «
Spray nozzle
Soft-bristled scrub brush
Pump spray bottle

How to Remove Moss from Roof - Beginning Stages

Photo: fotosearch.com

STEP 1: Hose off and brush all moss loose from your roof shingles.

Carefully place a ladder near the area of moss growth, and don slip-resistant shoes, old clothes, rubber gloves, and eye protection. (You may also want to secure yourself with a safety rope.)

Hose off the area with plain water, spraying at a downward angle. Then, use a long-handled soft-bristle scrub brush to remove the moss from the roof, scrubbing from the top down to avoid lifting shingles. As you continue, rub gently—don't scrape, scour, or pound on the roof—and work in one small section at a time to avoid ripping, cracking, or breaking the shingles.

Note: Don't use a pressure washer on the roof. The high-powered water jets can damage shingles and remove the shingle granules that protect the roof.

Find trusted local pros for any home project

STEP 2: Apply a storebought or DIY cleaning solution to remove the moss.

If your moss problem requires more than just a simple scrub, there are a wide variety of commercial cleaning solutions as well as homemade roof moss killer recipes that will get the job done Just wait for the next cloudy day before you head out to the roof with your cleanser of choice—you don't want the solution to evaporate too quickly. Keep in mind that both commercial and homemade spray cleansers can damage sensitive plants and discolor siding, decks, or pathways, so you may want to spread plastic sheeting below your work area before you get started.

Some popular cleansers include Wet & Forget (view on Amazon), a spray-on product for removing moss, mold, and mildew; Bayer 2-in-1 Moss and Algae Killer (view on Amazon), a potassium soap of fatty acids and inert ingredients that you mix with water and then spray on; and Moss B Ware (view on Amazon), a zinc sulfate monohydrate powder that can be applied dry or mixed with water.

Whichever you choose, follow the manufacturer's directions for application; some cleansers should be rinsed off after use, while others specify to be left on.

You also can make your own moss remover in a large spray bottle with one of these four DIY recipes:

8 ounces Dawn Ultra dish soap + 2 gallons of water
1 pound powdered oxygen bleach + 2 gallons of water
1½ to 3½ cups chlorine bleach + 2 gallons of water
1½ to 3½ cups white distilled vinegar + 2 gallons of water

For any of these homemade options, you'll want to wet down the roof with plain water first, then apply the cleanser and let it sit for 20 to 45 minutes. Lightly scrub with a soft-bristle brush, then rinse with water.

STEP 3: Prevent future moss growth by installing zinc or copper on the roof.

Stop a moss problem from returning by installing strips of zinc- or copper-coated sheet metal just below the top ridge on both sides of the roof. Copper is more toxic to moss and algae, but zinc is much less expensive. You can purchase sheet metal in rolls and cut it into two- to four-inch strips. Attach the strips to the roof using roofing nails or screws with a rubber washer.

You also should consider pruning any tree limbs that overhang the roof—natural sunlight is a powerful moss preventive.

Find trusted local pros for any home project